What’s a runner without any races?

For me, my busiest racing period ever was the 8 months from September 2011 to May 2012. During that time I ran:

17 Sep 2011 – Dublin Half Marathon
13 Nov 2011 – Poppy Half Marathon (Bexhill)
20 Nov 2011 - Old Deer Park 10K (Richmond)
07 Jan 2012 - Southern California Half Marathon(Irvine)
19 Feb 2012 – Brighton Half Marathon
04 Mar 2012 - Regent's Park 10K
24 Mar 2012 - Maxifuel Half Marathon (Dorney Lake, Windsor)
27 May 2012 - Edinburgh - 4:49:28 (PB)

Part of the reason for this was my obsession with running a sub-2 half. The other reason was because I enjoyed it! Races were no longer scary events that I knew nothing about. The whole race day routine became normal—I knew how to prepare and what was going to happen. Easy!

While I’m very proud of all the races I did during that time, @brazilliangunner pointed out that one of the reasons why I might not have cracked that 2 hour mark was because I was racing too much, and that I should focus on a few big races a year. TBH at the time I was doing a lot of running and enjoying the races too much to think about it. But now as I struggle to find time for my training, it feels like the right thing to do.

Last week, I signed up for the Brighton Half Marathon. There have been some serious organizational issues every time I’ve run it (Conegate, anyone?), but it’s my home race and what could be easier than hopping over to the start line a few miles away?

I had originally planned to focus on 2-3 big events next year, one being a marathon. But after I didn’t get into London I decided that I would just wait for now, and see how things were going after the Brighton Half. Besides, at the moment just getting through a half marathon training plan will feel like an accomplishment.

For the first time in a long time I will have only 1 race on my calendar. It feels strange and kind of lazy, but for me it’s the right thing. I will be able to focus on getting that balance between running and work, and I hope I find it in the end.


So what’s a runner without any races?


A runner who is trying to find her running self again!

Reflections on the Brighton Half, or How I'm feeling after missing the sub-2 mark--AGAIN!

@rowenanews called me a "small ball of fury" this morning. When I told Hubs he laughed and said, "Sounds like she knows you well!"

My disappointment on Sunday was replaced by fury yesterday, when the Brighton Half officially acknowledged the distance error and made time adjustments. I know many fellow runners were happy but I wanted to scream when I saw my adjusted time of 2:00:24.

This was my 6th half and my 4th where I was trying to run a sub-2. If the distance had been correct I would have known how close I was to the 2 hour mark. I would have pushed even harder to the end. But I chose to trust the mile markers and when I hit 11 miles I believed I had missed the sub-2 already. And I know it made a difference to how I ran the last part of the race.

2:00:24 would have been a PB for me, but I just don't....can't....WON'T....think of it as one. I can't help thinking about how things might have played out differently if the distance had been marked correctly. True, maybe I still would have just missed it. But I FEEL like I'll never know. For me, this will always be a 2:03:21 for a 13.42 race.

I admit, my fury is probably down to the fact that my time was so close to a sub-2 AND because I've been pursuing it for so long. Would I be as upset if I had run a poor race and my time was no where near 2 hours anyway? Or if I had blown away the sub-2 mark even at the longer distance? Or if it had been my first half? Probably not. But for me, the circumstances of Brighton Half ended up as perfect storm for anger, frustration and disappointment.

The morning after my fury has dissipated. Stepping back and looking at the race (without considering the distance mistake), here are my thoughts:

• It was a tough race for me. In general, the race just felt tough. I didn't have as much energy as I thought I would, and my legs didn't feel that fresh. Around mile 7 my legs really started to tighten up, and I didn't feel like I had enough left to push it for the final 3 miles. I actually felt much better running the Southern California Half when I was tired and jet-lagged! We have good days and bad days...and for some reason it wasn't my best.
  
• I need to re-think my race strategy. My plan for this race was to stick as close to 9:09 pace as possible from the start, and then push the pace if I could starting at mile 10. But my legs really struggled and I wonder if this plan is counter to how I usually run best. Slow start, pick up in the middle, strong finish. Perhaps I should be starting underpace the first 3-4 miles, build up, and end up faster than goal pace the final 3 miles. Thoughts on this appreciated.
  
• I have to work on my mental toughness. I did get flustered when the mile markers started to go wrong. I had been keeping pace better than I had in other races....so I just couldn't understand how I was actually behind when I hit the race mile markers. Instead of pushing through and fighting harder, I think I let it affect me more than it should have.
  
