me running…
That feeling day before race – mix of anxiety and excitement. Especially when it is your first in ages. Like a small kid and on the race day it’s getting even crazier. I was really excited and kind of stressed but Bozena was ok. I supposed to run half marathon and Bozena was running 10 K. And she was calm as cucumber…
Anyway… Friday was 17th, so Paddy’s Day and we could drive down on the civilized hour not straight after work. Just over three hours drive. Not too bad. But weather was really bad. Wind, rain whole way. After picking bib I was still not convinced that I should run next day. Was so bad that we decided that restaurant we will go to be just three floors below. Anything not involving going out into bad weather. Forgot to mentioned that we weren’t booked in Rose Hotel even but the weather was crazy and we didn’t want to stay outside Tralee so we cancelled B&B and decided for the hotel. Just walking distance from start and finish of marathon…
When we were in the hotel we met Eamon, our friend from London who we met back in 2015 in Clon. Back then Bozena and Eamon walk marathon, actually Bozena forced injured Eamon to finish. Now he was in better shape. After sort conversation we have agreed that I can try to pace Eamon for 4 h next day… ‘But would I run?’ Whole night was windy and rainy still. Weather forecast mentioned that rain should stop at 7 AM and stay like that till at least 3 PM. But… next day in the morning it was still bad. You could hear wind hauling outside and see sideways rain. Despite the weather decided that I will at least go to starting line and try…
Wet, cold… didn’t want to run. But then Eamon appeared. So, the deal was on. 4 hours. Two loops. First canal for two miles against the wind. Then mile 3 mark and first hill. We were all the time with 4 h pacers. No problem for me. I was talking to Eamon all the time. About everything, our runs, health, PBs, form. Eamon was mentioning that 15 seconds quicker than 4 h pace will break him on some stage. But he was doing ok. Mile 9 was again hill but before that there was open road with side wind again. Just drains the energy out of you. 9 mile mark on the top of the hill. Actually same hill as the one on the mile 3 but accessed from other direction was slightly higher. Then down. Canal. Around Rose Hotel and loop done. Passing clock and I could see that we were 4 minutes ahead of schedule. Eamon was concerned. It was little but to fast for him. Me and pacers have slowed down. Canal on this loop was tougher. Wind just picked up. I could see that Eamon is getting weaker. Pacers were far in front of us. On some stage we lost them. Wind was stronger and somehow hill on the 9th mile got really high. I waited for Eamon on the top. We still had some time to spare and now was downhill. And after that just less than 4 miles on the flat. Canal, wind in the back. Then I turned around. Eamon wasn’t there. Lost him on the downhill section. It was just 4 km to go. Have noticed Eamon at the other side of the canal. He was walking. He was correct when he said that he will pay the price for that 15 seconds quicker pace on the first loop. Whole time Eamon was telling me that if he will just stop I should just continue. But until I knew he was done I was trying to wait for him and push him. I have just continued slowly. Finished in 3:56. Waited couple of minutes for Eamon. No trace. After 15 minutes decided to go back to hotel. On the way back saw Eamon. He was walking. He was still before 4:15 pacers but not far ahead but finished before 4:15.
Weather was better. No rain, still windy. Took shower in hotel gym and we went back. Stop for restaurant and next 3 hours spent in the car.
Pictures:
Quite amount of runners starting at 8. There was as well start at 7 AM for slower runners. And still many runners waiting for official 9 o’clock start. Would say that with 10 K, half marathoners and marathoners there would be 200 participants. Racing, enjoying themselves even in that horrible weather. All of them were very happy at the finish line. Battered but happy. And result wasn’t so important. 2:48 or 6:59… run finished. Great atmosphere and that was most important. Gary O’Hannlon – winner, me who haven’t got lost and whole TEAM Kerr running in great numbers. Differences in time was huge between us but we all have covered 26.2 miles (some more) and we all were happy when finishing run…
Happy in the end but during run and before I was convinced that it will be my last winter in Clonakilty. But that has started to change when I was getting closer to finish. Last three miles flat, earlier downhill but before that constant ups and downs… Killer of hills.
