Blog of Random Thoughts and Pictures

3 Counties Challenge: Carrick ‘Deadmans’ 5 Mile Race

June 7th, 2013

This run was close to home, in Carrick-on-Suir and the middle race of a 5 run series organised by the Carrick Roadrunners.

Twas a hot and humid night in Carrick, so I was juicing up however I definitely did the wrong thing by have some peanuts some hour or so before the race, but more than that a little later !

The start of the race was by the tutor castle in Carrk and I must admit I’ve seen the signs, passed the town a million times however I had never ventured up the small street to see the house nor castle so it was great to final set eyes on it.

The start was bunched but I tried my utmost to stay calm and take it easy through the first mile. This first mile took us up through the main street of Carrick which was great fun, and I’m glad I took it easy as the first hill we hit was at least one of the Deadmen, the title of the race was referring to.

That first hill was long but I felt good going up through that first 2 miles, however at this point I hit another steeper hill and for sure this caught me, the wheels were a turning but the rubber wasn’t really hitting the road, and I was at a snails pace. Then to top it off those damn peanuts started to dry out my mouth terribly , it just went barren and not a drink of water in sight, I was rightly of course by this stage.

I think it was the three mile mark that we hit a water station, and not longer we started to hit the down hill section. More wows as my technique was slightly off and didn’t get the power in, I was feeling a bit frustrated at this stage.

A few people passed and I couldn’t keep up but as I reached the line I heard a few words of encouragemnet to get me across the line, Niall an ex-colleague from the TSSG was there cheering on with family and when they spotted by I got a great cheer.

I crossed the line and off the stopwatch (I had lost my running watch) I caught a time of 0:34:04 and the official timer [pdf] had me at 0:35:08.

Number 306 heading for the line

I cleared the finish line feeling a little disappointed but then in talking to others they made it clear that the heat and those Deadman hills had slowed up most people on the run, so maybe not so bad after all.

Stoneyford 10km Challenge

May 19th, 2013

In flying form these days after a few quick races, so I entered the Stoneyford (Kilkenny) 10km with high hopes of bettering last years race.

I arrived in Stoneyford in good time, and managed a decent warm up, although my only slight worry was the fact my left ankle has been acting up a little recently so I was trying my best to monitor it, in the warm runs.

Due to the layout of the initial start line, which runs up the village main street and then back down again, I was determined to find a good starting position. I did and really the next thing to get clear in my mind was to pace myself from the start, which simply isn’t easy to do !

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The first 1.5km was good, then I hit the long up hill stretch out of the village, I felt I was tipping along fine until the 40 min pace runner cam flying by me and then I knew two things, one I had started too quick again and two at the 3 km mark I was starting to slow from that early quick pace.

I found my stride and took on the hills as best I could, I know I still have to do some training work in regards to hills, I’m just not achieving the right pace on them. There was a great down hill stint at the 6km mark, however the 7.5km mark hill that came up next was really tough ! There was a lady that passed me at this stage, but she was great in giving encouragement as she passed, which really helped as I pushed towards the end goal.

The last stint of the run was super fast, mostly down hill, although there was one chap on a real flyer past me at this last stage, but never the less I was feeling good coming into the finishing line area.

Beating 43:35 from last year was the target and as I looked at the big digital clock coming into the finish I was over the moon 42 something was on clock, I could do it, I could break it and sure enough from the official time sheet [pdf] I grabbed a time of 42:52.

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A full 40 secs better and not only that but broke the 44 minute mark, I was really, really happy with that run, not that the picture shows it !

3 Counties Challenge: Tom Jordan 5 Mile Race in Portlaw

May 10th, 2013

The Portlaw to Kilmedan road is one I travel a lot as it’s the main part of my journey to work every morning so getting to run on this road was a small treat I was looking forward to.

So it’s race 2 of the 3 Counties Challenge summer series 2013, a series of 5 races organised by the Carrick Roadrunners.

For this run I’m finding it hard to get the miles right in my head, it’s so strange I have kilometres ingrained in my brain, but thinking of a run in miles is just off putting.

There were loads of people under starts orders and even with the wide roads of Portlaw, it was pretty packed for the first “mile”. Again and again I just seem to rush things I caught a glimpse of 5:55 off the watch at the 1st mile marker, which by quickly calculations was just way too fast for a first mile, in in the scheme of my target time. The next mile wasn’t too bad either, but then, just then the quick start caught up with me and from the 2.5 mile point I say until mile 4 I found it tough going.