• I am nearly there. I've never been THIS close to a sub-2 (my PB is 2:01:43), and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed to have missed it again. Wouldn't you be? I've tried 4 times and I've been working hard, and yet somehow it still eludes me! BUT after this race I should have no doubts in my mind that I can run fast enough.

So I've learned a lot from this race. I'm going to put the Brighton Half behind me and dive back into my training. Lots to work on and more hard work needed because I just can't give up now. Not ever.

And of course I'm already itching for my next race, if only as a release for any residual anger. If you are racing and see a small ball of fury go by.....IT WILL BE ME!


PS
I know we all say it, but the Twitter Running Family is amazing. Thank you for sharing in my anger and frustration, letting me wallow and whinge, and reminding me to stay positive!

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Review: Brighton Half Marathon - 19 February 2012

I first ran the Brighton Half in 2010. At the time it was my second half marathon and I was just hoping to improve on my first. It poured rain for the entire race and there were a few organizational issues, but I had a great time. After I missed it due to injury in 2011, I was excited to run it again this year.

It's been unusually cold these last few weeks so I was worried about the weather. Although rain is always a bummer I was more worried about gusty winds...since on the seafront it usually means running directly into the wind at some point! But after a rainy Saturday we had beautiful sunshine, even if it was still freezing!

We only live a few miles from the race start. I wanted to get there by 8:15 so Hubs just took me in the car and dropped me off. I hopped out near Old Steine and Madiera Drive, and it was exciting to see all the runners heading down from all directions.

The queue for the first set of public toilets was already pretty long so I immediately joined in. As with last time it was a long wait, and by the time I was done it was already 8:45.

As I headed for the starting pens the warm up was already starting. It was really crowded and I felt like I was being shuffled along in a giant sea of people. I only saw a sign for a 1:45 goal time but no others after that. It was hard to see where you could enter since most openings were unmarked and there were so many people. But I finally found a gap in a barriers and squeezed in. After a few words from the announcer we were off!

The race route was different to when I ran it before, but familiar since I run most of the course every weekend. It was reasonably crowded at the start as we headed up and around Old Steine, before heading east toward Rottingdean. Past the Marina was a little hilly and narrow at some parts, but I didn't think it was too bad for passing if needed.

After the turnaround I new it would be pretty straight forward from there--east towards the Hove Lagoon before heading back along the Promenade, and from there about 3 miles until the finish. There were lots of people cheering along the most of the course which gave the event a great atmosphere.

I usually carry my own drink but the water and Lucozade stations were as advertised, and I thought having bottled water was a nice touch. Easy to drink from and you could take it with you if needed.

The finish line was a little disorganized (at least I was able to cross it this time!) but as you walked through you could pick up a foil blanket, medal, goodie bag, bananas and Lucozade. I don't expect a goodie bag but feel if you offer one some effort should be made. Mine didn't have anything except a voucher and an advertisement. What's the point?

The medal was a nice one, though:

When I crossed the line my Garmin clocked 13.52 miles. It had been off compared to the mile markers since mile 5 or so...but since GPS can be inaccurate I assumed the mile markers were right. But soon after the race there was lots of grumbling about the course length, and it may have been the cones were incorrectly placed at the turnaround.

Brighton Half says they are investigating now, but I wonder whether they will actually 'fess up if they made a mistake. For now I will just stay that if it really was too long, I'm disappointed that the organizers could have made such a basic error.

So I've run 2 Brighton Halfs now and both had basic organizational issues. In 2010, I couldn't cross the finish line because it was too crowded--organizers had placed people removing timing chips too close to the line--and now this year the race may have been too long! I'm think I'm jinxed when it comes to this race.

However, as my local it's one I'll keep going back to again and again. I love running on the seafront, and despite any organizational issues the support you get from the crowds just can't be beat. Here's to a better race next year!


Overview
A mostly flat seaside course with lots of PB potential. Still seems to have some organizational issues year to year despite being a well-established race, but the great atmosphere and support from the crowds makes it an event worth running.

Stats in 2012:
Date: 19 February
Entry Fee: £29 unaffiliated
Number of runners: 7000+
Timing chip on race number
Goody bag (without any goodies)
Medals for every finisher

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Ten reasons why I'm ready to run the Brighton Half Marathon

On Sunday I'll be running the Brighton Half Marathon. When I ran it for the first time in 2010, it was my 2nd half. This time it's my 6th half...and the 4th time I'll be trying to run a sub-2.


