Main pic: LAC runners at the Raheny 5 Miler: Ciaran O’Donnell, Stephen Shiels, Nakita Burke, John Hughes, Sean McFadden and Padraig Friel.
It was another successful week for the members of Letterkenny Athletic Club.
On Sunday eight members of LAC made the trip to Dublin to race in the Raheny 5 miler.
The AXA event is firmly established as the biggest road race in Ireland. This year was the 40th edition of the race. It attracts the cream of the running crop to Raheny.
Over 4,000 runners set off down All Saints’ Road on a blustery but relatively mild afternoon. Support along the route was fantastic. Congratulations to Raheny Shamrock AC on a superbly organised race.
It is consistently a high quality race. Letterkenny AC have a good record in this race with Ann-Marie McGlynn winning the race in 2018, 2019 and 2023. Last year Nakita Burke finished 7th in a time of 27.39. This year Nakita ran 27.00 and finished a superb 2nd place to Shona Heaslip from Kerry club An Riocht who ran 26:11.
Once again, this emphasises that LAC is a dominant Donegal club in terms of road racing nationally.
Padraig Friel finished in 30.24, Sean McFadden 30.57, Stephen Shiels 33.45, Ciaran O’Donnell 34.14, John Hughes 36.11, Pat Brady 39.30 and Caroline Brady 40.22
LAC meets Tuesday 5.15pm and at 6.30pm for an interval running session, Thursday evening for a hill run at 6pm, Saturday morning at 9.30am for a tempo run and Sunday morning at 8am for a long run.
All runs start at the Aura. All levels catered for and encouraged.
Fit 4 Life which is run by LAC in conjunction with the Donegal Sports Partnership takes place every Monday at 5.45pm on the track at the Aura Leisure Centre Letterkenny.
The aim of the programme is to reach out to those who wish to improve their fitness and all are most welcome any Monday they choose to attend.
Fit 4 Life is not about speed but fitness and the coaches from LAC particularly welcome newcomers.