Dundrum 10K course proves its speed with another national record

At the recent Coillte 10K road race on July 1 in Dundrum, East Cork athlete Michael Harty set a new National Over 45 years men’s record for the 10km road distance, which was ratified by the Irish Masters Athletic Association last week.

The popular man from Cloyne, County Cork broke the old National record by nearly a minute. Michael is also a former winner of the Coillte 10K race, which he won in 2022.

Michael’s super run and finish time of 30 minutes flat in the race, where he finished third overall, only two seconds behind the winner, saw him break the National 10K road record by a whopping 56 seconds, which was held by Declan Reed from the City of Derry club for the classic distance.

Interestingly, Michael also holds the National Over 40 years men’s record for the same distance, which he set in Leeds, England back in 2022 in another super time of 29 minutes 42 seconds, plus other distance records as well.

Michael’s new record means that the popular Dundrum course now has three National current records to its name over the 10K distance, the other two being Joe Gough’s West Waterford Over 70 years men’s time of 41 minutes and 10 seconds, set in 2023, and Angela McCann’s Clonmel Athletic Club in Tipperary Over 50 years women’s time of 37 minutes 21 seconds, set in 2021, plus two other records that have been broken since they were set, a huge testament to the speed of the course.

Thanks must be given to Billy Purcell, who measured the course, and also to Ronan Wogan of My Run Results, who timed the race on the night. Tipperary County Council and local Councillors also must be thanked for keeping the road upgraded over the past 41 years of the running of the event.