Padraic sets new best time in Berlin
54,000 runners took to the start of the 50th edition of the Berlin Marathon, with four members of Mayo AC among them. Picture: John MacDougall
Athletics: Mayo AC had four members on the start line for the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, September 29. Tony O’Malley (M50), Angela McVann (W50), Padraic McVann (M55) and Mary Browne (W65) all travelled to Germany for the event which is known for its record breaking times, which makes it very popular with those looking for a personal best.
The Berlin course is flat, with 73 metres of gained elevation and a loss of 79 metres. 13 world records have been set there since its first running in 1974 and, up until last year, the previous eight men’s records were broken in Berlin.
The Berlin Marathon is one of the six Abbott World Major Marathons and is the fastest of them all. Padraic and Angela McVann have run in two of them, Chicago in 2023 and Boston in 2024. The others are London, New York City, and Tokyo.
Racing conditions were good, with sunny intervals in a gentle breeze and temperatures rising to 14 degrees.
Tony O’Malley was first of the Mayo AC runners across the line at Tiergarten. He looked to be achieving something around a three hour finish after the first half and finished just outside that in 3:10.10. Tony ran 2:57.34 in Clogher in 2020 and 3:14.43 in Dublin in 2023. He’s a regular racer across a range of endurance distances from 5k to marathon and has achieved a number of pbs and top M50 places in recent times.
A few minutes later Padraic McVann came home in 3:22.07 which among all of the Mayo AC competitors was the performance of the day. He ran an even paced race with a variation of 18 seconds per kilometre over the 42.2k distance. He was rewarded with a significant new pb – almost five minutes faster than his 3:27.17 in Chicago in 2023.
Padraic has run in a lot of endurance events over different terrains and distances and has achieved pbs at most of them in the past year.
Next in was Mary Browne in 3:50.55. She prepared for the race by “cramming in” the Longford Half at the end of August and the Swinford 3/4 marathon earlier in September, which she finished in a 2h52m.
Mary was on pace for a 3:37 finish up to halfway at 1:47.08, but a second half in 2:03.47 resulted in a 3:50.55 time. However, it was very much in line with her 2:52 3/4 marathon. It will also erase some of the painful memories of her 4:43.26 in Cork last June.
“I'm delighted. It was a great experience,” said Mary afterwards.
Angela McVann had a good race finishing in 4:05.48 despite a tough last few kilometres, and a time significantly better than her Boston 4:42 last April.
Mick Shaw of Castlebar AC, one of the Mayo AC 2024 5k Series sponsors, also ran the Berlin Marathon and completed the course in a creditable 4:05.05.
A world record of over 54,000 participants completed the Berlin Marathon course and of the Mayo entrants, it was great to see their dedicated training efforts being rewarded on one of the biggest stages in the world. All big city marathons are a wonderful experience notwithstanding the outcome, and Berlin is probably one of the best with its wide streets and landmarks steeped in history.
With just under two weeks until the Dublin Marathon, many members are busy preparing at the moment with long runs and will soon begin to taper ahead of the race which incorporates the National Marathon Championships.
