After living in Cork for nigh on 8 years now I think it’s fair to say this is the hometown marathon and one that’s been on the to-do list for some time now. People go into this marathon under no illusion that it’s tough. It’s not just the hills, or the inevitable loneliness but the June bank holiday warmth can also wreak havoc as we’ve seen in past years. But there’s a special lure when a marathon is on those routes you have trodden day in and day out for 8 years, not to mention the fact you only have to roll out of bed and drive down the road on the morning of. 

The Cork marathon wasn’t really on the menu until an unpleasant bout of Covid hit in mid March. My first session back from the evil was a spluttering 4 mile tempo @ 5:32 min/mile on March 24th. A horror show, with me the starring role and I felt utterly abysmal. A few days later, in an attempt to keep myself focussed and to give myself a target, I entered the Limerick half on May 1st which was 5 weeks away and felt like a big ask. Cork was lingering in my mind also and would be 5 weeks after Limerick but first things first though, I’d train for the half and see what happens. Week by week I continued showing up, struggling through easy runs and workouts but just getting the work done. Only during the week before the Limerick half when I was on horticulture work experience in Galway did I finally start to feel right again. I ran a very good half coming 3rd in 68:22 and only 20 seconds off my PB so with that result and given that I was feeling good again, I said full steam ahead with Cork. I followed up Limerick with a solid block, feeling really good in sessions and running a few decent shorter races in between including a 14:53 5k 3 weeks out. The training wasn’t particularly complicated or even fully marathon focussed, I just showed up at the club sessions, did what the group was doing and threw in some mid week medium-long runs. The 5 weeks post Limerick was actually a very enjoyable block and I was in a good groove. 

With all of that, I went into Cork feeling in good shape, well rested and relaxed. Considering it was 4 years since I’d completed a marathon, I was hoping to just put down a solid performance and one I can build on for Dublin in October, all going well. Compared to the block I put in for Berlin last summer, it was way less intense and I didn’t feel fatigued nor was I praying for taper time. It really felt no different than training for a 10 miler or half marathon and I never ran over 80 miles per week. If I ran like I knew I could, there was no doubt I was going to take some time off my PB of 2:31 so it was just a matter of how much. Pace-wise, Donie told me the night before the race to just try and run 5:30 miles, to run my own race and not worry about who’s around me. This was exactly how I wanted to run it. 

The Saturday evening before the race I went into the expo, met a few pals and dropped 3 x 250ml bottles of Maurten with a friend, Viv, who would be on a bike. I wasn’t going to be military around where he should be, he just said he’d be out on the course and he’d find me and I was fine with that. I’d carry 1 gel with me and take another 15 mins before the start. On the bottom of the each bottle I placed a single word on a label I had printed out, intended to ground me and keep me focussed. “Relax”, “Focus” and “Steady” were the words and I figured it would be a nice little surprise each time I got a bottle and looked at the bottom. After the expo and a nice relaxing coffee, I headed home and relaxed for the evening. I had a pizza and some pasta and an electrolyte drink and that was pretty much my carbs locked and loaded. Other than that evening, I didn’t change my diet all week. The weather predictions were interesting. About a week out we were forecasting very warm but calm conditions. However the night before, it was now looking cool and rainy but again no heavy winds. As long as the winds kept at bay I would be happy though obviously the preference is cool temperate also. 

