Peter O'Farrell

29 July, 2018

Seamus Lynch and Becky Quinn won their races and put themselves into an unassailable position in the Irish Championship on Lugnaquille on a day with fine conditions for running, if a little inclement for summit marshalling. Chapeau to the summit marshall Brendan Neville this time out.
Seamus finds winning a habit this season on Slieve Donard and Carantoohill and Becky has followed up her second place on Donard with wins pretty much everywhere else she raced in the Championship(s).
Conditions were perfect for running up to the top, cool and a tailwind to push you up the hill. Rain softened the parched dryness out of the soil and left some bounce back into the bog. After the recent heat it was quite refreshing to have scudding clouds overhead. Rounding the cairn into the now headwind of hailstones the perfect conditions seemed to have taken a turn but this is why we carry the jackets.
Colm Murtagh had a great descent to overtake Brian Furey and his second place finish on Lugnaquille also cements his second place in the league with a 4th place on Donard and second to Seamus on Carantoohill. Following a theme here and Brian Furey's third place will probably propel him into 3rd place in the league.
The Irish champs are a wonderful series of races and many thanks are due to all who make them happen, the committee, the race directors and volunteers, the summit marshalls and Karen the records secretary. Great to see the results after the race for the oul analysis. Super to see the Newcastle runners making the effort to complete the league as it truly is an all island series.
Back to todays race and to the victors the spoils but with masters prizes there is interest down through the field and Sean Quirke was a clear winner in the M40 section with his battle with Andrew Fleet pulling him clear of Bernard Fortune. Becky Quinn only gets to wear the one hat and so Fiona Sheerin takes the F40 plaudits with Eithne McShane taking the F50 bottle of your choice. Second and third women were Siobhan MacNamara and Imogen McGuinness. With some inside knowledge I can confide the fourth place finisher Orla McEvoy was a little sad she couldn't descend as well as she climbed - but that's a secret so tell no one ;)
With a super descent Tom Blackburn, Munster MMRA race director extraordinare, took the M50 ahead of the all sorts of race organiser Paul Mahon. F60 was Mary Collins and M60 was Micheal O'Donoghue who apparently has 15 doppelgangers. Patsy McCreanor is still showing the youngsters how it's done in the M70 class and speaking of youngsters young Eoin Richards of St. Cocas in Kildare ran really well.
Onto my own race and I felt strong the whole race, but not especially quick. I wanted to have good legs on the descent so climbed steadily and turning at the top I was hoping to catch the two in front. Instead the 3 behind all passed me coming off Camara Hill but unusually enough I had no angst. I just really appreciated getting out to the Irish Champs (much like the bould Mikey). I love the route up and down Lug and the joy of fast free running is something special.
So with a round to spare the Irish Champions are set for another year but I'm sure there'll still be plenty of interest for Galteemore.

Thunderstruck, or How I Learned to stop worrying and love the Lug

29 July, 2018 - Conor O'Farrell

I woke up on. Saturday morning to the sound of torrential rain. When I opened the curtains, the spirits weren’t exactly lifted either. I must admit, I wasn’t initially keen on heading for a race. A few pints the night before wasn’t the wisest of decisions, but I didn’t go too mad. I left the pub early, so I would get up and run today. Anyway after a light breakfast and some encouraging texts from friends saying “just get out there and don’t be a wimp”, I caved and got in the car.

Upon arrival in Glen of Imaal, we were greeted with a huge clap of thunder coming from the top of the Lug. Things were not looking good for a dry race. All the same, there was a good buzz about the sign-in and I was starting to get motivated.

At the start, a few quick words from Richard for us going. Up the stoney fire-road and up the first climb to Camara. As usual, I struggle in the initial stages and it’s a bit of a slog. I fall in with Joe Boyle and Maike for a while, which doesn’t last for long as Joe decides to kick-on. I start to drop back Maike on Lower Corrig and realising that I’m getting a bit lazy now(hiking when I should be running), so I start to put in some work. Catching Maike pretty quickly (she was none too pleased and gave out to me as I passed), the temptation to slow down again was looming, but i resisted and powered on with a few runners in my sights up ahead. ;-). Feeling strong at this point, hitting upper Corrig, I catch Joe and we trade places (and compliments/insults:-)) a few times before the final climb to Lug itself.

At this point there are a lot of people around picking different lines up the climb. Suddenly we see Seamus Lynch tearing it down the hill at some serious pace, soon the be followed by Brian Furey and Colm Murtagh. There was a bit of gap to the next few, but they were all flying it. These guys are all serious descenders, their pace on that treacherous section off Lug was unbelievable.

