Considering the weather in the Glens on Saturday and the ridiculously early departure time you need for a 9am race start in the Mournes no one would could be faulted for hitting the snooze button. However, Joanna Wheeler Connon has faced down much harsher conditions this year alone (Maurice Mullins 50km in gale force winds) and Decky McNaughton had spent good money on his entry fee so there was no chance these 2 were backing out. As it turned out, mercifully, conditions weren’t quite so rough as they set off through Donard forest and up the Granite steps. The Mourne Skyline is a 35km/2700m+ epic which essentially lures competitors into the depths of the Mourne Mountains via a ‘reasonably’ easy trail then insists they crawl their way back to civilization over every peak between Fofanny Dam and Donard Park culminating in a cruel out and back up Slieve Donard before descending to the finish along the Glen River path trip hazard. Solid performances from both as is to be expected with Joanna in 6:03:45 and Decky in 6:05:37 and spirit intact which is more than can be said for his watch and knee having taken a spill!
Also on Saturday with a slightly later start time of 11:00 were Niamh Marrs, Marie Kerr, Kelly-Ann McAuley, Paula McCarthy and Kevin O’Boyle who ventured up to Queen’s Playing fields in Belfast and the NIMAA Cross Country Championship and International Trials. Some strong running from the Glens runners over the 6km course in what was a predictably stacked field given this was an international masters selection race.
Kelly-Anne McAuley – 24:57
Paula McCarthy – 25:11
Marie Kerr – 25:24
Niamh Marrs – 25:49
On to Sunday and across the water where Jonny and Anna Steede and Linda Gettens were tackling a baltic Manchester half marathon. Linda flew round the course with a 4 min pb in 1:43:12. The Steedes posted times of a fantastic, ‘get this done I’m in a vest ffs!’ 1:17:20 and a solid, ‘have wine ready for me at the finish line or else’ 2:04:46. Well done all!
The final race action on Sunday saw Naomi McCurry and Conan Brown venture to the Comber/McKeag Cup XC at Billy Neill Park just outside Dundonald for more cross country pain. Conan acquitted himself admirably finishing his almost 8km Comber Cup course in a fast 34:50 over this heavy ground while Naomi sailed home to an impressive 15th place out of 179 finishers in 21:55 over the 5.5km McKeag Cup course.
Glens Runners 
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