Alright time for another report on another race I ran. I find always best to do these the day after when I’ve had some time to come up with excuses analyse it in a more balanced manner.
This was a race I really wanted to do well in and given how the training was going I felt I was certainly capable of running a good PB (73:29 before this race) and potentially in the 72:xx territory on what is a fairly testing course. That said I was also prepared for the outcome of not running a PB. The ultimate end goal is nailing Berlin and this, despite being a significant race is still just a stepping stone along the way.
Race week went ok, 2 miles at race effort on Thursday left me slightly uneasy but come Sunday I was well rested and ready to go. Up at 7am to watch the Olympic 10k final and on the road by 8:15am with clubmate and Berlin training partner JOC. Conditions were looking ideal, barely a breeze and mild overcast conditions. Got the number, dawdled around for a bit and then finally headed off a 2 mile warmup with some clubmates, was feeling fairly relaxed. On the line, had a glance around and didn’t spot any serious guys (I’m talking sub 70 half runners) so I was thinking it could be anyones race today. I knew I’d be able to work well my 2 training partners but one of them had a niggle mid week and was planning to run closer to marathon effort rather than full out racing.
Miles 1-2-3
So off we head and fairly rapidly a group of 5 formed. Felt nice and relaxed and got into a comfortable rhythm straight away hitting the first mile in 5:36. The first 2.5 miles are all up a long drag in the shoulder of a main road and having run the course last year at MP, I felt well prepared in terms of course geography. Around halfway through the 2nd mile, pace was feeling a bit too relaxed and with my mind already thinking about a podium position I was starting to wonder if this is going to be a tactical affair rather than a PB effort. Could it be both? Still in the group of 5 and clubmate JOC looks over to me as we approached a difficult climb. I knew what he was getting at so I just nodded and we both moved up a gear and attacked the hill. The group gradually reduced to 3 as two lads dropped off the pace. Breathing was laboured throughout the group but I knew there was respite on the horizon so I kept the effort levels up. Into the 3rd mile and about halfway through we started descending and I was really glad to take a breather, was too early in the race for it to start feeling that hard. We were moving along well now and tightly bunched in the group. We hit mile 3 and turned off the main road and off into an undulating countryside adventure.
Splits: 5:40, 5:45, 5:31
Miles 4-5-6
We were trucking along on the downhill mile 4 though I had no idea of the pace and was just running on feel. I was mainly focussed on just sticking with and working off the energy in the group. So it was now myself and JOC and a runner from Ferrybank who I recognised from a few races but I had no idea what he was capable of in a half. There was no sign of the 2 runners behind making it back to us so this I figured was the battle for the top 3. Ferrybank was running well but then a move by JOC in the 5th mile put daylight between all 3 of us. The 5th mile encompasses a fairly tough climb and JOC attacked this hard stealing eventually about 10 meters on me, and in turn I now had about 5-10 meters on Ferrybank. Effort was really tough but I knew it wasn’t a long climb and there was a decent coming. I had a brief window to take stock just after the 5 mile mark (27:5x) as we started descending rapidly. JOC was still ahead of me by a bus length and even though my brain didn’t want to hear it, I knew I had to close that gap and get back to him as soon as possible. Running the rest of the race solo wasn’t an option and I knew we’d both work off each other for the middle miles. With the aid of gravity, I put on the after burners (ridiculously, I hit 4:30 pace!) and caught up with JOC soon enough and I could take a breather. I had a quick word to let him know we’ve got a good gap on Ferrybank and we should push on a bit now and try open the gap further. So on went, strapping on the seatbelt and heading for the middle earth of half marathoning. That was the quickest mile of the day in 5:19 and when I saw that beep I started to think that barring disaster, a decent time might be on the card as well as a top 2 position. Was I thinking about the win too? of course I was.
