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Newsletter
Summer 2005 |
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Editorial. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle. Normally, you would not associate weak and brittle bones with an athlete, however, osteoporosis can develop in female athletes with inadequate nutrition. The symptoms of osteoporosis are often hard to recognize, and many athletes do not know they have it until another condition, such as a stress fracture, severe back pain, or lack of menstrual periods, forces them to visit their doctor. To understand the cause of osteoporosis, you have to examine the way the body maintains the skeletal system. As with all other cells of the body, old bone cells are removed and replaced with new bone cells. During the developmental years, new bone cells are added faster than old bone cells are removed. This exchange allows our skeletal system to grow and to become stronger, and it creates the bone density that will be needed later in life. After the age of 30, when bone density reaches its peak, the old bone cells are removed faster than the new bone cells are replaced. Therefore, the higher the bone mass at age 30, the less chance there is of osteoporosis developing. During bone development, a female athlete can be especially vulnerable to developing osteoporosis because of a condition know as the female athlete triad. The triad is a triangle of events that can start with an eating disorder or excessive exercise, or both, which in turn cause amenorrhea-the lack of a menstrual period or an abnormal menstrual cycle-which then causes a reduction in estrogen levels that eventually leads to bone loss. Concerns with body weight can lead many young women athletes to diet excessively, causing calcium and vitamin D to be eliminated from the diet. Disordered eating is most commonly found among participants in sports, such as gymnastics, ballet, figure skating, equestrian sports, and diving, in which the athlete is judged on appearance as well as on performance. However, eating disorders are also found among athletes who participate in swimming, tennis, and running-sports in which the athlete's appearance is not judged. Sometimes, an athlete's fear of being fat leads to eating disorders that range from moderate food restriction to occasional binging and purging to dangerous levels of severe food restriction. Unfortunately, there have been reports of 19-year-old female athletes who have the bone mass of an 80-year-old woman as a result of the female athlete triad. Friends, parents, coaches, athletic trainers, and physicians should be alert to an athlete's eating behaviors. Eating alone, trips to the bathroom during or right after a meal, and the frequent use of laxatives should be cause for concern. The benefits of sport far outweigh the risk, but consequences of the female athlete triad can be irreversible bone loss, disorders related to starvation, decrease in estrogen levels, and premature death. The best treatment plan for osteoporosis in athletes is one that is developed by a physician after the proper assessment has been made. Bruce Getz, ATC Eamonn elected onto Wicklow Board. At the Athletics Wicklow AGM held in Roundwood in Jan. Eamonn Tilley was elected to the committee as an extra officer to oversee and to help in the ever increasing work load of our County Board. We wish Eamonn well in his new role. Athletics Wicklow Yearbook The launch of the Athletics Wicklow Yearbook was very well supported on 11Mar. 05 in Roundwood. The book in its 2nd year of publication includes the results and times and much more information about the athletes and Clubs in Wicklow. The publication costs 5 Euro, however we decided to purchase a 60 copies and distribute them free to our members on a first come first served basis. The evening in R/wood also doubled as a presentation night for the Wicklow Star Awards and announcing the winners of the R/wood street league series of races. Light refreshments and food were served and a very enjoyable evening was had by all. Representing our Club at this function were Eamonn Tilley, Keith Somers, Michelle Lambkin, Cyril Smyth, and Dermot Brennan. "Not only does stretching make sense for your running by helping you avoid injury, it can ease some of the tension and pressure in your crowded body." -From Runner's World Guide to Running Adidas Dublin City Marathon Paul McCormack’s performance in the Adidas Dublin City Marathon was omitted from an earlier newsletter due to a technical error. Paul had an excellent run and finished the classic distance in a time of 3h24mins.54secs. Bronze for Sami. Sami Dowling won a Silver medal in AAI indoors in Nenagh on the 15th March. Sami’s time was an impressive 7.40secs. Dave Costello also appeared in the final finishing in 6th place in a time of 7.94secs. Dave also took part in the 200m and qualified for the final.
