Oh look another race

Post Craughwell I had stated to Jude Hickey “If you see me with a balloon in Dingle next Saturday give me a kick”. I had planned to reset the only old PB left Half Marathon on Saturday in Doonbeg. Sure enough I got the pacer call but declined, I don't think my legs would hold up to another Marathon. Hell they probably wont be great in the race either but sure it is only a half.

Build-up

Did nothing all week, as my legs where in absolute bits after Craughwell. Got out for an easy run on Thursday night legs dead heavy but improved after the first 2 Miles. Morning of the race weather conditions where going to be close to ideal well they say 16°C is ideal but not for us fair weather paddies. Got to Doonbeg early and did the warm-up, first Mile legs where heavy but they seemed to improve for the second mile. I was still in two minds at what time/pace I should aim for. If I was fully rested and had this as a goal target I would probably be around 93 minute mark but I knew the auld legs would not survive that pace today. Decided to try and go out and aim for 95 minutes.

Race

There was a good crowd at the start for this with plenty of walkers up the front. However the road is plenty wide and I wasn't delayed at all. In saying that I clocked a sub 7 minute mile so pulled back a bit. Again as in the previous race my mouth was dry but luckily there was a water station at the 2 mile mark. Water was in plastic cups, doesn't bother me, got a good mouthful and even had some spare to throw over my head. Even though it was in cups and the day was quite warm I never felt the need to take it at every station. In total there was 7-8 water stations. Once we hit 3 miles you turn into the slight breeze and a gradual slope for the Mile. Everything was going well until 4 when there was a sharp descent followed by another sharp up and down. The combination of these two descents was the last straw for my quads and I had to drop the pace back slightly thereafter. Still passed 10K mark in 45 so target was still on. From here to 11 was a real struggle, legs just had no zip in them, which I was half expecting to be honest and if I had half a brain I would have taken the opportunity to stroll around Dingle for the day. Effort wise I was comfortable but I had no wheels under me today. From 11 onwards I pushed to try and catch two runners ahead. Just before 12 I was 20 seconds behind when they stopped to take on water. I knew I would be alright to not take on water so I just zipped by them and kept the head down and kicked on. One guy kept with me, and at one stage drew alongside with half a mile to go. I pressed on again all the way to the finish and kept him behind crossed the line in 1:35:56 some what disappointed.

The usual feed of nice stuff and a chat with Seanie Whelan afterwards on running. I hit home early as I had some DIY to attend to that had been neglected in the recent weeks. Turned out that final mile I promoted myself from 4th to 2nd in the M40 Category, this made up for my initial disappointment of not getting under 95 minutes. A first podium finish for me happy days.

3 in 3

No not days but weeks. I have not yet entered the madness of consecutive days but I am well on my way.

Its not Sixmilebridge

MCI decided to put on a Marathon in Clare that wasn’t in Sixmilebridge. This been a first I couldn't pass up the chance to run a Marathon in My native county. Patrick and Thresa where the race directors and when I saw the original course map I knew it would involve a pretty tough climb out of Ennistymon on the way to Liscannor. We found out on the morning that even though the course was 3 laps we would have to negotiate the climb for a fourth time to make the distance. Day was the usual low key MCI event which is great as their is always plenty of banter and crack before and after. A tough course but my intention was to take it easy. Missed the start and ended up at the rear of the field for the first few miles until we got to the Prom in Lehinch. Had the support from Lisa and Kate from the club who stuck around after the club run in that morning. Shortly after leaving here the usual badly timed bowel movement had me looking for a suitable spot. Unfortunately none where available so I upped the pace to finish the first lap to get a pit stop in. This left me on my own until I again caught up with Jimmy and Ann, some great yarns from Jimmy making the miles fly by but unfortunately I had to kick on again as the pace wasn't keeping me warm enough. I had decided in my ultimate wisdom just to wear my club singlet with no under layer. By lap three the old nipples where complaining so I just picked it up to get home. Finished on 4:11:39 and had a look at Tom’s time. 3:41, if he keeps himself injury free he will most likely smash his PB (and my PB) in October. As per usual the race was well organised as you would expect, course was hard but accurate. Went for a swim with all the surfers later, salt water and nipples do not agree.

AcHILL

When ever Tom rings you and opens with that line “Hey Ger” it is normal to thread with caution. He needed someone to fill his big boots in Achill as 4 Hour Pacer. As I was going I was most likely top of his list. So after a couple of minutes thinking “do I really need a 4 Hour Marathon in my legs” I decided to go for it. My thinking was I would have no one around me for the last few miles and I could let go the balloon if needed. I decided I had better look at the course profile after some comments re the course on boards, The best way to describe it would be rolling Mountains with spectacular scenic views. I also hadn't realised how far away Achill is from anywhere, so I decided best to go up the night before given it was going to be a 3 hour drive in the morning.

