Galway Bay 10 - Race Report by Miriam Wall

What can I say? The Galway Bay 10 Miler just blew me away. Conditions were far from ideal for running. Winds that felt like gale force (I’m sure they were not) against me for the first 3 miles and rain that just did not stop. An abundance of surface water to fill my shoes and socks. What more could I ask for? Now I know whey they call it the wild west.

The race got off to a timely start and for once I tried to hold back and not sprint at the start! I was busy for the first 2.5 miles trying to stay behind nice tall men to shield me from the wind. Thanks guys! I suppose being small has to be an advantage at some stage!

I was a happy girl (or should I say woman) to turn up the Cappagh Road and not to be facing the wind head on. There I was cheered on by my parents and their neighbours. Even the hill on the Cappagh Road was no problem after the wind I had just escaped from.

On the Western Distributor Road the rain just got heavier and heavier and heavier. But who cares when you have just passed the half-way marker? Yahoo! Yet another hill? No problem! From Kingston to Knocknacarra Cross was hard facing back into the wind. Mary Beatty and two other girls passed me during this middle part of the race.

Once I turned at Knocknacarra Cross, mentally the promenade was in sight and my legs kept going. On the home stretch I felt really good and had to run my fastest for the final mile so that a fourth girl would not pass me. I ran for the line and my time was 1 hour and 19 minutes. For me it was a great race in terrible conditions. It was even greater when Grainne phoned me to tell me I was first in my age group (I will leave you guessing as to what age group!). So thank God for draft legal running and age groups.

There is hope for all of us!