On the morning, I slept really well but woke to a howling wind and rain in Midleton. Drat. I do happen to live at 120m above sea level also so it’s almost always windy. Undeterred I went about my usual morning routine. Brown bread toasted, fig jam and coffee. Then I got into my car and drove into the city. It was surreal driving to a marathon considering most of the ones I have done have been to foreign countries and out of my natural environment. This was lovely. I threw on an audio book, sipped on my coffee and relaxed. I had picked out my parking area and got there around 7:30. The race wouldn’t start until 8:30 and without a real warmup to do I wasn’t sure what to do next. It was raining quite heavy. If I sat in the car long enough I wouldn’t have to run 26 miles but instead I figured I’d go for it. I got out, threw on an old ragged hoody and legged it half a mile down to the city centre. I was feeling fresh. Funny enough on a random back street, I met Tim O’Donohoe, the pre-race favourite and part of our training group. I’ve seen how he’s going in training and I was fully sure he’d do the business today. He was looking very relaxed anyway and after coming 2nd a few years back I could see a glint in his eye, he was out to win today. I hung outside Pennys with Tim for a bit, hiding under a canopy and doing poor stretches as the rain was now hammering down, but straight down which was a good sign of minimal wind. The temperature was ideal, I just hoped these conditions would stay constant for the next few hours. 15 minutes to go and the energy on Patrick’s street was starting to rise as the runners herded themselves into the start coral. I popped a Maurten gel, did some strides and then joined the waiting herd for our epic journey around the streets of Cork. I had no idea who would be running today but a little personal goal going in was to podium today. On the line I finally had a better idea of who was around and knew I would have my work cut out for a podium. Gary O’Hanlon, course record holder (2:21) and 4 time (I think) time winner, Alan O’Shea, local stalwart and former winner, Eoin Mullan who I didn’t know much about in terms of marathoning but he was just a couple of places ahead of me in the national master XC taking 3rd spot back in February and ran 67 in the Antrim half last year. As far as the marathon was concerned, this was the 5 (including Tim) that I figured would be battling for the top 3. Little did I know that there was another contender in the mix, a Polish runner, Pawel, who had come 4th and 5th in the race in ’18 and ’19. 

Almost time to go. The plan? Run 5:30’s, relax and try enjoy this one. Don’t get caught up in an early fast pace. Plan for the hills in the second half. I wasn’t at all nervous on the line, just ready to go and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in. I didn’t want to know my mile splits today. The topography of the course would mean mile splits would likely be erratic so I just didn’t want to know so I could focus on feel. I adjusted my watch to show the timer and the average pace and no split notifications. 

Miles 1-3 (5:28, 5:34, 5:28)

Off we go. Because the marathon is mixed in with the relay, it was a fast enough start with a lot of relay runners charging off. I was swallowed up a bit but fully expected that. It was lovely running up Patrick’s street and onto Grand Parade, getting into my stride, able to smile and soak in (while getting soaked) the atmosphere around the city. At almost every corner there were supporters and I heard my name a few times and who doesn’t like the sound of their own name? There were a couple of Leevale relay runners gone out just ahead of me so I stayed focussed on those but really not feeling under any stress at all yet and the 5:30 pace was feeling very comfortable, as hoped. 

We made our way out to Blackpool, turned and came back into the city. It was a little quieter around there but when we got back into the city, the roars could be heard again. We passed by the race on the other side of the road and I got a few shouts from workmates and friends who were doing the relay. Now we headed along St.Patricks quay where I saw loads more friendly faces and was able to throw them a smile and thumbs up. I saw Donie (coach) at the 3 mile mark as I noted it was around 16:30 and spot on pace. Along this stretch I could also see how the race was unfolding ahead of me. Alan had gone out very hard, as had Gary and Eoin but my plan was set in stone and I stuck to it. I had a strong belief that I would be seeing some or all of those 3 later in the race and the possibility of a top 3 was always there. I was sitting in 6th position in the marathon but in my head I was 5th as I hadn’t accounted for Pawel who was at the time neck and neck with Tim out front. 

Mile 4-6 (5:36, 5:35, 5:32)

I was starting to settle down now after the excitement of the first few miles around the city. The shouts and support died down and I needed to start focusing on keeping steady. I was after passing the first clubmate from the relay team and was tracking another one who was running a similar pace to me. It was a long straight stretch down the lower Glanmire road and effort was still feeling fine. There was a headwind here coming from the east, which is rare as we’re typically used to the westerly wind round these parts, in fact all parts. It was a noticeable wind where effort slightly increased but very manageable. I hit the relay changeover around 5.5 miles and it was good fun running through here and getting a few shouts from people. Mile 6 was long and straight and brought me up to the Dunkettle roundabout and it was time to take on the tunnel. This should be fun. 