I've been giving myself little pep talks. Visualizing each mile. Seeing myself charge across the finish line. I've worked hard. I feel good. I'm ready....and here are the 10 reasons why:


10. I've built a strong running base. I've been running 40-45 miles per week for the last 3 weeks. More than probably needed for a half, but now I feel like I have a good solid base to train for any race. The Edinburgh Marathon is already in the back of my mind!

9. I've focused more on speed work. I've always done fartleks, intevals and tempo runs, but this time around I did more at speeds faster than HM goal pace. @BrazilianGunner encouraged me to do mile repeats for the first time at 8:30 min/mi. Scary, but I hope they've made a difference!

8. I know the race route. Most weekends I do my long runs on the Brighton Seafront. I've run the route countless times...I even know the direction the wind usually blows! There will be no surprises.

7. I have great support. Hubs, family, friends....not to mention the most amazing runners on Twitter. Thanks for your encouragement!

6. I've been feeling consistent. It's not that I don't have any bad days....but I have far fewer awful days.

5. I'm a pseudo-early bird. My last few weeks of @6amClub have made early starts feel a little more natural. A little. No worries about getting up on race day!

4. I'm not jet lagged. My last half was in California, and after traveling from the UK, to Abu Dhabi, to LA....jet lag was definitely a factor. It's nice to be in the right time zone!

3. I haven't been sick. When I ran the Poppy Half I was recovering from a bad cold that hampered my training. This time I've been healthy and I'm feeling strong.

2. I have a race strategy. I learned my lesson after the Dublin Half....you have to go in with a plan! This time it's not just about staying on pace, but staying steady through the middle section and (hopefully) having enough energy to push it at the end.


And finally....


1. I love running. Plain and simple.


I. AM. READY.

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Review: Southern California Half Marathon, Irvine, CA - 7 January 2012 (+ meeting a running hero)

It was December and I had my first race of the year all planned....the Brighton Half in February. Then my sister innocently told me that there was a half marathon nearby when we were visiting just after the new year. Hmmmm....another half? The seed was planted and I just couldn't say no!

The Southern California Half Marathon is a race in Irvine, now in its 21st year. One of the official warm up races for the LA Marathon, it is organized by Woodbridge High School to raise funds for their athletics program as well as other participating schools. Irvine is about 15 minutes away from where my sister lives, so it was an easy choice. Plus, there was no cap on participants when meant I could register for the race on the day.

The time change between London and LA is one I'll never get used to. Some visits are better than others but this time I struggled--probably because we were still recovering from Abu Dhabi when we left. I'd been waking up early but the night before the race I just didn't sleep well. I woke up at 3am and couldn't really go back to sleep. Too much excitement!

Plan was to leave at 6am to give us plenty of time to get there and register. I had my usual toast and peanut butter for breakfast and then we were off. Traffic was light that time of morning so we got there about 6:20. The race was near the freeway and sign posted, and we were quickly directed into the parking lot.

The registration tent was nearby and I was surprised to find them manned by students! I had forgotten that the race was organized by Woodbridge High School. The teenagers directed me to the various places and then I picked up my goodie bag and t-shirt.

After getting my shirt, one of the parents overheard me lament, "This is a small?! It's still so big!" and laughed. He said that there should be some Youth Large sizes around and very kindly exchanged it for me! Still big but less like a sack on me now!

There were lots of portaloos and no queues.....was able to pop in twice, no waiting!

By then it was the moment I'd been waiting for. No, not the race start...but my first tweetup! I was going to meet not just any running tweeter, but the amazing @runlikeacoyote! When she heard I was doing the SC Half she said she would do it, too! She's not much bigger than me, and she looked so fresh considering she had just run her first ultra only a week ago. I got to walk with her to the start line and start the race with her!

As @runlikeacoyote and I waited for the start, we noticed there were a lot of students. I hadn't really thought about it but they seemed to be everywhere, many of them wearing 'Students Run LA' shirts. I almost felt left out. I later learned it was a program for at-risk kids to train for the LA Marathon--so cool. But I did feel like I was one of the older participants!

