Raheny 5 2010 Race Report: Alan Mc.
I realise this is long, but I enjoy writing them. You don't have to enjoy reading them ;)
Training:
The big freeze put a stop to anything long term and meaningful for us all. In saying that, myself and Alf still got out on the ice rinks a couple of times and I think it stood to us.
In the last few weeks leading up to the race, I struggled on my fast runs, and did one Fartlek session. At least I think I did a fartlek session, ran fast for a while than slow for a while, rinsed and repeated a few times. I got one long cycle in the week before the race, over Howth and around Malahide back to Clongriffin, and one climb up Howth with Niall.
Breakfast:
Rice Crispies and two slices of toast (minus a quarter of a slice for Sophie Tax).
Lunch:
Bread, bread and more bread. Home made brownish, currenty, wifey made loveliness. It was good.
Morning of:
A decent sleep for once, (Sophie has been trying to torture us with sleep deprevation over the last few weeks), followed by the "Shower choice". Should I bother to shower or not? I went with not, but looking back at the race pictures, maybe I should have at least shaved, thank god there are no close-ups.
At midday Alf and myself went to Raheny to collect the numbers, no hassle, the place was pretty much empty. I needed petrol on the way home so we went to the Texaco up near Saint Paul's. It gave us the chance to check out the Road Works at the corner before the downhill section. There was nothing to worry about, plenty of space available for 2/3 abreast. I learned the Accord takes around 18hours to fill the tank from the yellow warning light to full.
Sophie decided she was too excited to sleep at her usual time... I kind of understood where she was at, until she decided to come along with us and go to sleep during the race instead. She could have pretended to be interested. I took a long wee before we left but the short car journey turned out to be a longer car journey, though it gave me the time to get mentally ready, and build up another wee.
Expectations:
Sel asked me in the car how I thought I'd do. I told her I'd do in and around 31 minutes, and would be happy to go under 32. I wasn't lying, that sounded really good to me and would be a PB of more than 2 minutes. She asked how I thought Alan would do; I answered just as honestly, I said if he doesn't get under 30 minutes, he'll be under 31 at least.
She then asked me how I'd like to do... how did she know that there'd be a difference! I answered honestly and candidly, "I'm going to latch onto Foley and not let him get away!".
The Race:
No warmup really, thank god. That's only for elites and people who actually think about getting injuries so much, that they do. We wandered up near the front, Alan recognised a few fellow Boards AC runners, one in particular that was a sub 30 minute runner. It was an ideal starting berth, almost on the left curb, perfect for the first corner. There was very little banter, there were more focused faces than smiling faces. The only comments a heard were about how cold it was, I cheered a few tall focused faces up by letting them know how warm they were keeping me. There were a few shuffles forward, I didn't do too well in them and found myself 2/3 bodies behind Alan. I figured this would work to my advantage if we got involved in a sprint finish though... I'd just have to finish near him!
The buzzer went and straight away there was movement, as always, no talking, no shouting, no nonsence, just hundreds of people plotting their way through the masses. The first bend turned out to be a nightmare, as soon as I got around it, an older, bigger woman was tromping in my path. She may as well have been facing the other way, she was an excellent obstacle. I joined a flock swerving to the right and cursed our good starting position. The rest of the object avoidance exercise of the bunch was bearable until we finally fanned out onto the Howth road.
I was wondering where Alf was, I assumed he was in front, but with the crowds it was hard to tell. I was still overtaking quite steadily when a glance up confirmed that there was a slow bend to the right. While all the runners were sticking to the left kerb, I thought I'd go the other side for clarity and shortest path reasons. Other then the game of chicken with the photgrapher, the tactic worked out well. Just as I went by Sel (& Soap) and Helen (& Laura & pipling), I spotted Alf, dead ahead, about 20 meters. As I made up the distance, I saw the 1 mile marker and heard the time, I hit it at 6:00 on the button.
