Date: 3rd April 2004
Location: Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Course: 1st half mix of flat, light hills and long downhill stretch. 2nd half mostly uphill.
Weather: windy, sunshine.
Participants: 3,000
This was my 1st 10K and I wanted to just set a time for the
distance. I hoped to finish in 46:00, but missed out by a
minute. I started out by parking at work which is about 2
miles from the start. I jogged through the park, wishing
Catherina McKiernan good luck as she passed in the other
direction. She went on to win the ladies race. See what a
little goodwill can do? :-) Anyway, back at the race... It
took 2 minutes to get across the start line and once I did
get going I encountered large groups of large ignorant
walkers who had positioned themselves right where they
could do the most damage, at the front. To ensure maximum
disruption they spread themselves across the road 5
abreast. They were joined in their efforts by 60 minute +
runners. I had foolishly started where I was supposed to,
in the sub 50 group. We live and learn.... Traffic was
heavy for the 1st 5k, which consisted of a loop at the top
of the park, a straight stretch down the main avenue and a
downhill section about 1k long. Unfortunately, the downhill
stretch was also very congested. There was a noticeable
thinning of the herd at the first long hill with quite a
few runners finding out that blind faith and optimisim can
only get you so far. The second hill, about 1.5k long (It
felt that long anyway) did away with quite a few more. It
being into the wind didn't help. The last 2k were
relatively flat. I passed quite a few runners here and was
only occasionally passed myself. I knew at this point I
wouldn't make 46:00 so I was coasting along. Until a couple
of smartasses passed me about 30m from the finish. Well, we
can't have that so I did what I had decided not to do and
sprinted the last few yards. Passed them back and then
some. Realised then I should really have done that quite a
while back. Ah well, maybe next time. Splits: 4:39, 4:39,
4:33, 4:34, 4:34, 4:53, 4:54, 5:04, 4:38, 4:30 Position:
Somewhere around 490/3000. Official results not out yet.
Goodie bag included T-Shirt, Medal, Plasters, one of those
silver bin liners that keep you warm, Basmati Rice (??),
Pasta Sauce (???), Tikka Masala Sauce (????) and a guide to
healthy living courtesy of the sponsors.
--
Colm