Did you do anything exciting at the weekend ?

Seb Locteau's Weekend Report: Fri 4th- Sun 6th August 2006

Day 1: Kildysart”¦..the story behind the run

We started the trip with my car breaking down and Alan rushing to pick me up. Passing Ennis we realised we were short in petrol and attempted to go the town with what we had in the tank. We did make it and got our numbers, registered the team and met Gary (who I am sure came 6 hours earlier) and Mark that we followed on the road. Anyway to thank Alan for bringing me down I offer to pay the entry and realised then that I forgot my wallet and my watch so I ended having to borrow money from the guys”¦..how silly is that ?

The race starts down hill for nearly a mile (if my memory is good) and up to mile two, down the third mile, and up to the end 500m. I didn’t start mad at the first mile (I know got clever on this one!) and followed Gary and Mark up to 1.5 mile in which I thought the pace suit me. It did not and I was left on my own before mile 2. Thanks lads I will remember you let me down (again!) the day I will pass you (over!). The third mile was easy enough and I caught my breath there, I caught a couple of guys in the last mile and felt the last 200m hard as I thought the race will stop before the town centre turn but of course it did not. Anyway I ran and pushed as hard as I could, I did not felt this sensation for a long time, no unfit excuses, no back pain”¦..I did a 29 min ok maybe not a performance but I am happy with it to be honest. And this is a Pb as I never ran a 4mile before. Anyway I have to go and push the Alan’s car now”¦”¦(ok! we got petrol !).

Day 2: Headford 8km”¦when your body starts to talk to you.

11 members from the Athenry AC were running in Headford which was fantastic. We covered the race from the first place with Paul McNamara to the last place with me”¦.The race started fast and felt my legs really sore from the day before and start at my training pace. I ran the first km in 4min20, the second in 9min40 then 13min, 19min, 24min at 5km, 29min at 6km, 34 at 7 and 39min flat for 8km. I ran a pace at 4min52 average (4min30 the day before). I honestly pushed the last km and took a min off my race pace. I enjoyed this and worked with the feeling of the day, I still feel very heavy while running and definitely need to lose those extra 10kg. I liked the course but did not like the way I could not use the hill up and hill down because they were not hard and not easy, I felt actually annoyed to deal with them, I prefer a really tough one with a good down hill that I can use, but overall a very good course with nice people.

Day 3”¦.Surviving!

Went with Garry finishing these 3 events in 3 days, my hamstrings were very sore, and thought I will just run to finish. I started a wee bit too fast following Garry doing just under 4min for the first km then went at my pace. Passing the second km my legs went pretty well and decided to see if I could keep up and I did. The course was easy enough and was on a pace to reach 37/38min for the 5miles which was faster than the previous day. I found km 5 to 6 very long then was running with a local who turned on the right because there was no indication of where to go. After 100 yards, I saw people running in a different direction from the top of the hill I was running from. I turned back and discovered later I was on the right road. Then after a couple of minutes I saw a group turning left, and saw an arrow on the ground with text saying turn left. At the time, it seemed to me that was part of the race and the group in front of me turned so did I. Again, I realised that other people were going straight”¦I called up the group in the front and turn again losing again precious minutes. I finished at the end not too happy without knowing what distance I ran, and was listening people complaining that they missed a turn and ran only 7km. I knew how important it was because this race was part of a challenge in Mayo. The organisation excused themselves because a marshal was missing. This finishes my 3 days and I am going to rest until the double events on Saturday, the half marathon and the streets of Galway on the same day.