On Saturday we drove down from Dublin to celebrate my brother in laws 40th birthday.
As we'd be down in Waterford my daughter spotted that the National Half Marathon Championships would be on the same day (good spot K). I paid my €20 and figured i'd just use this 'Waterford Half' as a training run, adding on a bit at the end at the end to bring my long slow run for the week to 24km.
Well brain really wasnt in gear when I read the ad - did I mention the National Half Marathon Championships!!!! When I got to the car there was nary a 'fun-runner' in sight......these people literally disappeared from view in side profile.
Being one of the few possesors of extra, lets call it insulation....I knew at once i'd be watching this one from as close to the back as is possible.
We started off on the Cork Road and ran through the town to reach the Tramore Road. The route was taking us almost to Tramore and then back to the track at the Waterforrd Regional Sports Centre.
The race started quickly and then picked up the pace.... My legs were stiff as pokers and every muscle cried out for relief. I'm not sure what happened, was it the long drive, dehydration, lack of carbs?
Whatever it was I was stiff and sore and felt i couldn't keep going. People were passing me with ease, and I was looking back at the end of the field wondering if I'd be finishing last.
M took the kids off to her mothers for lunch. I thought she might watch the race from a couple of miles out the road and I was lucky she didn't - the first 3 miles were agony, and had she been there I'm pretty sure I would have just got in the car & called it a day. As it was she needed to get K her lunch and couldnt wait, so I didnt have the chance to give up.
Just as well; after the first 3 miles the legs started warming up just as the rain began to fall.
Halfway to Tramore I could feel myself starting to enjoy the run. I even started passing back some of the people who had passed me earlier in the race.
The rain really started to bucket (at which stage, feeling the chaffe, i vaselined up my chest, an oversight i'd pay for later...).
The rest of the run was uneventful enough, there was some great support in spite of the weather.
I was quite tired by the end, but forced myself to get through the extra runs around the track to bring the total up to 24k. Time for the half was 2hr04m50s, with the 24 in approx 2hr27.
The legs were v. stiff the next day, but i spent an hour bodyboarding for the first time - and boy was it fun; i'm defo hooked.
As we'd be down in Waterford my daughter spotted that the National Half Marathon Championships would be on the same day (good spot K). I paid my €20 and figured i'd just use this 'Waterford Half' as a training run, adding on a bit at the end at the end to bring my long slow run for the week to 24km.
Well brain really wasnt in gear when I read the ad - did I mention the National Half Marathon Championships!!!! When I got to the car there was nary a 'fun-runner' in sight......these people literally disappeared from view in side profile.
Being one of the few possesors of extra, lets call it insulation....I knew at once i'd be watching this one from as close to the back as is possible.
We started off on the Cork Road and ran through the town to reach the Tramore Road. The route was taking us almost to Tramore and then back to the track at the Waterforrd Regional Sports Centre.
The race started quickly and then picked up the pace.... My legs were stiff as pokers and every muscle cried out for relief. I'm not sure what happened, was it the long drive, dehydration, lack of carbs?
Whatever it was I was stiff and sore and felt i couldn't keep going. People were passing me with ease, and I was looking back at the end of the field wondering if I'd be finishing last.
M took the kids off to her mothers for lunch. I thought she might watch the race from a couple of miles out the road and I was lucky she didn't - the first 3 miles were agony, and had she been there I'm pretty sure I would have just got in the car & called it a day. As it was she needed to get K her lunch and couldnt wait, so I didnt have the chance to give up.
Just as well; after the first 3 miles the legs started warming up just as the rain began to fall.
Halfway to Tramore I could feel myself starting to enjoy the run. I even started passing back some of the people who had passed me earlier in the race.
The rain really started to bucket (at which stage, feeling the chaffe, i vaselined up my chest, an oversight i'd pay for later...).
The rest of the run was uneventful enough, there was some great support in spite of the weather.
I was quite tired by the end, but forced myself to get through the extra runs around the track to bring the total up to 24k. Time for the half was 2hr04m50s, with the 24 in approx 2hr27.
The legs were v. stiff the next day, but i spent an hour bodyboarding for the first time - and boy was it fun; i'm defo hooked.
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