Tuesday 12 April 2016

Connemarathon Ultra Race report.

Connemara was my 2nd Marathon ever in 2010 after Dublin 2008. Dublin Marathon don't have an Ultra option so it had to be Connemara. Also because of the breath-taking scenery which seen on foot is even more spectacular. And I had ran 40 Marathons previous to this so an added challenge would spice things up nicely. And 39.3 miles sounds like a real Ultra challenge :)

Collected the number in Galway on Saturday Lunchtime and had an 'unhealthy' Lunch of chips, beans and sausages. I know what works for me. Headed of to the B&B I used the last 2 years for the Connemarathon Full. Waterfall Lodge just outside Oughterard is a gem of a B&B. And Oughterard has been Connemarathon race central for me for all 5 races there to date. (1 Half, 3 Full and now 1 Ultra).

Nice meal in the Boat Inn and then to the leaba for a 6am rise. Breakfast at 6.30am as the B&B owners got up specially for it!! Left at 7am to get on the bus at Oughterard GAA pitch at 7.30am. Met Francy, Marie and Kevin from MCI on the bus and had a nice chat with Francy all the way to Maam Cross for bag drop, briefing and transport to race start.

Connemarathon allows the Ultra runners to drop 3 bags with their own food at any of the water stations. I chose 19, 29 & 35 miles for my bags stuffed with Jaffa Cakes, bottles of flat Coke, Bananas, salted crisps and Bounty bars. I also wore a Flipbelt (get one if you run long distance they are super) with sweets and a nutrition bar.

Race briefing at 8.15am. Roads are open for first 26 miles so run on left. And Enjoy!! (Didn't hear the rest as the mind was racing).

At the Race briefing with R to L Marie Chapman, Francy McManus and Mirko Warnke. (Picture Marie Chapman)
 
We were bussed 1 mile or so back up the Hell of the West for our start. When getting off the bus the cold and wind hit us. Hoy!! That wasn't in the plan :) We started at 9. Settled into a slow rhythm and got a nice surprise seeing so many MCI members at Peacock's Hotel after 1 mile shouting encouragements. Thanks to you all!

At mile 1 with Fleur Forbes (Caption and picture Cathy Quilter)

Found myself running with Fleur Forbes, fellow MCI member and fellow first time Ultra runner. We shared our stories, encouragements and met with 2 other ladies from Kildare and 2 lads from Italy. The Italian boys ran for one of their friends who had won the Ultra twice and had developed cancer. They were going to stop for a pint in Leenane at Mile 26 to honour him. Nice story.

We chatted on and the first 10 miles were dry, pleasant, nearly effortless and with wind in the back. Then we turned right into the Inagh Valley and it was like being hit by a 40 ton truck. The wind was merciless and started to mix with driving rain and later sleet and hail. We got through this to Mile 13 where I lost track with Fleur after a water station. I remember saying 'you will catch up' as she had a food parcel there and I didn't want to stand still in the cold rain and wind. Thanks Fleur for the company on those 13 miles. It was pleasant conversation and made the miles disappear!

I'm going to keep it simple. From there on the weather got progressively worse all the way to Mile 33-34.

Because of my groin injury I had left my watch in the bag at the start and was running on feeling. There were 2 time cut offs at mile 13 (2.5 hours) & 26 (5.5 hours). Before the weather hit us I was pretty confident of making those so decided to run watch free and stop me fretting about times. This definitely worked. I love running without a watch and have ran some of my best races like that. I made Mile 13 in 2H12 and Mile 26 in 4H35 despite the conditions.

We turned up the Hill in Leenane at mile 26 and I was running fine even though the last 13 miles had been energy thieves. At around Mile 28 the conditions went apocalyptic. At least that's how it felt. We were running head into a gale force wind which for fun effect combined its force with combinations of ice cold rain, sleet and hailstones. The Brussels Marathon buff I wore in honour of those who died in the recent attacks was a lifesaver keeping my head protected.

I started shivering and shaking uncontrollably. I started getting muscle pains in my upper arms from shaking. I felt my energy flow out of my body and at the water stop at Mile 29 (the only unmanned one all day yet it would have been inhumane to let someone stand there), I could hardly open my food parcel as the table it was on blew over and flew 10 or so yards away against a pole. This was crazy stuff. I felt very low and thought briefly of quitting there and then out of pure self preservation. There were ambulances driving up and down the course at this stage.

Then the words came to me. Words I have said so often to myself. 3 Words. Words I got from Gerry Duffy in one of his books. 'Control the Controllables'. Right, what can I control? Not the weather, not the temperature, no change of clothes, no protection from the wind in an open valley.

I often say to clients that the answer is most times inside self. That came to me too. What inside you can you use for control? I was literally standing still in the middle of the road with my back turned to hail and wind, shaking like a leaf when these thoughts occurred.

Light bulb. My breath! I can control my breath. Move forward Patrick and concentrate all you are on your breathing. I started walking and breathing consciously. Within 5 minutes I started to breathe slower and slower and my body temperature seemed to regulate itself. The shaking and shivering disappeared and my mind cleared itself of the problems that were external factors. By mile 32 I was jogging again and jogged/walked all the way over the Hell of the West climb to the finish line at Maam Cross in 7H36M33S.

First Ultra done. Definitely up for more!
 
First Ultra done. In horrible weather conditions. I'm an ultra runner. 8 years ago my first run was 0.75 miles and I had to walk back home after that. This was my 41st race at Marathon distance or longer.

Because I can, because I love running, because it is fun, because I enjoy it, because my body allows me.

My feeling 24 hours later? Achievement, Self Pride and Hope I can do this more often!

Sincere thanks to the Organisation, Marshalls, Volunteers, Ambulance crews and GardaĆ­ who kept us safe doing what we love most in horrendous weather conditions. I salute you all!

Next?? Great Limerick Run Marathon on May 1st for number 42. Oh and I'm booking my 2nd Ultra this week. Portumna 50K on June 11th. I'm hooked. Thanks Connemara!!

Miles with Smiles,

Patte xxx




5 comments:

  1. Welcome in ultraworld.
    Voor een Ultratrail of ultra fellrun wil ik nog wel eens naar Ierland komen.

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  2. Hi Patrick,
    Good post glad to read it, don't know if you remember but we had a few words in Peacocks hotel, spoke about the 100 marathon club. Hope the recovery is going well. Best Regards

    Adam

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    1. Hi Adam, Thanks for the message! Must be honest and say a lot of that day is a floating memory. It was my first Ultra and I was trying to take it all in. Marathon Club Ireland is a unique Club filled the most joyous, helpful, nice, positive minded people you are likely to meet in this country. I'm in it 2.5 years, best running decision I made. Recovery fine, back training for Limerick Marathon 1st of May. Doing Cork in June, might see you there!

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  3. Thanks for your post, great tenacity.
    Ran the full that year and it was tough enough!
    Going for the Ultra this year.

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