Dublin marathon: Family rivalry, lengthy friendships and a group of lads ready to go ‘wild’
The Irish Life Dublin Marathon saw a record turnout of over 19,000 participants, with Ethiopian runners Abay Alemu Lesa and Zenebu Fikdau Jebesa taking the top spots. The event highlighted personal stories of resilience, including that of Chris Connolly, who used the race to celebrate his recovery from addiction.
Why it matters
Large-scale sporting events serve as significant community and cultural touchstones that promote physical health and personal achievement.
On a cold and windy Sunday morning, thousands of people, many waving flags, holding posters and ringing bells, lined the streets to watch their loved ones take part in the Irish Life Dublin Marathon .
A record of 19,190 participants took part in this year’s event, with Ethiopia’s Abay Alemu Lesa winning the men’s race with a time of 2:10:28. Zenebu Fikdau Jebesa, also from Ethiopia, took the women’s title with a time of 2:24:26.
The trip around the 42.2km route took more than three hours for most, with many entrants hugging friends and family, posing for photographs and changing into warmer clothes after crossing the finish line at Mount Street Upper.
One of the participants was Chris Connolly, better known by his social media handle Get Better With Chris. He overcame addiction and started documenting his recovery and running journey online.
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