After some fanfare (including the singing of 'The Star Spangled Banner'), the race started. Before the gun I told @runlikeacoyote that I was thinking about racing it. But I knew things were iffy given my jet lag and general lack of sleep. From the moment we set off I knew I was tired because I didn't feel that usual spark at the start of the race. So I immediately decided to try and keep a steady, comfortable pace...and go for it at the end if I felt okay.

When I signed up for the race I could see part of it was on closed streets, and when it said "SD Creek bike trail" I thought it would be a little bit like the canal path in Richmond. Turned out the San Diego Creek is dry this time of year so it was more like a reservoir or flood control channel. A large part of the race was spent going back and forth on paved bike trails to each side of the creek. Not the most scenic place, and I lost count of how many times we went around it.

I was able to stay steady for most of the race, and felt good enough at mile 10 to pick things up a little. I decided to increase my cadence by singing 'Son of a Preacher Man' to myself over and over again in my head. At this point other runners and students were getting tired and I started passing people. This always spurs me on and I kept telling myself...THIS IS WHAT I TRAIN FOR!

Once I saw the finish line I sprinted as hard as I could and crossed the line. I already knew that I was not under 2 hours but was happy to finish in time of 2:03:04.

Overall, I was really happy with my run. I felt like it was a good effort considering how jet lagged I was...and that I entered the race at the last minute. Hopefully this means I will be more than ready for Brighton!

I had fun during the race and while I generally don't mind looped courses, I found this one to be very repetitive. I didn't really like running up and down the "creek". Also, while it was great to see so many students out there they kept cutting in front of me to shout at their friends or stopping at inopportune places!

So glad that I did the SC Half, if only to meet @runlikeacoyote. Who by the way zoomed on her post-ultra legs and finished in 2:11!


Overview
The race had a lot of energy with a high number of student participants. Well-organized. The route is repetitive with lots of ramps and turns, with few people cheering. Some sections were busy and narrow enough to make passing difficult. Registration fee a little pricey. Worth thinking about if you happen to be in California.

Stats in 2012:
Date: 7 January
Entry Fee: $65 (~£43)
Number of runners: ~4000
Timing chip
Cotton T-shirt
Medals for every finisher

Can a slow race be a good race?

It's been a few days since I ran the Poppy Half, my 4th half marathon. It was one where I had hoped to FINALLY break the 2 hour mark after coming so close in Dublin. I had all kinds of grand plans!

However, I went into the race knowing it wasn't my time to break any records. A bad cold with only four weeks until the race left me unprepared. It took a while for me to ramp back up again and I struggled with any kind of speed the week of the half. So while disappointed, I heeded the advice of the wise Twitter running crew. I ran the Poppy Half for enjoyment....not to try and break my PB.

I have to admit that (like before any race!) a teeny weeny part of me thought some miracle might happen. That on Sunday I'd surprise myself and break 2:00 without even trying. But of course, there were no miracles. On a beautifully sunny Autumn day, I ran the Poppy Half in 2:11:57. Not horrible considering I was unprepared, but a good 10 minutes off my personal best.

My simple race strategy was to find a steady, comfortable pace and stick to it. If I felt good at the end I would try to speed up a bit. I never felt miserable during the race, but it was up and down. There were stretches where I felt quite good, followed by ones where I felt tired, like I was dragging. I was still hoping that I could really push it the final lap, but it just wasn't in me. I just tried to stay consistent  and mustered a little sprint the final few yards.

So a slow race for me....but in some ways a good one. Why, you ask? It was a great learning experience, and I realized 3 big things:


1. Getting enough training makes a real difference. I guess this seems pretty obvious but this race really illustrated it for me. Comparing Dublin and Poppy, and the number of miles I ran 4 weeks before each race (not counting the taper week):

Looking at the simple numbers, it's not surprising that I ran Dublin much faster. My running volume for Poppy was about 43% less.

2. The speed wasn't there that day, but it's in there. No one likes to run a race 10 minutes slower than the last one, no matter what the reason. Especially me. But after the Poppy Half I really thought, wow. Compared to my run today, I must have been going SO MUCH faster to get that PB in Dublin. Ten minutes is a big difference, right? Feeling as I did on Sunday put my other race in perspective, and made me all the more proud of my PB. I CAN go faster. I HAVE gone faster. I WILL go faster!!