BHAA League 23rd March ’05 Maynooth Paul Rice was in good form in the 4 mile cross country in Maynooth fiishing well up in a time of 24.29mins. Dublin City Council 4 Mile 02/04/2005 Martin Francis had a super run in the Dubin City Council 4 Mile race hear to day finishing in 21st place in a time of 22.35ins. National Medal for Michele in Road Relays 3rd April 2005 Raheny Michell Lambkin who has just recently joined our ranks has picked up a National Relay Bronze medal with our umbrella clb Slí Cualann. Michelle ran the 1 mile leg in a time of 5.38mins.Well done Michelle. Other Bray athletes to do well were Martin Francis who was on the vets team and ran the 2 mile leg in a time of 11.33 mins. and Bren Smith making his debut ran the 1 mile leg in the senior event in a time of 4.50mins. National Road Relay-Raheny- April 3rd 2005. A Personal Perspective By Michelle Lambkin. The last time I visited Raheny was as a spectator. Many brave souls battled rain and hail and biting wind for 5 concrete k. I stood at the 600m to go mark and yelled praise and encouragement, hoping the pity wasn't audible. Keith, Mary, Val, Martin and Paul for once I was glad not to be out there with you. Luckily my next visit was in much more clement conditions. As forecast, the drizzle held off until even after the tea and biscuits. Senior women were first off and I made acquaintance with my scarily younger team-mates. Fionnula Britton(need I say more?!) and Catríona, who sacrificed a day's leaving cert study for the race. There was that charged sense of occasion you always get at start line. I really didn't know what to expect. What speed are these going to take off at? Can I maintain that? Am I ready for this? Then a very poignant minute's silence for John Paul II was called for and that kind of put things in to perspective. I felt the pace manageable for the first 200m but soon realised they were only teasing and a bunch of 4 pushed on. I found myself struggling to hang on, with a fellow struggler for company. Unfortunately she did the better job. I found myself in that lonely 'falling off the back' position which is only slightly less energy-sapping than actually being passed. I enter that zone where you're not actually concious of what your body is doing, other than it's hurting. I plough on, wishing it was as easy for me as it seems for the people ahead. And somewhere in the back of my head I hear Eamonn's voice say, " kid your mind, don't let on you're huurtin" and I wish I had the mental strength to do it! Then the blessed last corner. I despair slightly as I see the, as it turned out, 18 second gap the leaders have and I switch in to 6th gear. Running on fumes now I make faster pounding sounds and gain one place, two places. Fionnula's hand is out. I give a feeble tap and she's away, making it all look so easy. Fionnula ran, I think, a 10:46 two mile leg to give us a huge head start for the final lap. Catríona did fantastic to hold off the challenges of all but the great Lucy Darcy and Fiona Mc Greevy. No shame there. Final result..A bronze national medal for Slí Chualann and the determination to do better next year. Patience and Perseverence BUPA 10K Phoenix Pk. 09/04/05 3 Bray Head Terrace 10th April ‘05
EXTRACT From Bray / Wicklow People 20/04/2005 County Road Race returns to Bray 16th April 2005 After an absence of almost 20 years the Athletics Wicklow Road Racing Championships returned to Bray last weekend. The cream of Wicklow athletics descended on Bray last Saturday evening to take part in a high quality 5km Wicklow road race championship, with over 70 athletes many of national standard putting their toes to the line it was always going to be an exciting event. The race route Springfield, Southern Cross Road and the Boghall Road designed by the host club Bray Runners AC was always going to be fast and took some runners by surprise. With reigning senior champion Vincent O'Sullivan from Bray Runner AC injured it was always going to be difficult for the local club to win the title, especially with eventual winner Mick Byrne of Parnell AC in such good form and finishing in a time of 15.43 minutes.The senior ladies race was won by three time National Junior champion Fionnula Britton of Kilcoole AC in a time of 17.29 minutes. Michelle Lambkin was second, Mary Dawson third and Liz Ryan fourth, with Sarah Corcoran seventh - all Bray Runners, thus ensuring the team title for Bray.Bray Runners juniors were out in force