Pictures…
As you probably know already I’m trying to get sub 3 hours marathon in June so I’m not planning to run many marathon races. And if run then not to race these…
I’m after the first run. Weather was really bad. Wind, rain… just miserable. I think it was quite similar to what we had back in December last. Only difference – no floods. But let me begin with sleepless night. Wind was really strong. I have been waken up at least 5 times. Had to have window open cause it was too warm in the hotel room. So, I was punished for keeping the window open. Eventually when I have decided to close it my Suunto watch started to warn me about the incoming storm by switching on weather alarm. Damn you watch. Anyway, 6am proper alarm went off and I started to prepare myself for a run. Knew that weather if not great but you have to do, what you have to do. Quick bath, toilet and small breakfast. I was in Quality Hotel before early starters, could join them. At least I wouldn’t get lost. Yep, again mixed up the route but this time I have pulled with me other 2 runners. Is not too bad when you doing that alone (I tend to do that quite often, you know me) but when you somehow involve in your mistake others it is just not fair. So, could run with almost 40 early starters but I wasn’t ready for 8. Was afraid that there won’t be any runners for 9 am start. Back then I thought that other runners will help me stay on the route. Unfortunately that hasn’t happened. Never-mind. Bob was asking me why I was so nervous in the morning. He knew that there is a chance that I will get lost. Which I did on the 6.5 mile mark. Ok, enough about orienteering issues. I was saying that on Saturday I will do my speed training but after running out from town besides sea I knew that weather won’t allow me to do that training. Won’t be able to keep 7:45 pace for 12 miles. Now to keep that weather should be nice, no hills and of course no pit-stops. That has happened as well. So, adding u everything it was a tough run for me. Nice but tough. Love the atmosphere here but there is always something wrong for me. IBS, weather, route mixing 😉 But really there is just one person to blame for – me.
I’m sure that when sunny that route is gorgeous. Even now views were great. But can imagine when there is sun out you could see all those views, bay. And probably it is easier to run as well. Today other runners said that this route is flat-ish. Don’t know about that. For me there was plenty ups and downs. Maybe correct route doesn’t have so many. Will see that tomorrow. Plan is to run slowly, best chatting with someone and run the route correctly this time.
Speed session on Sunday (hopefully I won’t get lost, but you need know) and for now enjoy Clonakilty.
‘Find yourself’… for me after first day ‘Lose yourself’.
Some pictures…
Preparing myself for that marathon wasn’t easy. Still not in the best shape, legs not ready for longer runs and being just on the beginning of Daniel’s training. I knew that it will be hard. Considering all of that I just wanted to finish in 3:45. Recently cause of the weather I was training on the treadmill. Besides that throw back when I was sick I was doing quite well. Running every day in the slow pace and then adding two additional harder trainings seems to be working or that what I thought. I haven’t consider my fitness levels, still low, and the weather. But all I wanted was to run first marathon on behalf of Make-A-Wish. I got my first donation, unfortunately wasn’t done via my site but via Make-A-Wish site directly (thanks Tara). Cause matters not the way donations are done. And that is most important. So, back to the topic. First marathon for Make-A-Wish. Expectations – not very high. But still wanted to do it. There was another small thing, Clonakilty marathon was postponed cause of the weather… And before 9 AM rain stopped but wind picked up a little bit. I was really excited for that run. Overexcited if you ask me. And overexcited means I that I haven’t been paying attention to my body signs. First of all, I went out to fast. And instead of trying to keep my pace to reach my 3:45 I started with pace I felt I was feeling ok. Feeling ok passed of course after about 12 km and after that my pace went down, down with no prospects of picking it up. And wind wasn’t helping at all. After about 4.5 miles into the run we had to turn into see front park. Path just on the see side was flooded in parts, so running there was not easy as well. After park there was part where we had to cross dual way road. Quite dangerous. Having that out of the way we had first water station and we were already running for over 8.5 miles. Was quite tired and had bottle of energy drink. Probably not a best idea. Rest of the route was going via industrial estate and towards airport. We were crossing new bridge (besides blue fish) and passing SSE Arena. And that was the place I got lost. Went other side of the Arena and had to stop to recognize where to go. Thanks to Ali who showed me where to go I was back on the route with probably 3-4 minutes lost. At this stage I was running already quite slow and after getting lost I wasn’t in the best mental shape. You know, when something is going wrong it is just driving you down. So, I wasn’t in best shape. But on the mid point of run I have turned and run back. This time no errors on the route. Slowly back. How funny is that when you running against wind it is slowing you down but it is not helping you too much when it is blowing in your back. Maybe that day it has calmed down when we were running back? Anyway, see front was less wet. To regain little bit energy back I had three bottles of energy drink. And that wasn’t best idea. Quick pitstop needed and lost couple of minutes again. At the last stretch I have been splashed by couple of cars (drivers weren’t paying any attention, we were just there to be ‘splashed’). So, have finished in 3:51:40. Maybe if I wouldn’t get lost and haven’t had pitstop I probably achieved 3:45 I wanted…
It was really nice marathon in the tough conditions. And I know that I will be back to run with East Antrim Marathon Series…
Pictures…
I knew it will be hard… but really wasn’t expecting that. I did already couple of back 2 back’s and each of these was tiring, energy draining and tough. And now I had to do same plus squeeze another marathon between two mornings.