3. I love running. Maybe I'm stating the obvious again. But there was a time in my life when I never thought I'd run a half marathon at all...and now I'm running them for enjoyment! Looking forward to the half, planning to just have fun as I raced, running with less-than-ideal preparation. The Poppy Half reminded me how much running is now a part of my life and--despite the bad days--how much I love it. Why else would you be happy to run 13 miles for fun? :)


Now it's my 'rest' week. I'm getting a few runs in to prepare for another race on Sunday, the Old Deer Park 10K in Richmond. I decided to enter just a few weeks ago since a friend of mine was doing it. The offer of going to brunch afterwards was too tempting!

So the Poppy Half a week before and still trying to get up to speed, I expect this 10K will be a slow one. Nowhere near my 10K PB. But at least I know I'll have a great time and learn about myself as a runner in the process. And that can only be a good thing, right?

Rest Week Review: Poppy Half Marathon, Bexhill-on-Sea - 13 November 2011

On Sunday, 13 November, I ran my 4th half marathon: the Poppy Half Marathon in Bexhill-on-Sea.

I had been looking for a half marathon on a flat road course near to where I lived in either Brighton or London. The Poppy Half fit the bill, and after seeing the late start time I knew it was the one for me! The fact the race helped to raise money for the Royal British Legion was icing on the cake.

The race start was at 1230 but I needed to pick up my race number and timing chip. Bexhill is only 1 hour away from Brighton but since we'd never been there before and I wanted to leave plenty of time, we decided to leave around 1000. Very civilized! There was no traffic all the way there and despite stopping for petrol, we were there in no time. Race info said that there would be plenty of free parking near the race, and how right they were! We had no problems finding a spot just a 10 minute walk from the start on the seafront.

Race HQ was set up right next to the Sovereign Light Cafe. There was no waiting for either my number or my timing chip. Easy peasy! It took seconds to pin on my number and then attach my chip using the neoprene and velcro strap.

No extra toilets were set up but the public toilets on the seafront were more than enough for a race of this size. After the shortest queue ever, almost no traffic, and quick registration-- I was ready to race with 45 minutes until the start at 1230.

Luckily it was a beautiful day in Bexhill, so I just tried to relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Lessons learned from the Dublin Half

Why, why, WHY didn't I break 2:00 hours? That's the question I've been asking myself the most often since I ran the Dublin Half on Saturday.

I know I shouldn't be disappointed. This was my first half since my injury, and I got a PB by about 6 minutes. But I thought I had done more than I needed in preparation for this race. More total miles. Highest weekly volume. Longest ever runs. I'm pretty sure I had that sub-2:00 in me, but where was it on the day?

I've had some time to reflect, and I think it comes down to 3 simple mistakes on race day:

1. I didn't have a race strategy.
This seems elementary and I'm not sure why I didn't....but I just didn't. I remember thinking that I would just run and listen to my body. Settle into a comfortable pace. Maybe it stems from my first two races where I didn't even wear a watch! And part of me just wanted to run and enjoy, not keep looking down at my pace (which of course, I did anyway). Maybe I thought that I had trained enough not to worry about it. Whatever the reason, I just didn't think this through. I didn't have a plan for the start. I didn't have a plan for what I would do if I wasn't on pace. No plan.

2. There was a big hill.
My friend told me that the race was in a park, mostly flat. The race website also didn't talk too much about the course. So I just assumed it was flat and didn't train for any hills at all. Boy, was I surprised when I noticed around mile 4 there was a hill ahead. It wasn't especially steep, but it was massive. At least it was in two parts, where it leveled off for a little while before climbing again. I wasn't prepared for this hill in so many ways--I didn't train on hills, I didn't know the best way to run it, I didn't know what I was supposed to do now that it was here. I panicked. In the end I tried to push and keep pace on the hill. Wrong move. It totally zapped me and I really struggled during the middle of the race. There was also a cheeky hill in the last mile to get to the finish line. It destroyed my chances of finishing with a strong final mile.

3. I ran the first few miles too fast.
An amateur error and I should have known better. I thought I had learned this lesson long ago when I was running a lot of 10Ks. In one of my early races, I started off way too fast at someone else's pace and just died at the end. From then on I knew I had to just keep a steady pace at the beginning. Even when I train, I always do better when I don't go too fast the first 3 or 4 miles. I then find it much easier to pick things up.

