As I arrived at the start line of the 2013 Tralee Marathon there was a sense of a 10k about the race rather than a marathon. I'd heard a lot of the "marathon runners" were staying clear of this one as the route was not ideal for PB’s, so most present were normal runners busy chatting and having photos taken with friends and family...rather than doing warm ups and getting focused.
I suppose I was somewhere in between, but the relaxed attitude from people, and seeing fellow Crusaders John O Keeffe and the great Keith Whyte helped pass away those long minutes before the off. John, like myself, was hoping for a good day on the road.
Just after 9.08 am we were off. Mile one was through the back streets of Tralee leading out to the Ardfert road. I took it nice and steady for the first mile, passing the house I spent my first night as a student. I couldn’t help but think how life had changed since those college days.
It was warmer than expected so I passed my hat and gloves to my cousin who was cheering (myself and my other cousin Alan running his first marathon) from outside the family home as we headed out into the world famous Kerry countryside. The first few miles were made up of a long drag out to Ardfert but again they seemed to pass OK, keeping a steady pace.
The course took a left at Ardfert at the 6 mile mark and again a slight drag...I remember thinking "I hope these drags are few and far between" but sadly I was wrong. The route over 6 to 10 miles was very like a Saturday morning Crusaders run on back roads, passing fields and detached houses with dogs looking out gates wondering what was going on, but, as we turned off to head to the end of mile 10, the harsh reality of what awaited us began to dawn. A slow line of runners, who looked more like ants, ascending the "HILL" but, to be honest, running it would take a lot out of the very best of runners, let alone a marathon full of joyful first timers. As I started my climb I remember telling the lad next to me that we should be smart on this hill and take it slow. No sooner had I said it when we heard a car cut out as it drove up behind us...bad sign if a car is stalling on this hill I thought :)
The 10.2m marker was at the top and I was tipping 1H 17Mins, which was about where I wanted to be. From then on, until 11 miles, was a switch back so I had a chance to see how people were getting on , I passed the 3.30 lads and John looked like he was doing fine.
I suppose I was somewhere in between, but the relaxed attitude from people, and seeing fellow Crusaders John O Keeffe and the great Keith Whyte helped pass away those long minutes before the off. John, like myself, was hoping for a good day on the road.
Just after 9.08 am we were off. Mile one was through the back streets of Tralee leading out to the Ardfert road. I took it nice and steady for the first mile, passing the house I spent my first night as a student. I couldn’t help but think how life had changed since those college days.
It was warmer than expected so I passed my hat and gloves to my cousin who was cheering (myself and my other cousin Alan running his first marathon) from outside the family home as we headed out into the world famous Kerry countryside. The first few miles were made up of a long drag out to Ardfert but again they seemed to pass OK, keeping a steady pace.
The course took a left at Ardfert at the 6 mile mark and again a slight drag...I remember thinking "I hope these drags are few and far between" but sadly I was wrong. The route over 6 to 10 miles was very like a Saturday morning Crusaders run on back roads, passing fields and detached houses with dogs looking out gates wondering what was going on, but, as we turned off to head to the end of mile 10, the harsh reality of what awaited us began to dawn. A slow line of runners, who looked more like ants, ascending the "HILL" but, to be honest, running it would take a lot out of the very best of runners, let alone a marathon full of joyful first timers. As I started my climb I remember telling the lad next to me that we should be smart on this hill and take it slow. No sooner had I said it when we heard a car cut out as it drove up behind us...bad sign if a car is stalling on this hill I thought :)
The 10.2m marker was at the top and I was tipping 1H 17Mins, which was about where I wanted to be. From then on, until 11 miles, was a switch back so I had a chance to see how people were getting on , I passed the 3.30 lads and John looked like he was doing fine.
From 11 miles out to mile 15 at end of the pier at Fenit was a tough slog of drags and steep climbs, it was starting to take it's toll on me and I could feel the dark clouds forming. Heading in and out of Fenit, I passed my cousins again at the cheers zone and this gave me a bit of a boost, but it was short lived.
Something was wrong. The legs were getting heavy and my head was somewhere else. 15 to 19 miles was a long lonely road along and not even the scenic landscape helped.By mile 17 I was done. I was aiming for 3:15 and, up until mile 16, I was going according to plan but nothing after that worked. I tried to dig in but nothing, I tried to motivate myself with thoughts of all the training and harder runs I had finished but nothing, this was the 3rd time this had happened and I was finding it hard to take. It was around then that people started to pass by and I knew the 3:15 was over for today. Part of me said keep going for a PB or join in with John and the 3:30 lads as they passed but that wasn’t even enough to get me going again.
