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Connemarathon here I come....... done it!
I did it! I did it! I did it!
I ran 26.2 miles in 4 hours 12 mins and - can't remember the secs -but who cares? Certainly not me at that stage. And I can still walk! Dare I say it, I'm even thinking of going for a ...................... run!
Running mate and I arrived on the friday pm and stayed in Clifden. Saturday was beautiful weather (Connemara always gives you one fine day to come back for) and we pottered around the beaches before watching the Ireland Wales rugby final (aaaargggh and I couldn't drink!) in Griffins Bar. The explosion of adrenalin and testosterone was one of the best pre-race preparations I can think of.
Thankfully race day was perfect running weather, light breeze, not too sunny, as the route has little or no shade or shelter. RM and I queued up at the start and tried not to take any notice of the running geeks ("ran this route yesterday," "my 300th marathon this year" "couple of nice little hills on this one" etc, etc) and tried to rise above it all. All the one-upmanship and out-psyching paled into nothing as the leading Ultra runner came steaming past with his outrider and that shut everyone up.
I would love to say I enjoyed every minute of the route, but I'd be lying. The first half was fine, and felt good at the half way mark, flying down the hill to Leenane in well under 2hrs, but having done the half mara version last year, I was aware of what laid in wait at the end. Fondly known as the 'hell of the west', it's a long 1.5 mile drag up a hill and then an undulating totter down the last 1.2 miles into Maam cross - never quite up, but never quite all downhill either. The worst thing about this sadistically placed teaser of a finish is that you can see runners far ahead of you, winding up the hill, from the 21 mile marker. Having reached the top of the bl**dly climb (liberally peppered with official photographers to record the agony), the tower at Peacocks Hotel and the finish still seem impossibly far away. Having said that, its a corking event in stunningly beautiful scenery, and organised to the last whisker, including complimentary pasta, soup, massage and all sorts of goodies once you'd stumbled over the finish. Highly recommended! Apparently the half mara was started by Ron Hill, THE Ron Hill, who also ran the route (and I just thought he was a clothing label).
RM and I will be going again next year.... but only for the half. Not even a bath full of celebratory champagne post marathon could make me do the whole whack again........ (I think). More than happy to be race or tour advisor for any one who is interested.
Meanwhile it's only left for me to thank you all for your encouragement and support. I love you all.
xxK (aka 6119)
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