Battles won and lost in bohermeen

Bohermeen AC official Stephen Ball summed it up succinctly. “Everybody is dealing with their own battles, it could be a battle against the clock or even the person beside them.”
A man who is known far and wide in athletics he was the MC as his club staged the 2015 Meath Spring Half Marathon and 10k on Sunday.
Ball was describing over the sound system the kind of battles runners have to wrestle with as they set off in any race; the personal demons that have to be overcome, the doubts that must be silenced if any measure of success is to be achieved.
And success at such events is relative. For a coterie of highly talented quality athletes there is the goal of winning a race; for others it’s about achieving a PB or finishing in the top 10, 20 or 500. For others still, Everest is conquered by simply completing the race.
There were some runners who finished the half marathon on Sunday a long, long way behind the winner Martin Fagan, but it didn’t matter.
The joyous look on their faces as they crossed the line told a tale of a personal ambition fulfilled; they couldn’t have been more delighted if they had won Olympic gold.
Among those who completed the half-marathon was the Trim husband and wife 'team’ of Paul and Paula Hegarty. They crossed the line hand-in-hand.
Friends Breda Clifford and Marie Reilly from Navan finished the 10k together as did Marie McGloin and Emer Fitzsimons.
They said they were with each other all the way, step by step.
It was, they said, all about supporting each other, uttering encouraging words when energy levels dropped or the size of the task in hand, momentarily at least, appeared too daunting.
Approximately 800 athletes of all shapes, sizes, ages, gender and ability took part on Sunday, a few hundred more than last year.
They were cheered along the way by the a large number of spectators who showed up to lend their support to family members or club colleagues.
It wasn’t not unusual to hear shouts of “Come on Daddy” or “Keep going Mummy” from the side of the road as the runners sped past.
One woman who had just completed the 10k came out with a memorable line: “That was my best time by a million miles,” she said with delight.
On Sunday athletes from Westport, Mallow, Belfast and Wexford were in attendance and many other places between.
From early morning the normally quiet local roads were busy.
A field close to the Bohermeen Community Centre was commandeered as a car park and a posse of local officials - estimated by Ball at round 75 - ensured everything ran smoothly. This was, he emphasised, a community effort.
The MC included in his commentary humorous little observations that were no doubt appreciated amid the serious business of running a race.
He pointed out that there were refreshments in the hall for all participants. “If you don’t go in and get them I’ll have to eat all the biscuits,” he added.
Among the army of helpers were a group of local youngsters who had to ensure that the runners who crossed the finish line received a drink of water, pint of milk or a banana.
Interspered with the long line of athletes were the pacesetters who were easily identifed as they had a baloon tied to them that could be easily seen. Among the pacesetters was Andrew Revington from Trim AC who plans to run in 56k ultra marathon in South Africa in the near future.
One of two of the runners fell across the line - literally, but they made it nonetheless.
The origins of the Bohermeen Half-Marathon goes back to the early 1970s. It was first won by local superstar Colm Rennicks. It lapsed for a time in the 1980s, but four years ago it was revived by athletic enthusiasts Damien Hilliard and Tony Walsh.
The size of the crowd that turned out on Sunday to spectate and participate was an indication of just how correct they were to bring it back.