These reports were posted on the Up and Running Forum shortly after the 2008 Lisburn Half Marathon and 10K

slowplodder:

lisburn 10k was my first race and myself and a few guys from work decided we'd keep each other company on the way round.
 
my training was very stop/start over last 6 months after suffering from mostly sore shins but changed my shoes and managed to get the miles in and felt comfortable that i'd complete the 10k no problem.
 
on the day of the race the weather in the few hours leading up was pretty crap with heavy rain and i debated whether to wear a rain jacket or not.in the end the weather picked up 15 mins before the off so i opted to wear a vest and long sleeved top and first learning point was that a single top would be plenty,became very uncomfortable with two layers on.
 
took ipod with me, did all my training with it and many a time it kept me company as i plodded around hillsborough park/lisburn on my training runs but on the night of the race i can honestly say that i didnt enjoy the music and switched it off after 5 minutes,it became a nuisance so another learning point - ipods and races dont necessarily mix.
 
the race itself was great,enjoyed the atmosphere and got around quite comfortably,didnt see the miles go in, although the pace was slow as one of my friends did all his miles on a treadmill despite plenty of advice to get a few road miles in! we stayed together the entire race (no-one gets left behind!!) and im confident id have got in under the hour otherwise.
 
support along the way was a long way off what i remember when i watched the race when i was a younger non runner but was appreciative of those who did help on water duty and those who did shout their encouragement particularly at the end going up warren park, especially when it was other runners already finished,it definitely made a difference,probably because i knew they understood what we were all going through in that last 500 yards or so.
 
funny how i was unable to get to sleep that night,thought id have been knackered but was still buzzing at midnite and beyond.
 
no real aches or pains next day just tight achilles but nothing significant.went to sauna at lunchtime and just had a quiet few days before i went for a run on sunday,few very easy laps of hillsborough park.
 
run alternatives days at lunch in work and on non running days i'll do 40mins in gym on crosstrainer or rowing machine.
 
just occured to me now race is over i need something to focus on to keep my training motivated so i think i'll try laganside 10k in september and see if i can get in under the hour.
 
if only i could curb my weekend craving for magners and tayto cheese/onion id be sorted.
 
havent got down on a wednesday night to meet up and run with you lot yet but whenever my shifts at work allow and my minutes per mile are bit better i'll definitely join you all.
 
well that was lisburn 10k for me,Neil

barbs:

I wasnt sure if i could get round the course or if i was even ready, but i was very glad that there was so much support for all the runners along the way, which give me the encouragement to keep going.
 
this was my first ever 10k  
 
i have been running on and off for a while, mostly in the gym, but i started to do the wed nite run and i have found it great, all the girls and guys have helped me along the way, especially nickie (many thanks).
 
the race its self i found hard going with the hill at the start, i was with loopy jacqui and eilers, but they broke away from me, so i put my ipod on and trundled along at a steady pace, i meet a group of girls around the 2 mile mark, just before another large hill, i just put my head down and kept pace with them, before i knew it i was up the hill and around the corner, well pleased.
it was then i found my breath and stepped up my pace and left the group behind.
 
around the 4 mile mark i started to fade and the group caught up with me, (thats when i was walking for a bit)
 
before long the 6k marker appeared and then the 7k, i can make this i was thinking to myself, til the big hill towards the finish, thats when the marathon runners started to catch up with the rest of us around the hour mark.  
 
at the finish everyone was clapping and cheering everyone across the line, i stopped my watch at 1.08.36 for my first 10k i was well chuffed. i later found out my chip time was 1.08.37
 
i must say there was plenty of orange up&running shirts there on the day, but now i have mine, i will be wearing it for all of my races.  
 
my only aches were my thighs on the friday, cause i never sat down on thursday at all, but a quick 3k on the treadmill sorted them out.
 
roll on sun 29th runher 5k. now i have the bug theres no stopping me.

amanda_mc:

When I first started coming to U&R mid may I had the aspiration of completing the Lisburn Half mid June.  
Perhpas this was a bit ambitious as I had only ever covered the distance once last year.  
However my competitive nature took over and I was attending training on Wednesdays and Saturdays and uping my distance!
Sat prior to the race Karen, Gordon and myself had the idea of completing the Hilly section, I started the thread and it ended up 7 of us set out on the so called 6/7 mile journey (thanks Jeff!!!) It was just over 9miles but it felt great despite the hills and the rain!
Race day arrived and nerves set in! My ambition all along was to complete it! However when you're standing on the start line all in orange and others are discussing times, you can't help but wonder.... what time could I complete it in....
I had thought 2h 10 would b ok, but then started to think for first time would love to break 2hrs
 
Race began and the atmosphere was incredible!! wekept passing the yellow signs ticking them off one by one! When we hit 8 I thought this is it, increase thespeed and get home by two!!
 
Saw 12 and thought ok just need to get past thecemetery alive nearly home!!  Earlybird was right the track up to leisure centre was the worst until I saw the seaof orange!!! It really helps you push to the finish!! Thanks guys!!
 
Thoroughly enjoyed the race and will probably enter the full in dublin!!
 
Ran most of the way with Karen and Gordon, was great to have company!! Makes the race great fun!!
 
Bring on the next races!!!
 
Amanda (finished in 1.59)