However the final mile run into Portlaw was great, I recognised the scenery (and it was more down hill), which placed me a in comfort zone I managed a good run to the line.

Number 377 heading for the line

Off the watch I caught a time of 33.57 and from the results sheet I had a gun time of 33:58. Finishing 91st out of 245 runners.

Happy to see the finish line

I was really happy with this, the goal time was 34:00, I was right on track with 33:58, even though I was a bit off cue at the start, and as the photo shows just a few steps ahead of a number of runners.

3 Counties Challenge: Faugheen 5K

April 26th, 2013

This was the first run of the 3 Counties Challenge summer series 2013, a series of races organised by the Carrick Roadrunners.

The Faugheen 5K was out in the lovely little village of Faugheen, which is just north of Carrick-on-Suir and really is on the boarder of Kilkenny – Tipperary and believe the centre of a lot of rivalry.

The course in this case was essentially a run around the block of Faugheen finishing up in the centre of the village. I’ve not been feeling the best for the last 2 weeks, blocked nose and all so there hasn’t been too many training miles put in, so I was unsure as to how this run would pan out.

It was cold, damn cold at the start line, but the crowd of over 200 at the start line kept the breeze away.

Number 3 heading for the start line

The pace at the start was mighty quick, in fact too quick I clocked a time of 3:45 for the first 1Km and even 3:55 at the 2Km mark, but I just wasn’t able to keep that pace going for the remainder of the run and so dropped back a bit. Once I found my rhythm my legs were a little heavy, but I carried through and clocked a time of 20:21 on my watch.

From the official timer I had a gun time of 20:27, a chip time of 20:22, and out of 213 participants I was placed 77th.

I’m not unhappy with the overall result, but I must get back into the training plan.

 

Carrick AC Winter League #6

November 13th, 2012

On the watch 20:00 and from the official timer 20:01. Ahh a bit off last weeks time (off by 23 secs). I know why, I was too fast in the first 1.5km trying to keep up with another runner. I thought I was ok but when he kicked at the turn I was left behind and I really didn’t recover too well after that.

Points wise I was allocated 49 points, which is about the average amount I’ve been getting that last few weeks.

Carrick AC Winter League #5

November 6th, 2012

On the watch 19:36 and from the official timer 19:37, but overall there’s an improvement (13 secs) which I feel great about.

On the scoreboard though not so good, I was allocated 40 points. There were 77 runners in total so that’s not a great score, in fact I’m even a little confused as a chap that finished just 7 secs ahead of me was allocated 10 points (the lower the points the better). Oh well he must have had a better improvement of his time than I did, and anyway it appears in these races that your always up against yourself, so I should just concentrate on that.

Carrick AC winter League #4

October 31st, 2012

Started off strong and felt happy at the half way stage. Faded a little on the next bit the course and could have finished stronger. On the watch 20:11 which was off my best time by some 22 secs. Wow I didn’t think I was that much off, time to aim higher for next week.

According to the points system I was given 57 points, which I must be honest I don’t total understand yet, but the overall goal is to have the lowest score possible at the end of 10 runs (well best out of 8). Given that I missed the last two runs I have no clue how I’m fairing though.

Clonmel Carers Association 10km

October 21st, 2012

This is a tough one the Carers Association 10k Run Clonmel 2012, there’s a hill in the middle of this course that just seems to go on forever. I knew it this year though, and I think I broke it in the end.

The start line of the 2012 Clonmel Cares Association 10km

The start line of the 2012 Clonmel Cares Association 10km

On my watch I finished at 45:46 and off the official timing sheet [xls] it was 45:50 on the clock but 45:46 off the tag. I placed 43rd out of 378 runners/joggers/walkers.

Overall I’m really happy with the run, and it was 1:39 quicker than last year.

Carrick AC Winter league #2

October 16th, 2012

Missed this week as I was in Brussels.

On the site I haven’t been assigned any points but I think an additional 50 pts will be added which places me way down the table.

Danesford 10km

October 7th, 2012

An undulating course greeted me for the Danesdord 10km run. I was happy at the half way stage but by km 6 & 7 I faded away and even with a sprint in the final km only managed 43:45 (watch) with an official time of 43:46. Ok not my best time of the year, but then again not too far off my best of 43:30 from back in May. I placed 23rd out of 189 runners, walkers and strollers.

On a better note it was great to see Deirdre Uí Dhubhda there for her run which she completed with Meadbh (her dog) in tow.

Deirdre Uí Dhubhda

Deirdre Uí Dhubhda running with Meabdh

I must say that was no mean feat !