THE BEAR

Stablemate Mark “Keen as Mustard” Kenny killed it at the Chicago Marathon, ripping 17’32’’ off his former best with a 4:06:36 clocking and four-second negative split!

The Comrades Marathon alumnus was happy to see plenty of Irish invading Illinois: he spotted runners from Fermanagh, Tyrone, Waterford, Derry, and even Brothers Pearse. They sure beat the stormy weather back home, as the conditions on the day were simply perfect—cool with a light breeze.

The Stable News’ deep dish pizza muncher, Ally “the Chin” Smith, was on site to hear all about it:

“Woohoo! Congrats on a super stride, Mark. Tell me how it went.”

“Delighted to PB after a rough year dealing with plantar fasciitis. Plan was 4:10-4:20, and I pushed a little too hard between 30-35km, which probably caused the rubber legs from 37km through the finish. Got cramps in both hamstrings for that last kilometre, but I ground it out. Also not helped by someone cutting onions at the start and finish, ha-ha.”

“Oof, some people have no manners, ha-ha. Congratulations on a humongous PR, and I hope the PF issues are a thing of the past. Anything else lined up?”

“Run the Line short course in November, followed by the Art O’Neill Pursuit in January.”

“Nice, man; let’s go get some well-earned refreshments!”

“You read my mind.”

Coach Stazza heard about Kenny’s tremendous shift and called the News immediately:

“Get in there, Marky boy! After all the plantar issues this year, you still went out and gave it everything … Cramps, rubber legs, and dealing with some unsavoury smells couldn’t stop you from nailing that one … Good man!”