Louth runner shares his experience of taking on the Dundalk Halk Marathon

This was my big one for the year. My target - the be all and end all for the year - was to run a half marathon.

Back in October 2024, I began a new journey with a local running coach and I said to him, I want to aim for a half marathon.

He told me I'm a fast runner and to concentrate on the 5ks so I decided that was what I would do.

I started my training programme with my new coach which was quiet intense; a lot of speed work. Speed work can often lead to injuries and this is what happened a few weeks later and during November I got sick twice.

This all put a sting in my training and I hated ringing or texting my coach to say I can't train for a couple of days. I also got athlete's foot which was terrible it.

So then in December I ended the training set up with my coach. I learned a lot; the coach was good, but I wanted to look at different distances and a lot of speed work does not suit me, especially my calves and achilles.

Christmas came and went and I said okay let's put more miles under my belt and let's look at doing a half marathon.

A good local half marathon is the Dundalk Half Marathon which I knew was taking place on the 30th of March 2025.

I registered in January and started training; looking to increase my mileage every week. My normal kilometres/mileage every week would have been 30km or 40km which is very low in running terms. So currently I get 60km every week which is double would I used to get.

The first race of the year was the rescheduled Annagassan 10k on January 18th, which is good course and competition in the field. I did it in 37.45, one minute slower than the previous year, but still not a bad time.

Then I put in a good training block between January and February for Fitzer's 5k but just before the Armagh road races, I did the 3k men's race and I got a time of 9.57 minutes and I believe if I did it now I would go under 9.50.

I was so happy with 9.57min. I had not ran that quick in six years. It was great to run under 3.20 minutes a kilometre.

Then 10 days later Fitzer's 5k was on and pressure was on after doing a great 3k, I had to do the same in Fitzer's and in fairness I did. 17.23 is a very good time and my best in three years.

Now there was only one race left coming my way, the Dundalk Half Marathon. I was excited and nervous.

I got my head down and got training with the aim to get to the 60km a week consistently. So every week I increased the mileage. All was going good.

Then six weeks out I did the big one - 21.1 km. I left my house, and went towards Mount Pleasant, it's quite hilly and did a loop of feeder, runners will know this route, feeder is hilly too.

Then I finished the 21.1km in a time of 1hr 50 min. This was a hilly course. My legs were wrecked after it, it was a good test.

Next step was keeping mileage at 60km and keeping consistent and staying away from injuries. I do a bit of Yoga with Laura O'Driscoll to keep all right and do my calf raises once a week.

Then it was race week and I was feeling the best I have ever felt. My body felt good and so did I. I put a trip to London in the diary with my mum and sister to treat my mum for her birthday. I didn't drink for two weeks before the race to keep all right and then I could say when I'm done I deserve a drink.

London was great, I did two little runs over there. Only thing I was worrying about London was being tired walking and travelling.

Sunday March 30th came. I decided to jog from my house into town, which is only 3km. It was perfect. There was a great atmosphere in town! Bear Races were running the event. It was my first Bear Races event and they do put on a good show!!!

I made my way to the start line. I was a tiny bit late for lining up, so I had to make my way through the crowd. Then 3,2,1 GO!!! And we went off.

I didn't want to go to quick, I was in the middle, and looking back I probably could have went a little bit slower. The did the first kilometre in 3.42 minutes, not to quick but could have been slower. My original aim was 3.50/3.55 so then first 5k was in 19.00 min, then 10k 39.00 min

Most of my races are 5k so and after first 5k I was like omg another 16k to go. So I had to pace myself.

10 mile of the 16.km came in at 1hr 2 mins. I bettered my time of 1hr 5min last year. I had another 5km to go near there, coming over the River walk 18km, and getting less and less 19k and feeling good, no injuries no real tiredness, I was tired but still able to keep going.

For the last kilometre I realised I have to do a lap of Park Street to get to the finish, it was a long last lap, there was a fella ahead of me, I was not really bothered to trying to catch him, he was 50 or 100metres ahead, I was happy.

Then turning the corner for Earl Street I nearly got my head taken off by a sign that was a bit too low and my hat nearly came off. Then I finished .Happy out!!! 1hr 21 mins 20 sec.

I was looking for 1hr 22 min so I got what I wanted! No injuries, no blisters and 12th position. And I feel I can do better next one with more training.