It is Saturday the 31st of August and I find myself in one of the more uncomfortable  places a girl would like to find herself  at this time of the  morning, the start line of a 26.2 mile marathon. At least a hundred of ‘us marathon people’ lined up, I spotted a few  Athenry  singlets hovering around, getting ready, not sure what faces owned them, but they were here  and that brought some element of comfort to the task that lay ahead. Only a week previously I had to back out of the Longford ultra, tiredness I figured, having completed two ultra marathons  previously, I didn’t believe I would or could finish that one. So today was a different day, a different marathon, today I had something to prove, not to anyone else, but to myself, could I now run 26.2 miles, would I even finish the thing???
 
My confidence wavered as questions like this ran around in my mind. I fumbled with my garmin, my gels ready, salted water, a quick silent prayer , and we’re off. My plan was to relax, enjoy the run, maybe  come in around a 4.30ish finish, no pressure though, just finish this one, I knew I could handle it that way.
 
The conditions could’nt have been more perfect, sunshine, blue sky, ever so slight breeze to keep you cool, and a great, great atmosphere. We would run eight loops of the 5k run from the 5k series route but in the opposite direction, which meant running up that hill through Craughwell eight times. I wondered how I would feel on this hill on loop 6,7?  Easing into a comfortable9.30/ 9.45 min pace I chatted with fellow athletes as we cruised around the loops, ever so comfortably with plenty of aid stations placed around the area. I chatted with a woman running her  60th marathon today, was this a cake walk for her, I wondered? Probably not, a marathon is a marathon after all. The loops started to become familiar, the hounds barking in the famous Kennels told me I was nearing the village, that pale grey wall meant I was coming back around to a hilly bit again and to prepare, the extra tall tree told me there was a water station around the corner. How nature helped me to run, and run I did, and at one stage I was alone on the road, not a soul in sight, behind or on front, it was so quiet, so peaceful and I ran and ran.
 
My legs told me we were on mile 18/19,that familiar marathon pain increasing ever so slyly, creeping up into my hips, back, shoulders, mind, I ran, my pace felt heavy, my body ached, the questions started, why am I doing this again? Why do I do marathons anyway? I ran. Voices of supporters  broke through my thoughts, ’Come on, you’re almost home, come on Athenry’.  Pat and Ruthann were flying it. I was on the last loop, mile 23, I knew now I was going to finish, I couldn’t believe it, the finish line grew nearer and nearer with each step, that’s all it takes, one step after another.  Closer and closer it came, up that hill for the last time, past the church onto the cheers from the crowd,  I crossed that, always ever so welcome, finish line.
 
Woohoo, I was so delighted just to have finished and even more delighted when I heard my time of 4.36mins.  Not bad for a chick on the wrong side of 40, two ultras done, the 5k series, a duathlon and 50 mile cycle in the Tour de Connemara, all in the past few months. Thank you Craughwell village, thank you Craughwell AC for a brilliant race, too delicious food afterwards and lovely cups of tea, for such  brilliant support and for saving me.
 
Final result is attached as PDF.  P.S. David Noone won the race!!!!!
 
Photos from the event are here.