Its lonely out there...

16 August, 2018 - Barry Murray

I actually did a longer warm up for this race than the actual race itself. I did a 30min warm up and ran the race in just over 26mins. Something I sort of learnt from the pro cyclists.... they often do 1.5hr warm ups for a 20min or 30min time trial.

My second only race of the Wednesday evening Munster league races.... It is nice to get out during the week for a good blast but with them not having a MSL race in the county of Kerry (note for the next AGM ;-) , the travel is just too far. I was en route to Kinsale so stopping off just outside Macroom helped my logistics.

Off to the woods it was, with Warrenscourt forest tucked away in some undefined part of Cork. I knew it was going to be a fast one and after the open mountain slog of the Galtee ½, was looking forward to turning over the legs quicker.

Where you position in a race is very much decided by how many of your rivals turn up. You can be 20th, 30th just based on how many better runners than you show up. I can be 3rd, 5th, 7th or more depending on the lads I know who are faster than me lining up. So a quick look around at the start line and I didn't see Sean Quirke or Tom Blackburn or the likes. Conor Murphy did introduce me to his friend he brought along who he quickly told me runs a 17.30 5km.... so thanks Conor, I knew I had competition !

RD Brian set us off and I just ran out front and no one passed me. I never do this. I usually prefer to build into a race and let whatever “fast guys” are around set the pace. I normally then like the battle behind and to be always aiming for the guys ahead. This time I had no one ahead of me right from the start. So I kept going and within 1-2km, I couldn't hear any feet or breaths so I knew I was already pulling away. Sort of weird... if you have never experienced it before, lone ranger type feeling... all quiet as opposed to having someone breathing down your neck.

Anyway, I knew I must have been running well as I clocked a 40second time gap to second place at an out and back section. The route had one drag, a few small slopes and a bit of off road. Then the rest was fire trail, probably enough for most IMRA runners. I was happy enough and like just being able to run at a fairly hard constant effort. The last 1-2km was mainly downhill and fast running, I looked behind me once or twice and could see no one. So all alone and no last minute sprints or gasps... started to slow down with 200m to go and arrived back to a quite finish line too ! 2nd place was about a minute behind me, Conrad, and Conor's fast 5k friend John came in 3rd.

Strange one for me but any IMRA race is never easy to win. Rain held off and it was a nice mild evening. With the camper as my own B&B, I was able to kick back and celebrate with a few beers ;-) Got up the next morning and ran the course again to shake out the legs !

Thanks to Brian for RD, the Mullins bro's, Kas and co for a nice evening in the woods.