Veteran marathon man keeps it close to home
IT turned out to be the most challenging ever of Dublin City Marathons – out of all 42 of them so far – but for Derrydonnell’s, Peadar Nugent, it was a hill that he was always going to climb.
Last week’s move to Level 5, COVID-19 restrictions, meant that Peadar Nugent had to restrict the course for his so-called virtual run even further – narrowed down to a smaller loop around his home in Moyvilla, Oranmore.
By the time the clock struck 8am on Sunday morning last, Peadar had taken to the roads to ‘fast walk’ the 26.2-mile distance along with his loyal athletics colleague, in Athenry AC, Máire Treasa Beatty.
Peadar – a more than sprightly 77-year-old pensioner – never had a doubt in his mind about competing in his 41st Dublin City Marathon in a row, completing the 26.2 miles in just under 5 hours and 40 minutes.
“Age does catch up with you – I was twelve minutes down on my time for my last year – but the conditions weren’t great with a lot of showers and wind around. It was cold too at the start – just under seven degrees,” Peadar told the Connacht Tribune this week.
Up until Wednesday of last week, he had had his loop to complete the marathon meticulously planned out on a flattish enough course around Derrydonnell and Athenry – but then the Level 5 restrictions put a 5km limit on movements from home.
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