Earlier it was a wet and windy start for the assembled stellar cast of international performers at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Larne - a nightmare scenario for race organiser James McIlroy.
With record-breaking times out of the question, it came down to survival in the unseasonal conditions with East Africans still dominating both men’s and women’s races.
While the rain pelted down, a group of three broke clear early on.
Kenyans Alex Nzioka and Hilary Kipkoech, accompanied by Ethiopian Birhanu Legese who was pre-race favourite on the strength of a 2:02 marathon to his credit, quickly up a gap before Nzioka made his effort short before the turn at Ballygally.
With the other two only putting up token resistance, the 20-year-old was able to go away for a convincing win in 59 minutes and 46 seconds – extraordinary running given the weather.
Hilary Kipkoech got the better of Legese for second with both men being given the same time of 60:27.
Hiko Tonosa was the leading Irish finisher in eighth recording a 62:46 timing while Australia’s Ryan Gregson, a 1500m finalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was tenth in 63:00 at his debut over the distance.
Conor Duffy, in 24th with a time of 66:54, was the leading NI/Ulster runner.
It may have been a case of horses for courses in the women’s contest with Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw overcoming more fancied rivals.
Yehualaw dominated from start to finish to complete a hat-trick of victories in the event.
Aiming for a time of 63:30, the former London Marathon winner had to settle for a 65:31 mark.
Kenyans Loice Chemnung and Joyciline Jepkosgei claimed second and third spots in 66:47 and 67:04 respectively.
Armagh AC’s Fionnuala Ross had a great run to finish tenth in 74:16.
However, it was not all about the elite with well over two thousand finishers from as far away as California braving the conditions.
Although another 1500 of the pre-entries thought discretion was the better part of valour and probably opted for a Sunday morning lie-in.
It was a dreich morning in Letterkenny as well with Gary Slevin and Claire McGuigan lifting the top category prizes while Karol Doherty was the first wheelchair competitor.
Slevin, whose father Paddy was a notable footballer, made a cautious start but overhauled long-term leader Ciaran McGonagle, from the host club Letterkenny AC, on the return journey to win in 74:13.
McGonagle held on for second in 75:16 with Rosses AC’s Charlie O’Donnell grabbing the bronze medal spot in 76:02.
Claire McGuigan admitted to being on her own for most of the race and having difficulty avoiding the puddles before the relatively recent Letterkenny AC recruit crossed the finish line in 18th place overall in 80:57.
Raheny Shamrock runner Fiona Stack was next woman across the line in 81:50 with Maria Ní Mhaolagáin filling out the podium in 83:10. Karol Doherty complained that he had difficulty getting traction on the wet roads but nevertheless navigated his wheelchair home in 91:36.
Springwell’s Chris Denton was the winner of Sunday’s Longford Marathon in 2:40:08. Mallusk Harrier Peter Hughes was third in 2:48:42.
