It all started with a quick chat about the best way to keep fit over the winter. Six months later we have just run (nearly all the way) the Paris Marathon.

Despite finishing (not running) five Marathons since 2002, I had only broken the 5 hour mark on one occasion, finishing in 4:58. I justified the slowness by telling myself (and anyone who’d listen) that I (at least used to be for nearly 20 years) was a rugby player and not a runner; swimmer; or cyclist for that matter. That I only did the above because if I didn’t do some form of exercise I would slowly go mad (just ask my wife).

After discussing the details with some fellow triathletes (you know who you are - THANKS), Padraic and I decided to take a shot at the Paris Marathon. We kicked off our ‘Run Less – Run Faster’ programme on December 7^th 2009. Padraic and I both work in NUIG so we could meet at suitable times to fit in our track, tempo and distance runs every week. With cross training (swim, cycle, rowing machine) in between and one day off.

As many of you can testify both from witnessing us at track and from beeping at us while doing some of the distance runs, we stuck doggedly to the programme. Fitting in about 90% of all the sessions we were supposed too over the four months. It worked, and week after week we both spoke about how strong we felt, especially after doing the distance runs.

Our first big distance run was 16 miles and when we finished with a negative split and about 3 minutes ahead of our target time we were buzzing (although the caffeine fuelled gels may have had something to do with that too).

Two weeks later we stepped up to 18 miles, on about 13 miles Padraic felt something tighten at the back of his leg, we stopped for a minute and he stretched it out. We again finished within our target time but it was obvious afterwards that Padraic’s leg was not right.

He gave the physio a call and he confirmed that he was minutes from disaster, the physio told him to rest for the week and not to do the 20 mile we had scheduled for the following week. After putting in four months training, I was gutted for Padraic. I was hoping and praying he’d be okay.  I still knew I had to do the 20 miles myself, and I had no one to run it with. Thanks here to Fiona D (and Fergus). who, with very short notice, stepped in. I ran the first 10 miles on my own and then met Fiona, who chatted and motivated me to keep going for the second 10 miles. Even though some goody two shoes stole my water refill in Barna, meaning I had no water for the last 5 miles I still felt good at the finish and felt that I would be good to go for the Paris Marathon. Thanks again Fiona.

The next day, Padraic got the all clear; with a bit of tape on the leg he was okay to run, I was delighted. We began our taper and the nerves, butterflies and excitement began to build.

Padraic and Sinead left for Paris, via the ferry two days before me. Roisin and I flew to Paris on the Friday (two days before the race on Sunday). Paris was vibrant with 40,000 other runners and when we went to the Expo to register on Saturday morning the nervous excitement was palpable, we got our numbers and knew then there was no going back. We tried to relax and stay off our feet as much as we could and save ourselves for the big race. We ate well and got an early night on Saturday.

Race day: We arose at 6am and the hotel opened the breakfast room early for the many runners staying there. We ate, relaxed, and headed for the Champs Elysee at 8am, the sky was clear and the forecast was good, to remain dry and clear with a high of 13c. Perfect weather for us poor Paddy’s who had been training through a cold Galway winter. Decked out in our Galway Triathlon Club gear we mingled with 40,000 others waiting to start at 8.45am. I was itching to get going.

The gun went and we were off, well kind of. It took us about 10 minutes to get over the start line and start the watch…..then we were off….no hold on a minute, there was a bit of traffic to get trough. Our target time was 9 minute miles, but between all the weaving and overtaking all the slower people who had somehow managed to get to the start of the bunch it took us about 10km before it opened up and spread out properly and we could get into a steady stride. Still, we felt comfortable and reached half way in 2hrs.01, four minutes off target, I blamed the delay on the congestion and we both felt strong, buoyed on by the cheering Sinead and Roisin at the half way mark I still felt we could break 4 hours, just.

Alas, just after half way a geriatric French man decided to cross the road, weaving in between hundreds of runners I only spotted him when he appeared right in front of me, I shouted at him but it was too late. I reverted to the rugby player I once was and dropped the shoulder and took him with me, if I hadn’t, I would have mowed him down and left him for dead., he was shouting at me in French and I was shouting at him with some choice language to get out of my way. I drove him on for about 10 metres or so (Munster style rolling maul) before I managed to then push him to one side out of my way (and dive over for the try). In the malaise I lost a few things: the rag; my stride and pace; and Padraic.

At this point too the weather was taking its toll, it was much warmer than 13c, it felt more like about 20c and at every water stop I was drinking like a fish and taking the gels on board. All things combined, when I crossed the 30km marker in 3hr.03 I knew breaking four hours was out of the question. Now I was just trying to keep the head down, finish, and at least get a new PB. I plodded along, running, jogging and walking when taking on the water, everything was hurting but I kept telling myself I had the miles done in training and to just keep going.

By this stage I was on my own for about two hours and I thought Padraic had finished long before me, when low and behold I spotted him with about 3 miles to go. He was out on his feet (I’m sure he won’t mind me saying that), I was so chuffed to see him; with the few miles to go we pushed each other to the very end. After all our training and hard work over the last few months, it is a testament to our friendship that we both crossed the line in exactly the same time: 4 hours 38 minutes 24 seconds. Brilliant! A new PB for me too by 20 minutes.

That evening we enjoyed our first beer since December 24^th with our support crew and fellow triathletes Tony and Bairbre, ( special mention to Tony who completed the course in just over 3:08) and talked about doing another Marathon, the next time though, we will break four hours. Despite the congestion, and nearly killing an old man, Paris is amazing, the city is beautiful and the course is fairly flat. 5* Recommended.

CopyRight Galway Triathlon Club 2006