Good that we were so lucky to have place to stay. Daria and Cezary with kids are great hosts. We felt like home. Food, warmth and atmosphere. So, that side of the whole trip was sorted and what just left was to prepare myself for hell of a running…
First marathon – 7 AM on Saturday morning. Route – same as last year in Summer, one small 2.5 loop and 5 almost 8 km loops. That was just second marathon starting so early (Malta was the first one). From last Summer I remembered ‘the hill’. 35 meters incline on the 500 meter stretch. And I was really suprised that now it was just a hill. Nothing scary, nothing too though to run (even 5 times). Maybe that was caused by my pace then and now. Last year I was trying to get best result and this time I had to remember that there are another 2 marathons to run in next 28 hours. This time I was running my comfortable pace. Not too fast, not too slow. Just what I wanted. Finished in 3:37 not even tired. Or so I tought. I wasn’t tired but you cannot cheat your body. Legs felt that run as usual. 42.2 km clocked. I was happy, just needed shower and maybe quick nap. Both things happened for me. But at this stage I don’t know if nap hasn’t cause my legs to be more stiff than they should be? Anyways, 3 PM and next run. Same route, just this time opposite direction. Shouldn’t be a huge difference. Shouldn’t but… weather has changed everything. 2.5 km in the forest – that was weather resistant, but getting on the open road… that was a huge task to ask. Less than 5.5 km on the road but at least 3.5 km from that run against really strong wind. I have finished this one in 4:52 but how I get there was quite interesting. 1st big loop was quite fast, 2nd ok, but on the 3rd wind was strongest and rain heavy. Pace went down to 6:30 minutes per kilometer. That wasn’t even a jog. After 3rd loop I had to stop on the water station to dring some coke and get some jellies. Was really tired and not convinced that I can continue. In Polish I had replied to Cezary what was just a chain of cursing words. But apparently I said in the way that everybody who was there was able to understand that 😉 Coke and jellies worked. I had at least some energy back. I started to getting faster and at the end I was even second (only reason for that was – Aiden having stomach problems, Deepak wanted to avoid injury and Maciej starting too fast). So, it wasn’t so bad… But wait. There is still another one to go. Sunday 9 AM. This time 8 loops of 5.3 km and whole route in the forest. 2.1 km slow incline and after that what is called ‘the hills’ by members of Ballina AC. Constant ups and downs run on the forest path. That day we were spoiled with choice. We could run half-marathon (11 AM start), marathon (9 AM start or 8 AM if you opted for early start) or 53 km ultra run (start at 8 AM). And must say that I was tempted to do ultra but at the end of the day decided that one more hour of sleep do me better. And I was right. Didn’t know the route, so haven’t got the clue how challenging it will be. And it was really hard. On some stage I just wanted just to get to water station and DNF. Head wasn’t right between 4-6 loop. Was hard to get around idea of running so many loops. But after 6th loop I saw my Wife, supporting. And the hope was back. Probably Seamus screaming behind me ‘I will kick your ass if you DNF’ had something to do with that as well. Finished again, first from group which run at 9 AM. And I was very happy. Barely walking, glad that it was over and suddenly very chatty. Talked to all runners – Ruthann, Aiden, Maciej, Deepak… We were all in bits but still confident if someone would tell us that there is run with 3 PM start at least 10 of us would be there on the starting line 😉 After cup of tea, some sandwiches we drove to Cezary’s house to take shower before heading home. Left some groceries as a small ‘thank you’ for having us and for nice even. Said ‘goodbye’ and headed home… Three hours in the car, driving, with legs in pain. Stiff, heavy, barely walking. Funny walk last for next 30 hours. Reminds me early days of marathon running.
Really tought events but will try that again… but need some time now. Will come back there next year.
Some pictures and gif animations…