Miles 7-9 (5:13, 5:32, 5:31)

This was fun. The tunnel comes early enough in the race to still enjoy the novelty factor of running through a tunnel you’d normally get arrested for. There was a steep decline and then a tasty drag coming out but I was feeling really good on the climb here and just as daylight revealed itself again I said something out loud along the lines of ‘it’s on today’. Nobody else heard me, probably because I was alone. I was reeling in a relay runner from Fermoy and this was a nice little target and something to focus on as Gary, Eoin and Alan were out of sight. I hadn’t seen Tim since the start line and still wasn’t aware he had company. GPS is no doubt dodgy through the tunnel so take the 5:13 with a pinch of that actually didn’t happen. Mile 8 was in the hard shoulder of the Ring road and still making ground on the relay runner. Just after the 8 mile mark I got to the ramp and faced a small sharp climb. I heard footsteps behind me and could only assume it was a relay runner, and it was. I happened to know the guy and we exchanged some well wishes in our respective distances. Shortly after that I caught the Fermoy relay runner. He was close to home, maybe a mile left so I think I told him he was nearly there. He sat right in behind me and it was good to have the company.

Miles 10-12 (5:25, 5:28, 5:35)

Onto mile 10 in and myself and Fermoy are swanning around some housing estate in Mahon. I was keen to see how I was doing at the 10 mile mark but I knew the watch average pace (which was reading 5:30 exactly) would be wonky with the tunnel. The Fermoy runner put in a big finish for his leg and pulled away from me at the end before handing over to a new runner. I was happy with that as here was a little micro target for me to make it up to that new runner but I wasn’t going to go chasing him, I’d just run my pace and hope he comes back a bit. I hit the 10 mile mark around 55:20 so that means my true pace is 5:32, ideal. Now it was on to the beloved Marina, the scene of so many long runs over the years. How nice to race down this section on the marathon, particularly when I’m feeling good and in control. I was flowing nicely along here, really enjoying the whole race up until now and before long I had almost caught up with the Fermoy relay runner. It was around the start of the 12th mile my friend Viv on the bike found me and I was happy to see him as it was about time I thought should take on some sustenance. He handed me a bottle and I just wanted to chat to him to tell him about the race. You’d swear he was running the race as he was keeping serious and focussed on his duties, which was great really. I took a look at the bottom of the bottle, ‘steady’ it said, and steady it was. I did notice pace drop here for a bit but that’s ok, I was taking a breather and wanted to be able to take the drink on while relaxed. I’m an awful drinker while on the move. 

Miles 13-15 (5:42, 5:38, 5:32, halfway in 72:52)

Up over the sharp pedestrian bridge and down again to hit the halfway point in 72:52. I was delighted with that, exactly where I wanted to be and more importantly feeling confident that I could do it all again even in a hillier second half. I had said to Donie the night before I’d try hit halfway in mid 72 to 73 low so this was a great little booster. Mile 14 was straight down the railway line and I was now with the Fermoy runner at the start of the mile. We’d known each other from the odd race and when he glanced around and noticed it was me he was very sound and almost automatically took up pacing duties. I told him he was running spot on the pace I wanted to go and I was really glad of the company. It was around the middle of the mile however I just naturally pulled away from him and found myself on my own again. As I passed the 14 mile mark I smiled and thought of the session I had done last summer with John, a 14 mile marathon pace session at 5:32 average. I’ve just done that again just now but I’m not done yet, 12 more! Unfortunately John didn’t make this marathon due to a few setbacks but he was shortly about to line up for the half marathon and I’d get a shout from him soon. It was really nice to run on the railway line again though as it’s been closed for a long time. Mile 15 was along the marina walkway, a lonely stretch and an uneventful mile as I passed Pairc Ui Caoimh and the relay leg was coming to an end shortly. I had only one Maurten gel with me and was at the end of this mile I decided to throw it down the hatch. It settled nicely and on we go.  

