This was my longest run for some time, and a definite move towards 'marathon' training. This distance in Seanféistín throws everything at you - two long and slow inclines at the start, the mother of all long inclines at the midway point and then a short, sharp shock two miles from home. And in between all this there are some nice downhills and good flats. All the while, if there is any wind at all it seems to funnel wildly against you and only mildly with you! The run also has the best scenery you could ask for (though there are times when you couldn't give a damn!).
I was surprised by how solid I felt on the first half of this run - taking both of the long slow inclines without any difficulty. We had a decent pace here - about 8.15 according to Conor's garmin. By the time we reached the 3.5 mile mark I felt well up for what I thought would be a killer incline. Mentally I break this climb into four sections and get the head down to get through them all. The climb itself goes on for over half a mile but we made it without much stress, and our half way mark was right at the top, which meant we were in for a long downhill on the turn. Easy? Not at all!
We only noticed the full scale of the wind when we turned at the top of that hill. It was pushing us back and making it difficult to move with any pace. The next hill was at the 6.5mile mark and by now I was wheezing and panting like a sumo in a sauna.
But, thanks to Conor waiting for me I got over the trauma and trotted out the next mile and a half before finishing strongly enough from mile 8 onwards. We finished the nine miles in 1hr 18 - an average of 8.45. Happy enough with that - the October marathon may just be on yet!
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