Race Report: Galway Bay Marathon
Run Galway Bay Marathon, the flattest and fastest marathon I have ran, 2019.
The Run Galway Bay Marathon was a marathon that didn’t really bring me a lot of excitement as I was running in my ‘backyard’; the prom was, and still is, my regular training grounds. The week leading up to it I was expecting that something would happen, something would go wrong, so naturally three days before the race I got a cold. The weather forecast looked windy and dark, with some possible weather warnings. I got what I waited for!
I went into the race quite confident, I didn’t contemplate whether I will be able to finish it or not, I was thinking whether I can beat my PB for marathon by 5, 10 or 20 min.
Hence, the night before, I decided that I would run with a pacer, as, firstly, I didn’t trust myself that I would count the laps correctly - two short laps and four long laps. Secondly, I wanted to see if I could beat my PB. Because I don’t wear glasses when I race, I had no idea which pacer I picked. So I said to myself that I just need to stick with the pacer until we get to the long laps, and then if the pace was too tough I could slow down.
I walked down to the race, beforehand getting my Saturday market shopping, bag loaded with vegetables and fruits for recovery, I left those with a market trader and headed towards the start line. I quickly changed my shoes, left the bag at the bag drop off point and went to line up for the start. The dark clouds were closing in, and the weather forecast promised quite a bit of rain.
The start whistle went off, and we started to run, and with perfect timing also the rain arrived.
The first two loops went by so quickly, and only once we started the long loops the runners started to scatter through the race course a bit. I was glad I chose to stick with the pacer, there was a great crowd of people, chatting away and making plenty of jokes about ‘Galway weather’. In the end it was the wettest race that I have ran (Connemara Marathon was wet and cold, but there were breaks from hailstones and rain), it was four hours of consistent rain and side winds. There were plenty of runners who lost the little timing chips from their bibs due to heavy rain. My shoes were like two sunken boats after the race, and having wet feet for 4 hours comes with a price, my feet were nicely decorated with two blood blisters.
As I discovered after running half of the race, I was in a group with the 4 hour pacer, and I managed to hold on to the pacer for 33 km. Just as I slowed down a runner from the 4 hour group dropped back to check in on me, and shared couple of kilometres before continuing on to smash the four hour goal. I always love that about running long distances, runners are always there to support and cheer you on, it creates a wonderful and supportive atmosphere.
The route included quite a few repetitions so this marathon allowed me to tap a bit deeper into my running, and in a way almost enjoy it as a mindfulness practice; consistent movement, following my steps, staying present with each step, this is here, this is what is happening. I felt mentally a lot stronger in this race, there was no moment when I needed to convince my mind or body to keep moving. I went into the last lap feeling strong and even managed to sprint the last 200 m to the finish line. As I crossed the finish line I felt like I could continue running, go a bit further to see what’s there to explore. I felt curious. Just to see what would happen if I continue running.
In the end, by trusting my body, and not limiting myself (due to poor sight and not seeing pacer’s marked pace) I bet my PB marathon time by 21 minute and 50 seconds. All of a sudden a sub 4 hour marathon didn’t seem impossible, or an ultra marathon.
On October 5, 2019, I finished the fourth race for Run to Plant Trees, Run Galway Bay Marathon in 4:02:32.