Weather looking good for tomorrow
Anyone have room in the car on the way down?
Looking for a lift down only, will make my own way back. can meet anywhere really; Bunclody, Enniscorthy, your house
Thanks
Waterford AC Half Marathon
Re: Waterford AC Half Marathon
Best of luck tomorrow folks . I.d say its going to be some crack 
Re: Waterford AC Half Marathon
Best of luck tomorrow folks should be fun. Nice to see big numbers.
Re: Waterford AC Half Marathon
Really enjoyed this on Saturday, great to be back doing a bit of racing
It was great to be able to run with PJ, Joy & Mike on the way round
Looking forward to a bit more racing now over the coming months
It was great to be able to run with PJ, Joy & Mike on the way round
Looking forward to a bit more racing now over the coming months
Re: Waterford AC Half Marathon
Bejaysus I just spotted that our Joy was 6th in her AG! Not bad for an aul wan!
Re: Waterford AC Half Marathon
Great to see a big crew down in Waterford and everyone in action with some great results. Thanks for the support along the way Bernie, Caroline and Ciara Bowe (hubby Liam had a blinder of a run!).
Its a must do event every year and great to keep you focused during the winter. Sorry I had fly afterwards. I love Dempseys reports and he looked like he enjoyed himself so please John report!
Its a must do event every year and great to keep you focused during the winter. Sorry I had fly afterwards. I love Dempseys reports and he looked like he enjoyed himself so please John report!
Re: Waterford AC Half Marathon
Well done everyone, looked like a great day out, I'd agree Brian it's been far too long since we had a dempsey race report
Re: Waterford AC Half Marathon
Jaysus lads, the pressure!
Here's something quick that will have to do ye, apologies if you only need one mug of tea for this one
The great thing about running races is the simplicity of it all. No faffing about with bags full of gear, no registering hours or even days before an event; shorts, singlet, socks & shoes and you’re ready to go. The great thing that the big races in Waterford do is that they post out your bib number and your chip to you before the race, so all you have to do is rock up about 5 minutes before hand and you’re good to go!
Having not properly raced since the bit of cycling I did last spring and with no long runs and little training in me of late I was fairly relaxed in the lead up to this, never under pressure to run a pb. The huge crowd of 795'ers going meant that I was never going to not race it, so no big fuss, just turn up and have fun. So chilled out that I even forgot to bring any energy gels with me, “sure I don’t need them anyway, all in the head” says I, having made the realisation 15 minutes before the start.
I met most of the lads there before the start as we ambled around at the back getting ready for the off. Joy, Mike, PJ & me all squeezing in together with a common goal of 1:45, Mike planning on taking off in the second half.
The loudspeaker tumbled out an inaudible mumble or 2 from some people who must have been important, then we were off, almost 10 minutes late but sure that’s not bad. Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle, squeeze at the first traffic island, freewheel downhill, along the main road, and welcome to the first hill. Low and behold some poor unfortunate had dropped their energy gel and there it was on the ground just waiting for me. Like Johnny Sexton having to scoop up a sloppy pass from his shoe laces I had the gel up off the ground and tucked into my waist band before I even knew it.
Meanwhile Joy was telling us how awful she thought she was, and how she had let herself go after the Ironman, blah, blah, blah. The three of us were flat out busy telling her how gorgeous she was, how trim she was looking, and what a fantastic runner she really is – always fishing for compliments that lady!!
Along we trundled our little pack of four, taking it in turns to run 2 x 2, or all together. Through the beautifully scenic industrial estates of Waterford. The chat was easy, the pace a little on the fast side. “How far ahead now?,” “About 50 seconds” “OK better slow down” A few KM later “80 seconds up” “Ah crap” But on we trundled, pulling further ahead of our target pace with every step.
We talked about dodgy reality TV programs (yes PJ, they really are naked in the desert!), we misinformed each other when it came to iconic films and actors (come on Mike, Mel Gibson in Die Hard?) we failed to recall anything other than Braveheart or Lethal Weapon that Mel Gibson starred in, and we signed Joy up to run the 114km Stonemad Ultra.
Mike had obviously had enough of our idle chit chat and that was the last we saw of him as he disappeared over the horizon shortly after 7 miles. PJ, Joy and I tucked in behind a large group as we faced a tough section into a stiff breeze and across a very poor road surface. The chit chat soon stopped. From here the work started, it was a head wind, an uphill, or both for the next several miles. Joy struggled a little going up the hill after the 10 mile mark and the gentlemen that we are, PJ and I ploughed on without a backward glance.
Back past the final water station and they were reduced to picking up the bottles that had been discarded earlier and reusing them. I didn’t care; water was needed as I had recently popped my very precious energy gel.
Now carefully tucked in behind a group of 3 runners, PJ and I were still stride for stride. Soon after though off he goes, not a word to me just pulls off the front. After flip flopping between letting him go and going after him I eventually decided to go catch him. As we came together again the faster pace was feeling good, and we both pressed on for the next km together, passing people with ease. There’s no better feeling than passing people like that at the end of a race, and perhaps I got carried away with myself but I just kept increasing the pace further and further. Going around the roundabout at the Boland’s garage on the Cork round I took a glance back and PJ was still there. 8 minutes of pain, we can handle 8 minutes, push harder, come on PJ!!
