Mick Hanney

08 February, 2014

2nd winter league race and another major turn out. 300 or so. Brilliant logistics from Peter's team to manage those numbers so smoothly, aided by improvements to the IMRA system in the last year which takes some of the registration pressure away from race day.

This was a new route around the trails of 3 Rock Ticknock. Those of us who ran the Run the Line event (another brilliant event!) last year would have come across some of the earlier sections. For a nice change we went off fire road a lot. I was glad it was well marked as at times the route was a bit mind boggling, in and out of trees, through dim corridors of folliage, along ditches and newly formed streams, up and over rocks and fallen trees. A great mix. This route had everything. Going off trail was a great idea on a mountain that is well used by other outdoors types.

The usual fast and fit lads and lassies assembled near the start. The concrete ramp at the start was the one sour note of proceedings but couldn't be helped. We were straight into the muddy puddles. It was funny to think that some people were trying to avoid getting their feet wet, when if they knew what was coming they'd know the impossibility of that. On a safety note those runners that continue to run in road runners on a route like this are liable to be a danger to themselves and others. But we can't ban people for not wearing appropriate footwear can we? My agressive inov8s served me well on the day. Mudrocs I think.

Such was the crowd it was quite caught up in the early stages. Single file in places. I started too quick and my old engine was blowing smoke soon after :-) I remember being passed by quite a few but managed to hold a steady pace once I shook off the initial does of lactic in the legs. Running a local hill the previous day to the race probably wasn't a good idea! Note to self...

It was nice for once on 3Rock to avoid the tip top cairn on the top and the ever so familiar well worn trails. The route choosing instead to divert into other trails that caught the curiousity of the route planner. Kudos for the imagination John.

The homeward section was another joy. Again prevailing through trees and single track and avoiding fire-road. Was passed by a couple here including a flying Eoin Syron. Could hear the footsteps of others behind but managed to hold them off. Got past one of the St Brigids running contingent who had passed me earlier but he was unfortunate to have turned his ankle but no major harm done and he'll live to fight another day. Its great to see some of the clubs out in force at these races.

I had a near twist of the ankle before the end and had one of those moments where you think is there damage done or not. All okay though, so try your best to power up the afterburners for some finishing speed (okay some finishing lack of slowness). Up and down and in and out of some muddy puddles and we were home. A great adrenaline rush. Would have loved to stay on and take in the atmosphere in Lamb Doyles but had to rush off to a family commitment.

Was just ahead of Eamon Hodge and moments behind Eoin Syron and Gareth Little so personally I was happy with my day. I know Eamon is breathing down my neck and opportunities to finish ahead of him are running out.

Was great to see the photos up afterwards and the results up soon too. Little things like that really add to the event I feel. The photos are sometimes overlooked and we can take John for granted but he has to run some times himself! Was great too to see so many familiar faces on the day. Thanks to Peter and his crew for a very well run event.

Peter O'Farrell

05 February, 2014

Ticknock is an amazing public resource, just a few minutes from the capital city of Ireland lies this hilly playground where the air is fresher, the views the higher and yet the comfort of home is close by.
With the welcome advent of the built mountain bike trails more and more folk are discovering the delights to be had up there and surely the day will come when it is designated a national park.
In the meantime we can still line up to enjoy a hillrace in the winter and this race appeared to be be following the recent script. Sure enough, there was a mad dash from the line. Sure enough, after a while Des Kennedy eased into a commanding lead. Occasionally there is a subscript and alas for Des he was again to be foiled by a turn off the course. Adrian Hennessy reported Des was too far ahead to call back and so a race for the minor places became a race for the win. Our alert adventure racers Diarmuid and Adrian had a fantastic tussle but the northern raider Seamus Lynch of Newcastle AC took the win on a rare but profitable sortie south. Whilst looking to see if Newcastle added insult to injury by winning the club event I found we had quite the cosmopolitan list of clubs represented: Mourne Runners and Newry City presumably account for Seamus's driving companions but Gascony Harriers was new to me. Kilfinane AC are well represented by Adrian but where were the other Raheny or Rathfarnham or Crusaders to do battle with Sportsworld, who I think took the win with Eanna Cunnane, Damien Kelly and Oliver Privit showing well for their club. And I thought it was a ladies only club (joking!)
Niamh O'Boyle is an international orienteer and safely plotted her way around John Kelly's excellently marked course with Emma Hand reversing the order in Howth and this time beating Laura O'Shaughnessy in a close finish. She did ruin the ruthless finisher image by immediately apologising to Laura once safely over the line.
Whilst Ticknock is fantastic it is open to the public and this very public made themselves known by a well meaning removal of tape by walkers leading to a short but entertaining diversion for about 20 runners and then a less understandable lady with baby helpfully directing about 40 runners off the course in Ticknock carpark. Not to worry.
The juniors were great, such energy and ability and indeed one of them sneakily ran (very well) on the senior course.
We had about 20 volunteers and they were all needed and did great work. Thanks to Lamb Doyles for opening up their function room for indoor registration. I see Maulin needs a few helpers..