What a day! Sunshine, wind, nerves, joy, and 28,000 brilliant women hitting the streets of Dublin. I was proud to be one of them. And of course one brave male guide runner among all those women.
Official time: 44:25
Conditions – hot and windy!
Splits:
– First 5K: 22:31 (into a stubborn headwind)
– Second 5K: 21:54 (thought the wind would ease… it didn’t 
)
Not every race is a smooth experience but this race was enjoyable. I went out there to put myself under a bit of pressure. But mostly I just wanted to regain my confidence given my last race experience - 2 months ago.
The nerves before the start… I felt like I needed the bathroom every 10 seconds. Typical pre-race chaos 
The energy on the start line was incredible. Loved chatting to Ais and Nathalie. Huge shoutout to Ailish, who kindly helped me at the start.
Once the race started it felt smooth. I found my rhythm, I settled in. Myself and John were up front solo until about 5K, when the lead pack started to pass us. In this event, VI athletes and wheelchair users go first and then the time is added on at the end.
Crossing the finish line brought a wave of gratitude. I was honoured to be the first visually impaired athlete, and received the kindest gifts: a beautiful bouquet, a Newbridge Silver necklace, and a VHI towel. Thank you so much 
This race will always hold a special place — it’s where my running journey began back in 2012. Every year I come back, it reminds me how far I’ve come.
Huge thank you to the @vhiwmm team for another unforgettable day. Organising something on this scale isn’t easy — and you nailed it. The atmosphere, the crowd support, the sense of community… unmatched.
To everyone who cheered my name — THANK YOU. You kept me going.
Already counting down to next year 
#VhiWMM #VhiWomensMiniMarathon #visuallyimpairedrunner