After mile 3, I looked at my watch and saw my pace: 8:40/mile. Not fast for most people, but that's like light speed for me! I should have slowed down then, pulled it back. But I didn't. I was feeling good, and  I had trained so much. And a small, little voice in the back of my head said, Maybe I've done it! Maybe it's happened! I've morphed into an amazing runner and this is my new pace now. This is easy. I'm going to get faster and faster. Hooray! For a few glorious miles, I believed! Of course, reality hit in the second half of the race.


So what have I learned?

Have a race strategy. No matter how simple, I should have a plan and stick to it. I should also have an idea on what I should do if things go wrong.

Know the course and train for it. I was too lax about it this time, and I didn't even think there might be a hill. From now on I'll take time to research the course, get thoughts from other runners, and then train for whatever obstacles are there. Oh, and I should probably be doing hill training anyway!

Don't start off too fast. In fact, err on the side of being slightly slower. This has been proven to me time and again, both in training and races. Resist the temptation. Don't do it.


So Dublin has been the key to helping me understand what I need to get right for my next race, in fact--for all the races I'll be doing in the future. And I've quelled that little voice and accepted the reality. No matter how hard I train, I won't magically turn into a fast runner overnight. I will have take it a step at a time by doing things the right way--including running smart races--and hopefully one day I'll get there.

I still have dreams of running a sub-2:00 half marathon, and my next chance will be in 7 weeks at the Poppy Half Marathon on 13 November in Bexhill-on-Sea.

I'll be there and this time....I'll be ready to race.

Rest Week Review: National Lottery Half Marathon, Dublin - 17 September 2011

On Saturday I ran my 3rd half marathon in Dublin. The race was suggested by my colleague and running buddy who has family there. It was near the city center and I'd never been to Dublin before so I thought....why not?

Not a huge amount of contact from the race organizers before the race, as the half is just part of a race series leading up to the Dublin Marathon in October. But I got my race number on time the week before the race, which is all I really worry about!

The race was held in Phoenix Park, a walled park at the edge of the city center. Our taxi driver told us that it was the biggest walled park in Europe. There was a shuttle for runners from Parkgate Street, which is near the park entrance, to the race start. Since our hotel was about 2 miles from the park, we took a taxi and asked the driver to take us as close to the race start as possible. Unfortunately they had started to close off some of the roads in preparation for the race. So while we made it into the park, we and others who had parked their cars nearby were left with a good 15-20 minute walk to the race.

The race had a good atmosphere with everyone trying to keep warm in the chilly temps. I headed straight for the toilets and while there seemed to be at least 30 or 40 port-a-loos, it was a good 20 minute wait. By then I had just 15 minutes to get to the race start about a 5 minute walk away through a field.

Runners arriving near the start in Phoenix Park

There were 3 waves for the race: 1) sub-100 minutes, 2) 100-120 minutes, and 3) 120 minutes plus. The 'pens' were clearly marked with the wave times and there was more than enough spacing in between. It was great not to feel like you were being squashed in. No pre-selected pen assignments--you could just find the wave that suited you best. My buddy and I decided to start at the back of wave 2.

Then we were off! The start was a little late but it didn't take us too long to cross the starting line. As always it was quite crowded in the beginning but thinned out after the first few miles. About 8,500 runners meant it wasn't too crazy but consistently busy from start to finish.

The park provided lovely views throughout the run, but unlike street races there weren't too many spectators along the course. Around mile 4 there was a mildly ascending but relatively long hill...and there was also another one in the final mile just before the finish. Otherwise the course was mostly flat with some downhill sections. Water stations were every 3 miles as advertised.

Lots of crowds and cheering at the finish. After we crossed the line we were led through a finishing area where we collected a goody bag, technical t-shirt, bananas, water and gels. The same shuttle buses were available to take runners back to Parkgate Street after the race.

Overall I thought it was a great race. My only small quibbles were:

1. Organizers could have more clearly stated the distance to the race start from the park entrance (we would have taken the shuttle if we had known it was such a long walk to the start)
2. There were no race medals! Not the end of the world but always a nice souvenir
3. Getting an Asics technical t-shirt was great but unisex sizing means mine is actually too big for me to wear!

Overview:
A well-organized race in a beautiful park, close to Dublin city center. Looped coursed on paved roads. Not a hilly race but a long hill in the first half plus a hill in the last mile to the finish. Worth considering if you are looking for a race just a short plane ride away.

Stats in 2011:
Date: 17 September
Entry Fee: €20
Number of runners: 8,500
Timing chip on race number
Goody bag + technical t-shirt - no medal