Miles 16-18 (5:25, 5:35, 5:28)

I was looking forward to the end of this relay leg as I knew I’d see lot of familiar faces around there. It would also be the start of the half marathon and a few of my club mates would be running that so I’d also see them. In that sense it was great to break the marathon down into the ~5 mile relay leg sections as they’re very manageable chunks mentally. Mile 16 was along centre park road, another typical haunt for sessions and lockdown time trials. I could see the mass of people up at the changeover ahead but also loads of people out jogging for the 10:15 half marathon start. I got a shout from a lone fellow around here who also told me I’m 6th in the marathon. I was almost going to correct him that I’m actually in 5th, but who am I to know? Maybe I am in 6th and of course I was. As I approached the relay changeover, the crowd was spine tinglingly raucous. I got some great shouts and encouragement from John and a few others who all told me ‘they’re coming back to you’. I didn’t know if they really were or not but I liked the idea of it and was generally loving all the attention. Soak it up I say. If I had to pick a mile in the marathon though where I struggled, I think this was it. Nothing major, just a distinct sense of fatigue in the legs and the knowledge I’ve another 10 miles to go. It was luckily short lived as I was revitalised when a fresh Fermoy relay runner, another fella I’d be friendly with, took up the baton. He came flying out of the traps and settled right in front of me as I stuck to his back. Up onto the Link road we go and I had a couple of small words with David the Fermoy runner. It doesn’t even matter what the words were, it’s just reassuring to be able to have a little chat at mile 17 in a marathon. Magic Viv appeared out of nowhere again here and again really happy to see him at this point. I took on some more Maurten drink and was running steady alongside David. I looked at the bottom of the bottle, “Relax” it said. It’s a real grounding energy for me when I look at a label I made up the day before while sitting chilled out at my desk at home. Apt timing for that message also, with 9 miles to go there’s still a hell of a long way to go. We take a left turn up another sharp ramp, it’s Togher time. This is where the hills get a little more serious and this is where the race starts to get real. Mile 18 is nice and steady. Viv is still alongside me with David still running strong on the other side. I take another drink before he sets off again to tend to Donal ’10 things’ behind me. It’s time for the climbs. 

Miles 19-21 (5:36, 5:24, 5:12)

The 19th mile is by far the toughest in the race. It almost a whole mile of climbing up Connelly road but I was well prepared for this having ran this section of the course on my last few long runs. I started to pull away from David here and I knew I was probably on my own from here on in. I was moving well up this climb and noticed in the distance that Eoin who was in 5th was starting to appear larger. I don’t think he was growing but rather slowing, and this was a great incentive to work up the hills and really get going for the last section. I just knew, I had a sense that I wasn’t going to struggle today and that I had plenty left in the tank. Energy levels were good, motivation was good and I really was enjoying my first marathon in 4 years. It was feeling already like a special day. I got to the top of the climb and passed Tory Top park, a bit of a milestone in the race as this is the highest point. That doesn’t mean the hills are over however. Mile 20 took me past the Lough, a Cork landmark and as I passed it I knew I was closing in on the much maligned 20 mile point of the race. It’s just an arbitrary round number but people speak of the race beginning here which I think has some truth to it. I hit the 20 mile mark in 1:51:xx so a quick calculation told me I’d actually slowed in the second 10 miles, not by a lot but my hope was to be there a whole minute quicker. This wasn’t a set back my any means, I’m still in and around my target pace and beside I’m feeling like I’ve plenty left in me. The 20 mile mark comes at a good point if you’re feeling good as it’s immediately followed by a lovely downhill and this is where I put in a 5:12 mile though I had no idea at the time I was running that pace, thankfully. I was really closing in on Eoin now and I was fully sure I’d be seeing him soon and we might have a bit of a race on our hands for the last few miles. Mile 21 would include the tough climb up Farranlea road by the Leevale clubhouse. This was a mile I’d been warned about by people who have run the course before. It’s a real pace killer and comes at a crucial point in the race. After this section though it’s pretty much all flat running home but if you happen to get it wrong it could be a very sorry way home. I had my eyes lasered on Eoin who was now maybe 200 meters ahead of me and still coming back. I still had to be sensible on this climb so when I came off Victoria cross road I took to the climb cautiously, I allowed the pace drop a little and then steadied myself when it flattened out as it’s not over yet. I got some nice support at the Leevale water station at mile 21 and took a small sip of water. The days of thumbs up to the spectators were fading now, I had only energy to focus on what’s ahead of me, not to the side of me. 

