Ballycotton 10 Race Report - Bit of a disaster really!

Member

Now that I am moving more to here than the old CR/Kick site I thought I'd share the report I wrote from my race this Sunday. Hope you like it, sorry it's long, but thats the way I write.

Over on Cool Running, old friend Mick Rice wrote up his report leaving me to fill in the details of my race. He ran a great race himslef, clocking a PR around 62 minutes. I was there too, but somehow my experiences are a little different, and whilst many have read my reports over the years (yep, it is years that I have been writing up races on here), most have been positive experiences, PR's or great times, mixed with a lot of fun and laughter at the Kick/CR Events in the US, and not many when sadness lies underneath. Well, this was a race that I had high hopes for, not necessarily high hopes of running a PR or even what I would describe as a reasonable time, but I am on the way back after a pretty awful year in 2002, and this was to be the first real race of the come back, with a number more lined up over the next few weeks, so I was looking forward to a good start..... Well you know, sometimes not everything goes according to plan.....

Things started great on Thursday night when I drove over to Jeanne's so we could get a good getaway on Friday for our trip - we were making it into a mini-break. I had just run a 6 miler on the treadmill at around 7:20 pace, feeling strong and geeed up for Sunday's race. When I got to Jeanne's we ended up going out for a few drinks to see some friends, and suffice to say it was 5:30 in the morning when we got to bed - There blew the early start on Friday. Still it was fun, and wasn't too much of a handicap to me.

Friday afternoon saw us set off to Dublin on the first leg of our trip, and while uneventful we were running behind schedule. Evening dinner with Jeanne's sister and a couple of drinks with a cousin of mine set me up for Saturday's drive to Cork. We took a leisurely time driving down, getting in at around 5 in the evening and awaited Mick's arrival so we could get out to dinner. We all headed off into the city, and as a tip to anyone visiting Cork on a Saturday night - book a restaurant if you want to get food - Phew! - Its a busy place.... It was an early night for us and we were all tucked up nice and early to get our rest for Sunday.

Mick and I had breakfast while Jeanne had a lie in, and then when James and Peter from Athenry AC arrived we all set off to Ballycotton. For the uninitiated, Ballycotton is a small village on the Coast, some 15 miles east of Cork itself, and whilst picturesque in its own way, I think it would be fair to say that they wouldn't normally see 2000 people in shorts descending upon them on a cool, windy March day - or any other day to be honest.

But here we all were, and the 1:30 start was a little unusual for me, used more to morning starts, but the later time is needed to ensure all can get into the village. We all stretched, jogged, checked our excellent goodie bags, took off our layers keeping us warm, and wished each other luck and just before 1:30 I found myself lined up ready for the gun. I didn't go up near the front of the field, as I had planned to try and run around 7:30 per mile and break 75 minutes. Last year I ran 79 minutes of very little training, so I was expecting better this time as I have been training quite well, albeit shorter runs, but fingers crossed....

We were off .... A long walk ensued to get across the start line, but I started to run as I crossed the mat, and the Chip bleeped as I started my stop watch, we were away, and as we ran through the village the crowds were cheering and the atmosphere was brilliant. It was Jeanne's first time at a race with me, and she was enjoyong the craic, if not the chill, but as soon as we were off she went with James's wife and headed for the warmth of the bar to await our return - within a few short miles I was wishing I was there alongside her.

The first mile was reached in 8:20, a little suprising as it was downhill, but the course was busy and there was no need to panic, just settle into a rhythm and all would be fine. Mile 2 arrived and the watch said 7:52, I felt I was running better than that, maybe it was long mile, keep going, things would improve. Out into the country now, and settling with a crowd, feeling OK, a little breezy, but I've faced worse, and I felt OK at this point. Mile 3 ahead, looked at the watch as I crossed the mark - 8:10!!!! What was happening to me? Were Irish Miles longer than the English ones I was running hwne I was there? - Was this a cruel trick to baffle those of us in mid-pack? -

Just as I was working out the Maths of what was happening I felt my right foot - Yep, still was there, but right on the ball of the foot, the very spot where you impact the road when running I could feel the start of a blister, maybe the sock was a little creased, a quick stop, pull on teh sock, start to run again, nope - it was blister alright, and within 200 yards it was sore - Oh boy - Not even a thrid of the way around and it was sore - sore - sore!!!! Well, there I was, what do you dom you are on country lanes, you have team mates ahead of you, a girlfriend waiting for you for the first time, and this happens - You can imagine the language running through my head. Mile 4 was marginally faster than 3, 8:07, but by now it was HANG ON time, my foot was sore. I bit my tongue, bit my lip, grimmaced, but carried on, mile 5 8:15 and a split of 40:44, over three minutes away from where I wanted to be.

