10 Things I Think About Running

10 Things I Think About The Mooreabbey Milers 10 Mile

1. Keep It Local

I think that when it comes to road races it is always best to keep it local. There is no need to be going to Spain or Edenderry when there is a race 10 minutes drive from where you grew up.

2. It’s Not How You Run, It’s Who’s Running, That's What's Important

I think that it is a terrible mindset to get into to be relying on other people not to show up to win a few bob. I was terribly disappointed to drive into the car park to see Paul Moloney looking up at the Galtees getting ready to warm up. Then to make it worse I turned around to see Sergiu drive into the car park. At least I had some hope of third.

3. Hedge Schools

I think that John Meade’s ability to get to the start line of a these small local road races without being spotted is incredible. It’s almost as if he hides in the car before the start and then appears to psych me out. The first inkling I got that he was running was just before the start when the Grange Fermoy runners said that they had seen him but I thought they were just winding me up. Then I spotted him through the gap in the hedge by the start doing some sort of calisthenics. Now I had no hope of third.

4. Bad Luck to You Too

I think that you know you have raced someone too often when you wish someone bad luck at the start, and they reciprocate the greeting. I am fed up of being beaten by John Meade. It's not fun anymore.

5. More Mountains

I think that the changes that were made to the route of the 10 miler for this year have made it a better route. Unfortunately the changes managed to add more hills to a route that already had many hills. My ego is taking quite a beating from running only in hilly races, I mainly run races so that people will look at my Strava and think “wow that is very fast, I am very jealous” but because of all the hills I’m sure that they are going “oh that’s very slow, I’d probably beat that, the shoes must have worn off”.

6. Water Sponsored by Sergiu

I think that it is a pity that Sergiu didn’t sponsor the first water table with water bottles like he threatened to do after the race. Normally in Ireland no one needs water in a 10 miler but in Galbally in July when it is 25 degrees water is a nice to have. I am very good at drinking out of cups while running from having run Berlin Marathon so I didn’t mind the eco friendly water.

7. Meade Tactics

I think that John Meade doesn’t just rely on his running ability to beat me. He is a ruthless racer, people think he is a very nice man but his race tactics are straight from the Lance Armstrong book of how to win a race. Getting to the water table first and then surging after the water table is a disgraceful thing to do. I wasn’t feeling too bad when he did it so I was able to catch up but it was unnecessary and evil. Then after about 6 miles as we turned off the road to Garyspillane he put in a big kick at the turn and got a gap which I couldn’t respond to and promptly disappeared off up the hilly road with grass running down the middle of it.

8. West Limerick

I think that once John Meade had dispatched me I started to worry about who was behind. Not long after we turned onto the hilly road I heard footsteps behind. Then a West Limerick vest flew by at a pace that made it impossible to even think about following. He was going so fast that I was pretty sure he’d catch John Meade which he did. This made me happy as I knew that John Meade would think it was me and get worried and stressed.

9. Should I Stop?

I think that it shows how vicious a runner John Meade is that the poor fella from West Limerick ended up pulling up in a heap about 400m from the finish line. The last mile is a lovely downhill mile with the Galtees on your right, I was happy enough in fifth but then I saw the West Limerick vest hit the ground having succumbed to John Meade's vicious pace. I considered stopping to help him but by the time I got to him he was standing and looked ok so I ran on and stole the position back. Fourth is better than fifth as it looks like John Meade didn’t beat me by as much as he did.

10. Ice is Nice

I think that the person who decided to put the ice into the little ziplock bags and bring them to the finish is a very great person. It was very, very hot by the time the race finished, probably close to 25 degrees which is hotter than I ever remember it being in Galbally ever. The ice made all the many hills worthwhile, John Meade made up for his antics by getting me water and then left me to go to the podium with Sergiu and Paul. I suppose I’ll have to get used to not collecting prizes again. Someone must have realized that I normally get a prize so they gave me a consolation prize of a bottle of wine which was almost as nice as the ice.