It was way back in 2013 that I last did a marathon. That was the "Run Clon" marathon and I had such a hard time that I swore that I would never do another one. Well...time dulls the memory and as I was back enjoying my running again I decided last January to enter the Clare Burren Marathon. I had last run this race in 2013. It is such a beautiful course, I thought that if I could enjoy any event, this would be it.
All was going well with my training until April 2nd when I managed to tear a calf muscle. I was just on the point of throwing in a few long training runs, when I was out of action for 5 weeks. I was afraid to do any long outings after that, in case I would aggravate the injury, so it is fair to say that I hadn't had the ideal preparation. As the race date neared, (May 25th), I had more or less decided that I would give it a miss, but at the last minute, I decided to head northwest, and basically, just see what happened. I drove up the evening before, and this time, instead of camping above the sea near Fanore, I went from Lisdoonvarna towards Ballyvaughan, and about half way there, I turned onto a little lane, in the hope of finding a quiet spot for my tent. Lo and behold, after a few kilometres, I happened upon a green road which was part of the marathon route, and I had found a perfect spot. I set up my tent, and set about cooking my dinner. I sat and enjoyed the open views and the sound of cuckoos calling. At least I enjoyed it for a little while, until the midges found me very much to their liking, and set about their own repast with some vigour. They were the worst I have encountered, since I was last in Scotland in the summer time. A quick retreat into my tent made for an early night. It started to rain and continued into the night.
It was still drizzling in the morning, and the cloud hung low over the hills. A stiff breeze had long since put paid to the midges, so I was able to breakfast in peace (the rain had also ceased by now). I decamped and drove the 10 kilometres to the pretty village of Ballyvaughan, where I collected my race number and loosed out and chilled, until the start time of 9 am. A nice atmosphere was building as the numbers increased, and soon it was time for the off.
Nice and easy does it, was pretty much all that was in my head, as I trundled along the first few miles. I was feeling pretty good, but I was determined to listen to my body, and not overexert myself. Next, we went off road, and very gradually, rose onto the wild rugged landscape of the Burren. This is a beautiful wild place, with its limestone crags and pavements, where Arctic and Mediterranean flora mingle. Normally the views to the sea and the Connemara mountains are also divine...but not today. Today cloud and mist dominated, but at times this is no harm, as the underfoot conditions can require come care. After mile 7 the going eases, and the next mile loses some height, before you reach a narrow lane (the one I camped by), and a gentle descent eases you to the 11 mile mark. Now comes the steepest part of the route, and most everybody walks most of the next mile, as you climb on a green road to the top of a broad hill. A long undulating stretch follows before you reach another road where you descend for over two miles into the village of Fanore at the 16 mile mark.
Now it starts to get real.
Now nearly a mile follows on the main road, before you turn off and run alongside the stunning Fanore beach on a stony little trail, that makes it difficult to maintain a good rhythm. Back up to the road (briefly), before a run and walk up a steep lane, and you once again go off road, and follow a trail that rises high into the hillside, and contours around Black Head. This is an amazing section. On a good weather day, the scenery helps to take the mind off the increasing fatigue, (and the fatigue was most definitely increasing), and it takes you all the way past mile 22. You then drop down to the road again, and follow this for the final few miles back to the finish line. In every marathon I have ever done, I have had to break into a walk, on occasions, over the final few miles, but today I somehow managed to keep running the whole way. It was certainly not easy, but it was not dreadful either. I was still exhausted well before the end arrived. I had hoped that I would break the 4 hour mark, but it wasn't to be, as I crossed in 4 hours 28 seconds. As I sat and recovered, I was nonetheless very proud to have completed another marathon. I have already started looking at possible new ones in the future.
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| I was as tired as this picture shows..It doesn't get any easier |