YOU CAN MAKE A BOO-BOO AND STILL GET A MEDAL... OR NOT!

15 August, 2018 - Alan Ayling

5 years and 51 days. A long time since the last Circuit of Avonbeg; a long time for us purists to wait. The IMRA annals declare that Gerard Butler got around this epic route in 2 hours 49 minutes that day,June 16th 2013, with Bernard Fortune 2nd in 2:57. Fast forward half a decade and our committee put this classic back on the calendar – thanks guys. 3 hours 10 minutes more and Bernard had the win; Orla McEvoy taking the honours in the women's race.

It was a calm, muggy day at Ballinafunshogue in the archetypal glaciated valley of Glenmalure. A few weeks earlier it looked like there might not be a race at all, but Conor O'Farrell stepped up and took on the RD role, a few generous folk volunteered and it was game on. A cheerful route description from Mike Jordan and we were off up the zigzags towards Art's Lough, multiple Irish Champion Brian Furey leading the way. Some tentative position changes – they mean nothing, it's a long race! - and the first decision point, the left turn more directly up to the lake or the way around that the Harvey's map rather generously depicts as a path. In fact both are basically dreadful and there's little between them. Zoran,Mike and I left the split in the trail at the same moment. We got to Matthew's marshal position at the lake within 15 seconds of each other. As with so many sections on a race like this – you think it's vital, actually it's inconsequential. Think long term – marathon not sprint.

Up the ramp leaving Art's Lough towards Cloghernagh and I could see Brian, Gordon Place a bit behind, no sign of Bernard but Zoran told me Bernard had moved into the lead... again it's along race, don't read too much into it. Zoran and I accompanied each other up the ramp, a long climb and a good chat along the way, then I put the Master Plan into action. The trail leads you to the summit of Cloghernagh, but forms two sides of a triangle in the process. I would cut off strategically to the right, intercepting the trail just at the cairn marking the summit. “Would”, that is, except I made my boo-boo then, good and early in the race. Misremembered the shape of the ground, got too far right, slogged up some crap ground to hit the ridge line just as Zoran passed, telling me “there's a cairn over there”, pointing back over his shoulder. Maybe 250 m away there was indeed a cairn. Being the honest, upstanding sort of chap I am, there was nothing for it but to go back to the cairn, allowing Zoran a lead I certainly hadn't planned on giving... So much for the Master Plan.

Back to the cairn, turn around at it, Andrew Larkin gets there before me on the sensible route and has a 150 lead on me leaving the cairn. Andrew destroyed me at Seefin in the Comeraghs last weekend but I keep telling myself, this is a long race, be patient. Concentrate on trying to reel Andrew in up the long but gradual haul to Lugnaquilla – one of the most glorious sections of running in Wicklow by the way, although perhaps not at its finest in the mist that day. Tim Harris caught me and drew level to my horror, but I took the sounds of a food wrapper being faffed with as a good sign – Tim wants to eat right now and I don't – that's good, right? (Moments of smug self-congratulation for the choice of avocados and poached eggs for breakfast – the need for a gel would wait awhile...)

Andrew reaches the Lug summit moments before I arrive, Tim a couple of strides behind. Consensus on the route when Tim's bearing agrees with my memory of which way (I really don't like having to go to the bother of whipping out the map and the compass unless I have to – a damned risky attitude I know) and we all head off in the direction of Cannow/Camenabologue. I bate off down the perfect gradient, Andrew hot on my heels for the next 2 km or so. We pass a couple of hardy mountain bikers on their way to the summit (no names mentioned in case the Fun Police are watching). It's a wonderful, long, techcnical descent – springy ground interspersed with bog, plenty of rocks to negotiate, constantly on the lookout for where the trail goes next, the optimal line... basically paradise :-)

Eventually, one has to climb. Camenabologue isn't that huge or difficult, but after a long descent it takes a moment for the legs and the mind to engage uphill mode. On the plus side, I am alone now, the challenges from behind have abated a bit. Encouragingly, I can see Gordon ahead and he looks less than comfortable, not climbing like his usual self. Game on! No sign of Zoran – a conspicuous absence of his distinctive red backpack. Turns out he'd veered a little too far left and lost some time – his boo-boo for the day.

