On arriving in Oughterard I bumped into Dee Quinn, Aoife Callan and Assumpta Feeney. We took the courtesy bus to Leenane, travelling along the half marathon route we were about to run. Everyone on the bus had the same goal, to meet, great and beat the “hell of the west”.

After being met by some strange looking characters at the bus stop we hit the toilets and slapped on some last minute sun cream. Alan Burke and his new toy, a loudspeaker, ensured we got our baggage on the trucks with plenty of time to spare. Dee and Aoife headed off to do a warm up and myself and Assumpta decided walking to the start would suffice, we were saving our energy! Maria Long fell in with us as we did our version of a warm up; she of course had done a mile or so.

We didn’t have to wait long before the cheers went up and we were off.

Having promised myself to start out slow I was nicely shocked to see that my legs had read the instructions. The first two miles had me running close to eleven minute miles, I was happy at this pace knowing what was ahead and fearing going too fast at this stage would ruin my race.

By mile three I was in a nice rhythm, running along at 10.2 minute miles and loving it. It was gorgeous running conditions, well I thought so anyway, overcast, slightly warm but not too warm with a bit of a mist. I was enjoying my pace, the race, the scenery, the lot.

I took on my second set of jelly beans at mile four and was running at 10.1 minute miles, my legs were starting to ask if they could run faster but I didn’t think it would be wise knowing what lay ahead. Owen Curran and Tony Killarney passed me somewhere between mile 4 and 6 and of course I gave them a cheer as they sped by on their marathon quest.

More jelly beans were taken at miles 6 and 8 and I was going between 10.2 and 10.1 minute miles. The legs still felt good, each hill was a push but I had no niggles and I felt I was on target to get home in around the 2 hour 15 mark. All was well.

Having passed Keanes pub and hearing the supporters egg us on I knew what was coming and so did the sun, yip, no more overcast, just glaring sun. Someone was having a laugh up there.

I started strong on the hill; I was running at 10.28 minute miles hoping I could sustain that to the top. I enjoyed the music provided “On the Highway to Hell” and had a bit of a giggle at the guy dressed as a devil looking on. By the time I passed Anne Hunter at about mile 10.5 I was really feeling the climb, I had gone out to 10.38 and was trying to come back inside 10.3 minute miles. It was not to be.

People were starting to walk and I spent the time telling myself they were in a different race to me and I absolutely had to keep running no matter how slow it was to get, I was not allowed to walk. Finally, I felt the hill easing and my legs were not as unhappy as they had been, it was almost over.

Kieran Guiry passed me at the top of the hill - his marathon journey almost complete - he called me to join him to the end of the race. I took off with him for a few seconds but realised if I was to finish the race without walking I would have to let him off and so he became a speck in the distance. By mile 12 I was running at 10.28 minute miles but the plan had been to be running at 10.00 minute miles going faster for the last mile. I was cross with myself that I couldn’t get closer to 10 and saw my watch ticking away knowing 2 hours 15 was not going to happen.

I had to switch to plan B… run as fast as I could to the end and forget about the watch and hopefully get as close to the 2 hour 15 mark as I could.

My last mile was still over 10 minute miles but I did manage to give a spurt for the finish line finishing in a chip time of 2.18.23. Although I didn’t hit my target I was happy, I had completed the course running from start to finish. I was greeted by James Lundon, Alan Burke and George Sheahan before heading off to receive my medal and well earned t-shirt.

Hats off to all involved, it was a superbly organised day. I didn’t have to wait long to get a bus to the race or home, there was ample water, plenty of food afterwards and even some fruit pastilles being handed out. Everything about the race was perfect.

Congrats to all who competed in the Ultra, marathon and half marathon. It was a great day out!