Beating personal bests, fulfilling life-long goals or remembering loved ones, there was plenty to motivate the 13,000 people who ran in Limerick yesterday for the Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run.
Runners, walkers, wheelchair athletes and children togged out for a range of events including the children’s run, the full marathon, a relay marathon, a half marathon or 10km run/walk.
Now in its seventh year, it was the first time a Limerick person has ever won the marathon event at this run, with Martin Doody (40) from Caherdavin crossing the finish line in two hours and 28 minutes.
“An amateur athlete like me might only get to win one marathon in his life and this is probably it for me,” he said. “So to win in my home town is fantastic.”
The first people over finish line were the relay team “One for the Road” made up of JJ Cremin, Gary Egan, Niall Shanahan and Mike Carmody from Co Limerick and Cork. Ciara Hickey (36) from Dublin was the first woman to finish the 26-mile run in what was only her fourth marathon. “I am only new to running so I am delighted,” she said. “I was in Rotterdam running a few weeks ago and things didn’t really go well but this was much better.”
More than 6,000 people took part in the 10km run/walk yesterday, the largest of the Great Limerick Run events.
Limerick grandfather Seán Clohessy, who took part in 2014 but died of cancer last year, was remembered by more than 20 members of his family who all wore purple T-shirts with his photograph.
David Considine (22) from Bruree helped Michael O’Doherty, who has cerebral palsy, fulfil his goal of taking part in his first 10km run.
Considine pushed O’Doherty’s wheelchair for five of the six miles while the pair ran the last mile together.
Speaking at the finish line, O’Doherty (22) said he was delighted to fulfil his goal.
“We worked really hard and it was great fun and I am terribly happy that the work paid off,” he said.