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| Born To Run Group Ballybunion 2012 |
Friday, 13 April 2012
Sunday, 8 April 2012
Ballybunion half marathon...give me a 20 miler any day..
Well I honestly don't know where to start...
Was mentally geared up for this all week..had a plan in my head...
Got up sat morning all nervous as usual..but that's normally a good sign for me..it get the adrenaline going..marathon was on at 2 so ate my porridge at 10.30 and had a slice of toast...brought some Madeira cake for beforehand just to top up the fuel...prepared everything the night before...so was all set for the big day...
Arrived over around 12 to collect number etc..went for about 50 pees and had a cup of tea...and waited..the rest of the group arrived bit by bit...chatted...it's good to be with the Born To Run group... great comradeship and everyone is in the same boat...had a few nervous chats and more pees...never peed so much in all my life...bladder was definitely empty...
Went to the start line....this is it..oh Christ what am I bloody doing ....had a few mental thoughts at the start line...feck Marcus for bloody dragging me out on a bank holiday ruining my weekend running back roads like a loola...stress...these days I'm always stressed! but I'm getting to like it a teeney weeney bit...
Our group had planned to stay together...2.10 the gun goes off...crowd starts moving...we don't take off too fast...nice and easy..feck the fast runners...left them off..weather was good..warm.. But not too bad...ran down the town smiling at all the kiddies waving...thought to myself wouldn't I love to be on the sideline with a 99 waving like the Pope... No chance..head down...focus focus...knew there was a hill coming but didn't know when..shite why didn't I drive the route beforehand..too busy with work and running..
Saw the hill...ok that's not too bad...slowly but surely up and up and up and up...didn't mind that hill...was ready for it and was well able for it...and then came another hill...and another bloody hill...flattened out a bit...and another fecking hill...ran them all no problem...but they just kept coming...
hit the 3 mile mark...ok I can do this... god I definately didn't realise it was so hilly! It is Ballybunion after all...some of the group stopped for a pee pee...the other half carried on...3 miles till the next water stop...just after the 3 mile mark another bloody bitch of a hill! (excuse language but I'm allowed!) took it easy...very warm...saw a lot of the 10k coming back towards us...that was tough seeing people retreating back...put the head down and trotted along the back roads..it went downhill for about 3/4 mile...didn't even look at the scenery...couldn't be bothered! only because I looked yonder after the downhill and I see more hills! Oh my god... had a few f's and blinds to myself..though I was losing the plot or else the organisers forgot to mention ' course not for beginners!'...
Hit the 6 mile mark woohoo...at this stage time wise I was on target to come in finishing in 2 and half hours approx...
It went down hill ( or should I say uphill) from there on...mentally it was tough...there was nothing on the route to keep the mind occupied...very desolate... Little civilisation... saw a horse...delighted to see him...was waiting for tumble weed to cross over in front of me... no tumble weed...
Started run walking...somehow after the 7 miles it was just a disaster...how could this be...ran 18 miles last week and it was my best run ever! Ran it all and I loved it... today was not my day but I was doing well up to the 6/7 mile mark...got very disheartened slowly but surely...it was such a lonely route..I even wondered if we were on the right route!...only because the stewards were few and far between..everyone we passed weren't very encouraging... I gave a few woohoo's which woke them up a bit but it didn't last long..
Hit the 10 mile mark...oh my god how long more...it was the longest 3 miles of my life...met no one...there were two girls behind us... That was it..cars were flying up and down the road so I knew that probably the finish line was closed by now as traffic was being allowed..delirious...
Walked...walked...plodded...walked... just couldn't be bothered... another hill...and yet another hill...how did it get me down so much...haven't a clue... Tried to thumb a lift..I was desperate! but sher we were out in no mans land so thumbs up all the way home...
Came into the town..couldn't wait for this to be over...nightmare...there was even a bloody hill ( a tiny one may I add!) before the finish line...asked the Garda where is the finish line...he pointed just up ahead...woohoo ran up delighted... No medals left....that just added to my despair!
The only good thing was some of the group waiting at the finish line for us..it definately was my highlight to see them...I was never so glad to be home...
Went into the hotel...a good few of the group found it very tough...ate my burger...died of indigestion..that just topped the day off for me!
Poor ould joan offed me her medal which some other fella gave to her... wasn't that lovely! But I didn't take it...I wanted my own medal which I very well deserved!
Overall a good day... Sarcasm... definately wouldn't recommend the route for a beginner runner...but even when I do become a good runner (which I will be...short mountain every sun for the summer!) I still wouldn't go back there...not even for an ice cream!
Went swimming today...out in Fenit...bitter..but good for overall fatigue..
