me running…
Everyone was waiting for message about Le Cheile midnight marathon for 2016. End eventually it it has been announced – mid July. But there was a small hiccup. No b2b this year, no chip timing. That what is happening when race director is changing. Still under Le Cheile Athletic Club but changes made. Wasn’t ready for trail. So, that change wasn’t affecting me. But time chipping missing was a big bummer. Back to early days. One person counting laps for four runners…
But this time that stands for ‘Ohh jeez, what a mess’. That suppose to be weekend with easy b2b. First in the long time. Weekend runs in Offaly. For the first time MCI has organized marathons there. Saturday in Rhode – two loops, almost half of that on trail. Sunday loops in wind farm in Mount Lucas. I was happy for that b2b. But as usual nothing is simple and easy for me. Almost died during first day and additionally had three pit-stops. And second day stomach started to acting up straight from the beginning… So, it was tough enough. Too bad cause both routes were new and would be nice to conquer both.
Supposed to be in Szczecin that day. I have already told Adele that Viking marathon is not a go cause marathon in home town… you know. So, that would be Szczecin, but with date approaching all started to be blurry. Tickets price way too high and bad form I couldn’t risk to disappoint runners who would count on me. And there was other thing. When I have eventually contacted Szczecin marathon there was just 5 h spot left for pacers. So, with just couple of weeks to go I have contacted Adele again to ask her if there is still any spot for me. She was really surprised but said yes. Last year it was 4:30 so I was hoping for 4 h maybe. But… landed 3:45. Straight away I was trying to remember the route. Are there any tricky parts, any drags. Remembered couple of these and was really hoping that I was just over exaggerating or my memory is bad. But not, during run I was reminded that there are some challenging parts. Ups and downs and ups again. And of course seaside. Very beautiful but you can count on the wind. And how would you try it will be most of the time in your face even if that part is here and back… But I was so happy. Last year together with Dave we helped some of the ‘poor souls’ to get to finish in 4:30. Plenty of pushing done on the last 2 miles. Damn you park. You know that you are so close, can hear all sound made by people at the finishing line but still path in the park is taking you away from all that… Ok, but back to this year.
Straight after 50 K in Portumna I was on the road to Wexford. Portumna not too far from Dublin. Same Wexford from Dublin but Portumna directly to Wexford over 3.5 hours and all that after running 50 K. That wasn’t so pleasant. Tired after run and even more tired after driving there. But nice surprise when saw my B&B. Really nice. Quite big room, same with bathroom. Owners very nice and great views. Too bad that just for one night. Just outside Wexford, about 10 minutes drive to quays. Decided to go down for little walk before sleep. Stroll on the quays and Main Street. Was really quiet, most of the shops closed on the Saturday evening. Coffee on the go and… important shopping. Both 240 poop bags for dogs. What a ‘catch’. After that was time to prepare for next day run. That was my first b2b after injury, IBS. Was scared little bit. Was happy that I was pacing 4:15. Shouldn’t be too bad but still was little bit nervous about it. Ye, I suppose to pace. Debbie was missing 3:30 pacer. Not many can pace that, especially in Wexford. Have tried with Chris Grayson but he couldn’t do that weekend but Alex O’Shea was available. So, we had our speedy ‘Fireman’ to lead the 3:30 heard. I think he enjoyed the run… But back to my issues. Gear was ready but looked like it was shaking. My gear was shaking…
How bad form can affect your other aspects of life. Bad mood, not enjoying exercising… and fun in writing. But enough it enough… Need to pick up myself. Even if time are still crap but that will improve… next year. But writing needs to continue. Today I have decided that need to pick up all medals which have never been hung on the medal rack and put all the time details. Couple of these lying around since mid summer. That is first step. Putting these on the rack and into Marathon Club spreadsheet will force me to write little bit about them and again about me.
