Your best ever race?

Murph_D

I’ve enjoyed reading some great marathon ‘breakthrough’ race reports on the Sub-3, 3:30 and 4 report threads that Healy initiated recently. But it occurred to me that many of us are either not marathon-oriented at all, or (like me) love marathons but perform better at other distances. So how about a thread celebrating those personal highlight races. Link to the original report, or if you never wrote one, write it now!

This will bring together personal achievements on road, track, trail, mountains, ultra, cross country - any surface or distance at all. The only requirement is that it was a performance that stands apart for you from all others, and don’t be afraid to tell us why!

OOnegative

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2058001088/11

A recent one for me, but genuinely a performance I never thought I was capable of until that day.

Murph_D

OOnegative wrote: »

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2058001088/11

A recent one for me, but genuinely a performance I never thought I was capable of until that day.

Good one B - still can’t believe you had beers the night before, although maybe the relaxed demeanour worked well for you on the day. How good was this compared to your other bests - is it objectively better as well as ‘feeling’ good?

Chivito550

Two races stick out for me well ahead of the rest.

National Senior 400m 2014

Had tried for months and months to go sub 55 after running 55.00. I thought it would just not happen. Eventually I got 54.88 in my very first Nationals. That moment will always live with me. I never ran sub 55 again.

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056139789/115

National Senior 200m 2017

A carbon copy from above, but this time over 200m. Spent the whole season being painfully close to sub 25, but couldn't seem to manage it. The cards fell the right way and I managed to break a significant barrier once again at Nationals. 24.87. My one and only sub 25.

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056139789/159

I can't pick between the two moments. Nationals is the biggest event for me. My favourite meet of the year. To run my 2 best races ever at this event is very special to me.

kal7

School race in a 200m I was in the outside lane, just went out hard as couldn't see those inside of me. Kept waiting for them to come through me. The rest only caught me with 25m to go and was able to hang on for the win, two stronger sprinters in a close 2nd and 3rd.
Never won another race. Now a mid
Pack midapack triathlete.

AuldManKing

2 stick out for me for different reasons.

(1) Dunboyne 5m BHAA

Quite a memorable race as it was my PB for long time over 5m.
The last mile is the most memorable mile I'll ever run, I was neck & neck with a BP runner (P. Fitz) and about 1km from the finish I was really struggling.
He beckoned me on and I couldn't go with him, but it did spur me on - as we approached the track, I was quite close to him and got strength from somewhere to overtake him and get a substantial PB and sub 29. Memorable for P.Fitz's actions.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=103671263&postcount=2187


(2) 1st Sub 60 10m - JT10m 2020

I never believed that I could go sub 60 - even 10 seconds prior to this race - I didn't believe it - 2miles into it, I didn't believe it.
But I did!
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=112429210&postcount=3429


I class the Sub 60 10 mile my biggest achievement in running.

TheW1zard

Ran my PB in the half after a night on the Guinness. 10 mile pb also had a hangover!

adrian522

I'd probably nominate this one:

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=106055827&postcount=1787

John Treacy 10 Mile 2018. A week removed from a 5 mile PB in Raheny. I was as fit as I'd ever been and the 10 mile distance suited me perfectly. I remember thinking "This is too quick" early on but just went with it.

I can also remember feeling strong around half way and pushing on past a good few people. I kept waiting for the blow up but it never came.

5 Mile PB of 32:13 and a 10 Mile PB of 67:04 7 days later.

I couldn't run a mile at those paces now

SuspectZero

Mine is probably the Blarney Half back in 2013, I didn't write a report but I can weirdly remember almost every step of that race.

A little preamble but I'd started running properly that year with a 10k Pb of 50 minutes which got progressively lower as the year passed and I'd got down to 1:33 in the Waterford half in July, my main goal at the time was to try run my second marathon in Dublin after running 4:07 in Limerick in May as my first.

Going into the race, my plan was just to go with the 1:30 group and hang on as long as I could, I was a seriously heavy racer back then and on the Friday night before the race, I ran a 13k race in Emly with one of the lads and finished in 52:59 so the plan was to go out with the 90 group on Sunday and see how long I could hang more in hope than anything else as I have a habit of racing the hard and painful way, I didn't believe I had any shot of actually sticking with them. The course in Blarney was an out and back with the first 7 miles all uphill to Grenagh hill and back down for the last 6(which I didn't know and one that obviously needs much more sensible pacing than a flat route)

Met a few faster clubmates just before the start who pulled me to the front and I remember going through the first mile in 6:21 and thinking oh shlt!!! This is way too fast even compared to the suicidal original plan so I slowly drifted back to just in front of the pace group over the next 2 miles. There was a guy alongside me who was getting on my nerves sprinting up the hills in front of me and almost walking the downhills and then shooting past again on the next hill so all I could think was I got to burn this guy off, it wasn't until the turnaround point at 7 miles when I looked back that I realised I'd put a minute into the pace group behind and it was all going to be downhill back to the finish. The second half of that race was something I've only felt 2 or 3 times during a race in my life, it felt like I'd cocaine for blood, completely euphoric like runners high on overdrive and I'd almost describe it as feeling like I could run as fast as I wanted and was absolutely blazing past everyone over the last few miles. I hadn't a clue what pace I was on as I was just using a stopwatch and mile markers and I couldn't do the math but when I rounded the last corner, I saw the clock just tick over to 1:26 flat and I sprinted over the line to finish in 1:26:26.