Even though Ballybunion was a crap marathon,it will make me stronger as a runner...after The great limerick run I'm planning on doing the cork half marathon...and I will do my proper time there..if it kills me...
Tuesday back to normal...5 miles..
Was mentally geared up for this all week..had a plan in my head...
Got up sat morning all nervous as usual..but that's normally a good sign for me..it get the adrenaline going..marathon was on at 2 so ate my porridge at 10.30 and had a slice of toast...brought some Madeira cake for beforehand just to top up the fuel...prepared everything the night before...so was all set for the big day...
Arrived over around 12 to collect number etc..went for about 50 pees and had a cup of tea...and waited..the rest of the group arrived bit by bit...chatted...it's good to be with the Born To Run group... great comradeship and everyone is in the same boat...had a few nervous chats and more pees...never peed so much in all my life...bladder was definitely empty...
Went to the start line....this is it..oh Christ what am I bloody doing ....had a few mental thoughts at the start line...feck Marcus for bloody dragging me out on a bank holiday ruining my weekend running back roads like a loola...stress...these days I'm always stressed! but I'm getting to like it a teeney weeney bit...
Our group had planned to stay together...2.10 the gun goes off...crowd starts moving...we don't take off too fast...nice and easy..feck the fast runners...left them off..weather was good..warm.. But not too bad...ran down the town smiling at all the kiddies waving...thought to myself wouldn't I love to be on the sideline with a 99 waving like the Pope... No chance..head down...focus focus...knew there was a hill coming but didn't know when..shite why didn't I drive the route beforehand..too busy with work and running..
Saw the hill...ok that's not too bad...slowly but surely up and up and up and up...didn't mind that hill...was ready for it and was well able for it...and then came another hill...and another bloody hill...flattened out a bit...and another fecking hill...ran them all no problem...but they just kept coming...
hit the 3 mile mark...ok I can do this... god I definately didn't realise it was so hilly! It is Ballybunion after all...some of the group stopped for a pee pee...the other half carried on...3 miles till the next water stop...just after the 3 mile mark another bloody bitch of a hill! (excuse language but I'm allowed!) took it easy...very warm...saw a lot of the 10k coming back towards us...that was tough seeing people retreating back...put the head down and trotted along the back roads..it went downhill for about 3/4 mile...didn't even look at the scenery...couldn't be bothered! only because I looked yonder after the downhill and I see more hills! Oh my god... had a few f's and blinds to myself..though I was losing the plot or else the organisers forgot to mention ' course not for beginners!'...
Hit the 6 mile mark woohoo...at this stage time wise I was on target to come in finishing in 2 and half hours approx...
It went down hill ( or should I say uphill) from there on...mentally it was tough...there was nothing on the route to keep the mind occupied...very desolate... Little civilisation... saw a horse...delighted to see him...was waiting for tumble weed to cross over in front of me... no tumble weed...
Started run walking...somehow after the 7 miles it was just a disaster...how could this be...ran 18 miles last week and it was my best run ever! Ran it all and I loved it... today was not my day but I was doing well up to the 6/7 mile mark...got very disheartened slowly but surely...it was such a lonely route..I even wondered if we were on the right route!...only because the stewards were few and far between..everyone we passed weren't very encouraging... I gave a few woohoo's which woke them up a bit but it didn't last long..
Hit the 10 mile mark...oh my god how long more...it was the longest 3 miles of my life...met no one...there were two girls behind us... That was it..cars were flying up and down the road so I knew that probably the finish line was closed by now as traffic was being allowed..delirious...
Walked...walked...plodded...walked... just couldn't be bothered... another hill...and yet another hill...how did it get me down so much...haven't a clue... Tried to thumb a lift..I was desperate! but sher we were out in no mans land so thumbs up all the way home...
Came into the town..couldn't wait for this to be over...nightmare...there was even a bloody hill ( a tiny one may I add!) before the finish line...asked the Garda where is the finish line...he pointed just up ahead...woohoo ran up delighted... No medals left....that just added to my despair!
The only good thing was some of the group waiting at the finish line for us..it definately was my highlight to see them...I was never so glad to be home...
Went into the hotel...a good few of the group found it very tough...ate my burger...died of indigestion..that just topped the day off for me!
Poor ould joan offed me her medal which some other fella gave to her... wasn't that lovely! But I didn't take it...I wanted my own medal which I very well deserved!
Overall a good day... Sarcasm... definately wouldn't recommend the route for a beginner runner...but even when I do become a good runner (which I will be...short mountain every sun for the summer!) I still wouldn't go back there...not even for an ice cream!
Went swimming today...out in Fenit...bitter..but good for overall fatigue..
Even though Ballybunion was a crap marathon,it will make me stronger as a runner...after The great limerick run I'm planning on doing the cork half marathon...and I will do my proper time there..if it kills me...