Last year about same time I was enjoying my almost 9 hours run in Portumna. Finding these 20 loops really nice. Finishing that race I’m 2nd place got me free entry to this year edition. Oh, I wish I could run same this year. Unfortunately this year I wasn’t ready. Didn’t want to forfold. So, Decided to downgrade to 50 K run. Run, not race. Can’t called it race if I’m not able to get 3:30 in marathon. Isn’t that crap? But nonetheless I wanted to participate. Even if there was another marathon next day in plans. And looks like that other one was more important. I supposed to be a pacer in Wexford marathon. Just for 4:15 but those two big hills could kill anyone. But first to first part of the weekend. Cause there was quite amount of travelling involved that weekend Bozena stayed home. Besides she couldn’t get from work early on Friday. So, I was alone. This year I decided to stay closer to Portumna Forest and rented room in the village on the Main Street. Small room but that was enough for one night. Wasn’t staying there even for 12 hours. When I have arrived about 8 PM decided to go for a walk. Just to relax, then back to room to watch game before going to sleep. But that wasn’t good night sleep. There was some party that night in the village. I have been waken up couple of times. Last time just before party ended about 5 AM. So, I wasn’t rested on Saturday. 7 AM start of 50 K and 100 K. At 6 AM I was on site starting my preparations…
Long weekend. So many marathons to run in Ireland. Tullarone, 100 K Donadea, Derry, Cork (where I have started my marathon adventure). Can run three days in row. And probably I would do that if I was in better fitness form. So, maybe next year. June long weekend 2016 we are spending on small city break in Amersfoort. When was looking for places to spent long weekend and if possible to run I have found small event in heart of Urtreht region in Netherlands. When research that place it looked quite nice. Not too expensive, with nice views and interesting places to visit…
One week after marathon in Prague I was back Clontarf running with EOIM. I wanted to do 3 in the raw – running without toilet breaks. And at the end that was achieved. Time was less important but ideally wanted to do 5 minutes better than Prague, so 3:40. Pace around 5:15 should be ok. So, no stress…
I was feeling comfortablec regards running without any breaks and to get time I wanted. Learned from previous runs I have decided that not to push myself too much. Enjoy. When I have arrived to Clontarf I was many runners. You can see that marathon scene in east of Ireland is growing. I’m running just two years now but have noticed that more people are trying to conquer marathon distance than back in 2014. Small 20 runners events grew now to sometimes 60-80 or time to time even 150. Maybe this time it wasn’t so big but still about 80. I think all who run Clontarf before were eager to get their Hokas, Asics, NB… on the beach sand. I was amongst that crowd. We have started after usual ‘abusing’ and amusing briefing and traditional photo. First 2 km I was running definitely too fast. Below 5 min/km. After that I have slowed down to around 5:10. That was very comfortable. No problem at all. Plan would be completed. Beach, causeway, seafront and halfway point of first loop. All good. Seafront back to causeway. And… small breeze hit me. Something has happened which I cannot explain even now, three weeks after that run. Suddenly pace went down dramatically, legs not even heavy. These had weight of the huge stones. Barely could lift my feet 2 inches above ground. And that was 16th km. In my head was just one idea. ‘What is happening? How I will run the remaining 26 km.’ After that run was a big torture. Head was the only thing which was working ok. And that was the only thing which pushed me through finishing line.
This marathon was long awaited one. I have made initial contact to organizers of the event back at the end of 2015 when I was pacing Munich. After some time after that I was contacted by Michael from Luxembourg who is responsible for pacers. We had agreed that 4:14 will be ok time for me, for my first time. And couple months later me and my Wife were in Luxembourg to run and support. I suppose to meet new pacing team and experience new marathon. When I was discussing with Michael times option he has advised me that Luxembourg marathon is one with quite an incline and challenging finish (last 12 km). He told me that usually it takes 15-20 minutes more than usual marathon time to finish here and same thing applies to pacing. So, instead of usual 3:45 or 4 h I was in pair with Holger to pace 4:14.
This year I was nominated to pace 3:45. Last year I wouldn’t been even think that time could be a challenge. But now with IBS still lurking and form being crap I was little bit concerned. Have I mentioned that in Prague was very hot. Had to buy shorts for myself. Never thought that it could be so, so warm in Czech when we were leaving Dublin. Same routine like last year. Meeting point – Praska Brama, before 8 AM. From our hotel we had just about 5 minutes walk. That was very handy if you compared that to last year 30 minutes walk (or slightly more). Even that we stayed so close to meeting place when we arrived all pacers were there already. All happy. Some runners I knew from last year, some I knew from Facebook. As usual some of them were running in wigs. After all greetings and small chitchat there was time for ‘press’. Many photos were taken. I was feeling really good. Still concerned but ok. Last visit to ‘toilet Jimmy’ and I was ready. Of course when I was ‘doing’ my last preparation rest of the pacers went to starting line and they were officially introduced to runners. As usual I have missed something.