Oh my gawd, what a gorgeous race Dingle Half Marathon was!!! I was going along so nicely I felt almost disappointed to take a left towards the finish line at the 13 mile mark...
It was a glorious day from start to finish and the event was brilliantly organised. I loved the fact that there was no traffic on the road and of course, the scenery was spectacular. It took me about a mile of overtaking to get to the runners at my own pace and then I settled into it. Lovely, lovely run - there I was in beautiful Kerry on one of the sunniest days of the year - I was healthy, fit and loving life. I felt invincible around the 10 mile mark just after the view across to the Blaskets at Slea Head. It felt good to be alive!!!
Like I said, I almost didn't want to stop at the half marathon mark. It put me in good stead mind-wise for Dublin - no knee pain, good breathing, good steady pace... Finished 1:44:07 so eight minute miles and felt that I could have done it faster. Finished in position 21 amongst the ladies, 18th based on chip time.
Not bad for a beginner!!
Well done (again!) on a great time, looks like you are motoring pretty well at the moment. I see the winner of the mens HM, Michael Herlihy was racing again in Blarney on Sunday, finishing third. Now that's what you need to aim for next year, to do both Dingle and Cork in the same week-end!!!
ReplyDeleteI had a completly different experience in Blarney, a really disappointing run, 2mins 25 outside my Bantry time at the begininig of the year. But, as the ancient Greek Warrior, Royios Keaneios from the land of Mayfield once said "You will always learn more from a defeat than you will from a victory, boy". I think my biggest mistake was that I had my best performances on the training runs of the previous two weeks, but as I say, we live and learn.
Keep up the good work and I'll see you on the Cork to Cobh trip.