Mountain Running warm up/down (Mourne Way Marathon) 23:02 [2] 2.1 km (10:58 / km) +70m 9:24 / km
shoes: Saucony Progrid Jazz 14
was lucky enough to get a free entry for this so took the opportunity. i have been cynical about how much these events cost to enter to basically run a waymarked trail but certainly have no complaints about how well organised and supported todays event was.
Mountain Running race (Mourne Way Marathon) 3:39:15 [4] 26.2 mi (8:22 / mi) +1131m 7:23 / mi
shoes: Saucony Progrid Jazz 14
6th
really attacked the course, was running in 2nd place for 2/3rds of the race, i'd ran hard to catch the leader but then got caught myself. in 3rd until the last mile! -bowels were playing up with 4 to go so i wasn't moving too fast. didn't have anything left in the tank when dale mathers & a newcastle ac runner passed, then in the run in down kilbroney park got passed again!
6th and sub 3hrs 40mins is grand but so frustratingly close to the podium.
the first sections of the race Donard & Tollymore, all the way to the Trassey track were going to be very runnable so put on a good attack to place me in second after 2.5k
first water stop was on the Trassey track so stopped & downed a cup (big emphasis on leave no trace littering so didn't take cup with me to sip the water)
the flat section along to happy valley was very runnable in fell shoes but i'd opted for the runners with most of the course being on trail or track. so wasn't going as well as would've like and after passing Violet Linton (ultra) took a slip & fall cutting the left knee. hobbled on & caught Greg McCann (ultra) getting on to the road to Spelga dam. climbed the road well & was in 2nd at 1/2 way & was within 250m of the front runner who i could now see. however, could also see the 3rd placed runner closing in on me. I'd pushed hard up and round and down to Spelga & took on water at the dam, keeping hold of 2nd place.
The trail round to Hen was cut up badly and now there were plenty of back markers from the 1/2 marathon zig-zagging in front of me. this felt slow & much harder work than it could've been so by the time i hit the track between Rocky & Cock i'd lost some pace & inevitably got passed by Justin Maxwell.
the descent down to Rocky Water was painfully slow with so many folk now on the trail, climbed strong out of the bog to the col between Rocky & Tornamrock.
downed 2 full cups of water at the Lodge water stop to prepare for the final push towards & through Rostrevor Forest which may not have been wise as 2 miles later the bowels starting playing up maybe from the sudden pouring of 250ml of liquid into them.
was now just trying to hold on to the pace of 1/2 marathon runners, tucking in behind them. but with less than a mile to go the killer blow to the podium finish, Dale Mather & Mark Kendall running together passed me and i had nothing to give to keep with them. i wasn't running too comfortably and with 300m to go got passed by Robbie Heffernan. definitely felt disappointed with dropping those places but happy that i raced well for most of the course.
Finish Lodge Spelga
Kevin Doyle 03:20:16 02:40:11 01:55:55
Justin Maxwell 03:27:26 02:47:11 02:00:17
Dale Mathers 03:37:51 02:55:53 02:07:51
Mark Kendall 03:38:00 02:55:21 02:07:29
Robbie Heffernan 03:39:08 02:51:52 02:03:01
Simon Reeve 03:39:15 02:49:40 01:59:55
the splits are hard to take, Kevin pulled away quick enough running down from Ott car park towards the Spelga timing mat & Justin gained alot on me here too.
was only 2mins:30sec behind Justin at Leitrim Lodge & a good 5mins ahead of Dale & Mark - so gutting to lose almost a minute per mile over the last stretch.
did have 14 mins over the 7th & 8th place runners though : /