I was more apprehensive than nervous heading into this run. I
don't seem to suffer from nerves at the start of marathons any
more but a definite air of apprehension was present as I left the
house at 6:30 AM on Saturday, 10 February. I suppose I was
heading into the unknown as my training had a double edge to it.
On the one hand I was fitter than ever before after putting in a
very solid 4 weeks training of 40 miles a week and more, but the
question playing around in my head was: how would I react to very
little taper and none of the usual pre-marathon long runs. My
usual prep for a marathon consists of good long running and very
little else so this was the complete opposite.
It was dark and cold and windy but Lough Inagh was still
beautiful with a nice haunting touch thrown in. We started at
7:17 AM, which was earlier than planned but it was really nice to
start so early with the thought that we'd have a marathon run
while a lot of people were still in their beds. It's great just
to be able to get out there with very little planning or
preparation and run.
Mark, Larry and myself settled into a pace early on that seemed
steady enough. Mark was looking after timing and we were
clocking 8:20's or thereabouts most of the time. The Inagh
valley slowly woke up around us as the morning lit up. It was a
pity really to be running north because any time I looked back
the Maam Turks and the 12 Pins looked awesome against the morning
sky. It was cloudy but the little bit of sunlight that could be
seen burst through in dramatic fashion. We were surprised to be
passed by a number of cars so early, and we could only try to
imagine what they were thinking when they swerved to avoid us.
The first sign of wind hit us around mile 8 but it wasn't too bad
although I did fear that the direction it was blowing meant a
tough second half ahead. We got into a very tight line along
Killary and drafted to very good effect exchanging the lead every
600 meters or so. This brought us all the way into Leenaun and
our half marathon in 1:52 and feeling grand. My thoughts were
all the time on 1 April and thinking that Leenaun isn't that big
a place but that's for another day!
So alongside the 'Devil's Mother' and that mother of a climb out
of Leenaun. Mark asked me how long the hill was. Two miles...
Two long bloody miles. Most people think it's only one mile
long, but in reality it's closer to two. We started to split up
a bit along this stretch. I was at the back, holding back,
knowing what lay ahead only too well. We regrouped and settled
down again. I lost interest in the splits at this stage and was
just happy to coast along at any pace. But all the time I knew I
was feeling very, very comfortable.
Brian's and Peter's support along the second half of the run was
a godsend and very much appreciated. I didn't need to take on
much fluids at all as I was not sweating because it was still
cold. And the wind was picking up all the time almost bringing
me to a complete stop at mile 19, the point where our little
group split up.
Larry found something somewhere and dropped a gear never to be
seen again while Mark eased off a bit. I loved the fact that I
knew the course very well as I was always aware of exactly what
was ahead. Miles 20 and 21 flew by until finally, there it was,
once described as 'looking like a black snake sunning itself on
the rocks'...my very own 'Hell of The West' looming in the
distance.
It was a battle, a very tough one, and I questioned how on earth
anyone could run this after 35 miles. May be that kept me going
as I convinced myself that I had felt much worse much earlier in
many of my previous runs. I probably dropped to 10 minute miles
or even a bit slower along the climb but got to the top without
stopping.
A quick hello to Frank and then the descent to Maam Cross. I ran
easily to the finish and knew I was well under the four hours...
3:49 was the official time at the end and I was very pleased with
it. I know without doubt I could have held the pace for another
four or five miles.
I had finally, conquered my own course. Connemara is a marathon
to be proud of.
Ray
1 down 11 to go (in 2007)
28 down 72 to go.