10 Things I Think About The Newmarket 5K 2025

1. Valencia of 5Ks in Cork

I think that the Newmarket 5K is to 5ks what the Valencia marathon is to marathons, except maybe just confined to Cork and surrounding counties. Because of the generous course and usually ideal running conditions it offers the perfect chance to run a great P.B by me which can be broadcast across social media for all to hear, witness and acknowledge which is very important and the reason that most of us run.

2. Perfect Timing

I think that 1pm on a Sunday is the perfect time for a race. It allows plenty of time for sleep even allowing for the hour-long drive to Newmarket. It initially looked as if the race would be held in pouring wind and rain but as I left Glanmire at 11:30 the rain started to stop and the traditional perfect Newmarket 5k running conditions of cold and dry with a little hopefully helpful wind prevailed.

3. Photo Photo

I think that the Newmarket 5k offered many great opportunities for excellent photos to be taken. We had a big turnout of Glanmire A.C athletes, five in total which is our highest to date, we failed to get a group photo because of the large crowd and my lateness but I did get a photo with chairman Gruff.

4. False Start

I think that it would have been great if the rules and regulations of local 5k road races had of been enforced and all the youngfellas that false started had been disqualified. This would have returned the race to the moderately old men like me who are more used to the local road race scene. Instead, everyone just lined up again and off we took at a ridiculous speed down the hill that is primarily responsible for the quick course.

5. Need for Speed

I think that people get a little bit carried away at the start of this race. There is no need to panic at the start of a 5k, it is a very long race, yet still everyone goes off like it is a 400m race. I was a long way back after 400m despite seeing 4:40 mile pace on the watch, perhaps the times would be faster if the start wasn’t so fast, there aren’t many people that can tolerate running 4:40 mile pace for 400m and continue to run 5k.

6. Top Cat

I think that it is interesting how popular the Pumas are. They really are fantastic, my favourite shoe ever. The really great thing about them is that some people can’t wear them, so I get an advantage. Viv wouldn’t believe me for ages about them because he doesn’t trust me but when he ran in them in Waterford, he got two minutes back in the half marathon which is amazing. They seem to be sold out now which is terrible as they don’t last long so I’ll have to use my pair sparingly.

7. Ken’s Army

I think that it was great to see the abundance of youngfellas in the race today. There were hundreds of them and they are really good, most of them appear to be coached by Ken Nason or influenced by Ken Nason. It is very terrible to have to race youngfellas over 5k as a moderately old man as you simply cannot compete with the power and speed that they have. The only hope you have is that they go out too fast and blow up, but this doesn’t happen any more now because they all believe in LT1 and LT2 etc and don’t just train flat out the whole time.

8. Magnitude and Direction

I think that we were very unlucky with the wind today. It appeared to be some sort of cross headwind that was no help going out the road nor back the road. It seemed to be pushing us back no matter which way we ran. Luckily there was an abundance of youngfellas to shelter behind, so it didn’t really matter too much.

9. There Goes Sean Davin

I think that other that the speed and power of the 100s of Ken Nason’s youngfellas in the race the most impressive thing I saw was Sean Davin’s overtake of me at 4km. He came past like he was going to go past everyone ahead and win the race. It really helped me as I am programmed to chase after that St Finbarr’s singlet due to John Meade so I was able to use him to get through the last km which is ever so slightly uphill.

10. What’s 5k Effort?

I think that some people struggle with defining 5k effort. To me 5k effort is really not much different to all out sprinting effort. At the end of a 5k you should be experiencing a lot of misery and not really be able to breath. Luckily there is a photo from the end of the race that shows exactly what I mean by 5k effort. My 5k effort resulted in a 19th place finish which I was quite happy with, the time was very good too. I’m unsure if it was a great P.B by me but sure it was close enough and you can never have enough P.Bs.