Anyway, once on the plateau we could start running again, up ahead of me Kevin Marnane started to sprint for the Cairn. Fair play to that guy, I was going to have to beat him on the descent because he was accelerating at some speed after that climb. Around the Cairn(fair play Brendan, tough job on the day), and we are met with a blast of wind in the face, this should make for an interesting downhill. There around 10 ahead of me in this section, and by the time I hit the bottom of the Lug descent, I’ve reduced that to 2. The rocky section was very slippery but I found a good line off the patch that was more grass/soil. No sign of Kevin, was he in front or behind? A tit-for-tat exchange with Ken McCarthy and I manage to put a gap between us. Only 1 runner in sight now and he is catchable. Heading for lower Corrig, I can hear some steps behind me now, but I dare not look back. The ground is a bit tricky here, even though it’s pretty flat. Sure enough, I’m passed by the heavy breather(Eric Wahlrab?), and I keep in with sight for a while, but the legs are beginning to go a bit wobbly at this stage a couple of more tricky downhill sections ahead, so no point in taking any stupid risks now. I pass 1 or 2 more and I also pass Orla, just before the gentle ascent at Camara Hill. All of a sudden, she powers passed me again to the summit. It looks like I’m going to have to settle it this position , but I manage to take a much better line on the descent.

Almost went on my ass when I got to the field before turning onto the fire road, that would have been embarrassing after managing to get all the way down unscathed to that point. The last stretch down the fire road was pretty tough, very stoney and not really conducive for an all-out sprint with rolling an ankle. I was a good 20 seconds behind the person in front of me anyway, so i was never catching them.

Another great race, thanks to Richard and his team. The weather didn’t play too much of a part in the race(for me anyway). I’m glad my mates goaded me into doing it.

Lug the feet up up up

28 July, 2018 - Mikey Fry

Yes yes yes I’ve made it to my first Irish champs race being a long time coming and have nearly made lug on a few occasions but something has happened and it nearly did so had too big a breakfast today poo ah well ...so I lash the kids and mummy into car made a pack lunch for them all we had to do was pick up the bread guess what I forgot the bread whoops...any who we had a great trip across the mountains beautiful scenery lovely houses weather looking not to bad ...so we’re nearing Fenton’s and we see a runner it’s Niamh getting lashed out of it with hail stones on a 25.6k run from home Cormac must have washed more dishes this week and his got the golden ticket to race :)...so we land at the pub I head over to reg Bernard nicely gives me a punch for a fiver so I’m good to go no excuses now I ask Richard Mr Nunan some questions about race he gives me some great trips thanks dude...so I head back over to say good bye to family I think they think I’m not coming back r may get lost on route left hanging from north prison as juju was saying to me night before:)meet Cormac the dishwasher on the way up with the kids all good with him and I’m on my warm up to the start line I actually go up to the gate to have a look and stretch and chat with two lads then head back down to start....the Nunan gives super quick instructions saying that cloud should be gone by the time we get up and we’re off up the only fire road and through the gate some jumping left through a gap and it’s follow the wall to the top of this section there’s a big group in front bernad passes me and a father and son looked like ...at the top we head over to Camara Hill weave through a nice rock section and then across long bit to lug base Damian passes me out so I keep up with him till we get to next big climb where on the up the great Paul Mahon and another dude passes us out I keep up with them Damian tucked in behind good man Mr legs eleven Mahon keeping running legs all the way up to top of lug what a fine pair you have:)so we hit the plateau Richard has managed to lift all clouds with his fan could see perfectly...so at this point Sheamus comes bombing down and Brian not far behind colm Sean Andrew Tom rob James Stephen peter pat bernad in different order on the chase ....I decide to take out my phone my wife made me bring so when I was hanging off the prison I could face time her:) so made a small heavy breathing video a took some pics of Peter Mr O’farrell....so we went around the cairn at the top and got blasted with wind and rain in the face but not too bad so I lashed after Paul passed him and the dude on the downhill and went start through the rocks etc with no line but the fasted way possible with the lads over to my left I poped out not to far in front from here on in it was try and go as fast as you could which was easy enough but tricky in places so I’m still ahead of the lads but have company of two behind we pass back through Camara and on to little up hill this is were Damian and Stephen pass me so we’re at a good speed my breakfast is starting to give me problems but I push on after the lads down through the gap in hedge over the gate and hold on no places change fire road was stinky and we’re over the line Gordon Paul the dude not too far behind well done to all and nice chats with everyone...Brian suggested we go for warm down I’m not sure what that is but off we went through a million puddles my runners haven’t seen that much water in months back to finish line...walk back with Brian and Stu nice chats about ironing and washing cloths:)I see two long haired hippy boys with there mummy running towards me thinking wow great hike for them it’s actually my lads great cuddles from them nice to see them near the finish...look up black clouds fortunately there’s a hut saying pizza on it we shelter as the rain lashes down Brian furey pops his around I think he wanted in but was to scared to enter quick chat about the race well done in coming 3rd...back to car was going to come in with lads better and quiter for you guys that we didn’t :)
Super big shout out to Richard and crew for an amazing race will be back no doubt next year...well done to Becky for 1st lady and Seamus first male 52.42 jakers that’s something else:)

Mikey