Peter Delmer and Martin Keane in Kilnaboy

I have a fondness for the Kilnaboy 10’. This is only the second time I’ve raced it but I have already picked up a distinct Kilnaboy atmosphere at the event. Perhaps it’s something to do with the fact that my previous two races were very large-scale events – Ballycotton and Connemara – while here just a few hundred athletes turn out for a run. There’s definitely something about the location where Burren rock, cold lakes and rugged hills are the main features. But I think, most of all, it’s the friendly atmosphere and low-key buzz around the place. Quiet efficiency permeates all aspects of the race organisation from the parking, through registration, to the abundant tea and sandwiches afterwards. Kilnaboy seems to bring out good athletes and the field is made up of people who seem to know what they are at. It’s not really populated by occasional runners. There’s also an extra edge to affairs knowing that this is the last of the four ten-milers in the Buckley Sports series.

Gary Doherty and I negotiated our way across the Burren to meet up with the rest of the Athenry team. Owen Curren was there only seven days after his 26.2-mile trip around Connemara – as tough as nails, that wasn’t going to take anything out of Owen! Martin Keane arrived back from some warm-weather training at a secret location abroad ready to do battle again. Our tri-athletes Tony Daly and Derek Conerney looked a little nervous without their bikes and swim-hats. We met Mark Flannery getting in a warm-up and the Athenry team of seven was complete. (Johnny, I won’t tell anybody you didn’t make it out of the bed – your secret is safe with me).

As well as representing Athenry AC, I was also a member of a team of four Galway athletes who were about to complete the Buckley Sports Munster 10-Mile Series. Bernie Kelly of Galway City Harriers, John Hunt from Ardrahan, Kevin O’Dea of Clare River Harriers and Peter Delmer (that’s me!) of Athenry AC had all made the long trips to Mallow in January, Dungarvan in February and Ballycotton in March. Now we all turned up in Kilnaboy to complete the set and claim our prizes. As I joined the short queue to register for the race, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that numbers had been assigned in advance to all athletes who had completed the previous three races. That was a nice touch.

If there are any other Galway runners who completed the series please let me know.

The Burren

You may have read my reports on the other races on this site. If you’re interested, and have plenty of time on your hands, they are available here: Mallow, Dungarvanand Ballycotton. Mick Rice posted an excellent Ballycotton report here.

Kilnaboy is a tough race. It’s a straightforward one-lap route with countless little ups and downs along the way. In the second half of the race, and especially after seven-miles the ‘ups’ get a bit ‘uppier’ and the going is pretty tough. There is no big hill to speak of; just a gradual series of undulations that ensure the lactic acid in your legs is kept nicely topped-up.

The 2006 race was held on a lovely sunny day, and again the weather gods provided good conditions this year. The unseasonable (and very welcome) heat we had experienced over the previous days, was tempered with some cloud cover and a cool breeze. Race singlets were the order of the day, with very few people opting for two layers.

We wished each other luck and with a three-two-one the race was on. The leaders strode forward towards Race HQ and the start of the lap proper. I immediately felt that the guys at the front were taking things easy – not that I could stay with them – but I was positioned closer to them than is usual. Raivis Zackis of West Waterford and John Byrne of Mayo AC led the field, but did not seem to pull away – after one mile of running I could see that there was still quite a few runners in the mix at the head of the field. I completed the first mile in 5:45 in roughly 20th position.

My race plan had been to try to run an even-paced 5:50 per mile for the distance for a 58:20 personal best finish – wouldn’t that be nice. The first few miles – the most scenic part of the course with some great Burren views – went well. I clocked 5:45 and 5:41 for the second and third splits. I was very surprised to be still in view of the race leaders on a straight stretch of the road after three miles. A little worried that I was labouring too much on the easier half of the course, I continued on, passing the four-mile mark with a 5:51 split. By now the field had settled and race-positions were consolidated however I began to suffer a bit here.

If you read my Ballycotton report, you’ll be aware that stomach cramps forced me to make an un-scheduled stop after about six miles, and the same thing happened to me in the Connemara half-marathon. This time I had taken advice from a few people who advised me to try Imodium tablets before the race. They apparently work by slowing the muscular contractions of the intestine. Two hours before the gun I popped two tablets and now at the four mile marker those pills were put to the test. I tried to keep the pace going but began to fall back from the guys I had been running with. This time, thankfully, the aches began to disappear and by the time I reached the five-mile marker with a 6:06 split, the worst was over. Time to assess the situation.

With half the race completed I was on target (29:06 against a target of 29:10). However, the last mile had been very tough and I knew that the worst was to come. I focused on the guys ahead of me and tried to push on. Today was not to be my day though, and over the next few miles I recorded 6:05, 6:21 and 6:21. After eight miles I was very tired and had not managed to close the gap on anybody, indeed I was falling back. Soon I could hear the steady rhythm of feet behind me and two runners, a Limerick AC man and a local Kilmurray-Ibrickane athlete, overtook me. As the second man went by I resolved that he would be the last to get ahead of me and I focused on trying to stay with him. This strategy pulled me up a hill behind the red and green singlet but I was unable to stay with him. Onwards to the nine mile mark with a 6:16 split and the knowledge that the faster I run the sooner the pain would be over – don’t you just love running!

The last mile, like so many before, was up and down. As I approached the final turn to the right I was encouraged by a few supporters positioned on the ditch. I pushed on up the hill over the last few hundred metres – those road markings can be very cruel … 400m, 300m, 200m will it ever end? – crossing the line with a last split of 6:10. I held the distinction of being the first finisher over the hour with a total of 60 minutes and 20 seconds. Exhausted.

My Splits

So there it was. I was a long way off my target and had slowed up throughout the race. However, despite the feelings of ‘why don’t I find an easier hobby’ I had somehow enjoyed the race. I was a full two minutes faster than in the same event twelve-months ago and had avoided having to stop en-route. It was also the second fastest time I had posted in the series, having pb’d in Dungarvan in 58:31.

John Byrne had pushed on from Raivis Zackis after about seven miles and won the race. I was delighted to see Tracy Guilfoyle win the ladies race. She was a very popular winner being the local cailín. It was the first time Tracy had won her home race so she was thrilled.

The Athenry contingent arrived home in good shape to take third prize in the team event. I told you Owen Curren was tough: despite finishing 22nd in the Connemara Marathon a week before (3:13:58) he chased down the Burren hills in 63:30. Gary Doherty ran an excellent race finishing in 65:13 and was followed in by Mark Flannery in a personal best time of 69:44. That was a tough course to record a pb on. Next home was Derek Conerney in 73:33 and Tony Daly in 85 minutes. (Both tri-athletes resisted the temptation of a lap of the lake and kept their feet on solid ground.) Martin Keane completed the Athenry field in 89:30 – two minutes faster than last year (the warm weather training paid off!).

The four Galway athletes completed the fourth race in the series and proudly collected their long-sleeve tee-shirts. Congratulations to everybody who managed all four.

And so ends that chapter. I have now completed one of my 2007 goals by running the 10-mile series capturing a pb along the way. Next up is the National 10k in two weeks time. See you all in Navan!

When I get the Kilnaboy Results I will post them here. I’ll also post the series results.