Cork’s Ryan Creech Claims Runner-Up Spot at Irish Life Dublin Marathon for Third Consecutive Year
Ryan Creech of Leevale AC on his way to crossing the finish line to finish second in the men's national title
Leevale AC’s Ryan Creech took second place in the national championships at the Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday in a personal best time of 2:11:42.
Creech finished sixth overall and claimed the runner-up position at the Irish Life Dublin Marathon for the third year in a row.
Despite the outstanding result, smashing his previous best of 2:12:28 set in Seville earlier this year, Creech admitted it was a bittersweet day.
“If you’d said to me last night that I’d run a PB of 2:11 and come second again, I wouldn’t have believed you,” said Creech.
“I thought I’d have even more today but was just a bit aggressive to halfway. I’m really happy with the run today, but it’s tough to take.”
Creech was part of a strong Irish contingent pushing for the national title, with early splits showing them on course in a sub 2:09 marathon pace before battling tough headwinds and hills over the closing stages.
“The wind was a stinger,” Creech explained.
“We were on sub 2:09 pace but I held it together well. It’s a bit bittersweet because that’s the second for the third year in a row and it’s probably an itch I’ll never scratch.
"David ran a cracker and caught myself and Paul on the hop because Hiko was the one we were worried about.”
Recalling the pivotal moment in the race, Creech described how David McGlynn, who would take the Irish crown, overtook him.
”At 16 miles I heard someone shout, ‘Well done Ryan, well done Paul, well done Dave,’ and I went, where the hell is Dave?
"He was literally five feet behind us and then motored past. I tried to go but couldn’t.
"It just goes to show you when you run smart, you’ll pull through.”
With four Irish runners still in contention in the latter stage of the race, Creech had to dig deep to secure his podium spot.
“When Dave passed us I was starting to worry that I might miss the podium because there were four Irish at that stage.
"But I said I’d just put in an effort. Paul sat in behind me when the wind hit us. I saw Hiko and Dave having a bit of a battle and decided to target one of them.
"Hiko blew and I just caught him. I tried to reel Dave in but those last four miles are where the course is a bit forgiving — the legs were just a bit cooked from the earlier miles.”
David McGlynn (Waterford AC) produced the performance of his life to win the men’s national title, finishing fifth overall.
The 26-year-old clocked a time of two hours, eleven minutes and one second, taking over four minutes off his previous best which he ran in Dublin in 2024, while Paul O’Donnell of Dundrum South Dublin AC won national bronze (2:12:11).
Creech highlighted the growing depth of Irish marathon talent, which is on full display every year at the Irish Life Dublin Marathon.
“There’s a reason why this is the biggest event on the Irish calendar.
"The standard is amazing now. A few years ago, Stephen Scullion was third here in 2:11:55, and I’m sixth and second Irish with 2:11:29.
"The standard is just getting better and better and it’s going to push everybody on.”
The proud Cork man, who balances his elite training with full-time work, also had his biggest supporters cheering him on from the sidelines.
“My one and-a-half-year-old baby Zoe is here today with all my family,” he smiled.
“It’s a special day all round for everyone. Whether you run two hours or six hours.”
With a new personal best and another national podium, Ryan Creech has once again put Cork on the Irish Life Dublin Marathon map.
1 D McGlynn (Waterford AC) 2:11:01, 2 R Creech (Leevale AC) 2:11:42, 3 P O’Donnell (Dundrum South Dublin AC) 2:12:11
1 A Crean (Back 2 Boston Running Club AC) 2:34:12, 2 A-M McGlynn (Strabane AC) 2:36:24, 3 N Sheridan (Bohermeen AC) 2:39:56.
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