Hawcroft's list of celebs who can run a bit too

Trim AC's David Hawcroft, who lives in Kildalkey, has been involved in athletes for much of his life and has taken part in numerous events such as marathons.

Over the years also he has noted how some famous people, big-time celebrities many of them, have become involved in athletics in one form or another. Not only that they are pretty damned good at it too.

"Like most people I’ve a mild interest in the personal lives of the great and good, and over the years I’ve noticed quite a number who are athletes – sometimes good ones," he has observed.

"When looking for more names for this it became apparent that running a marathon was a real target for many of them; probably worth a lot in PR terms, hence the opera singer Katherine Jenkins running the London marathon in full make-up and serious hair."

But down to the celebs who David noted can run a bit. Well, there's George Walker Bush for example. You wouldn't associate the former US Pres with running along roads for 26 miles or more yet his PB in a marathon is three hours, 44 minutes. Impressive.

That famous TV host Oprah Winfrey, is another noted athlete. Again not someone you would associate with split-times or sustained runs. She has completed a marathon in 4.29, a PB. Pippa Middleton, no less, is another. She clocked up a PB of 3.56. Again impressive.

Famous chef and well-known Rangers fan Gordon Ramsey has recorded a personal best of 3.30 over the same distance and what about TV presenter Mary Kennedy? She has recorded a time of 3.20 for a marathon. Step it out Mary? She sure can.

All of the above like to put on the old runners and get out and about. And that's just for starters.

David's list of celebrities who also like to stretch the old legs includes the Jedward twins (they ran the LA marathon in 4.03). Actress Brenda Blethyn ('Vera' to you and me who appears in the detective series of the same name) ran three charity marathons with PB of 3.42. Not bad for a sleuth.

Then there's Michael Roux (TV chef and London head-to-head race rival to Ramsey, is the veteran of 21 marathons with PB of 3.13); Mathew Parris (UK MP and TV commentator, clocked a remarkable 2.32 for a marathon).

Eddie Izzard certainly deserves the name of ironman. Why? Well he ran 43 marathons in 51days to raise money for Sports Relief, averaging 5.0 hours per event. Beat that for durability and stamina.

Snooker's Ronnie O’Sullivan has shown he is not just a pretty face with chalk and cue. He has ran numerous XC events and clocked up a10km PB of 34.54!

Politicians too have shown impressive stamina - and then some. Ex-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (below) you might have thought, understandably so, wasn't one for the long, hard road. You would be wrong. He has participated in triathlons.

And let's not forget the one and only Christine Lagarde, President of the august European Central Bank. A serious lady yes when it comes to making decisions that have big economic impacts.

However, there's another side to her. Christine, believe it or not, can boast of having spent part of her life as an Olympic synchronised swimmer - and was clearly well capable of making a splash.

Admit it. You didn't know that now did you?