Mick Hanney

01 May, 2013

Mens team results (3 to score)

1 Boards 34
2 Sli Cualann 52
3 Crusaders 124
4 Glenasmole 299
5 Raheny Shamrocks 392
6 The Vulgar ... 401

John Bell

25 April, 2013

I got my running rags on at work before leaving Sandyford to joining rush hour traffic stop start all the way to Bray. It’s easier and quicker to get to some of the runs down in the middle of Wicklow than into Bray at that time. Still I managed to get down to the seafront in plenty of time to register. I learned my lesson last year by nearly missing the race only for the RD to allow a few us register late because five of us had car pooled.

Registration at Martello was thronged but it was good to have it out of the drizzle. It was great to see and chat to a good few of the familiar faces while getting an easy warn up sauntering down the promenade to the race start. I caught up with my two brothers and some mates for the usual banter / slagging and getting excuses in, injured this, wrong runners, lack of training.....

At the start a slight drizzle was quite nice compared to last year’s league opener when we had gale force winds and horizontal rain to deal with. As has become the norm for this race there was a large turnout. Must be the prize of some soup, sandwiches and thirst quenchers at Martello after. The race started with a near flat out sprint up to the steps. Not wanting to get held up where the tracked narrowed down, but instead do some holding up, I did my best to keep a decent position even with my lungs starting to burning. When the track narrowed down the pace eased off a bit and I was able to settle into a good rhythm. Up near the cross I was disappointed to hear from one of my fellow rock climbers that we wouldn’t be cliff diving on the way back but taking a slightly gentler route. That would have been fun! After the cross I started to stretch out the legs and managed to pass one or two but I didn’t have enough to close the gap on a bunch further up the track. Continuing up to the turn point, where summit marshal Alan Alying was giving some encouragement, joking that I look fresh. Ha, yeah right! Having gravity doing most of the work on the way back is usually my favorite part of these runs before that there was the flattish track along the top to deal with. I only had two runners in front to chase, and I managed to pass both near the cross but after that there was a big gap to the next runner. Without someone to chase on the steeper tricky section I descended at a safer pace rather than the usual semi controlled fall. Down to the steps and concrete road and on to the finish, where I was greeted by some familiar runners that are usually chatting and looking as fresh as when they started. Seeing a few go for a cool down paddle in the sea had me tempted but I didn't have a towel and I wasn’t going to run up and down the promenade trying to dry off.

Run number one done, only 6 more to go for the league. It was a good start and looking forward to some of the excellent races coming up.

As always thanks to all the volunteers.