(^^^ Myself and some of the StranDurance 21 crew who are preparing for their first half Marthon this may)
This was my first 10 miler, I was a bit perplexed about pacing. I like half marathons for this, you get a bit of time to build into a race whereas everything else starts helter skelter. But with a 10 mile/16k what do you do!
To be honest I was not really feeling it on the day, just been very tired with opening second Gym and launching a program along with normal training load. Part of me absolutely could not be arsed going down to Easky. It was cold, windy and a bit dreary.
So where I pulled a 3rd place and 65 minute 10 miler out perplexes me. Saturday evening I went for a Pint, had a bottle of wine and watched a movie going to be fairly late for me-12:30 pm. I was not tuned in at all.
The race start was pretty relaxed, two front guys and eventual first and second took off before the turn off for Easky castle. The I could not be arsed feeling started to subside and a little bit of fight started to creep in climbing Munnellys hill. Eamonn Mc Andrew who was racing the 10k whizzed past with a friendly hello, barely sweating and he finished in 34 mins!
One of the Ballina AC guys started rubbing his hamstring on the climb, opportunity here i cruised past. 5th position, hmmmm. maybe. Heading towards Dromore i could see I was gaining on the next person, Paul Deering and feeling really good running sub 4 min ks at this stage. Cruised past. hmmmm 4th position, now third male. Next up Lucy Brennan. I was gaining but not that much per k, she looks back and i go nice one. Cruised past with a ”you go girl” ”your awesome” comments. Which are genuine, but also a tint of back off now bitch I did not expect to podium and now I have a chance.
Then begins Barrys holy fuck i’m in third panic mode for 8kms. Im fucked, its windy, wish I did not have that bottle of wine, wish I brought some gels, where the hell is the next turn off. At the turn around and poker face to all behind me I started counting and knew that if I could hold it together I should make it back without being caught. I worked my ass off on hills and into the wind, tried to keep going sub 4 mins.
With a sneaky look around at seafield i knew I was safe enough but my legs were ready to give out. Thankfully I held on. 3rd place, €25 pudding row voucher. life is great.
Confidence is certainly building for Ironman Frankfurt, in Kinvara on a difficult course I held on to come in 1:29. With a real fight, yesterday was something similar. My problem with the Ironman Marathon is in my head. Physically I can run close to a 3:30 marathon. Its there i know it is. Its the belief to put it into action. Not to shit myself, not to self sabotage just to go out and do it. I think the best part of these races, as training is mentally clinging on.
That is my training gain.
barryloftus 