The old nipples where still a bit tender from last weeks endeavours but the sun was out this week which would make wearing underlay hot and sweaty. I went with the hot and sweaty option much preferable to running around looking like someone just shot me twice. Pretty soon we where lining up and everyone deciding to line up behind the person with the balloon. Having evaluated the course profile I reckoned that I would need 3-4 minutes on a bank each time before hitting the hard section from Mile 6 to 10 on each lap. This meant the pace of the first few miles was 8:15 to 8:30 pace. Some of those around me noted this so I explained the reason for it. First lap ended and I had a minute in the bank with the group pretty much still together. However the pace increase again at the start of the second lap splintered the group and the only runner with me was Valdimir looking to break 6 Hours for the Ultra. He stayed with me until the top of the last climb before kicking on for home. Passed Bonnie on the last mile, she was suffering but still smiling and stuck with me to get under 4. I crossed in 3:58:49 a bit ahead but its a very hard course to pace. Some courses are for PB’s but Achill is for beauty and testing your resolve. There is now way I would have ran another lap for the Ultra.

Afterwards Brenda picked up the MCI clubs first 75th Marathon medal. She only ran her 50th in Connemara, this time I was here for the presentation but no one made a cake.

Yippy its Dry

Last time I ran in Craughwell we got a miserable day but today was dry but still having tender nipples I wore the under layer. I had decided to do 3-4 laps (3.27 Miles) at Marathon effort just to see what kind of shape I am in. Whether the fourth one happened was going to be down to how the legs felt. I didn't want to trash them just to get the job done. A bit of a disaster for the first one just went too quick (24:08) 2nd (25:18) and 3rd (25:07) where okay but the last one half way through I was suffering with the old legs so I backed off slightly and finished it (25:42). The last 2 laps of the race where a walk fest very similar to Portumna 1:07 for the final 11K. I wasn't alone Ruthann who would normal lap me was struggling along as well. Made me realise there will be some bad days ahead in my journey towards 50.
Back to the start/finish at last in 3:53:05 pretty respectable given how I finished. Plenty of nice homemade goodies, chat and banter. I somehow managed to escape the Ice Bucket Challenge before the presentations to Val (50th), Rita (25th), Jude (25th) and Kathleen Cheshire of DBRC getting her 100th Marathon Medal

The Softy

Trial and Error

So two of my personal best are on the soft side, 10K and half Marathon times. I had planned to tackle the 10K in early July but herself indoors was in Hospital for a week, when like a revolving door she came home and Lorraine went in. Not much serious training done in prep for the new target race Kilmurry Harvest Festival 10K. I ran this before and had a complete disaster of a race. So Monday before the race I decided to do 6 * 1 Mile 10K paced reps just to see what my current pace might be. My 5K time gives me somewhere between 6:40/6:50 per mile pace. So off I set first Mile was 6:30 and felt pretty okay (famous last words) well we all know what happens in reps when you do the first few too hard. They go backwards pretty quickly (6:40, 6:45, 6:55, 6:58, 7:04). I thought I was going to die on the fourth one and very nearly pulled the plug but had some harsh words with myself, you plonker Rodney you went out too fast.

Rodney Part Two

Race day, as usual we get a warm sunny evening for the race. I don't do running in the heat, I just boil over. I decide to try and get 42:30 which is 8:30 per Two Kilometres. Usual 2 mile warm-up with some strides too wake the legs up. Pretty soon we where off. Small crowd so the greyhounds flew ahead leaving me in their wake. I was conscious of not going out to quick, and tried to keep the speed down on the watch, problem it was either too quick or too slow so I was all all over the place. I couldn't get into a rhythm at all. We passed the finish shortly after the 1 K mark and the pace lifted again but it got pulled back pretty quickly with the first of 3 climbs out of Kilmurry. This section is net Downhill but has 4 stiff climbs in it. Passed 2K mark and my time was 8:57 !!. Way too slow and at this rate I would not even get near my PB of 43:56. Still my pace was all over the shop and now my mouth was as dry as the Sahara. Passed 4K with a bad  split 17:52 at which point came the first Water station, I stopped and took a good drink of water. Two runners passed me and where both ahead by 35 to 50m when I started up again. I spent the rest of the race following them but at least I had now managed to find a pretty even tempo. Passed halfway 22:03 which was a big improvement but it didn't register with me at the time. I had at this point pretty much given up on a PB as once we hit 6K its a nice drag to 9K before it flattens out. Spent the rest of the race  just trying to catch the two runners in front of me. It wasn't until I casually glanced at the watch at 9K that I realised I had got quicker 39:04 meant any decent last kilometre would at least unsoften my PB. Dug in for the rest of the race still trying too catch the two in front but they where not coming back to me. Finished with a new PB of 43:21. As per usual I consumed more calories the I burnt in the after race picnic.

Conclusion

Any time you get a new PB it should be a good race but I ran a stinker. Even with no specific 10K work done I should have got under 43 minutes. I didn’t really get to the pace of the race until after halfway which pretty much cost me the time. It is ironic I ran the second half faster then the first, when the second half is net elevation gain and the first 5K was downhill. There will be another day out to try and rectify this in September, but with 3 marathons pencilled in over the next few weeks I may not really be in true 10K shape but hopefully I might give a better account of myself.