Completing my first Half Marathon - River Moy Half Marathon in Ballina, Co. Mayo.

5km to go

The River Moy Half Marathon is a locally organised race is a credit to Ballina, almost 600 runners from all over Ireland and abroad came to our little town to take part, with a warm welcome and amazing community spirit. The volunteers on the day did an excellent job making sure all the runners were looked after and the spread after the race was just super.

A week and a half prior to the race I fell ill with a horrific stomach bug and I couldn't face doing anything exercise related, I did manage to get it together enough to volunteer for Ballina's Darkness into Light, but anything else was a no go.

 I finally pulled myself together enough to do a mock start of the race with one of the girls. We only ran 3 km but it was good to see the starting and end point of the race and get a feel for the road surface along that area.
It was my first run in over a week, it didn't help that it was still 20 degrees at half 6 that evening so it was fair to say it was my slowest run ever! Still we were optimistic, we drove the whole route to get a feel for it and counted all the hills along the way, I thought it might psych me out but I felt pretty confident I would be fine.

A quick weather check indicated that we were in for a hot race day, with highs in the early 20s, which may seem ideal but all our training had been done in wet, cold conditions and I was certainly unaccustomed to running in that kind of heat.
Already I was deciding that I would probably have to push my goal time back to 2.10, it seemed more realistic considering being ill the week before and the heat expected.

I picked up my race pack the night before and I am glad I did as I ended up arriving fashionably late on race day with only 15 minutes to starting time, luckily I had done a warm up at home and I was feeling excited but relaxed.

Start to 5km: And we were off!
Mostly flat and downhill to begin with a nice breeze along the bridge, people were already out cheering us on. I wedged myself into the 1:55 group and manage to stay with them.
Reaching 5km and I realise that I have run my fastest 5 km yet, not a good sign, as I was hoping to conserve a lot of my energy to sustain myself for the rest of the race.

5km to 10km: This part mainly covers a long straight stretch along the Killala road, I try to distract myself using anti boredom devices: signing in my head and converting the mile markers to kilometres as well as the Alexander Technique.
 I get overtaken by the 1:55 balloon at this stage, not by too much so I still haven't given up on staying under 2 hours. I am roasting, every pit stop along the way I douse water over my head and back. The relief is unreal. I'm am passing the half way mark now and just up ahead are a couple of musicians playing country music, oddly enough its just the boost I need!

10km to 15km: I know this road has a couple of unpleasant hills, but I am dying to get into the woods for some shade, I had planned to take an energy gel at 10km but I am feeling good!
 Loving the support from all the people as we run by especially the two auld lads with a makeshift water station outside their house complete with packets of crisps, I gladly take a water to douse myself in but pass on the crisps.
There is zero breeze on this back road and I am dwindling in this heat.
I decide to take my first gel when I see the back of the woods (hallelujah) I slow down to a crawl and finish the packet, I take my first gulp of water hoping I don't get a stitch and rock on.

My thoughts exactly.

15km to 21km: POSITIVE THOUGHTS, POSITIVE THOUGHTS!
I had hit the back of the woods at 1:16 with about 6km left to go, but it is roasting and the shade of the woods proved to be more claustrophobic and humid than relieving.
I can see the end of the route across the river but instead of spurning me on I seem to be slowing down.
A guy whizzes by telling me to keep pushing, that we can make it in under 1:50, but the energy gel has not seemed to work and I am faltering,  the heat is really getting to me.
The end of the woods is in sight but theres a steady incline and my legs seem to be failing me, I see a Order of Malta van and briefly think about hopping in the back and hiding,  a 2 hour balloon whizzes by and I panic, forget my moment of madness and zoom up the hill at the track.
Our last water station is at Bachelors walk and I take two bottles and dump them straight over me my head, looking like a drown rat I speed on.
3km to go, I am feeling good, I see another Ballina A.C runner and she tells me to stick with her, she is flying it and I know I can't keep up with her pace so I tell her to push on without me.
 I am 1.5km from the end and my legs are giving way, I feel like a dried prune and  I am mentally exhausted too, and I am slowing down, just when I think I am done and will have to walk a chap comes from behind and tells me not to stop, keep going and that we will be in under 2 hours if I keep running, its just the boost I need, I yell thanks as I zoom off.
Reaching the 13 mile mark was exhilarating,

Almost home.

I couldn't believe I was almost there, I could see the finish line up ahead and the clock was counting up from 1:59:34. I hadn't looked at my watch since just  after mile 10, I gathered what little energy I had left but it felt like I was dragging lead, I knew I would have a few seconds to spare on my official time but I still wanted to come under 2 hours on the actual finish line, I bombed it up the road and Hallelujah I was in at 1:59:59!