I think it was around about here that PJ took me off his Christmas card list. I felt great, bursting a gut downhill sweeping towards the sports complex and the finish line. Left turn up the hill, grimace and push. The second left was a very welcome surprise; I thought we were going back up to the start line. Sprint, sprint, give it socks, left calf starting to cramp, push on and done. The 795 support from the sidelines on that final straight was as good as always. It’s a really great club; always back out to support each other on.
Delighted with that, 1:41:11 is my slowest half marathon to date, but I really enjoyed it and was well pleased at the finish. I’m happy I got all that I could out of it; I reckon I would have blown up if I had gone with the 1:40 crowd from the start.
PJ and Joy followed me over the line quick enough, both delighted and both with well earned pb’s and both well under the 1:45 target. Waterford AC put on a great show with a well organised race and fantastic facilities afterwards. I’ve done this race before and I hope to be back to do it again. A great day out, and what a brilliant crowd from the club down competing and supporting for the day.
Enniscorthy 10k is 10 years old this February, another big day out?
Here's something quick that will have to do ye, apologies if you only need one mug of tea for this one
The great thing about running races is the simplicity of it all. No faffing about with bags full of gear, no registering hours or even days before an event; shorts, singlet, socks & shoes and you’re ready to go. The great thing that the big races in Waterford do is that they post out your bib number and your chip to you before the race, so all you have to do is rock up about 5 minutes before hand and you’re good to go!
Having not properly raced since the bit of cycling I did last spring and with no long runs and little training in me of late I was fairly relaxed in the lead up to this, never under pressure to run a pb. The huge crowd of 795'ers going meant that I was never going to not race it, so no big fuss, just turn up and have fun. So chilled out that I even forgot to bring any energy gels with me, “sure I don’t need them anyway, all in the head” says I, having made the realisation 15 minutes before the start.
I met most of the lads there before the start as we ambled around at the back getting ready for the off. Joy, Mike, PJ & me all squeezing in together with a common goal of 1:45, Mike planning on taking off in the second half.
The loudspeaker tumbled out an inaudible mumble or 2 from some people who must have been important, then we were off, almost 10 minutes late but sure that’s not bad. Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle, squeeze at the first traffic island, freewheel downhill, along the main road, and welcome to the first hill. Low and behold some poor unfortunate had dropped their energy gel and there it was on the ground just waiting for me. Like Johnny Sexton having to scoop up a sloppy pass from his shoe laces I had the gel up off the ground and tucked into my waist band before I even knew it.
Meanwhile Joy was telling us how awful she thought she was, and how she had let herself go after the Ironman, blah, blah, blah. The three of us were flat out busy telling her how gorgeous she was, how trim she was looking, and what a fantastic runner she really is – always fishing for compliments that lady!!
Along we trundled our little pack of four, taking it in turns to run 2 x 2, or all together. Through the beautifully scenic industrial estates of Waterford. The chat was easy, the pace a little on the fast side. “How far ahead now?,” “About 50 seconds” “OK better slow down” A few KM later “80 seconds up” “Ah crap” But on we trundled, pulling further ahead of our target pace with every step.
We talked about dodgy reality TV programs (yes PJ, they really are naked in the desert!), we misinformed each other when it came to iconic films and actors (come on Mike, Mel Gibson in Die Hard?) we failed to recall anything other than Braveheart or Lethal Weapon that Mel Gibson starred in, and we signed Joy up to run the 114km Stonemad Ultra.
Mike had obviously had enough of our idle chit chat and that was the last we saw of him as he disappeared over the horizon shortly after 7 miles. PJ, Joy and I tucked in behind a large group as we faced a tough section into a stiff breeze and across a very poor road surface. The chit chat soon stopped. From here the work started, it was a head wind, an uphill, or both for the next several miles. Joy struggled a little going up the hill after the 10 mile mark and the gentlemen that we are, PJ and I ploughed on without a backward glance.
Back past the final water station and they were reduced to picking up the bottles that had been discarded earlier and reusing them. I didn’t care; water was needed as I had recently popped my very precious energy gel.
Now carefully tucked in behind a group of 3 runners, PJ and I were still stride for stride. Soon after though off he goes, not a word to me just pulls off the front. After flip flopping between letting him go and going after him I eventually decided to go catch him. As we came together again the faster pace was feeling good, and we both pressed on for the next km together, passing people with ease. There’s no better feeling than passing people like that at the end of a race, and perhaps I got carried away with myself but I just kept increasing the pace further and further. Going around the roundabout at the Boland’s garage on the Cork round I took a glance back and PJ was still there. 8 minutes of pain, we can handle 8 minutes, push harder, come on PJ!!
I think it was around about here that PJ took me off his Christmas card list. I felt great, bursting a gut downhill sweeping towards the sports complex and the finish line. Left turn up the hill, grimace and push. The second left was a very welcome surprise; I thought we were going back up to the start line. Sprint, sprint, give it socks, left calf starting to cramp, push on and done. The 795 support from the sidelines on that final straight was as good as always. It’s a really great club; always back out to support each other on.
Delighted with that, 1:41:11 is my slowest half marathon to date, but I really enjoyed it and was well pleased at the finish. I’m happy I got all that I could out of it; I reckon I would have blown up if I had gone with the 1:40 crowd from the start.
PJ and Joy followed me over the line quick enough, both delighted and both with well earned pb’s and both well under the 1:45 target. Waterford AC put on a great show with a well organised race and fantastic facilities afterwards. I’ve done this race before and I hope to be back to do it again. A great day out, and what a brilliant crowd from the club down competing and supporting for the day.
Enniscorthy 10k is 10 years old this February, another big day out?