Lizzie Lee in a league of her own as she makes it 20 wins in a row on the roads of Cork

FOR her victory in the 42nd Echo Women’s Mini-Marathon, Lizzie Lee is the recipient of the Cork City Sports Athletics Person of the Month for September.

This was the Leevale athlete’s fourth time winning the all-women’s race, the last coming in 2013. 

She is also no stranger to be honoured with the Cork City Sports award as back in 2015 she was named the overall yearly winner following her qualification for the following year’s Olympic Games.

Speaking at the ceremony in the River Lee hotel, the 43-year-old expressed her delight at again being chosen. 

“It’s always lovely to be recognised, athletics is so big in Cork so I’m thrilled. I thought my time of awards was done at age 43 so it’s lovely to have your family and friends here as well for their contribution and support.” 

 This year’s Mini-Marathon route was shorter than usual at 5km and this is a distance Lee is certainly familiar with as most of her streak of 20 consecutive victories since April have come in 5km races as she dominated the local running scene.

In the decade since she last won the September showpiece, Lee has run the marathon at the 2016 Rio Olympics, captained the Irish team to bronze medals at the 2015 European Cross-Country, along with winning numerous national titles here at home.

Saying it nice to win the Mini-Marathon again after 10 years (she had finished second in 2022 to Sinead O’Connor), Lee admitted it was a hard-fought race with club colleague Hannah Steeds. 

“To get the win was really special, it was a brilliant race and at the end we were both at the end of our tether.” 

 Making her move after passing Páirc Uí Chaoimh with around a mile to go, Lee opened a slight lead which at the finish had grown to six seconds. 

Crossing the line with the clock showing 17:19, it was just enough to take the top spot as Steeds closed strongly to finish a clear second.

“I also got a good race in the county senior from Fiona Everard, they were really good races and I just love the racing element nowadays, having a bit of patience and thinking on your feet. 

"I don’t taper for most races, I also do less miles so I’m really enjoying it. It’s so much fun without this massive pressure on you.

”It’s been a great summer, the last time I think I was beaten was in Kilkenny back in April, but it’s not that I have avoided anybody. 

"We [Leevale] won the national road relays, I won the national 5km and the county senior cross-country and I definitely thought my days of winning that were over.

“Myself and the lads I train with, Alfie Davis, Nick Hogan, Dave Comber, Michael Creed and Denis O’Regan enjoy the races and as Done [Walsh, her coach] says our serious days are done so now we can go out and enjoy the races. 

"I can now run any race I want to do and that’s so freeing.” 

 Next up for Lee and her club is the national cross-country scheduled for Kilkenny on November 19. 

This is a title that the Leevale women have won on four occasions in the past eight years. 

This year, to bring it into line with the men’s race for the European Cross, the distance is increased from 8km to 9km. 

“It's proper order and I think it is the right thing to do,” says Lee.

“We always field a team in the nationals and although this year, due to injuries, we mightn’t be challenging for the win but we really do have good dept in the team. 

"The 9km distance suits me better as from 7km onwards I hope to be working my way through the ‘young ones’.” 

 The Cork City Sports Athletics Person of the Month Awards are sponsored by the River Lee, 96&C103FM, The Echo, Cork Crystal and Leisureworld.