I was elated! Exhausted from my final sprint with thoughts of NEVER AGAIN!
Honestly it was a great feeling to complete the half after 5 months of training and along side an excellent bunch of people including the Strandurance21 crew, the weather was tough to run and I definitely had some off moments where I doubted myself  but I am delighted that I was able to do it in just under 2 hours with my official time as 1:59:49.

Some of the Strandurance21 crew.

West of Ireland Women's Mini Marathon.

Running Chicks

Our Running Chicks group had been preparing for this 10km event twice a week for 8 weeks and on May 1st the big day finally came. I initially joined the running group as extra training for the River Moy half marathon and I didn't expect to gain so much, not only did I learn a lot of excellent techniques but I met some amazing and determined people. The group has influenced my decision to join the Ballina Athletics Club and continue on with my Tuesday and Thursday running sessions.

I headed up to meet the ladies in Castlebar about half an hour before the race was due to start. There was about 1800 other runners and the atmosphere was electric.There were tea and coffee tents, great MCing from the sound stage and of course the all important port a loos! We started off with a warm up and a pep talk and we were ready to go!

Starting Line: Nerves building, anticipation rising, hate the waiting. Realise Sonia O'Sullivan is running alongside you..no pressure then!

1 KM: Started off nice and easy, keeping a comfortable pace. I keep with the group until 2 of the girls suddenly dash off and I panic a bit! I remind myself to conserve energy as I know we will hit a hill soon and there is another big one near the end.
The first hill isn't too bad and I use my arms and core to drive me over, there are already crowds out cheering us on and a samba band lightens any nerves I'm feeling.

2KM: We head out of town towards the Ponton road and we have already passed our first water stop. Again people are standing out on their drives to cheer us on and I make sure to wave to all of the kids as I pass by. I made a mental note of the 55 minute pacers at the starting line, they started a bit before me and I see them up ahead. I decide, since I'm feeling good so far and not overly pushing myself, to overtake them now and if they catch up I will just stick close to them and use their pace to get me to the end.

3KM: I don't have my running watch just my regular wrist watch so its difficult to tell what kind of pace I am doing, but I feel good and all around me other runners  watches are beeping to count down the kilometers. I decide to forget about my watch and I don't even look at it for the rest of the race.

4KM: I'm suddenly reminded of the burst blister I have on the back of my heel, its not bothering me yet, so I put it out of my mind. At this point it begins to rain but as I usually warm up quite quickly I am thankful for a bit of coolness. We seem to be running up a steady incline so I am using my arms and core more and more, feeling good and running comfortably.

5KM: At this stage the women around me start cheering for the half way mark, I speed up a bit and see the right turn up a small back road  that will loop us toward town. I look over the field to the people behind me and see the 55 minute balloons and know I am definitely going to make it in under my goal time! I'm stoked!

6KM: We have been climbing another steady hill and I feel a bit tired, the rain has gotten heavier and since rounding the 5km corner my breathing is a bit laboured and I have a stitch. I try to steady my breath and focus on long deep breaths. I distract myself by singing in my head.

7KM: Just passed another water station on this back road and a small gazebo with a guy playing country songs on his keyboard, I can't help but laugh and give him a thumbs up as I make my way toward a main road.

8KM: Downhill mostly and I am feeling good! People are again standing and cheering us on as we pass. I am in a small group now where we are passing each other out constantly. A woman who has been following me for a while makes a break for it and I yell at her to go for it! Shes encouraged and speeds off!

9KM: I see the hill near the 9km mark and I focus on the top and again find strength in my arms and core to push me over, I tend to try to get over hills as fast as possible and I overtake a big group, but the hill is steeper and longer than I envisioned and although I have been breathing correctly I am out of breath.
Runners behind me overtake and I feel a bit dismayed, but then I see my neighbour who is a stewerd and she starts cheering me on!
I get a second wind and by now I am running through the main street, I'm out on my own but I can hear the runners behind me, we round the last 200 meters and I am being overtaken by a girl in orange, I high five some kids along the way and she slows down to do the same, I take this opportunity to speed up make a sprint for the last 50 meters, shes on my tail right to the end but I make it over the finish before her!

10KM; Delighted to have made it over the line in 54:10 but since I started near the middle of the crowd I know I'll have a few seconds to spare and my official time is 53:46! Way below my 55 minute goal. I get handed a lovely medal which I wasn't expecting for this race and walk to the end where there is water bottles and fruit handed out.

