With your training nearing its peak in the next couple of weeks, it’s time to think about a strategy for race day, writes Robert McNamara

It was a case of déjà vu at the Cork Marathon yesterday with Poland’s Bartosz Mazerski denying Gary O’Hanlon’s brave attempt for a third marathon victory in 15 days in a sprint finish down St Patrick’s Street, while Pauline Curley smashed her course record from last year when coming home in 2:43:37.

Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers) broke the course record when winning the Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon in 2010 and 2011, and that’s his target again as he bids for an unprecedented three in-a-row today.

NATIONAL champion, Sergiu Ciobanu shaved 20 seconds off the course record which he set last year to retain the Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon title yesterday in 2:25:34 and now sets his sights on Olympic qualification.