with Aisling Growney taken second place and leading the junior ladies team to silver medals.Our Junior Men's team had to settle for silver medals, having been beaten by a very strong Inbhear Dee team.The Masters team event went to Parnell AC. Chairman of Bray Runners AC Dermot Brennan would like to thank the local Gardai, and the Ballywaltrim Recreational Park committee for their co-operation in putting on this event, also all the members and friends of Bray Runners AC who helped to make these championships a success. Club Raffle Our annual Club raffle was held in Jim Doyle’s on the 28th April, thanks to all who turned up on the night to support the evening. Thanks to all our sponsors and friends for their generous donations to the raffle and congratulations to all our winners, members and friends who helped make our raffle a success. Results on our Website www.brayrunners.com
RTE 5 Mile Road Race 30.04.2005. A number of our athletes took the short trip to Donnybrook for 5 mile RTE BHAA league race. Conditions were wet, however it was quite mild and not all that bad for running. Club performance of the day must go to Mary Dawson who ran a personal best for 5 miles 31.33mins, and very close behind was Club mate Michelle Lambkin in an excellent time of 31.42. In the men’s race Martin Francis had a great run and finished in 29.07. Well done to all. Belfast Marathon 02 May ‘05 Paul Rice finished his 13th Belfast Marathon in a time of 3hours 12mins.,despite the course been altered and extended by three miles due to a bomb scare. Richard takes Bronze Leinster Schools 04/05/2005 Day 2 10th May. Aisling Growney takes Bronze in Leinster Schools 800m in a time of 2mins 30secs Sportsworld 5 Mile 15/05/02 The weather was really hot for the Sportsworld 5 mile road race and so was the performances of our three athletes who took to the line. Michelle Lambkin with another fine performance finished in a time of 32.58 followed by Lorraine Nicholson in a time 37.10 (nice to see you back racing Lorraine) Martin Francis with another fine run finished in 29.50. Standing on the Equator and thinking of Bray Runners: Exercise, exercise, exercise…………we're overweight, us oldies and you youngies….. they keep telling us! One school in Co. Wicklow has a 15 minute jog for everybody every morning for the last year and it seems that they are now a fitter, and more enthusiastic bunch. Where I visited in Kenya in Africa, they would have no idea what you mean by exercise, exercise, exercise. They just do it naturally every day. They have to. They walk to collect water and the distances get longer as the weather gets drier. Families work together in the fields to prepare, grow and harvest their own main food, which is maize and beans. Selling any of that food means carrying some, and walking with a mule to the market, often at least a half day's walk away. The girls develop early strength as they carry younger siblings and women who not only have a baby on their backs but a water container also on the head! There is no transport to take them to school so they walk and often run, building up a natural endurance. As I walked with my friend Sr.Mary-Ann to Chepnyal Primary School, a gorgeous hilly area in the north west of Kenya, pupils just streamed down the paths, walking, jogging, chasing each other, in a mixture of flip flops, canvas trainers and bare feet and a heavy school uniform! They take part in one hour's activity every afternoon. This usually means volleyball, soccer and a rounders type game. If a teacher is missing, many of the class spend time outdoors being active. They sing and dance as part of any Church ceremony. In the last few days of term in March, all pupils went out at breaktime to collect large stones from the dried river bed for the foundation of a new water tank for the school. And, as I discovered, and found hard, there is no shop to get sweets and goodies from and in most families, not enough money anyway for extras. And so the idea of exercise that we need to plan for, happens daily there without any such plan. In the cities, though, and built up areas, just like here, you do see athletes training along the roadside and suffering just like we do when we push ourselves to get that little bit fitter and be that bit more prepared for the next race as a member of Bray Runner Athletic Club. So let's keep up the training. Coach Gaye. Athletics Wicklow Track and Field. Donard. Fine weather greeted us as we awoke