Peter and the two Nialls (L & McD) ventured forth to the North for a half marathon as part of their preparation for IM Switzerland. Here's Niall L's race report
The great Mark Twain once said (and the not so great Niall Larkin often said) “There are three types of lies: Lies, damned lies and statistics”. In the case of the Omagh half marathon, the lie is that it is not that tough, the damned lie is that it is the easy alternative to Connemara but the statistic reads 1:27:47.
Having been under a cloud on Thursday and Friday with a stomach bug I questioned my mentality in going up to Omagh to run a half marathon on the Saturday but after spending most of Friday asleep, I thought I’d be ok. So, Saturday morning and the alarm is hopping at 7am (considered a lie on when you are training for Ironman) and out to meet Niall Mc and Peter by the airport and on up to Omagh. Unfortunately, I don’t have Steven Moodys ability to remember every bit of a two hour conversation and be able to transcribe it word for word in a report, but I do remember that Niall forgot almost everything – heart rate monitor, Vaseline, deep heat, himself (almost) etc. As we reached Omagh, we were greeted by Ulster’s very own monsoon season. So, part of our warm up was coffee in the super facilities of the local leisure centre. While “warming up” we met Gav and Johanna who were up to race – Gav fresh from some warm weather training in China!! And thinking he was still there judging by his clothes selection of shorts and flip-flops. March many weathers, eh. After we did our proper warm up we were off to the start with a rigorous “stick together” plan.
The gun goes off and so does Peter. We have run 100 metres and Peter is 10 metres ahead of Niall and me. It takes a fairly lively first mile of 6:24 until we get Peter back on board. We then knock out the next two miles comfortably enough. At about this stage I start getting “Big Dipper Syndrome”. I am experiencing huge highs and lows. For 5 minutes I will feel great and then I will really struggle for the next 5 or 10. I would fall about 5 seconds behind the guys and would then close right in again. This lasted till just after the 5 mile marker when Niall and Peter suddenly pulled about 15 – 20 seconds clear of me and I thought I was struggling. The guys went through half way in 44:12 and I went through in 44:25. Another half like that will do!
Just after half way there is a hairpin left and as Niall & Peter take it, Niall has a look back to see where I am and the look on his face says, “We need a bigger gap”. About this stage I start to feel better and gradually start to close the gap on the two guys. I eventually work my way back to them just after 10 miles. I give them an “I’m ba-ack” and get a “yeah, we were wondering what was keeping you”. After this it is me who is pushing on with Peter right behind me. Coming up to 12.5 miles I decide to push it – if I have “it” to push. It’s a tough finish with a strong headwind but with 400 metres to go it’s across the car park and three quarters of the track and I sneak a peek over my shoulder and Peter is about 4 seconds behind. Ah, no! I haven’t got a lot left to give but I push on in the hope that if I maintain the gap, he might feel the same. Around the last bend, one more peek, and I am holding him and I cross the line in 1:27:47, 2 places and about as many seconds ahead of Peter. Niall follows another few seconds back.
Before the race Niall had said that whoever was first home had to write the race report. I agreed, thinking that it wouldn’t be me. He was of the same opinion that it wouldn’t be him. See what belief does for you?
After a shower there was a super spread in the main hall. There was tea and coffee, biscuits and soda breads and a range of premade sandwiches. I gave the guys advanced notice that I had picked egg and onion and it could be a long drive home. And the results were posted up as we were there. We were 64th, 66th and 81st with our old friend Gary Crossan in 5th.
This was a well run, well organised and marshalled race with lots of directional signs a great spread afterwards. And all for €17. This has to be viewed as great value for money, especially as the Connemarathon next weekend weighs in at a hefty €70 and requires an overnight stay. But bare in mind, it is not the easiest race in the world – it constantly rolls up and down. There are no major hills, just lots of them. One for the future, me thinks.
PiranhaTri
http://www.piranhatri.com/article.php/20080330200005191