I was just thinking about how I had gotten the strategy wrong and how I would come back from this failure. At that point, as Pat Bogue would say ”it was all about me”. A few minutes later a lad came up clearly struggling but he was the opposite to me... Today my mind had gone, but his body was starting to give up I could see he had the heart to keep going. Thoughts of races gone by filled my head, of days where other people had helped me across the finish line without thinking of themselves helping me achieve my goals, stories of the great man Howard who I was told never left someone behind and made sure everyone got home came to mind.I was running in my orange Crusaders top and wanted to do what Crusaders do best “help someone help themselves”. I turned off my watch and ended my race. I had failed in my attempt at 3:15, my race was over and it was time to stop feeling sorry for myself and help someone get to the finish line.
Colm was from Leitrim, living in Cork but working in Dublin and running his first marathon in Kerry ...only in Ireland do you meet such people. Like myself he had gone a bit too hard over 10 to 15 miles and was now paying the price. We spent the next few miles of Kerry back roads walking, jogging, cramping up and generally covering the ground anyway he could. He told me about his brother who was also running in Tralee which must have been fate because, not long afterwards, we came across another lad who was starting to fade who turned out to be his brother Micheal. So a Clare man and two Leitrim boys covered the last few miles together in Kerry, getting over the last big hill at 22 miles, heading along the canal and up to the last mile mark where the lads gathered everything they had and gave it a right good go for the finish line crossing in 4h13mins arms linked and smiling for the camera. A very good first attempt at what was a very difficult course.
Tralee 2013 was a very good attempt at staging a first marathon, the fine weather and good vocal support of the locals has made me think many who took part will be back next year. For most it’s not a PB course, but, if your name is John O 'Keeffe, it was.. So fair play to John, the first Crusader in orange home on the day :)
For me the race was a failure, but it might just be the kick in the backside I needed. I have tried 3 times to unlock the door that is 3:15 and failed 3 times. Having watched the two brothers from Leitrim push themselves right to the end, I realised the next time I go for 3:15, I won’t bring a key to unlock it... I’m going to bring a battering ram.
Tralee 2014...I might just give it another lash
Something was wrong. The legs were getting heavy and my head was somewhere else. 15 to 19 miles was a long lonely road along and not even the scenic landscape helped.By mile 17 I was done. I was aiming for 3:15 and, up until mile 16, I was going according to plan but nothing after that worked. I tried to dig in but nothing, I tried to motivate myself with thoughts of all the training and harder runs I had finished but nothing, this was the 3rd time this had happened and I was finding it hard to take. It was around then that people started to pass by and I knew the 3:15 was over for today. Part of me said keep going for a PB or join in with John and the 3:30 lads as they passed but that wasn’t even enough to get me going again.
I was just thinking about how I had gotten the strategy wrong and how I would come back from this failure. At that point, as Pat Bogue would say ”it was all about me”. A few minutes later a lad came up clearly struggling but he was the opposite to me... Today my mind had gone, but his body was starting to give up I could see he had the heart to keep going. Thoughts of races gone by filled my head, of days where other people had helped me across the finish line without thinking of themselves helping me achieve my goals, stories of the great man Howard who I was told never left someone behind and made sure everyone got home came to mind.I was running in my orange Crusaders top and wanted to do what Crusaders do best “help someone help themselves”. I turned off my watch and ended my race. I had failed in my attempt at 3:15, my race was over and it was time to stop feeling sorry for myself and help someone get to the finish line.
Colm was from Leitrim, living in Cork but working in Dublin and running his first marathon in Kerry ...only in Ireland do you meet such people. Like myself he had gone a bit too hard over 10 to 15 miles and was now paying the price. We spent the next few miles of Kerry back roads walking, jogging, cramping up and generally covering the ground anyway he could. He told me about his brother who was also running in Tralee which must have been fate because, not long afterwards, we came across another lad who was starting to fade who turned out to be his brother Micheal. So a Clare man and two Leitrim boys covered the last few miles together in Kerry, getting over the last big hill at 22 miles, heading along the canal and up to the last mile mark where the lads gathered everything they had and gave it a right good go for the finish line crossing in 4h13mins arms linked and smiling for the camera. A very good first attempt at what was a very difficult course.
Tralee 2013 was a very good attempt at staging a first marathon, the fine weather and good vocal support of the locals has made me think many who took part will be back next year. For most it’s not a PB course, but, if your name is John O 'Keeffe, it was.. So fair play to John, the first Crusader in orange home on the day :)
For me the race was a failure, but it might just be the kick in the backside I needed. I have tried 3 times to unlock the door that is 3:15 and failed 3 times. Having watched the two brothers from Leitrim push themselves right to the end, I realised the next time I go for 3:15, I won’t bring a key to unlock it... I’m going to bring a battering ram.
Tralee 2014...I might just give it another lash