I couldn't believe it, over a 7 minute pb from the Waterford half 8 weeks before and well under the 90 minutes I thought I was only wishing to break in blind hope. It felt like the easiest effort half I've ever run and it's one of the only times I've wished the race kept going past the finishline, I even get a rush thinking about it now.

It also gave me huge confidence heading into Dublin 6 weeks later where I went on to run 3:15 for a 52 minute pb. That whole year was a blast when it came to running actually, roasting hot summer with Friday evening races and roadtrips with the lads, I done a lot of stupid training and way too much racing but some of my favourite racing and running experiences were that year but that half tops the pile for many reasons.

OOnegative

Murph_D wrote: »

Good one B - still can’t believe you had beers the night before, although maybe the relaxed demeanour worked well for you on the day. How good was this compared to your other bests - is it objectively better as well as ‘feeling’ good?

It felt better D because it’s the most controlled & comfortable I’ve ever felt racing. I’ve never felt as strong that far into a race to be able to increase the pace the way I did over the last 4 miles. Plus the ‘feeling good’ factor was a huge help. I blame myself for the beers to!!!

healy1835

Can only link the page # and not the post # on the mobile site. Is that right? I'll post entire report but if someone can tell me how to link post I'll edit that.

Dublin Half Marathon 2018, have ran faster in the meantime but this was a day when it all seemed to come together.

Dublin Half Marathon Report

Had company for this one as my two mates who I went with to Rotterdam were running. My buddy who broke 3hours there was pacing the other to a 1:32 as it turned out, a 10min PB

Parked near the cricket ground and jogged up to the start line with a few strides thrown in. Feeling pretty pumped but a positive type of nervous energy. Forgot just how big a race this actually was numbers wise and had to come back out of the starting pen to get a decent spot towards the front.

Km 1-5 (3:47, 3:48, 3:50, 3:48, 3:55): 19:08

After my ill judged start to the Frank Duffy I was determined not to make the same mistake here. I knew it was a slightly risky strategy as the first few k are a nice downhill and a good chance to bank a bit of time, but I stuck to my guns. I had one or two runners in my early group ear marked as guys who would be under the 1:20 mark and as we headed down Ordnance survey road I was in a decent group of about 15. 3:47 kms was the magic number today and the first 2k passed without fuss.
Then my lace opens, pull into the side, panicking a little bit as I knew that the possibility of breaking 80mins was marginal enough, back out and rejoiced proceedings with the group maybe 10secs ahead now. Coming up towards the S bends I was running beside David Carrie and I figured he might be a good man to pace off going up the short climbs, and he may well have been but then my lace opens again
I'm annoyed now, pull in take a couple of deep breaths and then a couple of extra seconds to make sure I tie the damn things properly this time. I definitely took off too fast this time and made it back to DC just coming up to the first water station when the lace opens AGAIN!!
This is not funny anymore, but if anything it calmed me a bit. Took a bottle of water, pulled in just after, took a good swig of water, triple knotted the lace and joined in again on a decent downhill. I've probably lost at least 45secs but I'm moving well and the pace feels comfortable at this early stage.

Km 6-10 (3:54, 3:48, 3:48, 3:48, 3:50) : 19:08

That last lace disaster probably took in some of km 6 looking at the splits. The 80 min group is now long gone and in the distance. But moving in past the Zoo and onto the North Rd I'm tipping along nicely, working with a chap in a pink t shirt who I will end up sharing the load with for the rest of the race. Bit of drag up the North road but I'm feeling good, passing a good few here. Tight turn at castleknock gate was not appreciated

Km 11-15 ( 3:49, 3:42, 3:58, 3:43, 3:51) :19:03

As luck would have it my course recce a couple of weeks back, took me up Whites Rd, so I knew it was drag. Put the hammer down in the km leading up to it to limit any losses. Myself and pink shirt are motoring now and keeping each other honest. Took a gel at last bottle station when we got back into the park. I'm feeling strong and looking forward to taking advantage of the fast stretch down Chesterfield and Acres road.

Km 16-20 (3:44, 3:43, 3:39, 3:39, 3:50) : 18:35

Through 10miles about 60:50, 17secs down on my FD time but feeling unbelievably good. I'm certain that I'll go under 1:21 but if I go now, and it had to be now, and wind it up then 80mins could still be on. I know that the upper glen is always a tough stretch but my mind is made up. Pink shirt is still here and it's one of those moments Where it didn't need to said, I pushed and he tagged on straight away. Going down acres was great, just in a rhythm and enjoying the race and the fact that I'm finishing strong. A few of the guys I tagged at the start are coming back quickly now and I know it's gonna be touch and go. Clap my hands together and shout 'come on' coming up the upper glen

Km 21 (3:36, 3:31 for the bit)

Down the final stretch, 3:36 fastest km of the race, coming up to line I actually thought I had about 5 secs in the bag and eased off a smidgen but I stopped watch past the line @1:19:59 So I was 'fairly sure' I had it but was a little worried until I saw official time on the phone

Considering the time lost in the first 5k I couldn't be happier with that result. Feeling great today, had a few beers last night. Got up at 6am and did about 15k Easy, left the watch at home and just ambled about reliving the race in my head legs never felt better after a race. Back out on walk with Erin Healy in the buggy now and writing this report from a McDonald's whilst taking a well earned break from my staple porridge breakfast

event

Not a proper report but my best ever race (not my fastest) was DCM 2013.