Miles 22-24 (5:35, 5:26, 5:41)

I turned left up to Beantown cafe and this was the last climb the race. I focused hard here, not gaining any ground on Eoin but moving and breathing was controlled. Not particularly great breathing, considering the climbs but it’s all relative. I finally got to Beantown, who do delicious scones, and I’m really feeling the cumulative fatigue mixed with the preceding climbs and I needed a breather. If hills were video games, then I’d cleared the final level, defeated the boss hill and ahead of me lay a safe passage back to Patrick’s street. Ahead of me also was 5th position, and ahead of that I couldn’t even see. I figured if I could take that 5th position and get home keeping this pace, this would be a very good day at the office. Mile 22 was down Model Farm road, nice and flat but I was still in recovery mode from the hills but was now starting to gain on Eoin again. I passed through the final relay changeover point and noticed a few people but again didn’t quite have that energy to smile and wave. There was a nice sharp downhill in the middle of mile 23 and I used this to slingshot myself right up to Eoin. It was a matter of mere meters now and the confidence of taking 5th was strong. It was near the end of the mile when I came up alongside him. I don’t know the guy but he just said to me in a Northern accent “are you relay or full”. “Full” I replied, almost apologetic. “But It’s all flat from here on in, sit in there”, I told him, or something to that effect. Sat in he did, and I took up the lead. In a way I liked having company and a potential race on my hands but also I’d love nothing more than to just pull away now and finish this race. We turned on the straight road as the 24th mile kicked off. Again with the wind coming from the east, it was right in our faces and this started to feel really tough, especially as you stare down the barrel of a whole mile ahead of you. It was a stronger wind now. Well I think it was, maybe it was more-so the fact that it wasn’t mile 3 anymore. It could have been raining, I couldn’t tell you. It rained a lot that day. I could hear some grunting coming from Eoin behind but he was gallantly and stubbornly sticking to me and showing his true grit at this stage of the race. This was great. I didn’t expect to see Viv again (in fact he was actually apologetic about not getting to me enough) and it was pretty good timing as I asked him to go up and check who was ahead. I could see two runners but they were a good bit away so I wasn’t sure what race they were in. He came back to me and told me it was marathon runners Gary and Alan. At mile 24 it felt like a little bit of a big ask to reel them in but something sparked in me and I started pushing the pace. Little did I know I wasn’t actually pushing the pace but rather restoring the pace. I took a small drink off him. The bottle could only say one thing, “Focus”. That’s all I needed now. I heard a grunt of almost resignment from Eoin as I started to put in a gap and I trudged through the headwind. I passed the Kingsley hotel as I hit the 24 mile mark. Water? No thanks, time to bring it home.

Miles 25-26 (5:35, 5:30)

