Training Log Archive: Career Move

I entered this race last week because I was bored and fed up that I can't train properly with my hip. I had zero problems with it during Itera but as soon as I started running on the road again it was getting niggly :( I haven't been able to run train properly for the last 10 weeks but I was hoping the fitness I had from Itera would see me through. Their were 3 races to choose from: half marathon (1 lap), marathon (2 laps) and the ultra (3 laps). I've never done an ultra but considering my poor run fitness, I figured the ultra was the only race I had a chance of winning since I wouldn't be fast enough for the other two.
I had a shoe crisis this morning. My normal size trail shoes were wrecked after Itera and I didn't want to wear the larger ones in case my feet blistered so I went with the Mizunos that I wore for the Itera sandy beach run. They weren't in great shape either and the insole was 'flabby' near the toes but I didn't think the adidas would give enough support.
Got to Lisvernane by 7am. No probs registering and collected my dri fit top. The start was about a mile walk from registration so set off at a slow jog and was nicely warmed up when I got to the start. 18 runners doing the ultra and only 3 women. A foreign lady whose name I didn't catch and a woman named Ailish who was also doing her first ultra.
I didn't wear my watch so not exactly sure of distances but each loop started with a long uphill 5k to the first water station. Then 6k really technical stuff through lots of puddles up and down hill to the next aid station. Left turn for 4 k up and down forest roads to next aid station. 3k through technical single track forestry. Aid station. And then 3k on forest road to the start/finish.
I love the races organised by the Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA). They're low key but really well organised and the other runners are mostly really friendly and encouraging. I started 3 from the back. The plan was: 1st loop - take it easy, run as much as possible 2nd loop - struggle through, walk the hills 3rd loop - power home, walk as necessary. The reality was slightly different!!
1st loop - started at comfortable pace. Ran all the first uphill except when I got to a really steep bit and everyone else was walking. Ailish started behind me and stayed there for the race. I could see the other lady ahead of me on the hill and I passed her when I started running again. Bombed through the technical bit but when I ran through the puddles my shoes filled with silt and pebbles and I had to stop a couple of times to clean them out. I was running with a guy from Cork on the forest tracks but unfortunately I had to let him go when I took a toilet break and I was pretty much on my own for the rest of the race. Started feeling the pinch in my glutes and quads on the second last section of the first lap. Time: 2:15

2nd lap - this was a struggle. Walked whenever I felt like it and my legs were in bits. Why didn't I enter the half???? Thankfully I felt a good bit better once I got onto the forest tracks even though I felt the searing pain of a blister bursting and I had to stop at one point to take painkillers. The winner passed me on the second last section. He was flying it and looked so impressive. ( His time was 5:05!!) He told me as he passed that I had this as the foreign lady was not going to finish and Ailish was a good bit back.
Total time: 5:22

Lap 3 - legs were much better but I skipped by the last two aid stations on lap 2 and on lap 3, after the 5k uphill, I ran out of water. I didn't bring any food with me and I hadn't stockpiled any at the aid stations and I was starving! Actually started to feel a little light headed and dizzy and I tried to run as much as possible to get to the aid station quicker. Oh my god was I happy to see the aid station. One of the volunteers was a complete legend and gave me half of her buttered scone. I had about 500ml of fluid and filled my bottle and stashed some bars in my bag and away I went. The last 10k flew by. Luckily, as my feet were in ribbons. I crossed the line in 8:44:30. 11/18 and first woman. I won a pair of inov8 xtalon 212's :) That solves my shoe crisis! It's a super race and one I'll definitely be back for and I can't speak highly enough of the volunteers who gave up their entire day and were endlessly cheerful and encouraging!

C • Congrats 5

Took one of the stretches a bit too far and now my left hamstring is a bit sore. Annoying!