Leader Of The (Mid) Pack

Apparently I did. Didn't realise it was him until I saw the results later!

Sun 25/6 - Irish Runner Paced Mile, Phoenix Park

I had tried the sub-6 once before, a shocking 6:11 on a freezing and windy night at ALSAA in March 2016. Finally I reckoned I was ready for another crack, last week's 2:46 for 800m having boosted my confidence.

I jogged down Chesterfield with the club group, but even as 9 approached (we were due away at 10) I couldn't see any friendly faces setting up, let alone a gantry. After the clubmates turned towards the Acres, I came back up on my own, but the only signs of large scale activity were on Furze Road. So I headed up to see what the craic was. Turns out it was some massive gathering of (fake?) sheikhs :eek: so back towards Chesterfield it was. Eventually the lads arrived, and even though I hadn't booked it in advance, registration was very quick. Overall atmosphere was very relaxed; the pacers were very keen to point out that it wasn't a race :pac:

After a group warmup, we were split into two groups. 9, 10 & above went off first, with some brilliant performances from Porterstown parkrunners

So now it was my turn. David Carrie was the 6 min pacer, and I stayed close behind him as we headed towards the turnaround point. I was working hard, but felt fairly controlled and happy with what I was doing. Bang on 3 minutes as we turned just before the Phoenix Monument. In my head I was thinking "It's on!"

Now the hard work was under way. The wind was against us, and a slight incline as well. That said, with 600 metres remaining I decided it was time to go hard or go home.

Leaving David behind, I struck out hard into the breeze on my own. It felt very hard and certainly much faster than I'm used to. Even so, as I passed the 400m mark I was still confident of getting it done. Did the wind pick up again? I'm not sure to be honest, but as first the finishing clock and then the times on the clock came into view, I seemed to be slowing down.

Had I shot my bolt too early? 100 metres to go and I still think I've got it. 5:40 on the clock, surely I can't fail now? But in the last 50 metres especially, although my legs and arms were still going, I didn't seem to be getting any closer. One lad passed me near the end, but I couldn't tag onto him. 5:55, 5:56 COME ON!!! 5:58, 5:59 I'm still not there!

6:03. PB :rolleyes: I found a spot just behind the Irish Runner advertising board, and tucked in there for a couple of minutes to get my breath back.

I really thought I had this. Certainly I felt in good shape for a go at it; I'd passed up several other opportunities this year until I felt like I was ready. So even though I improved by 8 seconds on the first attempt, it still feels very much like a miss. Maybe another try on the track will get me across the line in time. Thanks for reading!
J.

kin9pin wrote: »

Welcome back J and congratulations on the exam results!

The Muppet wrote: »

Congrats on the exam results J . Inisboffin sounds challenging .

scotindublin wrote: »

Brilliant news on the exam results! Well done!

The Black Oil wrote: »

Congrats on the exams - a well earned summer break.

Inishbofin.

Thanks so much to all of you! Massive relief not having to sit repeat exams in mid-August. From Tuesday I knew that everyone else had passed, so I was a bit nervous on the drive home thinking that I could be the one who had to go back!

As TBO knows from first hand experience, running on Inishbofin is tough on the legs but very rewarding, with some spectacular views! In the half marathon, participants tackle the long hill up past the school for the fourth time, after the 12 mile mark :eek: before turning right at the top and rolling downhill to the finish :pac: I made it my business to check that one with the organiser before heading home

Wed 5/7 - Rest

Thu 6/7 - Docklands 5k

Pre Race

Sitting in work on a day of high temperatures, wondering if they were going to drop at all. Plus on the walk across, the sun came out and I was thinking that I can't wait for the perfect conditions to go after a time, I just have to play the hand I'm dealt.

Bag drop was quick and painless, so after a few stretches in the square, I wandered over to the start area. John Coghlan gave me a shout as he whizzed past; he would go on to win in style, breaking the course record in so doing.

I had a good chat with Marthastew, who seemed to be in charge of proceedings at the start; no easy task! Singer spotted me waiting to get away, so we had a nice relaxed catch up. I mentioned the recent amazing exploits of previous DCM Novices mentors, and wondered aloud when the present incumbent was going to follow suit, if ever? diego_b found us here as well. All of us were in good form; the sun had gone behind the clouds, and there didn't seem to be much wind. However, it was still very warm and humid.

I tucked in behind the 20 minute pacers, and after what seemed like a very quick countdown, we were off!

Km 1

It didn't feel superfast as we made our way westwards, and I was able to keep the pacer in close proximity, despite a little bit of bobbing and weaving before we crossed Matt Talbot Bridge. Sharp right turn onto the North Quays, and now we were heading eastwards, going through 1k somewhere around Sean O'Casey Bridge.

Km 2

Breeze was behind us here, and at times I was finding it hard to resist the temptation to go beyond the pacer and do my own thing. However, this time I was able to keep hold of the reins, even though I got a few smacks of the balloons for my troubles :pac: Feeling a lot faster now, and I can definitely feel the effort increasing.

Km 3

Not quite certain where the 2k marker was; I missed it anyway. Having negotiated the sharp turn around the bollard at the 3 Arena Point Depot, we were now pushing back the way we came. There was a definite breeze here, and I was starting to gasp for air a bit as the doubts started to kick in. When was I ever going to get this? Sure I've folded every time before. I only lasted 2k in Castleknock! Over half way, but instead of thinking less than 10 minutes to the end, I was expecting myself to fold up like a cheap tent when the real pressure came on. Again.

Km 4

I really got stuck out in the open here, as two other lads who had been between me and the pacer fell away, and I had to get out of the middle of the road before the wind really began to take its toll. Still hanging on, but it was getting harder all the time, and my breathing was starting to go a bit haywire. aquinn was somewhere around chq, and gave me a shout, which I kind of acknowledged. I was really fighting to stay close now, and just wishing we would get out of the breeze and turn for home, which we finally did about three quarters of the way through. Now I was where I wanted to be beforehand, with about 5 minutes of running left. Had I got the minerals?

Km 5

I thought we had gone through the 4k marker about 100 metres before we actually passed it. Doubts creeping in again! Even though the breeze was now behind us, and there was nothing like an uphill finish to complicate matters, I still kept thinking another collapse was on the cards. Yet still I was there and right in the mix. PaulieYifter was spectating with about 500 to go. Or was it 600? I was trying to remember where the finish was; in my head I remembered it being about 300m beyond Samuel Beckett Bridge. Past the bridge, and encouraged by the pacers, I did my best to pick it up for the line, passing a few runners (and the pacers) while I was at it. Now I could clearly see the clock. Still in the 19s!!! And yet the memory of the late collapse in the paced mile came back. COME ON NOW, YOU CAN'T LET THIS ONE GO!!! Kept pushing. Few more seconds. Passed someone else. I think. Still not there. Clock was still in the 19s though. Can't let it go to 20! One last push.

19:59 on the clock. BOOM!!

Post Race

Singer was there watching my finish, and it was great that he was there, as he stayed with me while I got my head together and my breath back, while feeling seriously dehydrated. I could barely talk for the best part of five minutes. But what a great feeling of finally beating a target which had been hanging over me for a long, long time. Once I got back on my feet, diego_b had found us again, while I subsequently got to meet Testosterscone for the first time. Great work all round! I was even happier when I got hold of my phone, and discovered that I had set a PB of 19:43 - 20 seconds quicker than my time from last year's Jingle Bells.

Position: 225th (45th M40)

Next

Fingal 10k on July 23. Last year I set my PB there, which still stands. However, especially after this result, I'm feeling confident that I can take another chunk off it. Thanks for reading!
J.