2013 started with Limerick

I had ran my first ever marathon that May in Limerick. I finished in 3:58:xx and was delighted. But seriously de-hydrated. I had trained all winter in compression gear due to the cold and the rain so on they day I wore the same. I missed the first 2 water stops and by mile 11 or so was in serious trouble. The 4 hour pacers caught me at about mile 24 and only for them I wouldnt have finished. Got over the line, couldnt walk and lay on the floor for about an hour getting water in to me. Decided the week after I would do Dublin.

Trained all on my own all summer and came to the big day. Just wanted to beat limerick, had no other target in mind. Started well, held back a bit. I wasnt used to the crowds at all and only support I had was my brother at certain points of the course. Got to half way point and was feeling pretty good so pushed on a bit. I had in my head that this "Heartbreak hill" was coming up and was getting ready for it. Had it in my mind that this was going to be torture going by the online reports. Fell in with some fella around mile 18, we said we'd do it together. Back then Roebuck was earlier than it is now. So anyway, we get to mile 21 and I ask yer man, where is this hill. He looks at me like I had two heads and said we just went up it. To put it in to context, Dublin that year had an elevation gain of 161m. Limerick had 224m so I was used to worse and my training runs for 20 miles all were up around 160-170m.

Anyway I pushed on, came home in 03:5:301 and ran a negative split. Was delighted and the marathon had truly taken hold

KSU

On from the vault which predates my boards days.....

1500m Dublin Championships from my Juvenile days out in ALSAA. 3 advanced to All Irelands and fairly strong field where I would have expected to be 4-5. At the time I had been racing a Skerries lad regularly in particular over the cross country. We normally finished back to back (the order changed up but he had the advantage head to head)

The race itself went fairly to plan in the early stages. Top 2 separated themselves from the field early one (one was training partner so I knew exactly what sort of shape he was in) then 3rd and 4th caught in no mans land running solo, and usual scenario of myself and himself sitting in 5th and 6th. Kinda gave up on qualifying as I wasn't exactly known for my speed so when gaps form wasn't the greatest for closing them down and covering moves.

Two laps in and nothing had really changed, moving at a decent clip (in around PB pace) with my the lad from Skerries tracking me obviously relying on his speed to get the best of me. Coming into the last lap I was waiting for the inevitable and low and behold he comes blowing by me with 300m to go. For what ever reason I didn't respond - not because I physically couldn't as I was feeling quite confident in how I was feeling. But I was biding my time and after 50m he had put a good gap on me chasing down the guys ahead I decided now was the time to go.

Body responded in a way that I had never experienced before. Within 50m I had taking on spot, another 25m and I had taken the other guy who had been running solo . Skerries lad however was still a good bit ahead, however this gap was closing with every stride. Coming off the final bend and we were neck and neck in a battle for that last qualifying spot. Normally would leave me for dead however his kick was spent and the two of us were just holding on for dear life. Came down to the dip and the big head came to my rescue pipping him. In terms of time I will be honest can't remember if it was a PB or not (think so but can't be sure)

These days I doubt this race would register with himself as he has gone on to run 3.42 and take National Senior titles but I like to think races like this kept him honest in terms of work ethic

Damo 2k9

Most recent one for me, something I was hugely proud of. Also, glad to get it in before everything started happening

Barcelona Half Marathon 2020
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=112565767&postcount=292

average_runner

Not a race report but the following was mine

Bob Heffernan 5k 2017 19:38 PB

Went into this race in great shape, had some good results behind me but never broken 20 mins. My usual time was 20:50 etc.

Did Griffeen Park run 4 weeks out from it in 20:30, best time there. 2 weeks later Le Cheile 5k in 20:05 with a 3:40 last k. So knew it was there but needed to attack earlier.

The race was on Tuesday, but that Sunday was out on the beer with friends from 2pm till 4am, not ideal prep but had Monday off.

Went into the race very relaxed, just waiting for it to start. Remembered the first 3k I attacked hard and time was close 11:30. Passed a few from the club.
4k I struggled a bit but for the last km I kicked for home with whatever I had left. Was delighted with the PB. Still am

A week later in Dunboyne I got my 5 mile pb, 33:00 flat. Legs died after 6k, felt the 5k race in them. Did Dunshaughlin a few weeks later, 42:14, second fastest 10k.

Following year did a sub 20min again, got injured in training for a half after it and never rediscovered that form again

Murph_D

No question for me that my best ever performance was the 800m at National Masters 2018.

I had set this as the goal race for the year and trained really well throughout the summer. Some of those Daniels sessions were brutally tough but somehow got through unscathed and ended up in great shape. As I knew I only had an outside chance of a medal the real goal was a sub-2:30 time which I achieved - only shame was that lap two was mostly in no man's land and might have done even better with someone to race. But pound for pound this race trumps any other I've ever done. If I was starting out again I would pay far more attention to the track.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=107834356&postcount=2984

rainbow kirby

I've been running for a long time, but this one starts and ends with Barcelona Marathon 2011.

3rd marathon, I was young and fit and actually had a decent training cycle! Broke 4 hours for the one and only time - that will NEVER happen again!

Wubble Wubble

That's a very good question.

