TRALEE athletics legend, John Griffin, is very much looking forward to the upcoming Kerins O’Rahillys 10k run being run in his honour this year.
The 1988 and 1989 Dublin City Marathon winner, was speaking at the launch of the event at the clubhouse on Saturday last and said it was a surprise, when he heard they had chosen to run the race and present a special medal in his honour.
“It was a bit of a shock really, but I’m a Strand Road man all my life. I grew up here in Caherina and when I went out my back door I was in the football field. That’s where I started my running and I never looked back,” said the 58 year old who won his first Irish Cross Country Junior Title in 1977 and has gone on to win numerous titles and place highly in prestigious races over the last 40 years.
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“I played football up to minor, but I had been running in community games and when the bug set in I’ve been running ever since. It’s like a drug, but it’s a great drug and when you get into it you’re hooked. It’s when you’re injured you really miss it,” said John who, sadly, is recovering from injury so he can’t take part in the run on Sunday week.
John would encourage any young person to take it up. “I love seeing people take up any sport but when it’s athletics it’s fabulous. I see people of an older age now getting into it and they love it.”
Chairman of Kerins O’Rahillys GAA Club, Haulie Kerins, said it was only right that John be honoured.
“He is probably the greatest athlete who has come from Strand Road, winning the Dublin City Marathon twice, and we felt it proper — since after all it is a run — to honour an athlete who played with club and still has family involved here.”
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The event itself takes place on Sunday, January 28, at 11am from the clubhouse. This is a chip-timed event opened to runners and walkers. There are individual men’s and women’s categories and a teams of four event.
The route is similar to other years taking in Ballyvelly, The Kerries, Knockanish culminating in a lap of Cahills Park before crossing the finish line in the club house.
The event coincides with Kerry’s first game of the Allianz National Football league when Kerry take on Donegal in Killarney (throw in @ 14.00) so runners will have plenty of time to make the game afterwards.
Registration is €20 (+ €1.40 booking fee) and people can register online by clicking here or on the morning of the race between 8am and 10.30am.