The devil you know

14 August, 2017 - Barry Murray

So another one for the fast legs . On my high from Earl’s Drive, I was up for going full gas in this one too. However it was my first time doing this course and also was carrying some slightly tired legs from running up and down Lug na Coille the previous Saturday.

Your placing, no matter what part of the field you race in, is always dictated by who shows up. Warming up this time I noticed Michael McCarthy and Niall Lynch, who I knew have faster legs than me. Likewise, the fast young guy who got lost in the last race, was bouncing around at the start too.

Old croney Mikey set us off on a long gradual climb up the Seamus Heaney path. Like the previous race and even Bray Hd, I knew I had to go off hard to stay up front. Michael went off in the lead with myself and a couple of others close behind. The first drag can wear you out easily if you go too hard… almost a kilometre of steady uphill. Young guy Derek bounced by me and half way up so did Niall. Adventure racer, Barry Cronin, went off fast too so once up the top of the climb and on to the fire trails I had him in my sights. Rolly trails, up and down, you’re trying to maintain your pace but the rolliness prevents you from getting into a constant speed. Another thing that I realise suits me after Earls Drive, more constant tempo is better and not too much fluctuation. As I have mentioned before, these different types of IMRA races really allow you to find your strengths and weakness’s.

Anyway, down the descent to finish the first section and I see Barry missing a turn on to the single track. We shout and he comes back, but it allows myself and I think Peter, to pass him .

I was thinking we were almost half way as we passed the finish and now was time to push the back stretch. Wrong thinking. A nice bit of wooded trail with some zig zags brought us down to the river section. I’ve walked this many a time but didn’t actually realise how long it was ! With its slight uphill gradient, and what should be constant running, it just goes on and on. You keep thinking you have missed the turn left and you also feel like you are going slow. I had no one close behind me and no one is sight so just kept trucking. Finally the left turn and you are climbing back up from the valley. You want to push it hard but with the gradient and the legs just a bit fatigued from the river slog, its more of a shuffle.

A couple of little bridges to cross and a nice trail back up the woods, and you are then finally downhill to the finish. Again, no one close behind me and I didn’t catch the front guys either. Young Derek found his way around this time, and the faster legs of Michael and Niall were ahead of me as expected.

Nice run and fairly testing even thought there was no mountains. There was a mountain of chicken wings and gougons at the pub afterwards thanks to Mikey’s request. Another nice mid week excursion. Starting to miss them already. Maybe we should make them 52 weeks of the year !? (committee winces)