I caught up to Al and thought it only polite to let him know I was there. Unfortunately I was quite out of breath, so I tapped him on the shoulder. I got a polite "Macker" in response and decided to keep my pace going. This was the pivitol moment of my race I think. My brain was telling me to stay on Alan's shoulder, my chest and legs were pretty much of the same opinion... But my stupid Positive Mental Attitude said I could keep 6 minute mile pace until 3 and a half or 4 miles. I went with it, if I died, I died... but I died trying. Some bean-pole had then decided to overtake me twice and move in front of me while slowing down. That was particularly annoying, he then cut across the path at the turn off vernon ave to get in front again. The anger thankfully distracted me from the un-naturally quick pace.
I hit mile 2 at 11:59, and the next downhill section saw me hit mile 3 at 18:00. I was knackered, I'd already expelled quite a bit of nasal juice at this stage, and was wishing for a water station. The downhill section at the corner of St. Annes was fast and furious, everyone was trying to use the hill to their advantage, including a bunch of Raheny Shamrocks runners who were about 10 meters from me. I knew in my head they were 30 minute runners and to stick with them would give me a fantastic run. I joined in the madness and let the hill take me. The bean-pole wasn't able for it and thankfully it was the last I saw of him. I ducked into the corner just in front of a Raheny runner who'd been lost by her group. The coast road was flat. There were no more downhill sections and I just hoped the little bit we got would push the mile time down to 6:00.
For the duration of the coast section I thought I'd slowed down a lot. I still had the Raheny Shamrock group in my sights, and other than the guy who insisted on hurdling the cones rather than moving in 5 cms, there was no movement in places around me. I could see a girl's shadow behind me, I kept glancing down expecting to see Alf's shadow moving up, I thought I'd slowed right down. I knew the coast section would be long having ran it during the week, but the sun on my back and the fierce pace were worse than the distance. I was looking forward to the hill, at least I could get out of the sun.
Eat your words Macker. I turned up the hill and immediately remembered how bad the slope was, I knew the 30 minute mark was out now. I was exhausted, probably down a few seconds because of the flat and there was no way I'd make anything up now. I tried to convince myself that the hill didn't last long, and sure there was only a lap and a half of Clongriffin park to go! The 4 mile marker was just meters away at that stage, but there was no-one around shouting out times. I crossed it and looked down at my watch for the first time in the race. 24:00 and I was a little passed the marker. God, why do you mock me so. I struggled up the hill, the girl behind eased past me at first and then slowed down somewhat, gravity it seems, takes longer to affect women. The crowds had been great the whole way around, but a large bunch had amassed here, and their encouragement was required.
Finally I was at the top of the hill, and turning into the estate for the last section. My chest was pounding, my thighs felt like they were bleeding, and my breathing sounded like weezy from 'Toy Story' when I exhaled. Sweat droplets had landed on the outside of my sunglass' lens, as it was about to drop I stuck my tounge out to catch it, before realising what I was doing... I quickly retracted. At this stage I don't count what I was doing as running, it was plodding. Every step was harder than the last, every breath stung more than the last. Pockets of people were cheering on individuals and shouting strange numbers out. I didn't really understand it, but I knew I was on the cusp of 30 minutes. I also knew I was on the wrong side of that cusp. There was no way I kept pace up that hill, or even since I hit the top of it.
Somehow, with the final green in sight, I pushed through a dizzy spell, I was so nearly there. I hugged the kerb and rounded the first bend on the green. There were loads of people out shouting and screaming here. I stayed hugged to the kerb trying to keep pace and started my checklist. Smiling? nope Snots? still present, no energy to remove them. Fans? dunno, probably on the final straight. "Go Macker", Sel had spotted me and I was looking straight at them, they were at the final bend. Rounding the final corner I squinted at the clock.... 29:something! My legs were ready to give in but then I saw the 30:something roll around. Phew! at least I don't have to force it home. It's hard not to though when your wife and daughter are watching! I continued to plod over the line stopping my watch at 30:09. Some woman was asking us to keep moving as soon as we finished. I took my shades off and proceeded to engage in attempting to puck on her. She got lucky.
Conclusion:
I didn't see it coming. I nearly killed myself, but wasn't it fun!
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