There have been a lot of very good ones over 150+ races down the years.

I'm going to go for the Docklands 5k of 2017 (Post #323 on my log).

Why? I'd had a number of disappointments over the distance, one where I almost unfailingly can't pull out all the stops. This time I got it right, in warm weather conditions (which I hate!) on a Thursday night in July. I had to battle a whole lot of demons along the way, and I needed to really dig in at the end in order to reap the rewards. It was my first sub-20 - still my only one - and as I type, that stat looks like it's going to survive a third year.

diego_b

Great question, a few races come to mind. Firstly going sub 4 in my second marathon in DCM 2016, another was getting my club's record for 50K in my first and only ultra race to date in Donadea 50K 2018 (it's only record I hold or ever will hold unless I want to try for 100K). And last year running the 800m in the Munster T&F Championships aiming for sub 2:50 (pb was 2:54:49)...running the first lap in 1:18 and holding on for dear life on the second lap to come home in 2:43:29.
However the one that comes to mind is Tralee marathon 2017 where I broke my marathon pb from DCM 2016 by 14 minutes. I'd had a great training block over the winter and despite the poor conditions on the day it all came together for me. It's the performance that I think of the most and one I would like to try emulate in Dublin some year...had a go in DCM 2017 (was on target up till about 16miles but couldn't keep it going and came home in just under 3:55 after a horrible run walk/slog in the last 10K).

What I think of most is when I moved ahead of the pace group after 18miles to run ahead of them the whole way to the finish. I could have stayed with them the whole way around but I felt good and backed myself to be able to do it and I did, came home in 3:43:41. I treasure the memory of the last few miles of that race.

Full race report on my defunct log for Tralee 2017 -> https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=102963418&postcount=701

healy1835

Wubble Wubble wrote: »

That's a very good question.

There have been a lot of very good ones over 150+ races down the years.

I'm going to go for the Docklands 5k of 2017 (Post #323 on my log).

Why? I'd had a number of disappointments over the distance, one which I almost unfailingly can't pull out all the stops. This time I got it right, in warm weather conditions (which I hate!) on a Thursday night in July. I had to battle a whole lot of demons along the way, and I needed to really dig in at the end in order to reap the rewards. It was my first sub-20 - still my only one - and as I type, that stat looks like it's going to survive a third year.

150+ races, jeepers.....what are we talking, 15 per year or thereabouts? Not outrageous actually , just seemed a lot at first. Must check my own numbers...

Not really much of a racer ........ 105kg in mid 2018, used to lift weights and eat. Had enough of it and lost over 3 stone..... very little cardio but I used do a treadmill 5km every so often..... saw the times go from 30 mins to 23 mins.

Decided I'd chance some 5km races ........... did a 4 mile race in my local village (fundraiser for an athletic track iirc) as a training race, hoping to do it in about 32 mins or something. It was a year after I started to lose the weight and I ran it in 28mins36secs at 83kg. Was delighted.

Hoping to get an under 20 minute 5km this summer as I'm 40 later in the year. I don't run much though.

coogy

Great idea for a thread D.

Not been at this game all that long really so not an awful lot to choose from.

That said, apart from my first marathon attempt in 2018, most of my other races are certainly 'up there' in terms of performance for one reason or another.
If I was to pick a stand-out race though, it would probably me my most recent, the Naas 10 mile.
Here's the race report, which, looking back, does not really do justice to how good I felt during the run and my reaction at the finish line when I saw that I'd bagged a 10 minute pb. Far and away the most satisfying race experience I've had to date:

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=112702011&postcount=548

Murph_D

healy1835 wrote: »

150+ races, jeepers.....what are we talking, 15 per year or thereabouts? Not outrageous actually , just seemed a lot at first. Must check my own numbers...

I'm up to 125 myself (since 2012). Averaged around one per month in the first few years but when you do the shorter stuff you can race a lot more. More than 20 races a year the past few years - 26 in 2018!

Does anyone use VDOT or other values to get a (somewhat) objective comparison between performances ? There are probably lots of limitations to such a comparison, but my marathon PB VDOT (47.5) is much worse than the 800 (55.9).

healy1835

Murph_D wrote: »

Does anyone use VDOT or other values to get a (somewhat) objective comparison between performances ? There are probably lots of limitations to such a comparison, but my marathon PB VDOT (47.5) is much worse than the 800 (55.9).

Yeah I've had a nosey before alright. Didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.

5k: 59.8
5Miles: 59.9
10k: 60.3
10Miles: 58.5
Half: 58.8
Marathon: 55.8

Just need to be more aggressive and have a good day on the big day and they'll match up.....was meant to happen on Sunday

adrian522

Mine was as follows:

800M 49.4
1500 48.4
1 Mile 49.4
3k: 49.9
5k: 51.2
5 Mile: 51.2
10K: 50
10 Mile: 51.3
Half 49.5
Marathon 46.3

So my best performance was the one mentioned above for 10 Miles.

crisco10

Great question and one that I have never really pondered. I'd be stuck between 2 from last year to be honest, both PB's but one was a surprise performance, the other well planned and worked for.

The Unplanned one - 5km Staff Relay in Phoenix Park
Always have done this race, mainly as a social occasion with people from office. Tend to not got too concerned about training for it or anything. This year was no different, except I suppose I'd more miles in the legs over the spring. Anyway, turned up and ran, and with about a km to go, I thought my watch was wrong, my PB was about to be smashed by about 30 seconds. Came home in 18:30. Still my only sub 19 5km, and it's not the easiest course. Still don't know where that came from.