the morning of the County track and field finals in Donard, it appears whenever we make this trip across the Wicklow Gap that we have excellent weather ( sunshine all the way) This event which is spread over to days attracts the cream of juvenile athletic talent in the county and getting among the medals is a great achievement. We had 30 athletes who travelled on the Saturday and about 15 made the trip on the second day. We are aware that it takes up a lot of time from athletes and parents alike to compete on both days nonetheless that’s the way its arranged and those that made it down both days were rewarded. Our medal haul for the weekend amounted to 70 with quite a few of our athletes finishing just outside the top three. We would like to thank all our athletes for their respective performances and the excellent manner in which they conducted themselves while representing Bray Runners AC. Aisling 1st Junior in Kilcock 5K Road Race The Kilcock 5k Open road race was held in conjunction with the Leinster Novice and Aisling Growney finished 1st Junior in a time of 20.44. She also joined Michelle Lambkin. Mary Dawson, Lorraine Nicholson and Liz Ryan who came 2nd in the team event Senior Awards The 2005 senior awards were held in the new Bray Golf Club, we had over forty members and friends in attendance and our Special guest for the evening was local athlete and long time friend of Bray Runners Gerry Curtis who was accompanied by his Una. Other invited guests were Frank and Kathleen Slevin of the Slevin Group, Theresa and Peter Kinnane from Greystones AC. We were also supported by Chairman of Athletics Wicklow, Terry Kavanagh and his wife Tina. The awards presentations were presided over by our Master Of Ceremonies for the evening Cyril Smyth. The Awards were as follows; Most Improved Athlete Dermot Brennan Veteran Athlete Martin Francis Personality, Gaye Enright Athlete Of The Year Michelle Lambkin A special presentation was made to our senior ladies team Michelle Lambkin, Mary Dawson, Aisling Growney, Lorraine Nicholson, Liz Ryan who led the Slí Cualann team to Gold at the Leinster Novice Road Race in Kilcock recently. Mini Marathon Fund Raiser Thanks to all our members and friends for their help and assistance in stewarding at the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon. I really do appreciate the effort that you make giving of your time so freely and generously. Thanks also to our juvenile members Eimear Corcoran, Ronan Corcoran, Claire Fox and Isobel Owens who came along and packed the Mini marathon programmes the previous week also raising much needed funds for our Club. Michelle 21st out of 45,000 Michelle Lambkin running a PB finished 21st out of 45,000 in a time of 39.47, followed by Mary Dawson 34th in a time of 40.55 and Liz Ryan 119th almost 2 mins. up on last year’s event in a time of 45.33. The Flora Womens Mini Marathon is the biggest race of its kind in the world and to see our senior ladies finish in such lofty positions is a credit to all concerned. Graded Meet. 15th June 05 Michelle Lambkin made her debut on the track tonight and finished second in this Grade B 1500m race in a time of 5.05mins Leinster Track and Field Tullamore 19th June ‘05 Richard Owens and Dave Costello made the trip to Tullamore for the Leinster T/F competition. Both athletes performed very well amid top class opposition. Patrick Costello finished in silver medal position in the 100hurdles and 5th in the Long jump with a leap of 5.29metres. Richard Owens finished 6th in the 800m in a fantastic time of 2.17.74mins narrowly missing qualifying for the Nationals, he also finished 5th in the Shot with 8.73mtrs. well done to both our athletes. Enterprise Ireland Annual Invitational Track and Field 28th June ’05 Our Invitational Track and Field competition now in its 10th year was another resounding success for our Club. The number of athletes competing were up on previous years and the competition for medals was very hot, with athletes performing to a very high standard. The Bourke Cup was again won by DSD, who undoubtedly had the strength in numbers although it has to be said that our own athletes were occupying the medal podium frequently in the early part of the competition. The Medley relay one of the most popular competitions around attracted the largest field to date with 10 teams competing for the Bourke Plaque. DSD again took the silverware with Roundwood in 2nd place and a brave showing