Splits: 5:23, 5:38, 5:19
Miles 7-8-9
I think about these miles now and I smile because if ever I need evidence of race flow, this was it. When I say flow I’m talking about a state where the mind is completely relaxed and in control, almost telling me “I’ve got this, you relax and I’ll move your legs for you”. Autopilot. It was an amazing feeling and I felt like I could have kept going for 100 miles. We were running along a winding main road, shadowing looming forests and intently focussed on following the lead car up ahead. Spectacular course at times. We had a large gap on 3rd now to the point where I couldn’t even hear the footsteps anymore. I was starting to feel so tuned in, my stride was fluid, the soles of my feet slapping the ground in a composed rhythm like a metronome. Breathing was completely relaxed and I felt so confident, it really was a great few miles. The splits I suppose reflect all of that, it was the steadiest period of the race despite fairly undulating terrain. JOC and myself were working really well together here and we fell into a pattern of taking a mile each from 6 up to 10. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel come the climb at 10 but I thought back to Charleville last year when at mile 9 I was really feeling the heat and as I finished mile 9 myself seeing a 5:28 split I couldn’t have been in a better position. That experience, however brief it was, has reminded me just why I run. All those groggy mornings, the lung busting sessions, runs in the cold wind and rain, all worth it for sensations like that. The best part is, it was conjured out of nothing, it didn’t cost anything and anybody can feel it. Ok I’ll leave it there. Honestly, I’m not a hippie!
Splits: 5:29, 5:32, 5:28
Miles 10-11
On to mile 10 and I was still feeling good but started feel a slight uncomfortable sensation on my right ribcage, signs of a stitch but I didn’t pay much notice to it, I was starting to think of the hill and how I’d tackle it. Side by side with JOC now, we started approaching Clonmel town near the end of the mile. I passed a water stop but for the first time I didn’t take any as I didn’t want to take a chance with the looming stitch. We hit the 10 mile mark in just over 55 minutes, a PB on that front for me and feeling confident of another PB in this race. The impending climb goes on for the guts of 1.2 miles and I’ll be honest I really struggled with it. It was fair to say I was out of my state of flow and things were starting to look a little ominous. The stitch was starting to get worse to the point of me starting to hunch over to alleviate the pain and even sticking my fingers into my ribs, whatever that was supposed to do I didn’t work. Combined with that and the laboured effort of climbing, I was starting to rapidly drop off JOC. I had already conceded the win in my head and it wasn’t even mile 11 yet. My only goal was to keep it together, hang on to my position and to get to the line and salvage a PB. I finally hit the 11 mile mark, and I saw the split of 5:49 popping up which really didn’t help morale. What an arse of a hill.
Splits: 5:34, 5:49
Miles 12-13+
Another 400m or so of climbing and we finally get to the top where we turn for home and it’s all downhill from here. Breathing is still laboured and I’m not feeling the love for the race anymore. It should be a very quick finish but the problem was I just never got going again after that climb, the stitch persisted so I settled into the most comfortable pace I could manage, around 5:45 and just kept going. It was both painful and frustrating and even looking at my HR afterwards, I noticed it dip over the last miles suggesting I may had a little more to give, if anything I’d expect see the HR rising over the last few miles with a final push for home. It was simply a case of helplessly bearing the struggle over the last 10 minutes, almost counting down the clock. I wasn’t even sure if I’d PB but knew I was pretty sure I had 2nd place cemented though I was too fearful to look back. JOC had a good 40 second gap on me now and watching him round that last corner I was genuinely delighted for him on his way to his first big win, he’s a seriously hard worker. If I’m being completely honest, regardless of the stitch I would have fancied him over the last few miles, he’s simply in better shape than me based on training and recent races and it’s great because it drives me on so much. I’ll get him one of these days yet. Finally I made it to the 13 mile mark and I saw a clock ticking onto 1:12:40. Great I thought, it’s nearly over and I’m still well on for a PB, I wonder can I crack 73? I gave it a good shot anyway, I pushed through the pain and hammered it only to come up agonisingly 2 seconds short. I was so relieved to hit the finish line.
Splits: 5:46, 5:43
At the time of crossing the line I was a little disappointed with those last 3 miles, I was almost positive I was on for a 72:x at mile 10. My average pace dropped from 5:31 to 5:35 over the closing stages but I’m not putting that down to the stitch, strength was definitely lacking on that last climb but I’m very happy with those first 10 miles, it was far from a disastrous slow down. In hindsight, 2nd place (a nice cash bonus) and a 27 second PB is an excellent result. I’m taking huge positives from this race and if anything I’ve gotten the indicator I needed that I’m in good shape for Berlin. I need to kick on now for the next few weeks, build on that result but more importantly, keep healthy and get to that line giving myself the best opportunity to run the best time I’m capable of. No targets just yet.
Great day for Leevale, top 2 in both male and female and there was a great buzz afterwards, a really well organised event. Headed back to Cork with the champ himself and we hit the town for a few PB pints and pizza. Lets just say I was glad of the day off work today 
Summary: 13.1 miles in 1:13:02 @ 5:35 m/m (2nd overall)