The top eventually arrives, with John McCann on friendly marshal duty. Gordon has disappeared over the convex slope. Across the valley, Conavalla awaits. One of Wicklow's least appealing summits, with myriad line options to get to it. In previous years I'd gone way out left, to the Table Track pass over the ridge between Camenabologue and the vague Table Mountain. This year it was to be the direct route, past one clump of forestry, then another on the far side... the ground is tussocky energy sapping rubbish whichever way you go, so might as well be direct. [Post race analysis suggests Brian Furey's race went west here, or maybe north... too far left anyway, in the direction of Turlough Hill and a lot of lost time].

Up the endless drag of Conavalla – Gordon once again in sight ahead, still looking pained (admitted to cramps afterwards, a packet of magic chia seeds was apparently the remedy), but I'm feeling tired now too and can't make much of a dent in his lead. Eventually get quite close, maybe 100 m at the summit and off in the direction of the Lugduff ridge, through the peat hags. Along the western Lugduffs Gordon got his stuff together and I didn't. Bad visibility, tired legs; a gel helped but Gordon was out of sight. The running along there is really very pleasant for several km – gentle ups and downs of lovely trail, but the tiredness was taking its toll. Not always entirely sure of how far I'd still to go... a walker sat at the cairn on top of Lugduff probably said “Hi” but what I heard was “Have a banana”, which was a bit odd given he didn't seem to be offering a banana... maybe just as well I kept running and didn't actually try and accept the imagined banana... On over Top of the Bounds (gotta love the placenames on the Barry Dalby maps) and a super-sweet descent (legs now resuming normal service) and only one climb up Mullacor remains. Visibility improving. There's Gordon, maybe 300 m ahead now, sadly quite a few of those metres were vertical ones in his favour, so barring a nav boo-boo on his part there wasn't going to be any catching him, even though I felt strong on the climb.

Passed Maike and Ian leaving Mullacor, to the news that I was apparently third... bit of a surprise because I knew Gordon was ahead, assumed Bernard was and thought Brian must be too, unaware of his woes en route to Conavalla. Not sure where Zoran was either, last seen ahead of me leaving Lug! It's often the way with these longer unmarked races – you truly have no idea where or what the opposition are at. It might be good, it might be bad. Saw Gordon down to the left and decided to follow... into some unmerciful sh1te of felled forest but it eventually led to the fire road. Met Matthew there taking photos on a most unusual way back from Art's Lough...

2nd right, bit more fire road then left into the wildly overgrown Tunnel of Love and from there to the finish. Bernard missed the right and headed on down the Wicklow Way for a bit before bating his way through jungle and treacherous rocks down to the tarmac road and into the finish at an angle no one had anticipated, but such was his lead that he still arrived home for the win a clear 8 minutes ahead of Gordon, with me 3 minutes further back in third.

Would my boo-boo on Cloghernagh have made the difference to get 2nd place? No one will ever know. I suspect not. More than delighted with the bronze medal. In any case, it doesn't matter – these races are not just about the fastest runner, but who stays on course and who corrects the little errors without too much cost. And – ultimately – enjoying oneself. Most of us made at least one mistake. That really is half the fun. And results aside – what an absolute whopper day in the hills. Still buzzing a day and a half later writing this.

Final thoughts, based on a discussion post-finish. Is it worth the trouble to have this race on the calendar? Volunteers (Conor [RD], James [First Aid], Matthew [marshal, photographer], John [summit marshal], Nora [helper] & Mike [running volunteer/deputy RD]) out there for several hours for the benefit of 38 runners? Absolutely. We runners had a wonderful day out, enjoying the very essence of pure mountain running. Busy Wednesday races are great, don't get me wrong, but there is simply nothing quite like these big days in the mountains on unmarked routes! To the volunteers, thank you so much. To the 2019 committee – please put this race on again!

Splits

13 August, 2018 - Conor O'Farrell

The results are now up on the Results page. I've added the split times below. The formatting is not great, I will try to clean this up later.