The planned one - 10km in South Dublin Race Series
Strangely less exciting, but based on the above, I was fairly confident I could also break 40 for 10km (my PB was 40:15 :mad::mad: ). Anyway, did a 6-8 week training plan over June/July which tuned me up for the race in Clondalkin. Came home well ahead of target, 38:38. It was very satisfying because I hit all the paces in training, and managed to be in "comfortable pain" for most of the race. A well executed training cycle all in all.

Krusty_Clown

I think the race that I left it all out there on the course, was the Dublin Championships 5,000m in Santry (part of the graded meets), where after training for the 5k distance for 6 months (averaging 160km/week), I managed to take 3/100ths of a second off my road 5k PB. I honestly didn't know whether to laugh, cry or puke. The fact that I took a second off that time the following week in a road race (that felt a lot easier) just added salt to the wound.

Rotterdam will always stand out on paper as my best performance (2:29:61 ), but I reckon my finest race was Ballycotton 10 mile, in 2017, when I ran 53:36, to finish in 15th place overall, and get this.... 3rd M45! Ballycotton always brought out the best in me and I was definitely in the shape of my life, but both of my 5 mile splits that day would take a chunk off my 5 mile PB. There was just something about the setup of that race that squeezed out every ounce of your potential. I miss that race so much...

KSU

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Rotterdam will always stand out on paper as my best performance (2:29:61 ),

In all my years running I have still never seen a result been amended so many times on the tracking apps

Swashbuckler

Great thread. I had a long think about this one and narrowed it down to two.

On the surface of it my 1.19.52 in Charleville is an obvious one but it wouldn't feature in my top two performances for various reasons.

Top two would be my first sub 40 in Killarney 10k 2017 and my still standing 10k PB in Ennis 2018.

Killarney is one of my favourites. I had run a decent time in Ennis 2017 (40.30) in March and spent the following few months taking my running more seriously than in the past. In hindsight I was overtraining but as many people here have experienced, big gains are made when you start introducing some proper structure to your training. I went into Killarney in July 2017 thinking sub 40 was on the cards and feeling positive. Got to killarney and my watch wouldn't power up. Maybe the best thing that could have happened to me. Ran the race entirely on feel with no watch. Got the the final stretch and saw 37.xx on the clock and was astonished. Crossed the line in 37.52 absolutely stunned and delighted.

Ennis 10k is a special one for me. It was my first really big performance being coached by Luke. Another day where I felt really positive and one of the few times I got working with another lad and we just pushed each other all the way. Got to the final stretch and saw the clock just passing into 36. Again, astonished with the time. 36.05. The course was a little short but it is what it is.

Two of my best performances at my favourite distance.

figs

Been a long time since I've been on this forum. Good to see there's still a few familiar names still knocking about.

My running has suffered badly over last few years due to injury, work, family, and had kind of fallen out of love with it. Now trying to get my arse back in gear and get some level of fitness back. I'm starting from zero, so could take a while. What better way to motivate myself than reminiscing over past results?!

For me there's four stand-out races, all from 2012 to 2014.

Finishing Boston Marathon 2012 on a very hot day was an achievement for mental toughness - my sub-4hrs wasn't going to break any records, but given that I pretty much blew-up after 5 miles (yes, 5 miles) and wanted to quit, digging in for 21 miles to finish the race was a success.

Breaking sub-3 in Berlin Marathon 2013 after a number of attempts was my biggest goal ticked off.

Best race was definitely Bohermeen Half 2014. I finished with an unexpected sub-80, and a smile that lasted for weeks!

Most enjoyable race was St Anne's Parkrun June 2014, where I ran 17:26 after a race-long battle with another Boardsie, who pipped me for second. From start to finish, this was so much fun.

So, looking forward to the long road ahead, trying to get back some semblance of fitness, and to enjoy running and racing again. Hope to be a more frequent visitor to this forum over the coming months, and to be able to add a few more "best ever races" in the future.

Sussex18

My most recent race always feels like my best race🙂 I suppose I started running 11 years ago and the gradual incline of improvement, there was lots of races that felt like great achievements at the time which now don't look so great, as I improved 🙂. Last year I broke 1:40 for the first time in the Half Marathon in Galway and then brought it down to 1:36 just 6 weeks later on a harder course. That was I think genuinely very good for my level.

Also breaking 4 hours in the marathon felt epic in 2015, having hung on with the pacers on a very tough final 6. 2 miles or so. I don't think now that was a great time, certainly not when measured against my times in 5ks and 10ks. But you know what a combination of injuries and now the Covid virus has meant that it remains a marathon pb and not sure I will beat it now 🙂

Singer

Great thread!

Predictably, my greatest race was last year's DCM where I trained my ass off and got a sub-3. I also got an official HM PB and a Strava 10M PB that day.

However, I have a soft spot for my local Fingal 10ks, especially in 2016 where I broke sub-40 for the first time.

Another one that comes to mind was my first Trim 10 mile in 2015, very early in my running career and ran it about 12 minutes quicker than I set out to do. The joy of the incredible gains when you're new to running is great, and it gave me a huge amount of confidence to keep running a lot more.