Tuesday back to normal...5 miles..
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
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Saturday, 31 March 2012
Saturday 18 miles....equals 28.8km...or just a very very long run....
What am I doing for the weekend?
Running 28.8km (sounds better!) along country back roads like loola's,gawking into people's homes just to keep the mind from playing tricks,fighting with the midgee's and tasting a few undelightful midgee's along the way,cursing every farmer joe because the smell of slurry as they pass very slowly makes the tummy do summersaults and your breathing is fecked for a few minutes (trying not to breath the fumes), wishing it would rain,bursting for a pee and spend half an hour thinking 'could I go there? No yer wan is out bloody putting her clothes on the line,she'll see me!..dodging and counting potholes,and lastly...what the hell am I doing to myself and my poor ould legs....
Well..another long run...oh what fun on a Saturday...worry worry worry....
Got up this smorning sick as a dog with nerves...didn't sleep properly as I was busy...running the route all night...busy busy busy...loola loola loola...but I was fired up...ready for the long morning ahead...ate my weetabix and a slice of toast...and again ran the route a couple of times...
There was a good group out this smorning...all met at 9.00 sharp...felt fidgety..but I was going to put my heart and soul into this run if it killed me... what's the worst that could happen..nothing.. that was my thought for the morning...started off with the group...very dead out this smorning...no wind...Niall started piping up so basically I told him shut it..I was bloody trying to concentrate!... it took me about 3 miles to settle myself...hit the cross before Kearney's rd and Marcus makes us walk for 60 seconds...oh for Christ sake I only just got going...supped back a drink and broke down the rest of the route in my mind..gotta keep going..off we go left at the cross... head down and I power on...felt good... didn't worry about the extra mileage which was good..was with Catriona Lorraine Niall and Rose..yapping crap..but it kept me sane...
on about 2 miles and we hit the extra mileage...landed at a crossroads...hadn't a clue where I was...caherwisheen I think only because we passed the school and they had a big sign on the window...that road was a bit of a blur to be honest only because I picked up speed and didn't realise the rest of the group were a bit back...will I slow down? no I'll bloody stiffen so kept going...felt brilliant which was surprising...
hit the top of the rugby club road....delighted that part was over and I didn't want to stop once! I had it in me so to reward myself I stopped for 2 secs and had a drink.. ok 9 miles to go...that's not too bad... knocked back a gel...vom..felt starved when I hit the base of Tonavane...absolutely famished...bloody weetabix didn't fuel me up properly...changed my cereal from porridge only because I was feeling bloated from 7 days of porridge...but obviously a fry would have done the job! dribble dribble...haven't had one in months...might have porridge on long run days from now on...
Had already planned to walk up Tonavane hill fast...save the IT band from flaring...but it was already niggling..up Tonavane refilled drinks and didn't take any break...myself and Catriona trotted back down the hill...had to keep going...passed the house near Dalys and there was a man out hosing the driveway...for the last three weeks that man has been out hosing the driveway everytime we pass...what the feck is he doing! Either he has memory loss or else they're just OCD....was thinking of putting my head underneath the hose but he seemed busy busy busy...doing the same driveway for 3 weeks in a row..
Was getting stiff at this stage but I did feel good...normally I'd have walked a good few times by this stage but shock horror I didn't... I ran all the way.. 4 miles to go...passed the house where we could never figure out if the animal in the garden was a horse or a big dog...he was out in the lawn..had a good gawk and squinted a bit...it's a bloody small horse! Was a bit delirious at this stage! but am very sure...
Ran all the way home..couldn't see the rest of the group...why couldn't I be like this every week! Run run run... Hit lidl and gawked behind... Rose was pounding down the road...the fecker! Kept the head down and kept focused for the last mile...I can do it..c'mon on loola...
Plodded into the aquadome stiff,wrecked,bursting for a pee,sweaty,T-shirt soaked,parched,and....absolutely delighted... ecstatic in fact...
My best long run ever...well last week was good also...but I never had two good long runs in a row...star jumps all round!
Came home delirious...took me 5 mins to get out of the car..doing the zombie walk...felt sick...but a very happy runner...finally all those hard months of slogging have paid off...
Roll on The Great Limerick Run...just have to keep focused...
Running 28.8km (sounds better!) along country back roads like loola's,gawking into people's homes just to keep the mind from playing tricks,fighting with the midgee's and tasting a few undelightful midgee's along the way,cursing every farmer joe because the smell of slurry as they pass very slowly makes the tummy do summersaults and your breathing is fecked for a few minutes (trying not to breath the fumes), wishing it would rain,bursting for a pee and spend half an hour thinking 'could I go there? No yer wan is out bloody putting her clothes on the line,she'll see me!..dodging and counting potholes,and lastly...what the hell am I doing to myself and my poor ould legs....
