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Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon - Run


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Connemara,
Ireland
Precipitation
Total Time = 2h 23m 11s
Overall Rank = 973/1190
Age Group = 20-24 Female
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Woke up at 6 am in the hostel. Actually, I didn't get much sleep because there was a bunch of students from UCD there on a boozing weekend and lots of drunk people in my room...perhaps the worst night of sleep ever. I walked to Galway Cathedral for 7:30, got on the race buses and went to Maam Cross. There I checked in, got my race number and everything. Cue standing around for the better part of an hour, eating and trying to stay dry. I must have used the loo 5 or 6 times, and the queue as unbelievable. Got on a bus from Maam Cross to Leenaun, where the half would be starting. More standing around in the rain and queueing for the toilet. Then all of a sudden, we were off!!
Event warmup:

Chi running looseners, light jog up to the line.
Run
  • 2h 23m 11s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 10m 56s  min/mile
Comments:

I had no idea what to expect. I had run close to this in training, but I hadn't the hills or the rain to contend with. It was seriously windy. The first 4 or 5 miles were dry, but then we just got drenched. But I was surprisingly unaffected by it, my feet stayed mostly dry (god bless Asics shoes!). I was worried I had too much clothing on but it seemed to be just right (tri shorts, underarmor tights, long sleeve t and a fleece).

I RAN THE ENTIRE THING!! NO WALKING AT ALL!!! I didn't even walk the aid stations! And I managed to slug it up the nearly 2.5 mile up hill from 9-11. I had a good group to run with for a while, very motivational, and then me and another girl broke off to try to get 'er done at the end. I felt awesome.

Did a really good first 5 k, maybe a little under 32 minutes. But I just tried to stay slow in the first few miles and not burn it all up in one fell swoop. That worked out really well...I had just enough left in the tank to sprint the last 2 miles really.

To be honest, this probably was a bit too hard of a race for me for my first. I wasn't running very fast, but I got it done.
What would you do differently?:

Not carry my CD player. I ended up carrying it in my bumbag because it refused to read my CD. It would have been nice to have it when I was running but I really didn't need it.

Perhaps keep my HR under control a wee bit more, I let it slip away from me a couple of times.
Post race
Warm down:

Not going to lie...didn't do one. Didn't stretch, just cried haha!!! I can't wait to see my race photo because i definitely leaped across the line. Straight on to medals/tshirts, then herded into pasta/soup lines (ohhhh sooooo good). Got my backpack and then got right on the first bus back to Galway. I was desperate for dry socks and a warm shower.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Ehh training a wee bit. I could have done more work on hills.

Rain probably, but I got over it.

Event comments:

In terms of logisitics, this race is a nightmare. It's in a very rural and remote part of Ireland, and there's 3 different events associated with it (half, full, ultra). That's a lot of athletes to get fed, transported and timed. I think they did a good job considering what they're up against. It's only the 5th year for this race too, so there's a lot that still needs ironing out, but overall I can't complain.

Ended up 973/1190 overall for the half, 374 in my Gender, and 274 in my category...overall not so bad!!




Last updated: 2006-02-04 12:00 AM
Running
02:23:11 | 13.1 miles | 10m 56s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/1190
Performance: Good
27:15 in zone (I KNOW!!), 175 AVG Hr, 191 Max HR, 1930 cals burned.
Course: Honestly not as hilly as I thought it would be. That's not to say that it was flat, but it wasn't a bad as I feared. It was so beautiful. It was hard not to want to stop and take a picture. Basically we were running through rural Ireland, surrounded by these beautiful mountains.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Too hard
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 5

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2006-03-26 1:41 PM

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Pro
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Pittsburgh, my heart is in Glasgow
Subject: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon


2006-03-26 2:18 PM
in reply to: #379719

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Elite
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DC Metro, slowly working my way to NC
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
Congrats!!  (I cried when I finished my half last weekend, too)
2006-03-26 4:32 PM
in reply to: #379719

Expert
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New Orleans, LA
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
Awesome job! Didn't it feel great to RUN THE WHOLE THING!!
2006-03-26 4:42 PM
in reply to: #379719

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Champion
19812
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MA
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon

Awesome Race!

