During a moment of great sorrow and grief, Ann-Marie McGlynn will always remember her circumstances and actions. It was in October 1998, when she was just a teenager named Ann-Marie Larkin, residing in Tullamore and embarking on her undergraduate journey at University College Dublin (UCD). Major American colleges, including Providence, courted her due to her prodigious talents in running, but at 18, she opted to stay at UCD under the tutelage of coach Noel Carroll.
For athletes of a certain era, no introduction was necessary for Carroll’s stature in the world of athletics. His achievements included being a double-time Olympian in 400m and 800m, holding European and World Indoor records, and co-establishing the Dublin Marathon in 1980.
McGlynn recalls her reluctance to move to Providence, deciding that she wasn’t capable of it. Thus, she chose Dublin and Carroll took a gamble on her. She fondly remembers him as a legend, someone she can still picture in her mind, driving into UCD with his signature white hair. McGlynn was the only girl and as challenging as that was, Carroll always ensured she felt included.
She remembers the tragic midday run around Belfield on Friday, October 23rd, only four days prior to the commencement of the 1998 Dublin Marathon. After completing a five-mile circuit with the Walker siblings, Andrew and Kevin, Carroll unexpectedly passed away in front of them, aged just 56. Luckily, McGlynn wasn’t subjected to the traumatic event, largely because Carroll had suggested that she return home for the Halloween weekend.
Recalling the moments before his passing, our regular catch-ups at the sports centre, where we’d run around during our lunch breaks, forever remain etched in my memory. He expressed to me his confidence in my ability to thrive in the programme, a moment that filled me with great appreciation.
However, on one fateful Halloween weekend, the decision to get back home early meant I wasn’t there when he met Andrew and Kevin. Despite our relationship being relatively brief, it left a lasting impact on me. Our final conversations always conveyed his faith in me and his pride in taking me under his tutelage.
The unfortunate news was broken to me by Dave, (Matthews). After attending his funeral, I distinctly recall a run scheduled in our programme which we decided to not skip, regardless of the circumstances. As we made our rounds around UCD, heavy rain poured, making me feel as if he was still watching over us, pushing our resilience to the limit.
Fast forwarding around a ten-year period, I parted ways with running post my victory in the Irish indoor 800m title in 2008, and having claimed my first national junior title at 13. I met my husband, Trevor, due to his affiliation with his training team. Contemplations around relocating to Tullamore were ditched for settling in Strabane, Co Tyrone, with Trevor’s heart set on opening a barbershop near Strabane.
This decision sealed our connection to the North and I quite liked it. Yet, running became increasingly challenging for me. I wasn’t adhering to the discipline I once had. I was deceiving myself thinking I could get by with half-hearted efforts. Finally, I decided to step back rather than waste the time of someone tasked with coaching me.
McGlynn was once disinterested in athletics, paying no mind to competitive running. Focused instead on a vibrant social life and the joy of her growing family, which was marked by her marriage and the birth of her children, Lexie and Alfie. Her former love for running did not hold a place in her life during this time.
However, the trajectory of her life and running career took a significant turn in 2012 shortly after the birth of her son, Alfie. Falling severely ill with bronchiolitis and a collapsed lung, Alfie’s hospitalization pushed her to a place she’d never been to before and McGlynn found herself battling an unknown depression. Alfie’s health was gravely critical, surprising even the medical professionals.
Feeling helpless and teetering on the edge of depression, McGlynn laced up her running shoes and rediscovered the solace and clarity running afforded her. It served as her outlet against the emotional turmoil and her coping mechanism during a testing period. As she built her physical fitness, Alfie gradually regained his health. The mental and physical benefits of running were like a gift to her, pulling her from a dark place.
On the road to recovery, and precisely one year after his birth in 2013, she felt an urge to step back into professional athletics. She found her sights set on forthcoming Athletics Ireland races, notably, the All-Ireland indoors which coincidentally fell on Alfie’s birthday. This signaled the revival of McGlynn’s athletic career.
Ann-Marie McGlynn, formerly known as Ann-Marie Larkin, experienced a significant comeback in her first race with her new name. As she participated in the 3k, she managed to secure a podium position, coming in either second or third. This marked her recognisable return to the racing world, drawing attention from figures like Frank Greally of Irish Runner.
Currently under the coaching of Emmett Dunleavy, McGlynn left a considerable mark in the previous year’s Dublin Marathon. Attaining the fifth-best position of all women participants at the ripe age of 43, she emerged as the top Irish participant. This victory allowed her to secure the national title, a feat she had been close to achieving in 2019 and 2022.
McGlynn’s performance exemplifies an unusual peak in her athletic career coming in her 40s. Similarly, Sinead Diver, a mother of two hailing from Mayo and now representing Australia, dominated the Valencia Marathon in 2022 with a time of 2:21:34, at the age of nearly 46.
As the upcoming Sunday race approaches, McGlynn aims to defend her national title. Conscious of her marked status in the competition, she is determined to uphold her reputation. When she had the national marathon cup engraved last year, she expressed her resolve to reclaim it.
McGlynn recognises the marathon’s challenging 26.2-mile stretch. She is aware of the potential difficulty near the American Embassy, but remains hopeful that things will fall into place on race day, just like the previous year.