Pos. - No. - Name - Start - Art's Lough - Camenabologue - Finish - Time - Early/Regular
01 - 700 - Bernard Fortune - 11:03 - 11:30 - 12:36 - 14:13:30 - 03:10:30 - R
02 - 102 - Gordon Place - 11:03 - 11:31 - 12:42 - 14:18:45 - 03:15:45 - R
03 - 785 - Alan Ayling - 11:03 - 11:33 - 12:44 - 14:21:45 - 03:18:45 - R
04 - 59 - Tim Harris - 11:03 - 11:34 - 12:47 - 14:32:22 - 03:29:22 - R
05 - 1324 - Zoran Skrba - 11:03 - 11:32 - 12:47 - 14:32:57 - 03:29:57 - R
06 - 203 - Kevin O'Riordan - 11:03 - 11:36 - 12:54 - 14:33:45 - 03:30:45 - R
07 - 995 - Andrew Larkin - 11:03 - 11:33 - 12:48 - 14:34:15 - 03:31:15 - R
08 - 1161 - Brian Furey - 11:03 - 11:30 - 12:35 - 14:40:35 - 03:37:35 - R
09 - 151 - Mike Jordan - 11:03 - 11:34 - 12:50 - 14:42:45 - 03:39:45 - R
10 - 326 - Rob Carney - 11:03 - 11:34 - 12:52 - 14:44:26 - 03:41:26 - R
11 - 1028 - Tom Roche - 11:03 - 11:35 - 12:56 - 14:48:00 - 03:45:00 - R
12 - 1517 - Paul Morrissey - 11:15*- 11:49 - 13:08 - 15:04:51 - 03:49:51 - R
13 - 334 - Orla McEvoy - 11:03 - 11:36 - 12:57 - 15:05:31 - 04:02:31 - R
14 - 184 - Pavel Bodi - 11:03 - 11:37 - 13:10 - 15:10:18 - 04:07:18 - R
15 - 4 - Stuart Scott - 11:03 - 11:42 - 13:10 - 15:16:05 - 04:13:05 - R
16 - 2399 - Ivana Kolaric - 11:03 - 11:40 - 13:09 - 15:20:42 - 04:17:42 - R
17 - 302 - John Murray - 11:03 - 11:40 - 13:09 - 15:20:43 - 04:17:43 - R
18 - 387 - Kenneth McCarthy - 11:03 - 11:36 - 13:12 - 15:20:44 - 04:17:44 - R
19 - 747 - Joe Lalor - 10:00 - 10:37 - 12:10 - 14:19:53 - 04:19:53 - E
20 - 106 - Jason Dowling - 11:03 - 11:40 - 13:14 - 15:29:03 - 04:26:03 - R
21 - 2002 - James Doyle - 11:03 - 11:40 - 13:14 - 15:29:04 - 04:26:04 - R
22 - 1811 - Julian Bloomer - 11:03 - 11:40 - 13:12 - 15:33:57 - 04:30:57 - R
23 - 1851 - Imogen McGuinness - 11:03 - 11:37 - 13:13 - 15:33:58 - 04:30:58 - R
24 - 230 - Padraig Somers - 11:03 - 11:35 - 12:52 - 15:34:40 - 04:31:40 - R
25 - 609 - Jon Finn - 11:03 - 11:35 - 12:52 - 15:36:00 - 04:33:00 - R
26 - 163 - Maike Jurgens - 10:00 - 10:37 - 12:10 - 14:33:03 - 04:33:03 - E
27 - 23 - Ian McHardy - 10:00 - 10:38 - 12:10 - 14:33:04 - 04:33:04 - E
28 - 130 - Kevin Marnane - 11:03 - 11:42 - 13:13 - 15:44:30 - 04:41:30 - R
29 - 1493 - Caroline McLoughlin - 11:03 - 11:36 - 12:58 - 15:49:00 - 04:46:00 - R
30 - 2754 - Humphrey Murphy - 11:03 - 11:36 - 13:00 - 15:49:00 - 04:46:00 - R
31 - 105 - Joseph Boyle - 11:03 - 11:37 - 13:12 - 15:51:40 - 04:48:40 - R
32 - 1657 - Patricia  Murphy - 10:00 - 10:39 - 12:32 - 14:58:55 - 04:58:55 - E
33 - 2392 - Maggie Lawler - 10:00 - 10:41 - 12:32 - 14:59:03 - 04:59:03 - E
34 - 288 - Jarlath Hynes - 10:00 - 10:41 - 12:32 - 14:59:04 - 04:59:04 - E
35 - 625 - Justin Rea - 10:00 - 10:42 - 12:30 - 15:21:05 - 05:21:05 - E
36 - 263 - Connie Dottino - 10:08*- 10:46 - 12:57 - 15:29:06 - 05:21:06 - E
37 - 557 - Padraig Doyle - 11:03 - 11:36 - 13:11 - DNF - DNF - R
38 - 320 - Ann-Marie Flaherty - 10:00 - DNF - DNF - DNF - DNF - E

*Allowed time adjustment for late start as it did not impact position

Around Avonbeg

13 August, 2018 - Robert Carney

So here we go,
First race report.

