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Irish Daily Mail, 28th October 2008
THE four children of Dublin Marathon founder Noel Carroll took to the streets yesterday to run the 26-mile race in his memory.
Stephen, Nicola, Noel Jr and Enda all ran the gruelling race in honour of their late father, who passed away ten years ago, aged Just 56.
It is 28 years since record-setting middle-distance runner Noel dreamt up the Idea of the first Dublin Marathon.
He had to persuade city officials to close the streets of the capital for the race, which his son Stephen recalled, was not an easy task.
'I remember people thought he was mad, because in 1980 running wasn't anything like It is today.'
He added: 'I suppose talking to people about shutting a street down in Dublin or shutting many streets down on a Bank Holiday Monday seemed like a pretty daft Idea.'
Speaking on RTE Radio before the start of the marathon, Stephen said his father would have been very proud to see his four children run the race.
He said: 'So that's a huge boost, and hopefully a push on the back for the 26.2 miles that we'll know that Dad is there... It's a wonderful way to remember him.
'He didn't push running on us a whole lot, he kind of left it up to us.
'My mother, Delrdre O'Callaghan, being a singer and my father a runner, I always say that I run like my mother and sing like my father!'
The quartet had also run the New York marathon 11 years ago, however, Stephen admitted that after the race, they said they would 'never do it again'. Yesterday's marathon was the first time since New York that the family were running together In an official event.
The four Carrolls were doing It in aid of GOAL, which their father chaired, and In particular for a new building in Calcutta which will help take young children off the streets and train them In craft skills.
Stephen crossed the line in 3:57:59, Enda and Nicola came in together on 5:48.34. Noel did not have a confirmed time yesterday, organisers said.
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