Since last time, I have managed three Parkruns, and set a new PR at a new venue, Hartstown, which, like St Anne's, is nice and flat, conducive to faster times. compared to my home run at Waterstown, with it's inclines, and Marlay Park with it's numbers. Ran this one twice in February, clocking 24:18, and my new Parkrun PR of 24:10, close to my spring target of sub 24, which should be forthcoming once I can run without multi-layers as it warms up.
Training has been going well with my Tuesday runs with the BAD ASS Runners, and, despite the inclement weather, the motivation from Jantastic, plus the gang from Team#RSP, the Runners Support Page over on Facebook. I had a slight hiccup in my training as I had to head over to Vienna with work for a few days, but I didn't let that stop me, and all in all, I was looking forward to Ballycotton, and a crack at the Classic 10 Miles there. Being honest, I was probably in good shape for a 10K, and maybe a decent 8 miles, so 10 miles was going to be a stretch, but well within my grasp.
Unfortunately, the logistics of getting down to Cork on a Sunday proved to be my downfall, and with a couple of days to go, I knew I couldn't make it. However, there was a Half Marathon taking place closer to home on Sunday, in Meath, the Bohermeen Spring Half Marathon, and with the help of Janet Curley-Keane, and an offer of a lift from Susan Dixon, team nates from Team#RSP, I was set up for the Half with two days notice.
Now, given I had been training for a 10 Miler, and hadn't even ran that distance in training, it was going to be a push, but I knew that if I was sensible, kept to an even, steady pace, I could probably get in under 2 hours. I have set a target of sub 1:50 for this distance, but that is for August/September, when I have my planned two Halves, the Rock n Roll Dublin, and the Dublin Half Marathon set on my plans, so a sub 2 hour was a healthy target at this point in time. My last half marathon was back in 2008, in Cincinatti, when I managed 2:08:34, with a 1:59:29 the year before in Philly being the last time I ducked under 2 hours, so it was likely to be a tough time, but, with the training going well, I was confident.
Before heading off to Meath on Sunday, I went over to The Run Hub on Saturday and bought a new pair of runners. Stuck with my Asics brand, but talking to the guys there, I went for a different neutral shoe, switching from the Nimbus to the Cumulus, and we'll see how they go oce I have broken them in and started running in them. For the race, it was my old tried and tested yellow Nimbus that would see me through the country roads of Bohermeen.
Sunday dawned, with a cool, but dry morning, with a mild breeze, compared to the day before's tougher winds. Susan picked me up nice and early and we made our way over without getting lost too many times. Meeting up with the Team #RSP guys is great craic, and there were plenty of Green & Black vests on display, with quite a few of the gang looking at the 2 hour mark as a target.
We started a few minutes after the 10K finished, and the race was to be a two lap affair, along country roads, with the finish on the local mini-track at the Community Centre. Nine minute miles was the pace I wanted to look for, and I started off alongside the 2 hour pacer, which would be more or less my pace. The first mile was spot on 9 minutes, and I felt very comfortable at this pace, slower than my training pace has been recently. Whilst there were some 850 running in this race, it was easy to navigate the early stages, unlike some races, and I saw two team mates a little ahead of me, who I knew were looking at a similar time to myself. I spent Mile Two closing a 20m gap, and joined up with Derek O'Keane, start of my infamous Smackdown at Marlay Park in January, and we spent the next 8 miles together, averaging around 8:50 per mile along the way.
My first goal was to maintain this pace to the 10 Mile mark, and take it from there, especially as I knew there was a nice hill to cope with at Mile 12, having ran it on the first lap. We duly reached Mile 10 at 1:29:00, giving me 31 minutes to complete the last 5Km to get under the 2 hour mark. At this point I slowed down, and told Derek to push on, as I didn't want to burn up, with the calves, thighs and quads starting to feel the extra miles, especially with the hill coming up. I dug in, easing down on teh hill, and then trying to pick up on the run for home. Derek was around 40m ahead by now, and I was joined by two more team mates, Sharon & Eamon Ward at this point, and then felt a little guilty as I tried to push on for the last 800m or so, leaving them again.
Fair to say I managed to pick it up, and as we entered the track, I picked it up again, and kept it going to the line, coming home in 1:58:23, which was well inside my target, a new PR for M55, and my fastest Half Marathon since 2007, so by default also being my fastest Over 50 run. On age grading, it was even better than my 1:48 from Dublin back in 2003, so all was well.
One disappointment was a lack of water at the finish line, hopefully something that the organisers will get right in the future, as it is potentially a health & safety issue for runners finishing and being unable to rehydrate quickly. All in all I was well pleased with the result.
Back to training now, and a few Parkruns before the BHAA Summer series starts later this month, and with the weather improving, hopefully so will the times. No time goals to set myself for the next couple of months, hopefully just some decent races over Parkrun & BHAA, with the Samsung Night Race 10Km at the end of April the next "Other" Race. Will set myself a goal for that once I see how the next block of training goes.
Some pics from the Half Marathon, along with the New Shoes - Onwards we go.......
