My Dublin Marathon: Runners share their experiences

Damian Keaney (43) from Sligo: ‘I didn’t have anything left in me for the last mile’

Damien Keaney (43) from Sligo

Some 15,000 people took part in the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon on Monday. Here are some stories from the finishing line.

Teresa O’Reilly (45) from Celbridge, Co Kildare

“I did a personal best, I’m really happy with my time but I struggled over the last five miles, it was really tough.

“I’m fundraising for Barretstown. I started late so I’ll put out an appeal now to get more money.

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“I was training for the half marathon and I said I’d do a few longer runs. I thought to myself that I was on track to do the marathon so it was only really in September that I decided I was definitely going to.

“We’re in Celbridge Athletic Club so I’ll be celebrating with my club members tonight. That got me through.”

Damien Keaney (43) from Sligo

“I didn’t have anything left in me for the last mile so between walking and running the crowd got me through the finish line.

“My mum and dad [Una and Frank] have come up from Sligo to cheer me on. I would have loved to have done 3hr 10mins, I did it in 3hr 14mins but anything under 3hr 15mins I’m pretty happy with.

“The crowd was absolutely amazing. I was just saying to a friend of mine, it makes me proud of the city. It looks fantastic and everybody was really good today.

“I’m going to go home now, have a shower and some of my mother’s apple tart.”

Dimitri Meffre (40) from France

“I’m running with a colleague, and his friend from work has a daughter who has a special condition, and I’m doing this for the research foundation for children. We’ve done pretty well, and my company is doubling whatever is donated.

“It was pretty painful in the end, especially after mile 20. That’s the second time I’ve done the Dublin Marathon.

“The crowd is really, really good, the organisation is good too. I’ve done Paris as well and it wasn’t as good as Dublin.”

Patricia Hampton (66) from Edinburgh, Scotland

“I did quite well for my age, I got a PB by about 20 seconds.

“I started marathon running two years ago. I took up running about nine years ago and thought I’d like to do a marathon. I’m from Ireland and we live in Edinburgh so it’s just nice to come over.

“The crowd was brilliant, really good. People bend down to see your name and your number and shout ‘well done Patricia’, and some of them were saying ‘my God look at her, she’s so old.’

“I think I’ll have a glass of wine tonight having not had anything for months!”