National Half-Marathon 2010 Race Report  by Deirdre Quinn, Athenry AC
 
I set off from Athenry at 8.50am SHARP travelling with my chauffeur Owen Curran and co-pilots Frank Burke and Maeve Noone. We arrived at St.Abban’s AC in Monavea in Co.Laois in good time - 11.30am - for start time of 1:00pm - just enough time for a warm up, to check out the course route map (two lap course), find where the finish is and of course a few toilet breaks. 
 
Meet at the start with the Athenry AC clan – Janet Clancy, Maeve Noone, John O’Connor, Ray Somers, Owen Curran, Frank Burke, Philip Magnier, Valerie Glavin and Mr Martin Keane for a group photo.
 
Lined up at the start beside all the elites and I am just talking about the Athenry crew not to talk about the guys who have half marathon time of 69.10. I decided to take a gel before the race.   The gun went off at 1:00pm on the button with a loud big bang, which frightened the life out of me. 
 
First Lap
 
I took off feeling great. Looking at my watch, I was doing less than eight-minute miles. Only slowing slightly while hitting the long hill climb. Around the three mile marker there was a water station. I poured cold water over my head to keep myself alert. This was great help. The only good thing about the long hill climb is that there is always the downhill, which was very welcome to give the legs a bit of a rest and to get the breathing back into control.
 
What did I see in front of me again - another long hill climb. I started to struggle. My pace started to slip down just above 8:30 per mile. Then, after the hill the course took a left turn into a considerable strong wind. I gave myself a target of six miles and then you can have a gel. I got to six and was glad of the gel but knew it would take a while to kick in. 
 
Hit the water station again. At this point I informed some supporters nearby I was struggling. They told me I was doing great to which I answered, “I have to do it all again!” I kept going. At six and half miles I got more encouragement from Val’s John and headed into the second lap.
 

Athenry at the National Half...!

Second Lap
 
My pace was still averaging 8:30 per mile and knowing I had another six miles to go was a thought I had to get out of my head as I still had two hills to climb. So, I focused on running the next two miles and just getting to the eight-mile marker. When I managed to find eight, I then had to look for the ten-mile marker and this kept me going.
 
At mile ten I had to take the left turn into the wind again but it felt like I was running against a gale with sun. I tried to run with Janet for two miles but on mile eleven I had to let her go. I was finding it hard to maintain her pace. 
 
Where the hell is marker twelve, still running and no sign so I broke it down to focusing on running to the eleven and half mile point on my watch. Passed it, kept going and still no sign of twelve maybe after this hill. Looked at my watch my pace had dropped big time to 9:30. At this point I was struggling. All I just wanted to do was finish and not to give in to walking. I said to myself,  “The people behind can’t be seeing ya walking”. I finally hit twelve - Thank God - just one mile to go.
 
Last Mile
 
Somehow I picked it up to just over 9 minute miles. At twelve and half miles a marshal said “nearly there - down the road to the right”.  I went down the road and could see Janet still running straight ahead. Why is she not turning right? All I wanted was for her to turn right so that I would know that I was nearly there. 
 
I got to the right hand turn. I could see the 400m to go. I kept thinking, “Just a lap of the track”. Then there were 200m to go to where the finish was. Done and dusted! The half completed.
 
On behalf of the Athenry AC, I would like thanks to St.Abban's AC who put on a great race and for the use of their facilities in Monavea.
 
On the last note - congratulations to Mr Martin Keane - who came in third M65 with a brilliant time of 116.59.