This year was the 2nd Annual Dun Laoghaire Running Group (DLPR) Christmas Party. Last year we had about 20 people come to the pub and one member, Rob, gave out a plastic medal to Donal for running the longest distance (Dublin Marathon), in the fastest time. (He had the best time of the 5 marathon runners last year.) It was a really casual night - more of a night-out for all of us and a chance to see each other in something other than running gear.
This year though, things have changed, and grown and the bar has been raised. High. We had 10 runners complete the Dublin Marathon (8 of which were first time marathoners). Many of us started doing regular races with the Irish Mountain Runner's Association (a grueling club). And, the best part, I was able to get some proper medals and prizes to honor these amazing runners.
(Boring story, short: I manage this Dun Laoghaire group but there are two leaders above me who oversee ALL the running groups in Dublin. I asked them if there might be any funds for us to buy a few medals (meaning about €20). Well, they went way above and beyond. With that, I was able to order full medals, each engraved, some other prizes (and even had some gear donated by a local shop (Dublin's REI) who sponsors our group). It was incredible!
Here's a shot of all the loot.
-10 medals for each of the Dublin Marathon Finishers
-3 Medals for each of the "Most Improved Awards"
-3 large medals for the big honors:
Fastest Dublin Marathon Time (Billy 3:29)
Fastest and Longest Mountain Run (Donal)
Fastest Park Run (5K) of the Year (Alan, 19 mins)
Clare, my partner in crime.
Readying myself with the excel spreadsheet of awards! Little nervous to start screaming out to the huge group in a very loud pub.
This was a long time in the making. Clare made this spreadsheet of all 40 of our club's runners which was such a huge help. It was surprisingly difficult to decide all of this because you so badly want to give a prize to every person. 
These two won the award, "Sportiest Couple on Earth" - Paul & Maria met early last year and started dating - since then, they've done a 150-mile bike ride together, run several 10K races, a half marathon, Paul ran a full marathon, adventure races (running/biking/canoeing) and each, (separately) have walked 100+ kilometers of the Camano Pilgrimage in Spain. They are...rock-stars. Their gift was a bottle of wine and a wooden spoon to chase each other around the house. haha!
Handing out the 10 marathon medals. All of this was a surprise at the pub so it was really fun to hand them out!
Gary - 1st time marathon finisher
Cousins, Donal & Ronan - who hadn't seen each other for 15+ years until both, separately, started in the group. Whhhat??
So, some people, like Billy here, got multiple awards - he received this Dublin Marathon finisher medal, an award for fastest marathon time and then a bottle of wine for "1st DLPR Wedding" - as he and Stephanie were married this year.
Vanessa here set up our group Facebook page so we can all share our photos and set up runs.
Billy and Stephanie - "First DLPR Wedding" (no, they did not meet in the group but their wedding was a big deal this year so they deserved a prize) :)
Backstory here: We had this Bray to Greystones cliff run back in December. It was on December 7th - my Dad's 70th birthday, as well as John's birthday (49, if you can believe it).
(Us out there - with a sign reading, "Happy 70th Birthday Dad!")
Well, there were about 12 of us who met in Bray (15 mins. south) and were waiting for one last runner before taking off. Unfortunately, as we went to head out on the trail, John went into the bushes to use the "facilities". He did not mention this to anyone. So, when the last runner arrived, we took off. At the turnaround point (30 minutes later) - we're all going, "Well, where's John??" "Was he with you?" "No, was he with YOU?" "What if he fell off the cliff.....on his birthday??" So, you can imagine we felt a little.....terrible.....when we got back to the car park and realized... we left John. We left the poor guy, on what was meant to be his "Birthday Run".
So, as a bit of a consolation - I awarded him one of the larger gifts. A pair of compression tights (€95) which were donated by the outdoor store. The name of his award: "Most Likely to Be Left in a Car Park/Best Sport" - and thankfully he was a good sport about the award too.
At the end, Clare hands me a little package.
Me, freaking out.
'Thank you' hugs.
Clare made me the first ever DLPR T-Shirt
(that's a Martello Tower on the front, they're every mile or so here in South Dublin. They were military outlook posts for Britain, some still have their canons on top.)
DLPR and the Tri-color, on the back (the Irish Flag)
And 9 of the 10 Dublin Marathon Finishers from this year.
Looking forward to starting the 3rd year with this running group. So thankful for all of them. I can hardly believe what it's become since that first day in January 2012, when a random American started a running group in Dun Laoghaire. Who'd have thunk. :)
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