Elaine Quinn and I hit the road on Sunday for another half marathon journey.

Elaine had collected our numbers on Friday so all we had to worry about was being at the start for our 11:30 off. Richie, a dude with some serious hair – and who I remembered from my UL days when I occasionally did his circuit training courses - organised a warm up session. We took a rain check and did our own version looking on.

The start area was buzzing, between those doing Richie’s warm up session, the spectators and the music; it was a host of festivities. Everyone was fired up as we were walked to the start line. The organisers provided a few pacers, 1.40, 1.50 and 2.00; I placed myself well behind the 2.00 pacer, while Elaine went a bit closer.

Going through the starting line took a while, at first we were jogging and then walking, throngs of people were headed in the same direction. Finally we were through, people settled and I kicked off at a pace of 9.56 minute miles. I was supposed to go out at 10.30 minute miles for the first mile, come into 10 minute miles for the next 2 miles and then faster for the rest of the course. Instead I let the legs off as they felt good.

Val was near the first mile to cheer us on and offer words of encouragement, in my case I think it was something like “go on, run faster”.

At about mile three there was a girl ahead of me and I gingerly said “Bernadette??” as I pulled upsides, she was an old college friend doing the full marathon, she informed me shed broken down at mile 13 of her race, and had made the realisation that two weeks between marathons was not sufficient! She had completed the London Marathon and was doing both for charities close to her heart. I told her to come with me for a while and we had a bit of a chat before she dropped back for another well earned walk.

By mile 4 I realised I had slipped back to ten minute miles and knew I was in danger. This was not part of the plan. I had two choices, push to get under ten minute miles or stay where I was, wait for a few more miles and then up the pace. I went with option two but knew I was in trouble. I had hoped to finish the race in 2.07 but had a bad feeling.

The next few miles saw me running along at ten minute miles or just over it, by mile 7 a colleague, Louise, pulled up beside me and I told her I was in trouble, she too was feeling it, we made a pact, no talking, just run along using each other, if one felt they could go on a bit then go for it. I liked this deal.

Mile 9 saw me edge just ahead of Louise and I told myself the plan was now not to let her pass me from here!!

I had gone out to about 10.2 minute miles by now and was not impressed. To add insult to injury, the lucky ones who had reached mile 12.5 were now running against me on their run home. I smiled on at them in pure jealousy.

At about mile 10.5 a lovely lady from Dublin appeared beside me and said shed been watching me from the start, I half expected her to say good luck and speed off but no she stayed with me. She chatted away telling me how she took the train down from Dublin that morning and was returning that evening. I found myself running slightly faster beside her as she switched my mind off and as we started on another hill she told me to go for it as she dropped back.

I did go for it and was delighted; I had been fighting with myself before she arrived on the scene. I had realised 2.07 was dead and buried and was really cross that I couldn’t go any faster than just over 10 minute miles. After her distraction I now ran happily on to the next milestone, the last hill.

I gave the hill my all, I passed those who were walking and tried to ignore those who were literally flying past, most of whom were doing the full marathon.

Once the hill was over the spectators were shouting, “yer nearly there, keep it up”. I was snookered, it was a case of just getting to the finish line. I said to some random guy “bring on the f***ing finish, I f***ing need it”, poor guy probably thought I was delusional, I needed to vent and unfortunately he was it. Sorry.

I was back to being cross with myself when my Dublin lady reappeared at my side, she simply said “Athenry, go for it” and so I pushed on for the finish as best I could, I flew down the hill and turned right for the line. It was the longest run in ever; I pushed all the way, knowing people were still passing me out right up to the line. The tank was dry. I crossed the line in a chip time of 2.14.59.

In the walk to meet Elaine – who finished in a chip time of 2.06.04 -, I got over it, okay so I hadn’t done 2.07 but I had finished and I hadn’t stopped or walked at any part even if I did crawl the last mile. You win some, you loose some, right?? Maybe if I had pulled back for those first three miles it would have been a different race.

My chip was taken from me, I got my medal and a lovely bar of Galaxy…chocolate solves all problems. I was happy again!!!

In all it was a great day out, the course was great, a few hills but nothing nasty; there was plenty of water and gels along the course. Music was playing at various spots, the spectators were out in force, the organisers had our first names printed on our numbers and so the supporters were calling us by our names, it was a brilliant idea and helped spur us on. The sun was out in force also… my shoulders can prove this!!