In March I took part in my first half marathon the Rock and Road Half in Kinvara in Galway.. That's me standing next to my very fit and very persistent friend Sarah who encouraged, cajoled and verbally dragged me over the finish line. I had done what I thought was adequate preparation, I was aware that I hadn't done as much as maybe I could have, I only ran about three times a week and my long run finished at eleven miles a week before the race. Work and other commitments are my excuse and I'm sticking to it. But hey, hey, hey, we came, we ran, we conquered. Crossed the finish line in 2 hrs and 16 mins. Did pay for the somewhat sketchy prep by suffering quite a bit in the last two miles. Kinvara found my weak spots. God bless you Sarah without you I'd probably still be out there somewhere.
Anyhow fool that I am I have signed up again, and hope for better prep this year at the very least to finish feeling good rather than ready to puke. Rock on the Rock and Road. Saturday March 1st for anyone interested and yes, entries are still open on their website. www.rockandroad.ie
Summer saw the usual June bank holiday jaunt to Dublin for the Womens Mini Marathon. Always a good day out, and a nice manageable 10k distance. Finished in 1hr 4min which fair disgusted me as it's a long way off my PB for this distance of 58.20. But them's the breaks on the day.
Better luck in the autumn with the Tipp Mini Marathon around home turf in Clonmel. This time was I mad with myself, I was hoping to get back under the hour and have a white ticket entry for the Womens Mini in Dublin in June 2014 but nope. 1hr and 26 seconds. I mean 26 seconds??? Come onnnnn!
Think I have to start getting some good speedwork done, something I'm not good at. I'm more of a plodder.
Anyway up to today. Christmas is done and I'm signed up for Kinvara as mentioned above. Training was going great, getting out four times a week and swimming at least once a week as crosstraining, but oops, got myself a right ole dose of flu over the Christmas and I'm still recovering so I haven't been running now for about ten days. I'm working on the neck principle, apparently if you are sick from the neck up eg: sniffles, runny nose, congestion you can run. But if the bugs are in your body below the neck like chest congestion, fever, aches and pains, weakness, then you have to wait and rest up. I'm waiting and resting up but I'm getting itchy feet and I think I might risk a gentle short two miles or so tomorrow. We'll see how that goes.
My superfit ultra-trailrunner brother thinks that 2014 is my year for the big one, the marathon, I'm very tempted, but I won't spend my money on entry just yet. Let's get Kinvara out of the way and see how that goes this year and then I'll have to give Dublin Marathon in October some serious consideration. There is a slight sense of if not now then when? Work commitments will have a bearing on my decision. I usually work late at least three times a week and runs are difficult on those days. I guess I'll just have to get out of bed earlier. Bring it on 2014, lets see what you got!
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