So continuing on with my racing addiction streak, I signed up for this last week as it was on the same day as a session, I felt I recovered well from last Wednesday so why not give it a shot. I knew the course wasn’t going to be the flattest from looking at the preview, a total climb of 155ft but only one real hill of note. It didn’t feel too bad on the day though, it was certainly undulating and that one particular saucy climb at the end was….lovely.
We got into Macroom pretty late and only managed to get 10 minutes warmup done, not ideal but wasn’t going to make a huge difference. There was a large crowd at this one, almost 600 which was impressive really with another major race (Ballycotton series 5 mile, also drawing 600) on at the same time. The rain clouds had cleared up, the sun was out but not so warm so it was pretty good conditions, much improved on the 25 degrees heat I had to run through last week.
Target today? It was hard to call, PB would obviously be nice but wasn’t expecting miracles with the course profile, more racing experience was really what I was looking for and a placing in the top 10.
Mile 1
Lined up at the front and I could have sworn I was in a 100m dash when the hooter went off, some lads were off like bloody greyhounds. A group of 4 (possibly 5) formed in a pack, we caught the greyhounds and having a quick glance behind me, we were on our own, this was it. Surprising given the numbers present but I was sitting in 3rd or 4th and figured I had a good chance of placing in the top 3 today, game on. We made our way out of the town, I found the first few minutes uncomfortable but settled into the pace around halfway through the first mile. So off we set into the countryside, the 4 musketeers. I had no idea of the calibre of the lads around me but we were tightly packed, everyone seemed comfortable and I felt this was going to be a tactical race. Hit the first mile in 5:21, working hard but feeling ok.
Mile 2
Mile 2 was relatively flat, I was sitting at the front of the pack alongside black singlet, with yellow singlet and white singlet just behind me. We were running so close to each other I almost got clipped a few times but we were chugging along nicely probably all aware of the climb on the 3rd mile, I knew I had to keep something for that though I was really feeling the effort now. Hit mile 2 a little slower in 5:30
Mile 3
Really feeling the burn now but I’m still in the mix, I’m not worried about time just keeping myself in contention, thoughts of even winning are bouncing around in my head but no time for that because once we passed the bridge at 2.3 miles, we’d be tested with the 300 meter uphill climb. It felt like we all eased a little for this but still worked hard, I just focussed on not letting the lads away from me and pumped the arms. Suddenly the the hill is over and I can see the town in the distance, a gentle incline and we’re back on pace but holy crap my lungs are about to burst. I’m back alongside black to my right and yellow to my left, 3 of us in a line and the 4th guy seems to have been lost on the hill. We’re motoring up the road, spectators out clapping and cheering. It feels like it’s just me and black as yellow is gone very quiet behind my shoulder, nobody making a move, I couldn’t make a move. We hit the 3 mile mark and then bam out of nowhere yellow takes off with a very impressive burst of energy, he storms ahead by a few lengths, black tries to go and gains a few yards on me, I can’t respond at all, maxed out. The finish line comes into sight, a quick glance over my shoulder and I know I have 3rd place. I cross officially in 16:44 (but my watch reads 16:56), 4 seconds behind black and 7 seconds behind yellow. I have given it my all, I couldn’t respond to the kicks and 3rd was a fair result. I collapse on my knees for a few seconds before congratulating the lads. Mile 3 was 5:26
I’m very happy with the race but to be honest I never had the winning mentality today, even when it was the 3 of us left, I was thinking I’m happy with a 2nd or 3rd. I need to change that and maybe with more racing I can work on and develop it. Before the race I wouldn’t have considered myself placing so was pretty chuffed with the result all the same. I then found out that 1st place was €250 argh!!! Still picked up a €50 boots voucher so I am ok for toothpaste for the next 10 years. 2 paycheques in a week I am on a serious roll! Went for a 3 mile cooldown around the course and back to the community centre to pig out on crisps and snickers before collecting my prize.
On the timing issue, I’m not sure how there is a differential of 12 seconds between my chip time and my watch, there was a starting and finishing mat so I’m very confused and kind of reluctant to accept 16:44 as a PB but it’s an official chip time and a very tasty time so I think I’ll take it 🙂 I did clock the course slightly long however at 3.13 miles and my average pace on the garmin is on par for a 16:46 but that wouldn’t really explain the times being different. If the chip time is wrong, I’ve still equalled my PB on a tough course so it’s progress in my eyes and I’ll certainly be shooting for a sub 16:45 on my next 5k attempt which is on the flat Blackrock marina course in Cork.
In conclusion, I read a post on boards.ie recently comparing toughness of 5k’s to a marathon and I’m really starting to lean in the direction of “give me a marathon any day”.
Summary: 5k in 16:44, 3rd overall (7.2m total)