Preface: If you’re looking for a Rotterdam 2015 race report, I’m sorry but it didn’t happen. It’s a long story that doesn’t require too much detail but in short I missed it because I developed a very VERY painful pilonidal cyst days before the race so I had to fly home and get immediate surgery. No running for about 3 weeks followed by a slow but steady return to fitness. This was my first race back.
Let’s continue…
I know I’m far from ideal race shape having essentially ran easy for 4 weeks since coming back but with an eye on the Strawberry 5 miler in 2 weeks I was keen to get a race under the belt to to get that feeling into the body again. I really didn’t expect a win but to be honest the standard was poor and I expected some of the top East Cork lads to turn up. That said, to get the win and run better than I anticipated felt great, it’s done wonders for my motivation. I’m confident when I hit the track again and with some hard work I can get the 5k under 16 mins by the end of the summer.
Pre race
About a 50 min drive to Ballymacoda, a lovely village in east Cork where the whole community was out and there was a great atmosphere in the air on this sunny and slightly breezy Friday evening. I was feeling very tired and sluggish and was worried the 30 min jog earlier and week abroad would catch up with me. Registered and then jogged around the GAA pitches for 15 mins where effort was really forced. Still I didn’t worry too much, just relaxed and kept telling myself there’s no pressure, it’s just a race to see where I’m at and to try see it as a hard session. Race was scheduled to start at 8pm so got down to the line with a few minutes to spare, big crowd with over 300 ready to go. I didn’t spot any of the top Cork runners so I started to think I maybe have a chance to pick up a prize today if I run a decent race. The loose plan was to hold 5:30’s and get in under 17 mins. I lined up near the front on a narrow country road and tried to relax before the gun went.
Mile 1 – 5:20
Whoah, this was a shock to the system. About 8-10 runners flew ahead of me and the pace really caught me by surprise. Immediate thoughts of not being able to sustain this pace hit me, which is ridiculous after 30 seconds but that’s why I wanted to race, to harden up the mind a little. Soon I settled in and started to make ground on the group, checked the watch and satisfied to see 5:20 pace. I found myself in 4th around half way through the first mile and really starting to relax into it. The lead van had a guy commentating which was hilarious and really entertained me throughout the race. I wasn’t wearing my singlet so never got a mention for the first while. I was keeping a steady pace but the 2nd and 3rd runners were slowing already and I naturally eased past them and caught right up to the 1st runner from Youghal. Suddenly my mindset switches and I’m all about winning this race, time didn’t matter and I didn’t look at the watch for the remainder of the race from this point. I took the lead just before the first mile and Youghal sticks to my shoulder. The van calls 5:12 for the first mile, but my watch doesn’t beep until 5:20, hmm. I’ll take the 5:12!
Mile 2 – 5:29
Really feeling in control here and running pretty smoothly but Yougal is still sticking right on my shoulder. Mile 2 was tough, we hit a difficult climb just before half way and then turned into a pretty tough headwind. I started to gain a few yards here but effort was increasing. The guy in the van eventually got my name and club here and then went on to repeat it for the remainder of the race, it was pretty cool to be honest. Hit 2 miles in 10:50 and as he shouted the split I knew I had slowed slightly but still the focus was dropping Youghal and by the end of the mile I had started opening a gap on him.
Mile 3 – 5:20
As always the hurt really starts in mile 3. We turned into the finish straight and some respite from the wind. I was breathing heavy but still holding a decent pace and the determination to see this out and hold onto 1st was strong. The guy in the van was keeping me updated I was still opening the gap, about 150 meters now. Around halfway through, I could see the GAA clubhouse come into view. I knew I had the win, had no idea of my time and I was clinging on but I wasn’t going to relax and wanted a strong finish. The last mile seemed to fly by, bit of a climb coming into the finish but the whole village was out cheering and really brought a smile (internally). I crossed in 16:48 and pretty satisfied with that time everything considered. Thoroughly satisfying and well worth the trip out though that sort of time shouldn’t really merit a win especially when you consider the last 2 winners were 15:09 and 15:21. There’s a lot of work to be done but I’m ready for it.
Summary: 5k in 16:48 @ 5:22 min/mile
I headed around the course again for a cooldown jog with a couple of friends. Much nicer this time around. The presentation didn’t happen until 9:30pm and again kind of cringy the fact I got a huge plaque with the previous winning times on it. Makes me want to come back next year and post a cracking time to defend it. Great event overall for 8 euro, love these small community affairs where everyone pulls together to help out, super spread afterwards. It’s a decent course but there is quicker around, still as I said I’ll definitely be back and that’s a better than expected return to racing.