Connemara Marathon Race Report 1st April 07

Sunday April 1 saw many Setantians leave the comfort of the pale to head for the rugged beauty of Connemara. The Connemarathon is known for its dramatic setting of mountains, glacier lakes, rugged green-brown landscape and  challenging route that brings the participants through some of the most stunning countryside in the world. Do you know how much that helps when you have 6 miles left and feel like death would be a better option? Not a blooming bit !

Fortunately others found the experience thoroughly enjoyable and all had every reason to be delighted with their performances. The whole weekend was great fun until that eejit said go. Travelling over was long and stressful not because of the weather or traffic but because co pilot Greene kept changing the gears in the car when the driver wasn’t looking. Many thanks to Michelle’s mother for the bag of buns, which kept us nourished until we got to Ardee.  We were joined in the car by 6-4 favourite for the full Marathon Shane Boyle from Kells and our own equivalent of “nursey” from Blackadder, Miss Mairead Clarke. Many thanks must be extended to Mairead for all her medical expertise over the weekend, she rubbed Ronans feet and put his blister plasters on, she rubbed Tiger balm into several thighs and tried to rub up against a couple of fellows in the quays on Saturday night.

Ronan organised a meal on the Saturday night and it was a very enjoyable 2 hours for us all except Robert, Amanda and Dec who had an enjoyable hour and a half and an enjoyable half hour tour of Galway.

So race day dawned and what a beauty it was, not nice enough for some tubes to remove their leggings but you learn from your mistakes. It was quite an early start for a race that didn’t start till 12 noon, but a long bus journey meant a 7 30 breakfast before heading to Oughterard. Then another bus journey to the start of the Half Marathon in Leenane or the edge of the world as it should be known.

First home from Setanta in a very impressive time was Robert. Robert completed the course in 1hr 31 mins a great time considering he didn’t get any sleep the night before! Now Amanda can concur that there was definitely no sleep the nightbefore the race but will not comment on whether Roberts heart rate exceeded 150 in the process of not getting any sleep. To make things worse Robert didn’t have time for his scrambled egg at breakfast. Therefore he went to the start tired, hungry and still was first home! The rest of you are a disgrace.

An equally impressive performance was from second home Niall Mc Cabe, his residency in Felda is clearly paying off. Niall’s confidence on the bus to the start was certainly not misplaced when certain unscrupulous athletes were trying to get into his head. Michael Bent from Boylesports is predicting a good year for the fourth McCabe in the upcoming Triathlons.

Mickey Laverty was right behind Niall, well at least someone like Mickey but a lot lighter. Mary must have forgotten to take the kitchen equipment into the caravan last winter.

However the performance of the weekend came from the “nifty at fifty” McCabe. Unfortunately for Dec it wasn’t in the race but in the restaurant on Saturday night. Declan showed all his experience in ordering and devouring two main courses, a sight that certainly brought a tear to this writers eye. This resulted in a feeding frenzy that saw 19 main courses devoured by the 13 diners. His run wasn’t bad either.

Mary Laverty can eat some grub, sorry but I had to say it, her assault on the extra pizzas was ruthless to say the least. Mary also had a very good run especially considering she was a doubtful starter right up until the start.

Eve McCrstal is just wonderful, a star in the making. Well I’m hardly gonna take the piss out of the Siochanai, especially with me using red diesel and no tax or insurance.

Niall Casey’s seemingly effortless transition from overrated rugby star to overweight triathlete continues at great pace and his very good run in Connemara augers well for Ironman Germany.

Mairead Clarke improved on her time from last year and was in much better condition afterwards thasn 12 months prior. However there was one consistent element to her showing in both years. Last year she abandoned her training colleague on top of the “hell of the west” while this year she kicked her on the ankle a week before the event , to ensure she couldn’t compete.

Amanda put in an amazing time of approx 1 50 which I am told was done without her heart rate rising over 130. If this is true I hate you Amanda. I only have to see runners to make my heart rate go to 150.

Michael Bent completed his first long distance event in a very commendable time and will relish the fact that from now on you have to get wet in every event. He was however slightly embarrassed when we met a colleague of his who told us that the best 4 years of Michael’s life was sixth class!

Ronan Greene what can you say, 15 minutes faster than last year , so much more mature, he packed his own bag, organised the meal and is generally an all-round Mr Nice guy. Flatulence is a problem

Me, well I never knew what it was to hit a wall until now or to be so sore after a race but I can take comfort from the fact that even in the semi comatosed state I was in at the top of the hell of the west, I still took time to befriend the man giving out the Mars bars and lighten his load substantially.

Other associates of the club also competed well. PJ was his in his usual flying form and we wish him well in London. Shane Boyle came 13th in the Marathon in an impressive 3 03 while Martin Hughes finished in 4 12. Seamus Burns might well turn his hand to triathlon after a very impressive display in his maiden journey.

There is no doubt that Connemara is a jewel in the Running calendar. It is a well kept secret that ensures the uniqueness of the event. So in this regard I would be grateful if you could all keep it a secret from me next year