However I also ran my mile PB on the track at a NIA event, easily beating Sonia O'Sullivan, who may not have been in great shape at the time but it's a good story for the pub

Murph_D

Haha. Was Sonia not pacing 6 that night?

dna_leri

My best race was National Masters Indoors 800m in 2013, where I ran from the front for the first and last time. First time running on the new track in Athlone and I had the confidence to go for it. I just missed out on the M45 national record by 0.3s but won in a 2s PB. I came back two weeks later and ran 3s faster in 2:02.45 for the record but it was that first attempt that stands out in my memory.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=83144206&postcount=472

Bluesquare

Breaking sub 50 for tenk for the first time after trying and failing for about five years is up there for me . Dunshaughlin 2019- didn’t know whether to laugh or cry after . Was stunned into silence really and relieved very relieved . Considered giving up running that day but a little nagging voice reminded me I still have the bloody sub 4 monster to put to bed . Then I’m good .

My second favourite was a 5k - Star of the Sea 5k in Meath- not the easiest course but it was the one time I was that person with the extra speed in my legs cruising past people up a steep hill to finish . Fastest I’ve ever run and smoothest - no idea how fast I was running at the time and loved every second which is so not me . Such a sweet race !

shotgunmcos

Beating my Dad (a former school sprinter back when they did it barefoot) in a race for the first time. I was 15 and he said it was a draw

Slow_Runner

2 races spring to mind for different reasons.

Best performance has to be Dublin 2019. Knowing I had a sub 3:30 in me and with endurance being my weakness (19:34 5k time vs 3:42 marathon showed a speed bias) I decided to ditch the usual 2 session + LR training plan and went with Boards own Meno plan which looked like it targeted my weaknesses. After the disaster of 2017 Dublin (see worst race post for that one :pac:) I dedicated the year to getting the best time possible out of Dublin 19.
Donadea 50k in Feb gave me a good base to work off so 2 months of easy running followed by 2 months speed work left me in good shape to tackle the plan. I missed 1 run in week 3 due to a cold and 2 runs during taper due to sore foot but apart from that I hit every single run and every target pace called out (including a 1:34 (30sec PB) in Rathoath) so was confident and relaxed going into the race.
To say everything went according to plan is an understatement, the day you dream of where everything went perfectly and ended up with a 1 min negative split and 3:29:42 finish time! Perhaps things went too perfectly as when I crossed the line there was a strange lack of triumph you get when you succeed in a race - maybe because I didn't have to dig deep or struggle I didn't get that elation. Looking back now I get it but at the time it was strange.

Which is why my ultimate race was the Dunshauglin 10k from last year.
Always enjoy this race with a PB from 12 months before of 41:48 and last blow out before starting the marathon training. Standing on the start line I wasn't feeling the love and a dodgy stomach giving me visions of having to jump a ditch somewhere mid race. Decided to go out easy(ish) and see how I fared. Kept the pace steady in first few KM but when I crossed the halfway mat and looked at my watch - 21:31!! Ah FFS, way too slow and I felt grand so picked up the pace and spent the next 5km running angry, when I got to the hill at 7k I realized -wow I feel great and bounded up the hill passing everybody and really started to enjoy myself. Crossed the finish line in 41:37 so 2nd half ran in 20:06!! An 11 sec PB and 2nd half was the 3rd fastest 5k I ran all year.

Annie get your Run

Another great thread! I really enjoyed reading back on some of those fantastic reports and results.

For me there's really only one, with another a very close second

Kinvara half marathon 2016 I had been training my ass off using meno's plan for Rotterdam and this was both my finest hour and the beginning of the end. Looking back I'd change nothing as the result and elation was worth it. My target was to break 2 hours (not fast I know!) and I manged 1.56.41 with the support of so many here.

The other race that stands out for me, apart from Trim 10 mile in 2016 was this one, Stook 10 mile in 2015. After lots of ups and downs with my training it was all starting to come together, I was learning to think positively and believe in myself a bit more and it paid off here.

Ah the good ole days

BeepBeep67

Early days was probaby the U/17 Leinster 3,000m held on the cinder track in Carlow, footware was a pair of Puma leather spikes, which doubled up for XC. I finished 4th U/15 and U/16 and went into this race with a PB of 9:2X.
I can recall 5-6 of us being together after 3 laps and then 2 making a break, I decided to go with them and managed to hang in there for about a k and having to really dig in for the last few laps, finished 3rd, first provincial podium and a still now PB of 9:09.

Recent time would be a toss up between Dungarvan 10M in 2014 and the Mullingar Half in 2016.
I get a nose bleed when I race past 5k and to hit the sub 60 and 80 milestones in these races was satisifying.
Both were achieved differently, Dungarvan was a negative split 30:15/29:30 and Mullingar was steady splits 1-10, a bit of a blip on the canal path and then finished strong for the last 1.1 to dip under.

Sacksian

I don't normally do race reports - or even remember the details of individual races - but this is a really special memory for me.

And just because you do middle-distance races doesn’t mean you can’t do a marathon race report!

My best race was also in one of my favourite events. I ran the anchor leg for Donore when we won the Master Men's title at the National Road Relays in 2016.

4 years ago yesterday to be exact! 17th April 2016.

