The things that matter most for four friends
Ailish Munnelly, Olivia Kelly, Audrey Coleman and Martha Fleming had all been participating in the West of Ireland Women’s Mini Marathon separately for years.
But it was Ailish’s recovery from breast cancer in 2022 that brought the four friends and former colleagues together to create a new annual tradition of taking part together to celebrate their friendship – and survival.
But it was Ailish’s recovery from breast cancer in 2022 that brought the four friends and former colleagues together to create a new annual tradition of taking part together to celebrate their friendship – and survival.
So painful were her feet on the day, fresh from finishing treatment, that Ailish had to wear flip-flops for 10km. That didn’t stop her. She and her three friends crossed the finish line together. They don’t remember how long it took, only that it was an incredibly special moment.
“It was a very emotional day”, says Olivia.
“Ailish was our inspiration”, says Martha. “She didn’t have an easy run, and yet she brought so much positivity and so much energy to the day. She was so determined, and we were so proud of her.”
Says Ailish: “The memory of that first year is very strong. It was wonderful to be able to get together with friends, and finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Especially after Covid, which was very tough. I was starting to feel better, and it felt like such an achievement, and I was so well supported along the way.”
Since then, says Martha, Ailish has been “the glue that brings the group together” every year. Life can take over, sometimes. The demands of busy jobs and small children mean that time to socialise with friends can be scarce. But the foursome made a commitment in 2022 to put this date in the diary every year to spend with each other. Each year marks another cancer-free year for Ailish. A day to celebrate the journey the friends have been on together. And for each of them to be grateful for being physically able to take part.
The Mayo.ie Western People Mini Marathon celebrates 15 years this year, and none of the four were first-timers in 2022. “I’d done the West of Ireland Mini Marathon myself a good few times previously, as well as the Dublin one”, says Martha, “and I’d fundraised for various causes. But it was only when we did it together after Ailish was sick that we started really understanding the reason many other people were doing it. They were fundraising for charities close to their hearts and they were doing that for a reason, or they were marking their own recoveries. Ailish could even sense when others we met along the way had been through something similar to her and she could really identify with them.”
There is more meaning for each of them now in the day, because they know that, like in previous years, over the hour and a half or so they will be walking, they will strike up many conversations and hear many personal tales. “Everyone has their own reasons for taking part”, suggests Martha, “and it’s lovely to hear those stories.”
And what did they think of the Mini Marathon being held in Ballina last year for the first time?
“Oh, it was so fantastic”, says Olivia. “The event is always a great day, but to have it here in our home town was really special. We knew so many people taking part, and we got so much support along the way too”.
“Because it’s at home, it’s more accessible and familiar”, says Ailish. “You know the route, and what might be around the corner. I met so many people I knew last year. We’d still be doing the Mini-Marathon, even if it was in Castlebar or anywhere else. There is always a great atmosphere, even for spectators. But there is something really special about having this kind of event here in our hometown. It’s smaller and more intimate than the Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon, and that makes it even more enjoyable.”
The group is not worried about achieving fast times. “When the results come out, we’ll start looking from the bottom of the list to find our names”, laughs Martha. “In fact, 10km might not be enough for us to do all the catching up we’ll need to do. We might need to add on a few kilometres!”
They don’t care how long it takes, just that the four of them make it over the line together, like they did last year. Although they laugh at the memory of turning the corner at Shaws when Ailish, upon hearing someone cheering her on from the crowd, took off in a sprint, almost leaving the other three for dust!
In acknowledging the lack of need for speed, they have recognised one of the real strengths of this event. The aim of the Mini Marathon, as conceived by Mayo Sports Partnership, is to encourage participation and movement in a fun way. According to this quartet, it ticks all those boxes. It isn’t just for elite runners, they all agree. It is for everyone to enjoy in their own way and at their own pace, but as part of something bigger.
Olivia’s three children will be taking part in the Mini Mini. “They did it last year”, she says, “and the three of them loved it. The excitement of getting their t-shirts and being part of such a big event in Ballina, and getting their medals afterwards, and the fact that we could all be there together as a family to take part in the day. It was so fantastic. We had a great time.”
The foursome is all ready to make a new set of memories this year. They registered early and their t-shirts and race numbers have arrived in the post. Ailish will be wearing number 21. They’ll meet early in town. Olivia will join them straight from a night shift – “that doesn’t matter though” - and they’ll set out together from Market Square. They’ll chat the whole way through, among themselves, and to other people they will meet along the route. They’ll get the now-annual group photo in their Mini Marathon t-shirts, and it will be framed afterwards with the others.
Afterwards, they’ll go for a few drinks and mingle with the locals and the out-of-towners. They’ll “go out early to be home early”, they say, though they all admit that sometimes, they get a bit confused about that bit.
They will toast another mini marathon, and more importantly they will celebrate wholeheartedly another year of good health and good friendship.
The things that matter most.
By Anne-Marie Flynn.
This feature was first published in the Western People's West of Ireland Women's Mini Marathon Supplement 2024, available with the Western People dated Tuesday, April 30.
This feature was first published in the Western People's West of Ireland Women's Mini Marathon Supplement 2024, available with the Western People dated Tuesday, April 30.
