Jersey Spartan members Carol Knight and Sue Le Ruez were both second – Knight in the W45 age category and Le Ruez in the W50.
Knight, running her fourth marathon and her first in Dublin, was also thrilled to achieve a time of 3.14.53, which gives her the qualifying time for the ‘elite’ start in the London Marathon.
‘It all went according to plan really,’ she said.’ And the plan was to achieve sub-3.15.
I’m in London as an elite, if I want it.’ She said that she had continued the training started for the Island Games half-marathon in Shetland, extending the long runs and keeping up the speed work.
‘I couldn’t have gone any faster on Monday.
I really felt that I was in a race and didn’t slow down much in the last five miles.’ Another Channel Islander, Sharon Daw, finished in 3.19.44 and eighth in the W40 age group.
Running her 14th marathon and her third in Dublin, Le Ruez finished in 3.24.22.
‘It was a bit slower than last year, and six minutes slower than London in April, but to finish second in the age group – that was a big surprise and a big bonus,’ she said.
The two were among several Jersey runners who joined 10,500 in the 26th Dublin event, Bernie Arthur being the next Spartan member home in 3.28.51.
Mothers Leanne Rive and Adèle Prince, whose training schedule is fitted in around their young children, were delighted to both achieve under four hours for their second marathon, finishing in 3.54 and 3.56 respectively.
Another Spartan member and Dubliner Mary McGrath twisted her ankle at three miles, but continued on to finish the 26.2-mile course in 4.41.30; and Colm Lawless, who also picked up an injury half way round, finished in 4.55.
Four friends running in aid of Dublin Hospital as a result of the care given baby Grace Greenwood when she was born prematurely last year also completed the run.
Father Paul Greenwood finished in 5.42.48; Dale Hudson in 4.47.55; Vicki Hudson in 5.07.51; and Sharon Varley in 5.27.04.
Conditions for the event were very wet at the start, but surprisingly good once the rain eased off, and Dubliners still turned out to give their support.
The race was won by Ukrainian Dmytro Osadchy in 2.13.14, six seconds outside last year’s record.
The first woman home was 43-year-old Russian Zinaida Semenova in 2.32.51.
Earlier in October, Spartan member Gil Blackwood completed the Loch Ness Marathon in 3.19.48, placing third in the M50 age category.
