Mini Bus-ted...

The local racing calendar has several landmark events throughout the year.  The year commences with the fantastic Race Over The Glens hosted by Ballymena Runners.  Larne Half Marathon is another event eagerly anticipated by thousands of local runners.  This picturesque route along the coast towards Ballygalley and back into Larne provides runners of all abilities two opportunities.  Firstly, the chance to discover how the  months of hard (wet and cold) winter training have paid off (or not).  Secondly, it is a great social occasion for runners to catch up with each other at the start of the 'road racing' season.  A fabulously organised race coupled with superb hospitality afterwards guarantees fantastic numbers at this event with most participants viewing this as a 'must do' year after year.


My home club, Ballymena Runners had put on a free mini bus for members and the journey down was the usual mix of banter, advice and great craic.  It was also an opportunity to meet many of the club's newest members donning club colours for the first time. 


This half marathon would be different for me, I knew exactly the time I wanted (needed) to finish it in - just under 2 hrs 15 minutes.  Belfast City Marathon organisers had asked myself and other BCM pacers to lead groups around the Larne Half Marathon.  Many of the individuals running with me at Larne have signed up to be paced around Belfast by Jim Moore and myself.  Jim planned to race at Larne therefore I was assisted by Stephen Brown, club secretary of  B'mena Runners.  Balloons were attached and a short briefing provided to our 'group' and off we set.  The course had changed slightly bringing us through the town centre and I was very conscious of holding back and keeping strictly to the 10 minute 18 second average pace required.  The craic around the course was good with loads of support.  It was also great to see fellow club members racing their way back into Larne before we had even reached the 7 mile point.




The 'hill' at Larne had been shortened this year but perhaps made somewhat steeper?  The heat was really building up at this stage with clear blue skies and the sun beating down.  Thankfully there were loads of water stops and Stephen was doing a great job of ensuring our group had drinks and some of the jelly beans we had brought with us.  As we approached the 10 mile mark, some of the original group dropped away.  This is probably the toughest part of pacing - you really want everyone who starts off with your group to finish with you.  This is not always possible due to the level of training that may or may not have been done.  The positive flip side is that you start to gather runners who perhaps had set off too hard and are now struggling.  Many of these guys attach themselves to the pacing group and maintain a steady run to the finish line.


Normally in a race - you try to kick to the finish line, eyeballs out, hoping to pick up a few places.  At Larne, Stephen and myself finished the last mile in the same time as our first - 10 mins 18 seconds.  Afterwards we got the lowdown on our clubs performance - a bagful of personal bests especially from our ladies team. The heat had been tough on everyone and this was going to be a sizzler of a weekend.

Another great event hosted by Larne AC - thankyou.

Run #6

S Brown Ballymena Runners 2:14:48
P Fleming Ballymena Runners 2:14:49