No One Else Remembers Your Training Times
Preparation for Connemara got serious in January, resulting in
440+ miles from the first. Training went well with many long
runs, all under 8 minute pace, include two twenty milers. Almost
no racing, missing Ballycotton for the first time in 6 years.
Everything except my left hamstring, which started playing up
mightily in the weeks before Lough Inagh.
To cut a boring story short, my taper was longer than I would
have liked. Reached race morning very uneasy, discomfort in the
usual place.
Worst case scenario would be that I might not make it to five
miles and then have the decision whether to walk the other 21.2M
or not?
Had to not make the same mistakes of last year too! This
demanded that I start slowly, very slowly. I did, in the company
of my very own special task force. A beautiful morning. The
mountains were a glorious backdrop. The running was easy.
Present, Personal, Positive... Wore my old woolly hat the whole
way around to protect my bald head and as a sweatband. Quickened
up slightly thereafter and started making my way past other
stragglers. No chasing anyone down; they just came back to me
naturally. Took on lots of water: the small bottles were
perfect. No heroics.
Got to the half in 1:56ish. Up the hill outside Leenane without
breaking sweat. Even missed the 14M marker. Got to 19M, where I
stopped last year, and was still going. Passed my old friend,
Larry Rigney, from Longford two years before soon after. Small
world!
Hamstring suddenly went at the 21M marker. Could have happened
sooner; no complaint. I would finish! Scrambled to 22.5M and
the real start of 'The Hell', where I ground to a walking halt.
Walked, hobbled, never stopped once. Slagged off Iain Shaw at
the hilltop. He chased me down and we pushed each other to the
finish. Strolled one pole, jogged five! Crossed the line,
having run some of the last mile. Happy to break four again.
3:57.
More in the tank but getting it all together and right on the day
is difficult.
9:31
9:09
8:47
9:00
8:50
8:29
8:05
9:22
7:53
8:59
7:47
9:08
8:30
9:08
9:08
8:23
7:54
8:23
9:18
8:08
9:14
9:51
11:25
11:45
10:10
9:33
1:35
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3:57:26