Catch me if you can...erm, yes you can!

09 August, 2018 - Conor O'Farrell

This is the race we've all been waiting for. A chance for all of us at the middle and the back of the pack to pick up a win. I've never been a huge fan of Kippure as a route, way too much soft bog for my liking, but with the summer we've been having it should be as nice run tonight.

So, we arrive at the "car park" at around 18:10. I've never been so early for a race. Some good chats and banter before the race. As usual, I get my excuses in early (10k race on Monday, followed by an 80km cycle, legs are feeling empty etc. - if you didn't know before, then you do now. ;-) ) I'm out at 19:17, right in the middle of the pack. I really shafted myself in the past few weeks. A strong finish to the season (for me) meant I was bumped up a minute or 2.

Caitlin gets us going a 19:00, and there some whops and shouts to send her off. There's a really good buzz around. My start time approaches and I can see a lot of my racing peers queuing up to start, Dan Geelon a starting couple of minutes ahead of me, Jody Boyle, Phil Behan and Kevin Marnane a minute or so behind. My good friend Dave Docherty is 4 minutes behind, he will probably catch me, but I'm going to make him work for it.

3-2-1 go, that was sudden. I tear off down the bog road and a decent pace. I'm pretty sure I can hold myon against my near rivals on the ascent, so need to ensure they don't catch me on the bog road. I pass a few of the earlier starters, Alice giving me a some encouragement to catch Lorcan up ahead.

Off the Bog road and I'm feeling pretty good, I catch a few people here and I hear some heavy breathing behind me. Trying to pass a backmarker over the river, I make a bad choice and take the log way around, and I get passed by a strong runner (Eamonn Hodge, I think). Onwards and upwards, there's Lorcan, who very kindly stepped aside and allowed me to pass.

I'm still running quite well now, I take the time to look back and I can see Phil Behan making good time behind me. I needed to stick with it. I pass Dan Geelon around this point, revenge for him beating me well in the Bay10km on Monday.

By the time I reached the last 3rd of the climb, I was blowing hard. Into the gulley and the soft bog was energy sapping, intermittent walking/running here. The last stretch to the top was very busy. Lots of people to negotiate, so greetings all around. Eamonn(?) is already turned around and on his way down. Mikey Fry and Graham Bushe are on media duties at the trig point, fair pay lads it was a (relatively)cool enough night to be spending on top of Kippure.

As I turn back, there's a serious number of fast runners coming towards me. Phil, Jody, Dave are very close together and I'm not going to be able hold them off forever. Picking of a few runners on the way down now and as I try round Hazel on the left, I step into a hole, Phil powers past both of us and trickles on down as some speed. It will take some man to beat him today. I regather myself and set off in pursuit. Past Hazel, then a few others and up ahead is Ger Power, who also kindly steps aside. A couple of seconds later, BANG!!! I hit the ground hard , roll over and manage to get back to my feet pretty quickly and keep running. Then, I had to stop and check that I was running the right way. Ger enquires about my health and I acknowledge with a grunt.

Onward and downward to the bog road, I'm really feeling it now. That tumble winded me slightly and my legs are pretty wobbly. I'm praying for the Bog road now. By the time I get to it, I can see only Paul Grant up ahead. Knowing that Phil and Eamonn have already passed him, I must be in 4th or 5th. Some commotion behind me and I turn to see Dave Docherty and Philip Cohen around 100 metres behind. I'm not going to be able to keep them there forever. Monday's escapades have come back to haunt me(excuses). I put the head down and just run my own race. Sure enough, Philip passes soon afterwards, followed shortly by Dave. A few pleasantries are exchanged and Dave sets off in pursuit. I must be in 6/7 place now. A few more pass, including my Ratoath AC club-mate Alex Hunter followed by Martin Bagnall.

At 500 metres to go, I could hear someone pounding the road behind me. Kevin Marnane, looking strong, I almost concede defeat and step to the right, but he doesn't take advantage. Then I decide "Feck it, I'm fighting for this!". Digging deep, the lungs are bursting and the legs are running on fumes. I just manage to make it to the gate ahead of him. I turn to shake Kev's had and we can see 50-odd runners about to cross the line at the same time, perfect timing. Some good chats after with the guys. Phil is delighted with himself and deservedly so - Big congrats to him.

Later in the pub, the winners are announced and some positional changes due to the 7 race requirement. I'm delighted to see that Dave got third. The culmination of 5 years if IMRA running, the delight on his face and his whoops of joy are not something you ever hear very often at the prizegiving for some reason.

It just proves what a great race this is, as it opens it up for mid/back runners, and takes some organising by Joe to coordinate the start times. Not sure where I came in, around 10th. Not bad for someone who was striving to be in the top 100 at a Leinster League race 2 months ago.

Thanks to Joe and the crew, and congratulations to Phil, Dee and all the other winners. Great event, great buzz. Can we do more of these? ;-)