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