As has been noted on some of the busier threads in the forum the past few weeks, running is a selfish, individual sport. Whether you train with your club mates or not, you win and lose on your own. So the few occasions you get to compete with your club mates as a collective are special. And, when you’re lucky enough to be on the same cross country team as some runners who are competing at the sharp end, or in the same club as a group gunning for a title, it drags an extra few seconds out of you to know that you could be playing a part, no matter how small, in the club picking up a medal.

But even in championship cross country races, we’re still running for ourselves and for individual positions. If the team has a bad day, you can still score for the county, break the top 50, the top 10, or pick up an individual medal.

The road relays are different.

It’s not like xc where there are others who can fill in for you if you have a bad day. You can’t check out halfway through the race or chalk it up to experience if you don’t fancy it. If you fúck it up, the whole thing gets fúcked. And the beauty (and horror) of the National Road Relays traditional loop in Raheny, all 1650-ish metres of it, and its finishing straight on Wade’s Avenue, is that everything unfolds in front of a large - and vocal - crowd.

2016 was my second year doing the relays. In 2014, I ran the first leg, but we lost out to Raheny on the final straight in the third leg.

In 2016, I got to run the anchor leg, with two of us pulling clear from a group of four just as we turned up Wade's Avenue to enjoy a proper head-to-head sprint finish up the straight.

Loads of memories from the day, apart from the victory, including a very unflattering Sportsfile photo of me doing an accidental Chicago Vice Lords gang sign as I crossed the line. More than anything, the win was just a massive relief of pressure that had been accumulating for weeks, maybe months, in the build-up and on the day.

I had been struggling with (what I thought was) an ongoing hamstring injury that had prevented me from training properly since the start of the year.
There were a couple of weeks where I couldn’t train on anything with bends or hills. This led to a few innovative sessions, including an 80 x 100m session (in sets of 10 with a turnaround after every 100m and a jog-back between sets) on the Donore track.

Looking back now, I can see that I was actually in pretty good shape despite the constant interruptions. Even still, the tune-up races still came as a bit of a surprise given the training I was doing. I finished with a good kick to come 3rd in 21:24 in the BHAA 4-miler in St. Anne’s two weeks before the Relays. And then the following weekend, the week before the relays, I won the Great Ireland Run 5k in the Park in 16:19, again finishing strongly putting about 15 seconds into 2nd place in the last k.

However, I was still struggling to do any training at faster than 5k pace and even up to a few days before the race, I was debating whether or not I would (or should) do the race. Just being selected and making the start line was a big deal.

There was pressure because the other two guys on the team were Irish Masters XC internationals. If we didn't win, it was probably going to be my fault!

The race also took place on Jim McNamara's birthday, a month after he had passed. All the Donore teams wore black ribbons in his honour. Apart from being a living athletics legend, Jim was just a lovely, lovely man who was interested in everyone's running. I'm not a sentimental person but I really did want us to able to pay tribute to him.

The adrenaline just kept on rising. I had decided I'd take a chance on a pair of runners that I hadn't done more than a couple of strides in, the day before, but that were essentially weightless (the NB MRC5000 if anyone's interested).

All the signs pointed to it either being a very special day or a shítshow of the highest order.

I’m still not sure who decided the order on the day but I was given the anchor leg, which meant I had to stand there and watch the other two guys race. The second leg is the leg that *really* matters in the relays. You can only win a medal if you've got one of the top guys on that leg, but the third leg is the one with the highest stakes. The anchor leg is about all bringing it home: if you’ve got a good position, hold on to it, and, if not, hope that your second leg runner has left you close enough to the action to improve it. While you might end up píssing your teammates’ efforts away, you have also the opportunity to grab the club’s reflected glory.

I actually didn't watch much of the first two legs. I knew I was going to be in a medal position, and didn't want to waste any nervous energy getting caught up in the excitement of the unfolding race.

I was given a 1-second lead over Newbridge (who had won the previous year) on the third leg, with Rathfarnham and Sligo following behind them. Cue more pressure being ladled on.

But I just remember everything feeling really clear in my mind throughout my leg.

I took it out, but wasn't pushing it at all and by the time we were halfway down the Howth Road, a group of four had formed, with me leading. I remember being very conscious that although I hate running from the front, I felt pretty comfortable. I was checking my breathing, doing various calculations in my head, the sort of thing you do while you’re still in control of your faculties.

The Newbridge guy would be a good bit ahead me on xc and probably everything over 1500m on the track too. In fact, the only distance I might have given myself a chance against him would be 800m. I didn’t know too much about the Sligo athlete other than some previous times but, either way, I knew that if it was allowed to come down to a kick on Wade’s Avenue, I’d probably have the edge over both.

The Rathfarnham athlete was the class of the group of four. Not only is he faster than me over every distance from 100m to the marathon but he also has a great kick.

Towards the 2nd half of the All Saint’s Road section, I had the thought of allowing one of the other guys to take the front, so that I could sit in and get set for the finish. I'm still not sure whether it was fear or confidence that made me consciously do that. And I remember seeing one of our club coaches at this point and thinking - very clearly - that he probably thought I had blown it when he saw me relinquish the lead (he gave me a lift into town after the race and confirmed that he did, in fact, think I had blown it!) .

As we turned into Wade’s Avenue, with about 300m to go, the Rathfarnham athlete started to move away from the rest of the group, with me on his shoulder.

I was conscious of two things. One, there was a lot of shouting. Two, I felt very, very calm.

