Trasna Na Blianta, Leixlip 24 hours

What can I say .... that just worked out great. I stood really confident and well rested at the start-line. Just before the start I had a brief conversation with Adrian Mcnamara, he said: "Last year you were talking a lot during the 24hr, let me hand you one tip, don't talk at all and when you talk keep it brief". Funny thing is that I read the same words in Addie Bracy's book the day before in the train heading to Dublin. That couldn't have been a coincidence so I took that onboard. Didn't talk at all or just brief communication with my crew, really matter of fact: "I need this and this and that!" and the next loop that was ready.

I ran the first 50KM really consistent, I was a little too fast but the crew decided not to inform me because of the consistency. Every loop same time and glued to the inner white-line of lane 1. I did the first marathon in 3:48. Plan was to do the first 50KM in 4.50, but came in in 4.30. Weather at the start was not great for a track run, sunny but windy. Awful hard to dress for, or too warm in the sun, or too cold in the wind.

The wind eased a bit off during the evening but it had taken it's toll on a lot of runners already. The one after the other dropped out or decided to opt for the 12 hours. After midnight the wind pick up again. So, I had a change of clothes and carried on. At the end of the day, I was a man on a mission. Bit stiff at certain stages but well able to cope with that. I didn't worry about the 100 Mile PB as that was not on my radar anymore. Did the 100Mile in just 18Hrs, just in front of Eddie Gallen, the Irish 24hr legend. Just 5 athletes left in race, a carnage during the evening and early night.

When the morning came I was listening to a podcast by Yvan De Graef, a Belgium Spartathleet. I was wasting a lot of energy there by trying to stay in front of Eddie, and basically with no reason at all. Eddie is not in my age group and I didn't care if I would finish second or third. At a certain stage Yvan says in that podcast: "In races like Spartathlon and 24hrs it's not about running fast, but about the ability to keep on running", that was a reality check. I decided to slow down and not the worry about Eddie anymore, I said to myself: "He runs his race, and I ought to run mine!". Podium was secure and the only thing that counted was that AG record. Funny thing here is that Eddie gave me a new lease of life around the 22hr mark, he looped me there ... and I said: 'Well done Eddie, you're a machine!' where he responded: "Look who's talking..." That really gave me a boost. Glued myself back to that white line and I was able to speed up a bit, when Marc told me that the record was in reach I gave everything I had in me, and maybe even a bit more. Nediljko Nedo Barac, also Spartathleet, joined me for the last loop .... I really tried to run those 400mtr, but unfortunately it stopped at 333mtr. 208,777KM Dutch AG M55 record in the pocket by a mile.

The crew: Just excellent! Sarah Kearns, Raymond Cummins, Edel Mullen and Marcas Ó Bogáin, thank you so much. I couldn't have done this with out you ...

All good and according to plan. A big thanks to the guys in Precision Fuel & Hydration Stuck around 120Gr for the first 50KM, after that reduced to 90gr, and to 60gr during the night. After sunrise in went back to the 90Gr, which you can see reflected in my pacing as well, that really picked up in the last quarter of the race. Hydration 500Ml of PH1000 per hour, worked a charm no cramps or discomfort at all.

Everything under the chin is sore, but all that soreness is well earned Training went very well (despite the weather) and looking forward to start working towards the race of all races, but not yet. Need a bit of rest and my left ankle is in bits, so that might need a shortwhile too.

Massive thanks to my coach Nathan Flear Run Coaching and  Miep van der Klei and the lads for always being so supportive.