Drogheda 10K

[damienair]

Due to that awful Covid pandemic 😷 I had kind of lost my mojo for running as there was nothing to train for. My running went from 4 days per week to one or two days per week. My fitness dropped and I gained weight, a Covid stone plus another for good measure.

I was finding it hard to get back into running, so at Christmas time I set myself a goal to run a 10K race and pick an event for the end of April. In February I joined my local running club and bit by bit and week by week I was getting fitter. I was also joining some of the group from the running club on Sunday mornings to do a longer run.

So yesterday was the day for my run. I met up with two of my running friends and we traveled together to the race venue. We got there early and had time for a coffee before the race. This turned out to be a mistake. We went back to the car to put on our race numbers and prepare. We then went up to the start line and there was a great atmosphere. 15 mins before the start I went to the toilet and was set. But just as the race started I had an urge to visit the toilet again and I knew it was the coffee.

The first 5K went really well and I was running well despite the hills. But at 6K just as I was approaching the water station I had to stop to make a quick toilet break. Unfortunately I found it hard to properly get going again and my rhythm was broken. The next 3K was hard going and I slowed down quite a bit. I was fighting with myself for a walking break but kept going. With 1K left to go I picked up my pace again and finished stronger. I was delighted to cross the finish line and just then the heavens opened up and rain saturated everyone. I was initially disappointed but I am pretty happy now. My finish time was 1:01:16. Would have been nice to have finished it in under an hour. But if someone told me at Christmas that I would run that time I’d have been delighted. New bling.

[backintime Graduate10]

even pro runners have to stop for a toilet break sometimes! you did great! you continue to be an inspiration

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

On a roll now Damien 👍

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Just wow!!! I would have done that just to go there... Drogheda...

Huge well done you!!!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Great photo damienair ! Congratulations on your 10k - and a fab time (especially as it included a loo break,🙂). Sounds like you are very definitely back! 👏🙂🏅

[damienair Administrator in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you.

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done on a great 10k damienair And a very good time 🙂👍

I bet without the toilet break it would have been under the hour !

[damienair Administrator in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks. Yes I was running well and was averaging about a 5:50 pace per kilometre. But when the wheels came off I struggled. Lesson learned.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Congratulations Damien on your 10K yesterday, if you hadn't drank that coffee your time would have been sub 60 minutes, never mind, still a good run for you. 😊 🏃🏾

[damienair Administrator in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Alan. I’ve learned a lesson. I’ll be better prepared next time.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

It takes discipline to build back up doesn't it? You did great though especially considering the coffee induced toilet breaks

[damienair Administrator in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you. Yes it’s so hard building back up your fitness again. But bit by bit it comes back. The key is consistency.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to damienair]

Yes, I'm walking or running on alternate days now and hoping my fitness will increase

[damienair Administrator in reply to SueAppleRun]

It will, well done, just keep plugging away at it. Your fitness in about 12 weeks will have improved greatly.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to damienair]

I hope so,

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Well done Damien! Still a pretty decent time, caffeine induced toilet breaks notwithstanding. Nice to see you getting your mojo back 😀 That's a lovely photo btw

[damienair Administrator in reply to Birdlady64]

Thanks. Yes my mojo is coming back and the weight has been melting away.

[Freecloud Graduate10]

Forget the Running Race Gremlins! You set a plan and stuck to it. There are always things that go wrong at the big events like this, the important thing is to not let them get you down. You should indeed feel very proud of yourself.

[damienair Administrator in reply to Freecloud]

Thank you very much.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well done damienair, you have done really well since you joined the local running club. You’ll know not to have coffee before your next race. ☕️🏃🏻

[damienair Administrator in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy. Yes no more pre race Americanos.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Really happy for you that you completed your 10k race Damien. A great medal earned and not too shabby a time either.Sorry that the pre-race coffee came back to haunt you though and threw you off your stride.

Love the photo.

🌷xxx

[damienair Administrator in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you very much.

[RunWillie Graduate10]

Well done damienair 👍🏻

[Wavy-chick28 Graduate10]

well done you to keep going !! Coffee definitely a no no we could’ve had a Radcliffe incident 😱

[damienair Administrator in reply to Wavy-chick28]

Thankfully it wasn’t that kind of toilet break 😲. But I’ve learned a lesson. No pre race Americano ☕️ in the future.

[Wavy-chick28 Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Phew 😂

[BGood]

Well done for getting over the line! I only did a 2.5miles race yesterday in 39mins and boy that tough! So very well done

[damienair Administrator in reply to BGood]

Well done to you on your race. They are tough but nice to soak up the atmosphere.

[RunBrianRun Graduate10]

You’ve had some tough times on your running journey, especially with those pesky gremlins, Damien but you kept going and you made it to your goal. This is an achievement to be truly proud of. What’s next for you? If I were you, it would have to be another 10k, just so I could get under 60 minutes. 😊👍

[damienair Administrator in reply to RunBrianRun]

This was a goal I had set myself so as to have an event to aim for and train for. It was to get me back into running and help shift some of the excess weight I gained over the past 2 -3 years. It worked, I am now back running 4 times per week. My weight is creeping off me and I have lost over 1 stone so far with a little bit more to go.

Next for me is a Half Marathon. I entered a Half Marathon last year but got ill before it. Anyway I would not have been properly prepared for it. The Half Marathon is on the 26th of August and I will be training away with that as my next goal. I am sure I will squeeze in another 10K before then.

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Good luck with that 👍

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

Great run and great photo. You might not have quite managed sub 60 this time, but your time was brilliant if you look back to the times you were running not all that long ago. Next time you’ll smash it! Well done 🥳👏💥

[damienair Administrator in reply to Sandie1961]

Thank you Sandie. Yes my 5K times are improving and I am getting fitter. It is coming together bit by bit.

[Teresa1632 Graduate10]

Ach, don't be so hard on yourself. The time doesn't matter. What matters is that you're back at it, and the memories will be about time with friends and the buzz of the event. Congratulations 🏆 👏

[damienair Administrator in reply to Teresa1632]

Thank you. Your right.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Absolutely brilliant run. Massive congratulations to you! Wear that bling with pride! 🏅🏃‍♀️🎉

[damienair Administrator in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thank you.

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10]

Brilliant! Well done you!! It is not easy to get back to fitness and really inspiring to those like me who are trying to get back to see that it can be done!

[damienair Administrator in reply to Gwenllian1]

Yes it can be done. I still have some way to go but bit by bit we will get there.

[LottieMW Ambassador]

Well done Damien 👏🏼

Glad that you’re getting your mojo back…onwards and upwards! 🏃🏽

[GTFC Graduate10]

Brilliant mate and you've learned so much too. It's positive really that it happened on your first race back. Keep building and you'll go under the hour mate. You're strong pal 👏👏👏