Mike Jordan

13 August, 2013

Summit times for Galtymore race. Times may be out slightly but interesting to see the changes in position and the closing/widening of the gaps between runners between the mid-point and the finish.

Position - Name - Number - Summit Time Galtymore

1 Mike Cunningham (2513) 56:02
2 Bernard Fortune (346) 56:12
3 Brian Flannelly (2525) 56:57
4 Antony Cornforth (1178) 58:32
5 Eoin Syron (353) 58:35
6 Dermot Murphy (358) 60:12
7 Barry Moore (1040) 61:07
8 Sam Scriven (479) 61:12
9 Ger Griffin (2568) 61:32
10 Pawel Glowczyk (2713) 61:40
11 Robert McEvoy (2519) 62:30
12 Mick Hanney (420) 62:53
13 Barry Wells (1040) 63:20
14 Joe Pittam (2711) 63:27
15 John Ahern (969) 63:35
16 Stuart Scott (4) 64:20
17 James Burke (2505) 65:35
18 Conor Murphy (2158) 66:00
19 Kevin Grogan (433) 66:40
20 Paul Smyth (1501) 66:58
21 Steve Broderick (544) 67:25
22 Kevin Wilkinson (2501) 67:30
23 Matt Alexander (2556) 67:33
24 Damien McDonnell (2676) 68:30
25 Brian O'Meara (716) 68:45
26 Kevin O'Riordan (1000) 69:35
27 James O'Brian (2797) 70:35
28 John Moore (432) 70:50
29 Eamon Campbell (1027) 72:50
30 Ercus Stewart (839) 73:45
31 Kieran Rocks (769) 74:05
32 Padraig Muldoon (1256) 74:35
33 Vincent Higgins (2585) 75:00
34 Thomas Galvin (22) 75:30
35 Justin O'Connor (93) 77:45
36 Maike Jurgens (314) 79:05
37 Liam Butler (2655) 83:45
38 James Cahill (373) 84:15
39 Deirdre Finn (2547) 98:00
40 Gary Stutte (2651) 98:05

James H Cahill

13 August, 2013

Report from the (very) back of the field.

Daniela Boehm mentioned the Galtymore race to me at the trail league race on Wednesday and spur of the moment, or relatively spur of the moment, I decided drive down to Tipperary and give it a go.

Having completed other races categorized as a difficulty of 10 during the year I didn't think this one would be much problem. After all it was only 12.5km, how hard could it be? The 1,300m of elevation gain may have escaped my attention.

AA route planner indicated 2 hours 58 minutes to drive down and so after a straightforward 2 hour 15 minute drive down I arrived in good time.

Registration done, we were instructed to proceed up the road to the “no dogs allowed” sign.

It did strike me as worrying that perhaps this area was too dangerous for dogs to venture but acceptable for mountain (or in my case would be mountain) runners.

After some general instructions from race director Vivian the race started.

The route begins with an uphill run along the tree line to a flattish plain below Cush mountain.

Halfway up the hill and I settled into my usual position close to the back of the field with two runners, from an entry of 40, behind me.

I noticed Ercus Stewart had taken a line more adjacent to the trees whilst I trudged up a rough single track.

Two walkers descending shouted across that there was a better path where they were. 20m across some heather and I found myself on a stone track. Better the path might have been but by the time I reached the stile at the fence below Cush I had comfortably secured last place in the field.

Thoughts of giving up there and then were interspersed with self criticism for the lack of warm up which I, in complete delusion, blame for my slow starts.

Tracking along the fence line brought me to the base of Cush where I had an excellent view of the entire field spread out along the ascent.

A steep ascent over open ground brought me to the rocky top of Cush mountain and I was lucky enough to catch and pass two other runners on the way up.

Over the top of Cush and a steep descent where I passed another runner, Liam Butler, and on to the valley between Cush and Galtybeg, across some occasionally boggy ground and the second climb of the day was in front of me. Starting up the ascent and not far ahead of me was Maike Juergens

John Moore had warned me that there was a false summit on Galtybeg which was a "heartbreaker". Given my legs felt like lead and my heart and head were close to explosion a heartbreak on this ascent held little fear for me and may have been a welcome release..

As I started to ascend, Maike pulled away into the distance and halfway up the climb Liam, passed on the previous descent repassed me.

Sure enough as promised the false summit appeared, but my heart remained intact and I ploughed ahead to the summit of Galtybeg

At the top I was greeted by summit marshall Brian O Murchu and the race leaders coming the other way. Onto another steep descent meeting more runners ascending as I descended.

Again I passed Liam and was close to Maike by the end of the descent. Another short flat occasionally boggy area and onto the ascent of Galtymore where a rough path led to the open mountain and lots of runners coming in the opposite direction. One told me there were jellies waiting at the top of the Galtymore.

Was this Deja Vue or groundhog day, again Maike pulled away into the far distance and I was again passed by Liam.

The open mountain becomes progressively rockier towards the top of Galtymore. Perhaps it was the rocks or the fading attraction of the promised jellies but my pace seemed to deteriorate further (perhaps the heart break of the false summit on Galtybeg was kicking in), and before long Maike passed me descending quickly shortly followed by Liam, as I continued my ascent.

At the summit Mike Jordan was summit marshall and sure enough he was distributing the jellies mentioned in earlier dispatches, which went down a treat.

Time to reverse the course and head back, hopefully at a significantly faster pace than my outward efforts.

My “yo-yoing” running compatriot Liam was passed on the descent of Galtymore and I now had Maike in sight. Although that was down to my good distance vision as she was now a long way ahead.

As I arrived at the base of Galtybeg Maike was close to the top. My struggle to the summit made little inroads into the gap, but an arms and legs flailing descent got me closer by the start of the ascent of Cush.

Now I could see Maike about half way up Cush with another runner close to the summit.

As usual Maike pulled strongly ahead of me on the ascent.

Over the top and on to the steep descent of Cush. Again my patented falling down the other side of the mountain running style made some inroads and I managed to catch Maike on the descent.

I set my sights on to the next runner, Justin O’Connor, who I could see in the distance.

I followed the fence line and then out onto the “better path” highlighted by the walkers at the start of the run. Sure enough the path did prove better on the descent and I managed to get close to Justin. But not close enough, with the finish line coming too soon, and finishing 12 seconds behind him.

Back to the local pub where IMRA had generously laid on tea and sandwiches, ideal preparation for the drive back.

A most enjoyable run, a great challenging route, and an easy 2 hour drive. We were lucky on the day as conditions were excellent for running with perfect visibility. I am sure on a day with poor weather and visibility this route is significantly more challenging.

Thank you to Vivian and all the volunteers for making this race happen and most especially to the non running volunteers who came so far to give their time without the enjoyment of a run

On a side note, 9 minutes after my successful conquest of the summit of Galtymore on my outward run the winner Brian Flanelly was crossing the finish line in an excellent finishing time of 93 minutes closely followed by Bernard Fortune and Eoin Syron, clearly I have plenty of scope for improvement!

Maike Juergens who left me in her wake so ably on every ascent won the ladies race.

Also for all prospective 2014 entrants, it should be noted that two days later my legs are still sore.