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| 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.
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| 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.
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