Santry Demesne looks stunning ahead of the Spar European Cross Country Championships. All the hard work is done and the result is a course that everyone involved in the organisation of the championships can be proud. Nothing has been left to chance and all that remains is for the sporting public to attend in their thousands to cheer on six teams of the best Irish athletes available, as well as the leading middle distance runners in Europe. Well done to everyone involved in the organisation.

The weather in Dublin today is spring-like, and the forecast is for more of the same. The course itself has benefited from the break from the almost continuous rain we have had to endure for weeks and will be in even better shape tomorrow.

The atmosphere around Santry is electric. There is a buzz around the place that is rarely seen at an athletics meet in Ireland. Everyone is here, including the great Irish runners of years past. You just don’t know who you are going to meet around the next corner. A reunion with friends you may not have met for years is happening all over the place.

US College coaches Ray Treacy, Mick Byrne and the newly appointed Mark Carroll are mixing it with former runners of their respective institutions.

The media is here in force with all the heavies from the Irish press, radio and television all chasing stories.

Biggest problem is putting names on the people you haven’t met for years.

Sonia O’Sullivan and Catriona McKiernan are around in an official capacity. Sonia was one of the first on the course this morning and had the place to herself. However, as she was leaving the athletes began to arrive and all of a sudden “I could feel the excitement and the nervousness of the occasion” Her advice for parents is to come along with their children and experience an occasion that we may not see again in Ireland for a long time. “There is going to be something happening on every corner of the course” she said.

The races will of course be on television. However, for most of the races TV will concentrate on the leaders, and only by being there will people be able to keep track on the fierce battle going on for every single position in every race. And as well be able to cheer for runners who have devoted countless hours to training for events like tomorrow’s championships.

Today’s packed Press Conference allowed the media to ask questions of Mary Cullen, Alistair Cragg, Mo Farah and Norwegian Karoline Bjerkill Grovdal – who is incidentally the number 5 skier in Norway as well.

Cragg is just back from a stint of altitude training, while Farah has been training at 8,000ft in Kenya, where he was with Ricky Simms group. Cullen, on the other hand has been putting the finishing touches to her preparations in her native Sligo.

All are hugely excited about racing tomorrow. As Farah said “Everyone wants to win and I’m going to give it 110%. I am stronger and fitter than last year and I haven’t been injured.”

Those who ran last year in Brussels are agreed that the course there was tougher than it is in Santry, with Cullen saying it is better than I thought it would be.

This is one event that should not be missed if t all possible. Tickets are available on the day and everyone who attends can be assured of a brilliant day of competition.

matt from runners space