Record crowd in park as Wlodarczky takes third SSE Airtricity half marathon title

Patricja Wlodarczyk, originally from Poland but running with Raheny Shamrocks club for the past seven years, comfortably sealed her third SSE Airtricity Half Marathon title today, with what was her slowest winning time, 1:22:53.

“I’m so happy with the win, I didn’t expect it as was not feeling 100% going into the race, but there is such good support here for these races, it’s the only motivation you need to keep you going on the harder stretches” said a delighted Wlodarczyk after she crossed the finish line.

Clonliffe Harriers Gary O’Hanlon, one of Ireland’s most prolific and successful marathon runners, was a decisive winner of the men’s title, taking the lead from 2 miles out and finishing a full 2 minutes ahead of 2^nd home Trevor Power.

“I actually found that tough going today, I don’t enjoy front running to be honest, but I took the lead and had to maintain it then. I found the last two miles very tough, it was hard to force the legs up that climb” said O’Hanlon after today’s race. “I’m going to do a few smaller runs now, including a 4 mile Road race in Dundalk, and see what I will do then in the run up to the Marathon”

First across the line today was the wheelchair winner, Patrick Monahan, who finished in a very fast 53:51.

A record 8,160 runners, joggers, walkers, wheelchair athletes – and an ambulance – took part in today’s race, the final event of the SSE Airtricity Race Series before the Dublin Marathon on October 27^th.

The BUMBLEance Mega Push, led by Mike O’Shea and Tony Heffernan, involved a team pushing a special BUMBLEance vehicle from Dingle to Dublin, a total of 355 kilometres. As if that was not enough, they then completed the SSE Airtricity Half Marathon in a time of approx. 2:37. Anyone who would like to support their great work should TEXT the word BUZZ to 50300 to donate €4 to the charity.

2014 SSE Airtricity Half-Marathon Winners

Wheelchair:

Patrick Monaghan, 53:51

Top 3 Men

Gary O’Hanlon, 1:09:40

Trevor Power, 1:11:47

John Dunne, 1:1148

Top 3 Women

Patricja Wlodarczyk, 1:22:53

Fiona Stack, 1:23:05

Justine O’Connell, 1:24:47