Well..another long run...oh what fun on a Saturday...worry worry worry....
Got up this smorning sick as a dog with nerves...didn't sleep properly as I was busy...running the route all night...busy busy busy...loola loola loola...but I was fired up...ready for the long morning ahead...ate my weetabix and a slice of toast...and again ran the route a couple of times...
There was a good group out this smorning...all met at 9.00 sharp...felt fidgety..but I was going to put my heart and soul into this run if it killed me... what's the worst that could happen..nothing.. that was my thought for the morning...started off with the group...very dead out this smorning...no wind...Niall started piping up so basically I told him shut it..I was bloody trying to concentrate!... it took me about 3 miles to settle myself...hit the cross before Kearney's rd and Marcus makes us walk for 60 seconds...oh for Christ sake I only just got going...supped back a drink and broke down the rest of the route in my mind..gotta keep going..off we go left at the cross... head down and I power on...felt good... didn't worry about the extra mileage which was good..was with Catriona Lorraine Niall and Rose..yapping crap..but it kept me sane...
on about 2 miles and we hit the extra mileage...landed at a crossroads...hadn't a clue where I was...caherwisheen I think only because we passed the school and they had a big sign on the window...that road was a bit of a blur to be honest only because I picked up speed and didn't realise the rest of the group were a bit back...will I slow down? no I'll bloody stiffen so kept going...felt brilliant which was surprising...
hit the top of the rugby club road....delighted that part was over and I didn't want to stop once! I had it in me so to reward myself I stopped for 2 secs and had a drink.. ok 9 miles to go...that's not too bad... knocked back a gel...vom..felt starved when I hit the base of Tonavane...absolutely famished...bloody weetabix didn't fuel me up properly...changed my cereal from porridge only because I was feeling bloated from 7 days of porridge...but obviously a fry would have done the job! dribble dribble...haven't had one in months...might have porridge on long run days from now on...
Had already planned to walk up Tonavane hill fast...save the IT band from flaring...but it was already niggling..up Tonavane refilled drinks and didn't take any break...myself and Catriona trotted back down the hill...had to keep going...passed the house near Dalys and there was a man out hosing the driveway...for the last three weeks that man has been out hosing the driveway everytime we pass...what the feck is he doing! Either he has memory loss or else they're just OCD....was thinking of putting my head underneath the hose but he seemed busy busy busy...doing the same driveway for 3 weeks in a row..
Was getting stiff at this stage but I did feel good...normally I'd have walked a good few times by this stage but shock horror I didn't... I ran all the way.. 4 miles to go...passed the house where we could never figure out if the animal in the garden was a horse or a big dog...he was out in the lawn..had a good gawk and squinted a bit...it's a bloody small horse! Was a bit delirious at this stage! but am very sure...
Ran all the way home..couldn't see the rest of the group...why couldn't I be like this every week! Run run run... Hit lidl and gawked behind... Rose was pounding down the road...the fecker! Kept the head down and kept focused for the last mile...I can do it..c'mon on loola...
Plodded into the aquadome stiff,wrecked,bursting for a pee,sweaty,T-shirt soaked,parched,and....absolutely delighted... ecstatic in fact...
My best long run ever...well last week was good also...but I never had two good long runs in a row...star jumps all round!
Came home delirious...took me 5 mins to get out of the car..doing the zombie walk...felt sick...but a very happy runner...finally all those hard months of slogging have paid off...
Roll on The Great Limerick Run...just have to keep focused...
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Wed nite....looking forward to my leaba...
Woohoo!looking forward to:
Thursday....NO MILES!
and
Friday......NO MILES!
Thank god its Wednesday night,it's been a very long week so far...I think it was because of the 16 on Saturday...and then mon,tues,wed slogging it out in the sun with no wind whatsoever.....but this is the first time ever that I'm going to say....I am too tired to write the blog tonight...normally I spurt out mindless crap but alas......I'll leave it till Saturday the 18 miler...I'm sure there will be a few 'F's' and 'blinds' that day...but that's all part of the craic!
Ok, off to z z z z z z z .........
Thursday....NO MILES!
and
Friday......NO MILES!
Thank god its Wednesday night,it's been a very long week so far...I think it was because of the 16 on Saturday...and then mon,tues,wed slogging it out in the sun with no wind whatsoever.....but this is the first time ever that I'm going to say....I am too tired to write the blog tonight...normally I spurt out mindless crap but alas......I'll leave it till Saturday the 18 miler...I'm sure there will be a few 'F's' and 'blinds' that day...but that's all part of the craic!
Ok, off to z z z z z z z .........
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