Sounds like an interesting event and you have a spirit of adventure!

Congrats on running the whole thing...nice time there....I felt high for about 5 days after my first half...may the feeling last for a long time. It is a treasure you can open and remember when training is hard or racing is hard because you accomplished something big!

Congrats!

2006-03-26 5:00 PM
in reply to: #379719

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Extreme Veteran
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northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon

Way to goooooooooooooo!!!!!!!  Great race report!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks for sharing it with us.

Diane

2006-03-27 8:01 AM
in reply to: #379719

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Elite
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South Florida
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
Congratulations on your first 1/2 marathon!! Running the whole thing is a huge accomplishment!


2006-03-27 8:04 AM
in reply to: #380174

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Cycling Guru
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Fulton, MD
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
A bit too hard?? You ran the entire thing is some really crappy conditions and finished well. I'd say this race was too EASY for you. Next time you need to add in land mines and Kenyans pushing your pace the whole way, then it might have been up to the challenge for you.

Awesome run, and congrats on the great finish!
2006-03-27 8:38 AM
in reply to: #379719

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Master
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La Crosse
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon

Woo-hoo!

"Brilliant" -- haha!
2006-03-27 8:42 AM
in reply to: #379719

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The Original
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Raleigh/Durham
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
That is so awesome!  It sounds like you raced under some tough conditions for your first 1/2 mary!  Congrats and make sure to post pictures when you get them!
2006-03-27 9:42 AM
in reply to: #379719

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Lethbridge, Alberta
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
Congratulations Tracey! Good run!
2006-03-27 9:49 AM
in reply to: #379719

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Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
I am so impressed with your mental determination as well as your physical accomplishment.  You just took everything that came your way in stride and did awesome!  You HAVE to be super proud! 


2006-03-27 9:57 AM
in reply to: #379719

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Member
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Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
Congrats

You definitely earned it
2006-03-27 2:33 PM
in reply to: #379719

Master
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Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
2006-03-27 2:34 PM
in reply to: #379719

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Veteran
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Austin, Texas
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon

Congrats on the race- sounds like a good one.  I loved reading all of the race reports from it because I lived in Galway while attending UCG for a summer and had a wonderful week stay in Leanan.  Maybe I'll be able to get over there again one day for a race.

Keep up the training!  You rock!

2006-03-29 9:07 AM
in reply to: #379719

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Pro
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Pittsburgh, my heart is in Glasgow
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
Results are in!!

973 overall, 374 in my Gender, 274 in my category...not too shabby.
http://www.connemarathon.com/cnm06_results_half.pdf
2006-03-30 11:40 PM
in reply to: #379719

Champion
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Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon

Great race, you did an awesome job!  Must be fun to run in a race in another country, even if it is an English speaking one!

 



2006-03-31 11:21 AM
in reply to: #379719

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Pro
4189
20002000100252525
Pittsburgh, my heart is in Glasgow
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
haha, holy weird finisher's photo!
http://www.mcmphoto.com/product.asp?idProduct=157256&StartProd=1&Nu...

thanks for the support everyone!! After tackling this, I know I'm on track to do OK at my first HIM, and I'm going to stick with the running and make my first full mary in October in Columbus!
2006-05-25 10:54 AM
in reply to: #379719

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Pro
4189
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Pittsburgh, my heart is in Glasgow
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
Not to drag up an old thread...but I just found out that there were 1700 entries in the half!! So I was 973/1700! Yeah! That's MOP!
2006-05-25 11:09 AM
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Veteran
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Pittsburgh, PA
Subject: RE: Connemara International Marathon- Half Marathon
Hell, MOP, I'd drag the thread back, too, babe! Great job! Cool news. Now, let's get you to BOP for the PIttsburgh Tri!
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