When I woke this morning, it was to the patter of rain and I thought to meself there’d be cloud on Lug. Got down to the start early and had a rest in the van. With the early starters gone and an hour to pass I enjoyed a cup of tea. Been up there twice in the last month and anything above Art’s was in the clouds, so I was happy that the clouds were moving this morning and giving brief glimpses of the hills.
Away we all go, the lead group out of sight after 3 or 4 turns and steady on up the Zig Zags till the break in the forest, then straight up through trail to a clear view of the cliffs overhanging Art’s Lough. A great sense of space after the ducking and weaving involved in negotiating the confines of low branches. I followed the fence only halfway and thought I’d be clever and make straight for the first checkpoint, realised my error after about 3 seconds but ploughed on through the rough stuff anyway, like a stubborn kid who knows he’s wrong but won’t admit it. Hot and muggy conditions today with barely a breeze but a joy to be here. Turn on the heel and pick up the tracks to the ramp, thinking I’d love a jump in the Lake. Keep on moving up the ramp and pick up tracks to Clohernagh reaching the summit dead on. From here keep the oul legs spinnin, lovely cool air hits and a slight glimpse of the ridge and then mist rolls in and conceals. As I approach Lug I can see the trig pillar from 100 metres or so and a few shadows running away from it, I run at it, don’t stop and start heading down east of north.
Following the two shadows in the mist of Padraig Somers and Jon Finn I catch up with them, find the stony tracks and again I decide on another genius shortcut. I leave a perfectly good track. A bit of bog hopping, I notice Jon passing on the main track to the left which confirms my poor route choice, but I do eventually find a runnable less rocky track slightly cutting the corner. Not sure were Padraig was but we all end up climbing Camenabologue and run on to the north. Padraig turns right and heads straight down saying his goodbyes, another few seconds and Jon disappears. I keep on table track and leave it at the bend as I had planned to. I pass a group of a dozen or so walkers and when asked have they seen any runners am told no, not one. Lovely.
I had decided on staying high in the valley and running into it, so keeping high and very gradually losing height. (Maybe I stayed too high?) Great views of three lakes and the whole Avonbeg valley spread out before me, everything seemed so still like someone had hit the pause button. No one else near me and I feel as if I’m on a day out on my own. I cross the river and head up Conavalla, I scan the hill and see a few bodies moving on up towards the top. Jon Finn appears to my right and we climb within a stones throw of each other. East off Conavalla and find some nice deer tracks that allow me to run a little smoother. Down across another but much smaller valley and again here the cloud opens, revealing the valley, the forestry on the slope of Conavalla and the slope leading up to Lugduff ridge. Keep on motoring and cloud takes back the views once more.
From here it is a fairly straight bearing with a multitude of tracks weaving their way through the rocky bog leading all along the ridge. I try to avoid unnecessary climbing of the humps and bumps on the flatter sections. Catch up with some people here from the early start and I run all the way to Mullacor and the last push up. Across the top of the summit and turn, take a second and take in the view and get a great sense of how lucky I am to be able to have days like this, hope I can still be doing this for many years. Onwards and downwards towards the Wicklow way stepping stones. Cross the fence, easy down the stones and am looking forward to opening the legs on the fire road. Away we go, rolling along and am smiling all the way down, usually it moments like this when I miss a turn or take a tumble. I take the right turn and I start thinking that I have never been down the tunnel of love but have been up it on more than one occasion:) (Glacier Lakes). Anyway, wanting to test a theory that the faster you go the less you feel the gorse I enter the tunnel with anticipation and nearly cream meself on the first few stones. Stop daydreaming. Which reminds me to steady on, take nothing for granted and you’re not done till you’re done. It is quite enjoyable descending this, and the mixture of gorse, water, stone steps and the worn soles of my shoes keeps the brain well occupied. Fire road, down the single track and am surprised how quick its over, I almost want to run a bit more downhill for the fun of it. But, there is no more downhill. Nice relax on the grass after and a lovely cup o tea, what more could one want.
Big thanks to Conor and all involved for putting this race on and for ordering such grand weather.

Since it’s my first report - A Special Thank You to IMRA.
I have always loved hills and climbing and have only been running with IMRA since last year. I am truly grateful to all involved in this organisation.
For the Motivation, Inspiration and the Will that no matter how steep it gets to keep pushin on. Thank you.