I was gaining ground quickly on Gary. Could I catch him? Probably not given how quick road is running out but I’m going to try. I was now racing down the Mardyke walkway, the route I warm up on every Tuesday night, alongside the track I train on every Tuesday night. This is where I live, and work and train. I wasn’t having those thought then, I’m just having them now, for past Conor. This felt like a quick mile. I felt like I was flying, and picking it up but I wasn’t. I was running he same pace but persevering through the fatigue, the inevitable fatigue at this stage. Looking back now, I’m so pleased that I never actually slowed down in this marathon, which is a first. I hit the 25 mile mark and in there, along with the growing discomfort was pure and utter joy. I knew I was finishing strong, I knew I’d ran this well and paced it as planned but there was still a distant change of a better placing. Gary was still getting close and coming back to me but I also suspected given his pedigree, he’s not one to capitulate and would have enough to hold on. The gap was probably too big. I ran along the leafy walkway by the river, under the canopy of the looming green trees. This was a strange section, it almost felt like it wasn’t part of the race. Nobody was around. I ran in utter silence apart from my clapping shoes and gasping for the finish line. Finally I emerged onto the North Mall. I was hurting a bit now, it felt like it should at the end of a race, any race. I was putting in a big finish and it was sapping my already depleted energy. There’s nothing quite like the fatigue of mile 26 in a marathon. It should have its own word. I turned at the bridge and some great shouts of support. Now straight onto North Main Street where the awkward cobble stones wouldn’t be putting any dent on my run, not today. Now left onto Washington street. A guy fell off his bike just at the corner. I distinctly remember seeing him just lying there on his back as someone rushed over to help him. It was a mild fall, I couldn’t really have stopped could I? Gary was still coming back but as expected he had enough of a gap as we were only 400m from the finish. I put in as much of a finish kick as I could and thoroughly enjoyed that stretch down Patrick’s street as I glanced at the watch. I now knew I’d be coming home a 2:25 marathon runner. I crossed a happy boy, 5th place in 2:25:44. The second half was also bizarrely 72:52, neither a positive nor negative split but bang on. I was in a little daze and couldn’t quite believe it was over. Gary couldn’t believe it either and asked me was I a relay runner. Nope, and I nearly had you, I smiled. I had never chatted to him before, a nice guy. 

I shortly turned around to offer my congratulations to Eoin who I’d managed put 30 seconds into over the last 2 miles and there’s no doubting he kept me honest over those last few miles and the entire 2nd half to an extent. He’d also run a massive PB so we were both in good spirits. I turned again, still a little dizzy and wobbling and was a little shocked to see my parents coming towards me. Is this real? They’d blagged their way onto the course and came over to me where I wrapped my arms around them both. It was a really nice moment for me and meant a lot that they had come all the way to watch. Then I saw my girlfriend Elena who was nearby leaning over a barrier. Seeing faces of loved ones really added to the occasion and emotions were a little raw. I then had to walk to the exit by myself. It was deserted and I had a short few moment to reflect on what had just happened. I couldn’t be but pleased with that run, it couldn’t have gone smoother and was executed pretty much to plan. This was exactly the marathon I wanted to run, steady, controlled and something I can build on. Even if I don’t run another marathon, I’d happily finish up with that time.

I hung around for a while more to watch the half marathon runners come in but before long I was an absolute shivering wreck as the rain continued to pour down. Elena had to walk me to my car and I was a pathetic mess but a happy pathetic mess. I drove home and then dove straight into a hot steaming salty bath where I soaked in that elusive feeling of running a good marathon. It’s very, very rare that a marathon goes to plan like that and I’ve had many attempts at this stage which is why I knew to just enjoy it when it happens. 

I’ve realised a few things with this marathon. The training was simple, I had the confidence to under-train if anything and leverage the years and years of consistency and miles in my legs because that’s where that performance came from, not an 8-10 week block of training. I’m also not convinced that I need to do marathon paced sessions. Two of my best and most controlled and enjoyable marathons have come from just following the club sessions and doing no-frills easy 20 milers. This seems to work for me. If I compare the build up for Berlin and Cork, I was so fatigued from Berlin and went in slightly overcooked and under pressure. In Cork I went in undercooked and relaxed and ran the time I was hoping for in Berlin, on a harder course. The main thing is making the line however. I think I have a recipe for what works for me and it would make sense for me to just repeat this again for Dublin later this year, but that’s for another day. 

Cork is a fantastic little marathon. It’s low key but really well supported and I really liked the route even if it is a little testing compared to the typical foreign routes. Maybe that’s what makes it interesting. What’s next? Pretty much chill out for 2 weeks, see how the recovery goes and then we start again when the time is right. 

Summary: 5th in 2:25:44

Full results