The Atmosphere
 
Sitting in the Imperial hotel in Cork on Sunday night I began to ask myself some serious questions.  I was in the company of a world record holder, an elite ultra marathon runner, a marathon runner with over 230 marathons completed and another crazy who had completed the Brathay 10 in 10!!  Don’t worry, I hear you all...“What am I doing here and who are these people”?
 
How Did I End Up Here Again?
 
I arrived at the start line in Cork on somewhat of a revenge mission.  I had an utter disaster here last year and I was out to prove to myself I could do better.  I started 2010 with a different outlook on running, I had set four clear goals in January and they were;
 
1) Break 19min for 5km
2) Break 40min for 10km
3) Run the Kildare half (home ground) marathon in sub 1hr 29min
4) Enjoy running.
 
Cork became goal number five as the other ones began to get ticked off.                                                                 
 
In the week or two running up to Cork we had had some unprecedented warm weather and I was worried history was about to repeat itself but when I woke to heavy showers and wind on race day – “jackpot”.  Afterwards some said the winds were bad and added time on and to be honest maybe they did, but for now I don’t care.
 
The Race
 
My primary aim was to finish (unlike last year!) and secondly as near to 3 hours as possible. I started out with the official 3 hr pacer (Mick Rice) and tucked in behind him for the first 12 miles or so. Mick had a balloon attached to his singlet to identify him as the official pacer and at times it was like being in a round with Ricki Hatton, the odd blow to the head from a balloon is one way of keeping you focussed on the task at hand!
 
At mile 12 the course ran alongside the river Lee to mile 13.5 and at this point the runners were really exposed to the elements. Mick’s balloon was like a parachute pulling him back and my legs seemed to be functioning at an odd angle to the rest of my body, leaning into the wind I was desperately trying to find a big man to shelter behind (note to self - this is not possible in a marathon at three hour pace!). I knew at this point the 6:52 pace was a little intense for me so I decided to drop to 6:58s and try and keep the ‘balloon’ in sight.
 
I went through a ‘patch’ between mile 14 and 16 of feeling a little ropey, that feeling of belching and realising it’s only froth coming up (you are glad it is not sick) is quiet an unpleasant one and of course not very lady like! Once I reached mile sixteen I felt I had turned a corner, for some bizarre reason I convinced myself “ONLY 10miles left-EASY”...the mind is a dangerous thing! I broke the last 10miles into two sub sections, firstly get to 20miles and maintain the pace and then secondly “only 6miles left, 10km or just two of the 5km race loops-EASY”! Hmmmmmmm...
 
However it worked; all I know is it did.
 
PMA-Positive Mental Attitude
 
The Aftermath
 
Despite desperate hamstring cramps once I finished and being unable to take my own shoes off it was a very pleasant experience. The good company made it all the more enjoyable.
 
Where to next
 
New goals need to be made but after Cork sub 3hrs is obviously my next target. When that will be, who knows! All I know is its time for a little break a few nights out and then back to the drawing board.
 
Goals
 
1) 18min 42 sec: 5km TICK
2) 39min 54sec: 10km TICK
3) Half marathon: 1Hr 27min 7 sec TICK
4) Enjoyed it all - 100%
5) Cork Marathon TICK 3Hr 4min 12 sec (chip time)