Ballycotton 10 2017

Week ending 12^th March

If it’s the second Sunday of March then it means the Ballycotton 10 is the race to do so. I entered this last year right in the middle of recovery with the broken arm and damaged ankle and during tough times when Iseult’s reflux was causing her a lot of pain and us a lot of distress. The plan back then was to hopefully get back running and run under 75 minutes. I’m not sure if I will ever see PB’s that often these days. In fact they are very rare these days so I look for other motivation when running. The week leading up to the race was very hectic on a home and work front and in the greater scheme of things running is a very poor third behind family and work. I had Iseult for the usual night feeds Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and she was as good as gold but it does make proper rest difficult. We had a very good day Saturday as Aoiffe was at a course so I was doing the home alone with baby thing and as I pushed the buggy around town it appeared the weather looked promising for the race the next day. My Mum kindly agreed to mind Iseult on the day of the race but it was a panic driving Iseult and all her paraphernalia up so early in the morning and getting things straight before I headed down to East Cork. All part and parcel of parenthood.

I met my good friend Aidan in Ballycotton and saluted a few familiar faces. For the first two miles the legs felt very dead but I was running at around 7.05 pace. That effort was proving too much so I dialled it back and tried to run a comfortable but strong pace. I was doing ok enough hitting mile 5 in 36 minutes but a way off sub 7 minute pace. Mile 6 was solid too and I hit the 10k in the same time I ran Adare 10k two weeks ago. By mile 8 things were proving a bit more difficult and the arse was falling out of things a bit. I reckoned I was barely hitting 7.30 pace at this stage and when I hit the hill at  mile 8.5 it was real slog running at that stage. It was heartening to see John, Shane and Ray with the Mallow Ac banner giving good support. The last 1000 metres is in some ways the toughest part of the race as the end never appears in sight. It’s made all the harder as you are going through the village up the hill and never actually see what’s around the corner. Anyway I got there in the end putting in a little kick to finish in 1.12.47.

While not a great time I would have gladly taken it last November, hell I would have taken it on the way down. I think I finished 729 out of 2300 and around halfway out of Mallow AC runners. It is what is but glad nevertheless to be walking to the car with my souvenir mug in my hand. Not bad so I suppose.

Week miles 32 miles. Monday 7.5 miles at 8.20, Wednesday 7.5 miles with 6 X 800 at 3.15 -3.20, Thursday 5.5 miles at 6 am, Saturday 2 mile walk and Sunday Ballycotton 10 at 7.16 pace.