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.