by Bray Runners gained us the bronze medals. The performances of all our athletes were very good and it augers very well for the future of Bray Runners AC, it must be remembered that this competition is a friendly competition in name only, our athletes are competing against some of the best athletes in the country and their performances must be appraised with this in mind. Like most successful events, they don’t just happen, a lot of hard work and man / lady hours go into putting this event together, so thanks to our event committee, members, friends and sponsors who worked tirelessly in the preceding days putting this event together. Thanks also to our main sponsor Frank Slevin and the Slevin Group who have supported this event since its inception 10 years ago , this year we added we were delighted to have on board Lucozade who were also very generous with their sponsorship, Thanks also to all our other sponsors who continuously support our event in so many varied ways. The full results of the competition are posted on our website. As highlighted numerous times in the past, this is your newsletter and its important that you contribute to it. There are a number of results and reports omitted from this issue simply because results etc have not been forwarded to me. www.brayrunners.com Invitation Track and Field 28th June 2005 Venue: Presentation College Bray… Conditions: Wet and over cast. Distance: 1 Mile…and Medley Relay It was a very over cast day which greeted all of our senior athletics; I must say that the number of Seniors that turned up to represent the club on the day was very disappointing. Maybe people have good reasons not to run etc, but the lads Dermot and Martin would certainly have appreciated some help they were there with others from early that day preparing for the event, but you can’t say that you weren’t all told about the event. This was in fact one of the key event in Brays’ calendar and I was not pleased at all. We all have to make the effort, and not just leave it to the chosen few all the time. People put in so much time and organisation into the event and I feel as though we let them down. On a lighter note, the people that did compete I take my hat off to them. Great run by Keith Sommers ( or was it Sommerville) who finished 2nd in the senior open mile, and Valerie Brunton who also finished second lady. And not leaving out our new comer Kerina ….who’s determination and strength pushed her into 4 position in the ladies event, Not forgetting our valiant Relay teams, well done to all concerned (2nd and 4th place )Well done to Adrian Hayes and John Mc Donnell who were trusted into the race at the last moment( with little or no training they both excelled in there leg). And finally not forgetting the Organisation team Dermot Brennan, Martin Corcoran, Pat Mc Court, Gay Enright, Cyril Smith, and the help by some of the senior squad Vincent O Sullivan, and Liz Ryan well done to all. We will hope to see more athletes competing next year Regards Eamonn……. Venue; Kilcock Date; May 21st Congrats to all runners especially the ladies senior team, Lead home by Michelle Lambkins in a time of 19.17, next was Mary Dawson (19.18) Aishling Growley(20.30)Lorraine(21.05 and finally Liz Ryan (21.30) words cannot express how I felt with the win both for the club and the county. We managed to beat all our Dublin rivals that in itself was some achievement , and getting the county gold was a bonus 28 points to 31… It proved that Bray ladies are now on the map and people will be watching … Not forgetting our 2 vet runners (Martin Francis and Dermot Brennan) finishing 64th and 134 respectively and helping the Wicklow team to Bronze medals. Well done to all and I hope that we can continue this type of effort in the future, bring on the Cross country. Wicklow Cross Country Championships 2005 The immediate focus of all our athletes at this time of the year is the Athletics Wicklow cross country championships scheduled for the 1st and 3rd Sunday in October, the venues have not yet been decided. In the past we have narrowly missed out on securing team medals and the main reason for this is that a lot of our athletes do not turn up on race day, there by letting their team members down. I hope this will change for this years’ cross country and that all athletes make an effort to compete and put out strongest squads and hopefully bring home the spoils.
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