This one’s for Curley

25 May, 2017 - Greg Byrne

As one grows up we come realise and learn to accept that rotten things happen to nice people. This week marked the passing of Michael ‘Curley’ Cunningham. On the start line Brendan called us to order. A moment of silence was followed by the tumultuous gallop of 200 souls advancing on the mountain. Remembering and celebrating in our deeds.

Fittingly it was a Munster man to take the lead… not that we had any choice. Diarmuid Collins went out too hard, again. Barry Cronin made a surge to test the water, but decided Diarmuid should have the honour of taking us onto the open mountain. Pat Foley then took up the chase determined to make sure Diarmuid saw someone should he decide to glance back.

The looped course on Scarr gives the runner just over 2km of a warming up before the big push for the summit. Running directly into sun was blinding Diarmuid and causing him to slow as he searched for the route. Pat closed first, then the chasing bunch. Burnt ground meant the obvious path was now indistinct, but the route options were many. The wall kept us in order. The right turn at the top meant no-one ventured too far left in search of better ground.

Half way up and the the early starters appeared on the horizon. A comment on Diarmuid’s speed was made, he slowed to identify the jeerer, but a swift slap on the arse put him back on track. On we go… counting the steps, counting his steps, counting the breaths, wiping the sweat, thinking of lemonade at the finish, any distraction will do… the heat and the hill are killing us.

Cresting the climb Pat was leading into the sun, two early starters 20 metres up front. All three go wrong, missing the right hand turn through the wall. Diarmuid calls Pat before major damage is done, but the two ahead are now climbing back to the crest of the ridge. Pat & Diarmuid are side-by-side to the summit. Heavy breathing indicates there are a few of us chasing hard. Is that Bernard? is it Barry C? Is it Mikey? Paul K? Did I see Barry Murray warming up? Looking back would only make the reality of my situation overtake my worst fears. Focus stays on the thread-bare elastic keeping me attached to the leaders.

Up, down, up, down, chasing shadows over false summits. What a way to spend a summer’s evening. Touching the cairn we turn at the top and for the next 800 metres we charge against the tide. In flash Bernard, Paul & Barry are gone by… but who is running quicker? Who is confident of a quick descent? John Bell passes with a glint in his eye. All is to play for in the top 10.

The climbers are sticking to the right, then suddenly a runner in red steps out left in an audacious overtaking maneuvre. His eyes are fixed on his feet as he urges them up the hill. He raises his head and he suddenly becomes the rabbit in the headlights. His hesitation opens the window of opportunity, I dive down the middle between him and the line of runners to my left. The close pass gives an illusion of speed. I try to capture the moment by accelerating again towards C-R-O-G-H-A-N. Down, down, down… every pass reminding me how popular Bernard is with the IMRA community as they cheer his chase.
After 2k of unrelenting descent we hit the flat(ish) section designed to remind us how much gravity was doing. The gap on Diarmuid and Pat appears to have closed, but it is just the illusion, the downhill distance was greater but as I count the seconds from their reaching the final turn I realise that the time gap is growing.

One last climb and it is all out for the finish. Hurtling down the final hill I think I’m going as fast as humanly possible, but the lads are getting away. Garmin gives my final km as 3:08… defo gave it my all.

Well down to Diarmuid and Elizabeth on their wins.

Thanks to Andreas, Brendan and all the volunteers. Super job organising the weather.

Cracking day, cracking race, great way to remember the passing of Curley.