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.
Flat – ish
Hello newbie. How are you? We’re you fast on your first half? Enjoyed that? Do you think that you will last for rest of the race? What will be you pace little bit later?
Questions, questions… Most answers where, let’s call it, negative. Ver fast (for my standards) beginning of the race. Remembering route profile I was expecting longer drag from km 2.1 till 7.3. And that wasn’t as easy as that. There was plenty ups and downs, not just that one hill. Was checking all the time millage on my watch to see where that climb will be, but that was just before 7 km when proper uphill started. Wasn’t too bad. Of course pace went down but that was in plan. But there was no such a hard work on the beginning in the plan. Top of the hill and down hill. Expected longer run down but again down and up. Mostly down, but when I was picking up the pace another hill happen. And the whole way was like that. I know that I prefer steeper hills and good run down than constant ups and downs. My race in Tyrone was almost exactly same as Dingle week before. Fast, fast until I die. I know, not best. But funny enough I was able to repeat same crap performance twice in a row. That is something extraordinary. Not to be missed. Know that I’m in bad for and even worse shape but you should always find a funny side. Was missing that for a while. I should be more possitive. Know that my banner ‘Run Fatold, run’ is very adequate and I have missed with the Form by 2 months (too early) but it will end. I will bounce back and start to run faster.
Must say that marathon was organised quite well for such a small event. And according to organisers they had just 4 months to pull it off. If that’s true some of the bigger venues or ones which are there longer can learn a lot from them. Mary Anderson Foundation together with Rainbow Club were brilliant. For just 30 pounds we were getting race pack with shirt, bus drop to starting line, water stations every 4-5 km, professional photographer and medal at the end of the race. That is value for money even if marathon route is not for everyone. It is worth to try. And if you are not a marathon runner you can always try marathon relay. 4 runners running 42.2 km in total. I think there was no rules saying what distance needs to be covered by each runner. Only rule which heard (maybe was more) was that runner with bib starting with letter A needs to start race and one with bib starting with D needs to finish. Rest was up to the team and their tactic. Have noticed that when running in Northern Ireland there is plenty of runners which I don’t know. I’m assuming that location is not convenient for most of runners I know. I have noticed that as well in Achill and little bit in Dingle. But maybe these two are not as popular cause of the hills.
Forgot to mention that for the first time I have decided to drive same day as marathon run where journey took me more than 2 hours. Actually it was closer to 2.5 and it wasn’t the best expirience. Had to be in Carrickmore before 8 Am to pick up the racing pack and get the bus to starting line. As usual I wanted to have some spare time just in case. So, just in case was aiming to get there on 7:30. And to do that I had to wake up before 4 Am to be ready for departure at 5. That was last time I done something like that. 1.5 hour drive is tops what I can do without staying for a night before the race. I know that sometimes I will be somehow forced to do that but if not I will arrive day before. So, again it was a long, long day. Early morning, 2.5 hours drive, marathon run, 2.5 hours drive back. Was so wrecked that at 8 I was already in bed sleeping.
Tough? Yes. Would I run it again? Probably, just need to be prepare better.
Have found couple of pictures by CMCA IMAGES on Facebook so will put these here.
Challenge is in the name…
and of course I have missed that. Again. Focusing my attention on the part Clare Burren marathon… Have sign in for the run without even checking route. Just knew that it will be in County Clare and that it will start in the small village. Didn’t even know the village name. I was totally relaxed before run… till I met all my friends on the starting line. Then I heard: ‘You need to add at least 20 minutes to your marathon time’, ‘It’s a trail run’, ‘You are climbing here’. Ohhhh crap. Mistake again. Haven’t done my homework again. At least I took with me trial runners and Hokas. Decided for Hokas cause it was quite dry so terrain would be hard. Choice was good. Now on the starting line. Nervously talking to other runners. Plenty of friends and familiar faces… But I was feeling uncomfortable still. Didn’t know the route, didn’t know what to expect. Decided to go with the flow. ‘What will be will be. All I need to do is to run’. These were my thoughts. Before start Cezary just said to me not to follow the runners on the head of the whole group cause they are running just 10 K race…
Horror of a course
I have already run that course. Before, I thought it was hard. And with every time on the same route you would expect to be more comfortable. But Howth is not like that. There is plenty additional things which can make your marathon to go wrong or be ok. Weather, food eaten, things in your head. I know that all these factors would disturb or help you during any marathon but Howth with its Summit climb is one of the hardest one. Each of that elements is intensify during that run. Wrong food, no energy? You will suffer. Water station on the start of each loop and on the top of the Summit. Worrying to much about something won’t help you when you will be fighting when climbing the hill of Howth 4 times. Weather? Wind in your face and not only when climbing. Like during that run it was against you when you were running downhill or on the flat part. Parts where you wanted just to rest after hell of a climb or restore little bit time lost before. Hard enough, now add little bit sun and you are getting the whole picture…
Looping Cork…
…actually small part of Cork. Whoever run the Cork City Marathon would recognize that route. 5 loops beside river, then run in the park and that was about 6 km of the CCM route. Rest: marina run and through Blackrock Village with climb almost to finish of loop. First loop was little bit longer, we had to add two small loops around pound, rest same… Flatish for Cork but kind of hilly for regular marathon. I was really happy to be back in Cork where I have started my adventure with long runs. Almost a year ago I started my first marathon, now I was standing on the starting line of my 39th one. Long journey…
…and I’m still alive
First Ultra and I went literally extra mile during that run… Should be very tired and wrecked after race but I wasn’t. At least not as I was expecting and not as bad as sometimes after marathons with high incline. I was amazed myself. I knew that I won’t be able to run as strong as usual on tarmac and I knew that I will be as fast so decided that I will run just run where ever and whenever I will be able. Rest will spent looking at the tremendous views. Especially that weather was so nice…
Marathon just one step closer…
For some time I’m in process of planning marathon venue in Lucan. It’s not very easy but after couple of weekends of running in St. Catharina’s park I thing the route is starting to getting shape. Today’s run and I know how the half marathon route could look like. And it will be 3 big loop and one small. Each loop with 20 m incline, so not to bad at all. Route will go via park and to Leixlip (run via two counties) and through village back to park. Hope that we will have some voluntiers for running.
Horror course…
If you running marathons with East of Ireland marathons remember that when Don Hannon will set the course it will be really tough… and it was. Today’s Roundwood marathon was really, really hard. 4 laps with at least 100 meters incline on each lap. Considering that I have always run just the flat marathons (Ballina one had just 170 meters incline all together) I would call this one a HORROR one. But having said that experience was really nice and I was very happy to finish that one. My GPS watch showed 4:02:21 when I have crossed the finish line but have to admit that I have to use the facilities after first lap so the official time given by EOI will be probably somewhere closer to 4:08…