The kids ran races also, and it is fair to say that the eldest would probably preferred not to have bothered, but got a medal for her efforts anyway, as everyone did.
The start line was a bit chaotic, and there were some top class runners present, probably due to the generous prise purse. I tried to be as close to the front as possible at the off, which happened a bit unexpectedly. Prior to the race, the intention had been to set the watch to a 5:45 pace, but during the warmup, the legs still felt very heavy, and I just knew in myself that my fitness and speed had slipped over the last few weeks, so I set it for 5:50. The first 1k was not too bad, still just a few eager runners to pass in order to settle in with the familiar faces. I found myself running pretty comfortably, and at 1 mile showed 5:48. I had broken away from a group and was gradually picking off a few, including the leading lady over the next mile. The race is certainly not easy, and in fact has a net uphill gradient, the finish line being at a substantially higher elevation than the start.
The only runner to pass me was Mick Traynor of Raheny shamrocks, whom I has just passed myself, but I could in no way be disappointed by that, the only reason I even was in the same area is that he is recovering from illness. No other runner passed me for the race. The final stretch of just over 1k is all uphill, and there were two runners just ahead of me whom I was sure I would catch on that hill, but I surprised myself, I a bad way, by not having the effort in the legs to overtake them, and in the run to the finish I was always behind them, finishing in 18:08. It was an all out effort at the end, but while three weeks ago I would have hoped to come in just under 18 minutes, and 20th overall, 5th M40, it was I could reasonably expect given the lack of mileage, and the silly decisions of the previous few days.
Wednesday was an 8 mile easy run at 7:20 average. Thursday I had no run, early start late finish, and it was raining outside. I just didn't have the will to go out and get soaked, so I allowed myself the luxury of just skipping the session.
Friday, I felt a lot better for the rest day. Two miles warmup, and a 4 mile run around the track, not exactly at tempo effort, but hard enough to be striding out, 6:07, 6:09, 6:14, 6:11. Two miles to cool down.
Saturday I flew to Slovakia to support Brian at a half ironman distance event, run by the challenge events group, at the Xbionic centre just outside Bratislava. The venue is truly amazing, a world class sports facility. Brian did very well, and the event left me slightly in awe of the athletes, all of whom had qualified through placing 5th or higher in their respective national championship race for the brand. We got to meet all the top world class athletes at the post event party, Brian was particularly happy with meeting double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee.
A very early flight home today, and after a few hours sleep, I managed to get out for 9 miles, in the rain. Despite the drenching, I enjoyed the run, and here is where the messing stops.
No scheduled trips to USA, UK, or anywhere else until September, so I have no excuses now to not get some solid training done over the next three months. I will have to pick any races I plan carefully, and I do not plan to do many. Next target is likely to be Dunsaughlin 10k, but I am afraid I might have left it a bit late to get into the shape I would like to be in for that race, we will have to see what I can achieve over the next week weeks.
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