Mile 6 came and went in a disastorous 8:47. Every step was pain. I had to revert to wa lk at one poing, and one funny moment when a runner pulled alongside me to cojole me into running again - you now the scene "Come on pal, over half way, get going, come on I'll help you" - Well, I grimaced "Blister" to him, and he nodded and ran on - Then I saw his T-Shirt - "THE SAMARITANS" - Boy these guys are good - at least I could manage a laugh!

I tried running with someone, getting a chat going, and Mile 7 was 8:07, at least I should get home alive, the chat was taking my mind of the running and the pain from the blister, then it Popped - OUCH!!!!! - And still 3 miles to go - I was choking back tears at this point, but being in the middle of nowhere, there was little alternative but to keep going - run a bit, then walk so I could walk on the outside of the foot, taking the pressure of the ball - it helped, but I was embarassed to be walking in a 10 Miler, Mile 8 was 9:27, mile 9- 9:36, this was terrible, I felt awful, my foot was killing me, there was nothing for it but to try and run home with my head held high despite everything.

The last mile is up hill, and you think you are at the finish when you hit the village, but there is still another 600 yards to go! Ironically I felt great body wise, my breathing was good, my legs werent heavy, just that darned foot. I started to kick and pass people, just picking people off, trying to run on my toes. I'm sure some must have been wondering why someone finishing with the sort of time I was about to record could be "sprinting" up the hill towards the finish, but that's what I did, recording 7:46 for the last mile, my fastest of the race, crossing the line in a new PW of 84:27, and a foot killing me.

Amazingly I saw Jeanne as I was trying to get my Chip off, I hobbled round and she gave me a lovely hug, so proud of me finishing, or was she relieved I appeared to be in one piece. It was great to see her, but I was so disappointed with my run, my first race for my new running club, almost embarrassed to call myself a runner, that I was down as I removed my sock to check the damage. Then Mick appeared with the camera and felt taht a shot of my blister would make a good item - actually at least it proved I wasn't lying Smile

, and slowly my spirits were lifted, and as I hobbled back to the car, I was more determined than ever to make amends for this disaster. Next year I will be back and I will run under 70 minutes on this course - thats a Promise.......

It's Tuesday as I write this. Jeanne and I left Mick and the others and headed over to Waterford for a lovely evening, then a leisurely drive home yesterday before I had to take Jeanne home today. The blister is healing quickly thanks to the Blister Bandage that Peter gave me, and I may even get a run in tomorrow. There's a 10K on the 23rd locally, then the 1/2 in Conemarra at the end of the month, so I can take some comfort that I can't get any worse - can I?

This was my last race as a M1 category, i.e 40-44, and I become a M2 tomorrow. Glad to move up a bracket in the categories, now I need to get the times back down to where I know they can be.

To all at Ballycotton a heartfelt thanks for a great race. To the guys from Athenry, I promise to show I can actually run next time, and to Jeanne, thanks for being there pet, I needed you.

Thanks for reading,

Liam

Excelent

Good effort despite how you were feeling Liam. Hopefully a better race next year.

Member

Fantastically detailed report, Liam! Don't worry - everyone has a race like that on occasion. I think we need it to prove we are a bit human. Wink

Member

&%*$* blister.
Sorry your race didn't turn out as planned. Nice report.

Happy one day early birthday.

Adjunct

I know it is a cliche but you finished. If you were one of those over priced pros you would've dnf and still walked away with appearance money.

Master of Prissface

A true Irish storyteller in every sense of the word! Your reports are always such fun.....even the sad ones! Glad to see you moving them over here.

You've got something way more important than a "perfect" race, my friend....and that's a runner's heart that never quits, even when hurting. Good show! Mr. Green

Gone Fishin

Getting to bed at 5:30am... crazy man. Damn the blister, you'll be back larger than life for the next one I'm sure!

Member

You really express yourself well! Very nice report and good race even if you're a bit disappointed. thumbs up

Ballycotton 10 Race Report - Bit of a disaster really!

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