Ballina Athletics Ladies

It was an absolutely stellar event and a lovely course to run, that last hill was a killer but the final 400m through the town was amazing! All the volunteers did so well at keeping us motivated along the way and even the other runners were great for shouting everyone on!
 I stayed at the finish line for awhile cheering on the incoming runners, everyone feels the same when they have completed the race and the buzz is amazing!

Again a big Well Done to all the Running Chicks, they all did so amazing and completed their 10km goal.

Week 15- Reaching a 10km Personal Best.

Mini Marathon Medal

• Monday April 25th HARDCORE Inferno Hot Pilates. 

• Tuesday April 26th Running Chicks  group run 5km at 29:36.

• Wednesday April 27th group run 16km at 93:19 and  Inferno Hot Pilates. 

• Thursday April 28th Running Chicks  group run 5km at 28:14.

• Sunday May 1st West of Ireland Womens Mini Marathon 10km at 53:46.

As I had the 10km race on Sunday I decided to take it easy this week and focus on keeping my body strong with 2 Inferno Hot Pilates sessions. I rolled up on  Monday expecting the usual tough but fun class, little did I know I would be doing the most INTENSE HARDCORE class I have ever done! People are still talking about THAT Mondays class. 

The first thing I noticed was that there were way more people than ever and the class kept filling up. We are usually ready to go just after 7 but the door kept opening and people kept coming.

Eventually we were ready to rock, and we started out the session with an easy warm up but even at that stage I could tell the temperature was hotter than usual, by the time we were a third way through I was dying!

THAT Monday

I was struggling to finish even some of the easier moves and I was sure I was sweating out half my body weight along with my mascara which was flowing down my face  now stinging the s**t out of my eyes. Eventually Barry did something he has never done before he turned off the heat and opened the door! Hallelujah! We finished on burpess and and my "oh so favourite" mountain climbers before we all collapsed in a collective thanks be to God sigh! 

Not put out by the most intense class the night before I met up with the Running Chicks on Tuesday to do an easy 5km loop ahead of the mini marathon. At that stage we had done all the training necessary to get us to 10km and now it was just a matter of keeping the feet going and our mind frame right. 

I had decided that I wasn't going to do a long group run on Saturday but when one of the girls said she would do the 16km on Wednesday, I said I would go for it. I thought I would have plenty of time to conserve my energy for Sundays race. So off we went on 2 loops of Belleek. We started off getting pelted by hailstones but once we were half way through the sun was shining and we were happy out. 

Even after that crazy Pilates class on Monday, I booked myself in for that evening hoping I could stretch out my muscles after the long run. Luckily for me it wasn't as extreme and I left feeling energized and relaxed. 

Thursday was our last Running Chicks group run. After 8 weeks of hard work the ladies and I were ready to race and our final run was really a pep talk with some info on what to eat and drink in the days prior to the race. Unfortunately for us it was freezing AND snowing, but we showed up and did our 5km. Ann gave us a helpful tip, to not end our runs in the same place, as the  brain automatically thinks you should stop when you see your usual stopping spot.

 This is extremely relevant for me because my typical stopping spot is actually about 3 km from the finish line of the half marathon and I can imagine at that stage I will be tired anyways so the last thing I need is my brain tricking my body into wanting to stop. 

As I wasn't doing a group run on Saturday I volunteered at the Ballina parkrun instead. I have done the parkrun a few times and I have wanted to volunteer for ages but it always conflicts with the group run time. I was a bit apprehensive about the equipment but its was all straight froward and easy to use and I got to meet some of the familiar faces I always see down there. 

Running Chicks

I was all prepared by the time Sunday rolled round. I was hoping to beat my Kinvara 10km time (57:37) and try to finish under 55 minutes. I forgot to mention that earlier in the week I washed my Fitbit in the washing machine by accident! Disaster! I tried putting it in rice in the hotpress and it was resurrected briefly, but alas it is dead for sure now.

I just wore my regular wrist watch so I would have a vague idea of where I was at on the course. I was absolutely delighted to see that the gun time at the finish was 54:10 and I had started in the middle so I knew I had a few seconds to spare,  I was hopeful I would make it in under the 54 minutes. I had to wait until Wednesday to get my official time and was stoked at the 53:46 I was clocked! 

  I am going to do a separate post detailing in depth the the actual event. Even though the weather was less than favourable it was a terrific event and was organised so well! 

I just want to say a HUGE well done to all the ladies I have been running with for the last 8 weeks especially the girls from the Ballina Athletic Club Fit4youth programme. They all did so well running their first 10km! 

Unfortunately Week 16 will be blank, as I am currently struck down with a stomach virus and I can't even think about doing any running right now and I need to rest up for the Half next week! 

Finger Crossed I will be over it soon!