Make Longford Your ‘Sub-3:00’ Marathon

Longford marathon presents a unique opportunity to achieve this elusive goal.

Michael Rice Italy 100k World & European Championship 2008

For many serious marathon runners, finishing a race in less than three hours is a lifetime’s ambition. Such an achievement is no trivial matter and can often be the result of many years dedicated training. Although there’s no particular magic in the number, and accepting that any marathon finish is a magnificent achievement, running sub-3:00 still has a special allure for many runners.

This year the Longford marathon presents a unique opportunity to achieve this elusive goal. Over many years the Longford race has established itself as one of the best-organised and friendliest races in the country. From a performance perspective, an important factor is that the Longford course is almost dead flat, and is therefore conducive to fast finishing times.

Athenry AC runner Mick Rice has offered to pace anyone with a sub-3:00 finish in mind every step of the way in an all out effort to get the job done. Mick is an experienced marathon pacer with many years experience, who has already paced groups to this particular target in both the Limerick and Cork marathons this year.

Mick said, “It’s such a rewarding job! I get a great thrill from seeing people cross the line and achieve their target. Running a marathon in less than three hours is no easy task, but it’s doable, and I believe that the Longford marathon is perhaps the best course in the country on which to attempt such a run.”

Anyone who wants to get a ‘ticket’ on the sub-three train in Longford will find support and encouragement along the way from a group of like minded souls who contribute to a discussion on www.boards.ie in the Athletics/Running/Triathlon forum.

Mick can also be contacted at mick@athenryac.com

sebastien Locteau