67m2s. 318th out of 5172 finishers. Splits: 7:17, 6:32, 6:32, 6:44, 6:45, 7:02, 6:46, 6:33, 6:21, 6:30; Average: 6:42.
Race map; Garmin data.

I was well prepared for this race – I had my race number safety pins and nasal strip ready a few days before. I also did training 6 workouts, including an hour long turbo trainer cycling session (good for leg endurance without the impact of running). On the running side, I did two 8 mile runs and one 9 mile session.

I cycled to the Phoenix Park, locked the bike and got into my run gear. I jogged down to the start line. It was a reasonably warm day.

While waiting at the start I started chatting to a woman who was wearing gloves. She explained that they were to hold her keys! I suggested the key holder that I have that fits onto your shoe laces.

Finally the race got under way. It took me almost 30 seconds to cross the start line. The first mile was brutally slow (7m17s) even though I sped past a number of people as the opportunity arose. I wasn’t as conservative as during the Irish Runner 5 mile race in July but the first mile split then was 6m32s!! I cannot explain the loss of 45 seconds!! This slow mile was to have a big impact on my finish time.

After about 1.5 miles I picked up the pace, making use of the slight downhill over the next two miles.

I took some water at about 3.5 miles and poured some of it on my back. The climb in the S bends wasn’t too bad and I felt that I cruised up the hill on Wellington Road. I was able to smile for the RacePix photographer at the top.

The next mile, along the footpath, up to the Phoenix Monument was a bit of a drag (slight climb). Just after the 6 mile mark I passed “Vinny” of Rahney Shamrock running club (he was being cheered by loads of people). He ended up finishing 1m39s behind me!!

I took more water at 6.5 miles and started pushing toward the finish, knowing that there were no more climbs. Starting at about 7 miles I picked up the pace and began passing loads of people with some long strides.

The short climb up past St Mary’s Hospital is tough and I encouraged a guy who was walking at the top. I was still pushing it as the road levelled out.

I nearly caught a bearded guy from Rahney Shamrock running club but he heard me approaching and took off. At the finish line I joked to him that it was mean thing to do.

I finished in 1h07m02s (26 slower than last year). I was happy with the final 9 miles but very disappointed with the first mile.

My average split time was 6:42, while the average split for the final 9 miles was 6:38. If I had that same average split for the entire race I would have finished in 1h06m23s, only 3 secs off a PB.

On the following Tuesday I used a massage voucher that my wife gave me for Christmas. I had a full body sports massage from Kate O’Neill in Castleknock. She commented that my quads still had a lot of lactic acid in them (they weren’t sore).