As we were heading up the straight, I could only hear cheers for him and, to this day, I still remember hearing, above all the other noise, one of his team-mates shout “Show him your heels!!” At this point in a middle-distance race, you'll take that extra bit of motivation wherever you can find it so this steeled me a little bit more! I was still on his shoulder as the finish line and tape came into clear view.

With about 200m left, I remember thinking about the fact that he had to make up seven seconds to catch up with the group on the Howth Road. Which is a lot of effort to put in at the start of a mile race. It was absolutely the right tactic under the circumstances but it gave me a buffer that probably wasn't obvious to the crowd watching. And I had a sense that I still had something left - not a lot, but something - and that if I just relaxed and let it go, I'd get away.

And that was that. With probably less than 100m to go, I went for it. All out, arms pumping, crossing the line, arms aloft, with a face ridiculously contorted by the effort.

I have two pictures of the finish line.

One is the official Sportsfile photo where I am in focus crossing the line and the rest of the background is blurred but I found one in Sportsworld’s gallery from the day where you get a much better sense of the occasion. In this one, you can see the faces in the crowd, my team mates running up the road to check that I did actually make it to the line first, and the whole lead group stretched out down Wade’s Avenue. It really does gives a sense of the occasion.

Anyway, got great satisfaction from the whole thing, my performance, the team win. Still get a kick out of the photos from the race where you can see the whole final 300m unfold in scene-by-scene stills.

Obviously, the fairly important detail missed by everyone watching was that, ultimately, I ran the final leg 5 seconds slower than the Rathfarnham guy (4:46 to his 4:41 for the 1,650m loop).

The other reason I probably dwelt on this race for a long time was that, three weeks later, I ran a 1500m PB as a season-opener and woke up the next morning with a busted achilles again, which took me more or less until 2018 to sort out properly.

Apologies for the length and self-indulgence of the post. I'm usually spending too much time thinking about my next races to think about the races past. But, with no races coming up and nothing specific to train for, I've spent more time thinking about getting back to the type of race shape I was in on this day and I thought I'd write it up before I forgot!

adrian522

Thanks for that, great post. Feel free to post up the finish line photos!

Working class heroes

My best was the Lanzarote marathon 2018.
Prepared very well for it but straight from the off my heart just wasn't in it. I got as far as a bike rental shop(around the 12 mile mark) hired a bike and cycled back to the pub. Got p1ssed, great night!

Butterbeans

Working class heroes wrote: »

My best was the Lanzarote marathon 2018.
Prepared very well for it but straight from the off my heart just wasn't in it. I got as far as a bike rental shop(around the 12 mile mark) hired a bike and cycled back to the pub. Got p1ssed, great night!

I wish I'd done that at DCM last year.

MisterDrak

Great stuff Sacksian ...

Loved the line

"All the signs pointed to it either being a very special day or a shítshow of the highest order."

Sums up all important races really...

Sacksian

MisterDrak wrote: »

Great stuff Sacksian ...

Loved the line

"All the signs pointed to it either being a very special day or a shítshow of the highest order."

Sums up all important races really...

I've definitely had races where I've been really well prepared but was missing that knife-edge feeling and ended up with a disappointing race or time. I think it's usually a sign for me that I'm going to run okay (and that level of adrenaline helps with the shorter races too!).

BeepBeep67

Sacksian wrote: »

I've definitely had races where I've been really well prepared but was missing that knife-edge feeling and ended up with a disappointing race or time. I think it's usually a sign for me that I'm going to run okay (and that level of adrenaline helps with the shorter races too!).

Strangely I've had some of my better performances having felt pretty sh1t during the warm up. You never know until you know.

Sacksian

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Strangely I've had some of my better performances having felt pretty sh1t during the warm up. You never know until you know.

I'd agree with that too - but feeling pretty shít in the warm-up would get my adrenaline going on the start-line (fear of what's about to happen!) which I think is what I need, regardless of preparedness.

aristotle25

Ok so my story doesn’t deserve to be in this thread with all you serious runners. But anyways I’m on lockdown like the rest of you so I have time on my hands.

My most memorable run was when I finished about 50th out of 200 at a fundraising 5km fun run in 2018. 12 months previous to that I was nearly 22 stone, my knees hurt when I tried to run, I couldn’t go more than 300 meters at a time and I couldn’t even play chase with my two kids.

So after a over a year of loosing weight and getting fitter in the gym I got down to 16 stone I signed up for my first run since the Galway 8km in 2004.

The first 1km was a 6 minute one, I had not even practiced a 5km beforehand so had no idea what pace to go at. I was just determined to do it nonstop without any walking.

At the 3km mark I was feeling good and gently increased the pace and now I was passing out a few of the really casual fun runners. I was feeling great. I was feeling like I can go faster and I am actually fit enough. Got faster in the last 1km and the finish line was ahead of me.

As I crossed the finish line pouring in sweat and panting like an old man I did 5km just over 26 mins and was met by the smiling faces of my young two kids and their father thankfully can play tag and chase with them.

I have been doing a good few 5kms since then and love going around to different places and events doing them. I think my best was 21.30 last year but I have to get my weight back down a bit having gone back to 17.5 stone.

One thing I learned is it is so much easier to do a 5km with a crowd than on your own.

At a recent 5km/10km event I saw the winner of the 10km do it in 30mins. Incredible running to see.