Are you the winner?

That was the question I have been asked by some kids twice today on the Main Street in Wexford. Some confusion caused by number I was wearing. For the first time I was given number one. So, runner walking with number one bib and the medal… what can the kid think? Had to explain that all finishers are getting that medal and number one is just a starting number…

Anyway, that was my second pacing marathon and again 4 hours. This one was little bit different to Prague, this one was quite hilly (depends of the running app it was showing between 350 m and 470m incline). Still great fun. No-one know what to expect at the day. That was the First Wexford Marathon. All we knew that we will have very nice and family atmosphere. Event was actually organized quite professionally. Runners got small Wexford Marathon branded bag with bandana in it. Additionally pacers were given technical t-shirt with pacing time. We were pacing in pairs. I was pacing with Phelim Lynch, lad who I met for the first time in Roundwood when running 50 miles – ultra runner. Seems that he is running marathons just as a long training runs. We got nice t-shirts but no balloons. One of the lads suppose to bring pacing bands, he forgot. So, no pacing bands. Just me who had one for 4 hours and on the top of that I have studied the route. Knew what in front of us and apparently most of the runners knew that as well. You could feel that some of the runners were nervous before the start and Dee Boland reminding that there are two biggish hills. Incline just slightly smaller than Summit of Howth run 4 times. Before the run we were entertained by local group of dancers. That and the nice weather took mind of the hilly route, at least a little bit. Atmosphere was very warm. Eventually we went to starting line waiting for signal to start the run…

And we have started. First flat trough the town. At this stage everyone was chatty. Haven’t heard what was lads main topic but ladies have been talking about new kitchen, colour of the doors, new fridge… Everything to get your mind off the coming hills. Beginning was quite easy. We were having a ball. Laughter and smiles all the way. Couple of questions about incline but nothing serious… until climb has started. Little calmer at this stage. People were more focused now on the run. Some pushing stronger, some staying behind but all running. Nobody gave up. On the downhill we were running together again. Smiles were back, buzz growing. We were running together waving to photographers. So, we had one hill down and one to go… Second one was the worse one. Little bit higher than the first one. Beginning slow uphill. Nothing bad but last 2 km of the hill was much harder – 90 metres incline. Even that I was running slower than our predicted pace I lost all ‘groupies’. Was looking around but couldn’t see any one from our group. Even Phelim was nowhere to see. I knew that I had to slow down and to be honest I was running slower downhill than I was climbing that hill up. On the way down I was overtook by Ray Laningan in the car… and Phelim was with him. He just told me that rest is quite far away and that he had to pull out cause of the ‘feck’ toe. So, plan was too wait for rest but still make sure that I will finish in 4 hours. Had to stop on the next two station. Had small chat on each of these. Thank you marshals – Lillian and Maria…

On the last water station, when I was enjoying the sun, I was asked by one of the runner if I can pace him to finishing line below 4 hours. Maybe I have lost my group but still had someone to ‘push’. On the last two miles we were able to ‘grab’ one more runner and together we run towards finishing line. Made sure that both of them will finish below 4 hours mark. When they did it I have just followed them and finished as well.

Wexford marathon was really great. Event well organized, route quite challenging but joyful and pacing runners as usual amazing experience. Definitely place to visit again.

Pictures as usual.