Connemarathon 2008
06th April 2008
2008
Dublin Marathon
27 October 2008
2009
Race Review
Let's start the review with the most important bit... I am very pleased to announce that €1491 has been raised and donated to Crumlim Children Hospital. I would like to take this opportunity to thank again all my very generous and supportive sponsors. This now sets the target for next year!!
Beautiful
mid-morning blue sky as the start is about to be given..."Could
somebody please close the door?" as a northern wind was
blowing us away. At 10:30am sharp, the first marathoner passed the
start line. Ray and myself were having a chat, trying to comprise
on the right starting pace !! While we were expecting to finish in
around the same time, we have two different running styles. He starts
very slow and then gradually increase his speed to achieve negative
splits in the second half of the race. That's the right way.
I start a bit faster than normal pace as I know that i am weak in the
second half and will achieve positive split time. That's the wrong way.
The first 10 miles were head on against the wind, with 2 heavy showers
of hailstones hitting our faces.. Great!! It hurts a bit but at least you
don't get wet..
After 13 miles, i was on target for a 4h05min finish (i wished!). Then
the first "big" hill in Leenane arrived.. My pace went down to a
crawling
10min36sec per mile. And i actually never really got below the 10min
per mile mark until the finish line. I was expecting Ray to zoom
by
me at any stage..
The second big hill, know as "The hell of the West" lies at miles22-24
as runners hit the wall.. Well, I am not going to mention my pace
here as it would turn snails into cheetahs. Still no sign of Ray
overtaking, but... I saw a hat like his on the ground at mile 23 and though he had
already passed me without being noticed.. or would he have taken a
short cut?
Anyway, I managed to run the last bit in a sub 10min per mile,
finishing in 4hours25min44sec. Ray arrived literally seconds after me.
He later told me he had been following me for quite a while but never
really managed to "catch" me. I am sure he could have, but being
such a gentleman, he simply wanted to give me the honour of crossing
the finish line first as i am older than he is....BUT he ran the entire course without
walking/stopping. And that's an achievement as far as I am concerned,
and makes him the winner.
Race Number: 5208
Time: 04:25:44
Place: 270th (about 430 finishers)
What's about next year?
The Connemarathon takes place next year on the 22nd March 2009, while Paris Marathon takes place on the 05th April 2009...That's only 2 weeks recovery between the 2 races, which is a bit short for my legs, but not impossible
So, for 2009, I think it will either be the Connemara Utra Marathon (39miles) or the Paris Marathon (26miles).
I don't know yet for sure....so stay tuned...
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