EUROPEAN CHAMPION

We’ve got to start with the Stablemate of the moment, James Doran—European champion.

Doran’s performance in the sweltering heat and humidity of Madeira to take the European Masters half marathon title was something to behold.

Only a few weeks earlier, he was banging out reps in the pouring rain on the track at Castleisland, with myself and The Grand Stablemaster at trackside. 

We knew then, as he gritted out 5x2000m in the pinning rain that he was in good shape. The week before, he’d banged-out, in one session, 10x800m in 2’22”+10x400m in 68”-66”, with training partners, Paul Moloney, Tommy O’ Brien, and Brendan The Bull Sheehan. We pulled it together with some long tempo work, a session of 8×1 mile in 4’52”-4’54”, and sharpened him up with 10x(600m in 1’45” +400m in 66” +200m in 32”). We had him ready.

The organisers changed the course at short notice, making it much tougher. But James is smart and we talked through the race plan which he executed with golden perfection. 

He’s just getting started and we’ll continue working down towards 66′ for the half marathon. We’ll also have a little outing over the marathon…

POPE’S UNBEATEN RECORD

Just another day’s graft for Chris Krash Pope as he won the 24 the Hard Way.

The Pope used the race as a training run for December’s Desert Solstice 24hr track race. 

Ranked seventh in the USA over 24hrs, The Pope has a 100% record with his three 24hr race wins. With a stellar line-up for Desert Solstice, he’ll need his A+ game to take the win and a huge distance…

ANOTHER ULTRA RUNNING LEGEND

The Stable’s blessed to have such a great group of elite ultra runners now. A few months back, Patricia McLoughlin joined the elite squad and already she’s made her mark.

Mighty McLoughlin won the world-famous Muarice Mullins 52km, in jaw-dropping fashion: she won with twenty one minutes to spare.

Mighty McLoughlin is now working on her speed and transitioning from the trails to the roads as she prepares for the Irish National 50km Champs in February.

Mighty McLoughlin will join a great squad of male and female runners as we aim to pick up some bling and turn a few heads.

BLUE BELL 10km

What a great day for Stazza’s Stable and Aoife Cooke Fitness. With Cooke’s runners pumped to take on Stazza’s Stablemates, the day was set for a crackerjack battleground. What a setting too: Killarney National Park.

All three races were entertaining, with some great battles and brilliant performances. On a tough, seven-lap course with hills and tight turns, the runners put on a great show as Cooke and The Grand Stablemaster scoffed caramel muffins (the poor Stablemaster, Coach Stazza, was so busy, he didn’t even get a crumb).

COMING UP

In the next issue, I’ll chat about our elite ultra squad and the races they have coming up, our elite marathon squad and a really exciting event they’re preparing for in the New Year, and a spotlight on social media influencer and Stablemate, Marcus Brown, where I’ll go over his journey from 4:55 marathoner to 2:56 and his next goal.