MM Trail Half- Beautiful, Painful Frustration

24 March, 2019 - Ruairí Long

The Maurice Mullins Trail is another one of those classic IMRA races that often can be overheard in conversation between the hardy regulars. Mutters about the route change, start change or finish change are not unheard of even as close to home as the Long family dinner table. Mike still remembers his RD glory days, though Mick did a fantastic job too.

I was keen to give it a go as the length is not dissimilar to many Euro Skyraces, and the route includes several enjoyable bits like the Djouce traverse single track. Two good climbs and plenty of good fire-road grinding round out a solid route, with the sub-2 mark a fun target.

I had spent the week prior to the race in Monte Gordo, Portugal on a training camp so my legs felt a little worse for wear before even starting. With flawless logistics, we arrived at the start in time to watch the Ultra runners turn to face what they had just completed for a second time. Very impressive stuff.

After a stunted warm up and the usual banter/ race brief, we headed off up towards the open mountain delights of Djouce. Immediately Kilian pulled away, setting a lively pace that only Mark decided to keep. Myself, Barry, Colm and Tom settled in to each take a turn pushing up. It's not a fun climb up to the boardwalk of the Wicklow Way but it went by fast enough with encouragement of Ultrarunners going both directions. Tom pushed on ahead as we came off the road. I prefer steeper climb so I headed off after him up to the shoulder of Djouce, enjoying the lack of wind.

We were already fairly spread out as I took the right onto the lovely trail on Djouce. Conditions were glorious, and I found myself enjoying it all perhaps too much. Colm, always an excitable descender, brought me back into it as I chased him down to the bridge, returning to 3rd behind a disappearing Mark and Kilian.

Crone and a quick gel came soon enough after the next fireroad section where myself and Colm settled down a bit. Tom returned to the fray along the river, with Colm slightly fading after his big descent. The short, sharp climbs on Glencree kept the head down, passing more and more worried Ultrarunners. I made sure to ignore what was happening around me and breathe, aware of the upcoming second climb. With a splash of water at the car park, I cursed Tom's approaching footsteps as I headed up again.

Personally, when training, I love Prince William's Seat, especially the top rocky section. However, having to stick to the WW all the way up turns the climb into a long, panting burn. Passing an ever energetic Juju Jay at the rocks, I was glad to see my decent effort up had brought some space from Tom.

The next fireroad section proved my eventual downfall. Although I by no means took it easy, I saved a little too much for the climb back up to Glencullen. As I was to soon find out, Barry had put the work in down the road to the bridge, dragging Tom with him. I saw them as I crossed the bridge, breaking my confidence that third place was in the bag along with the sub 2 hour mark.

I didn't have much left for a fight, but did my best to hold off the pair as long as I could. Barry faded back, leaving only a driving Tom as we hit the tarmac to the GAA club. With Tom on my shoulder, I gave it one final push, but his momentum wasn't something I could match and I came into the finish 4th, mere seconds behind. With adrenaline flowing I was suitably frustrated, but had to give respect to Tom's fantastic finish. If I had been in his position I would have been delighted.

Kilian maintained his incredible form too, a performance perhaps matched by the record shattering times in the Ultra. To put it simply, Eoin Lennon is a beast.

Great work by all organisers as ever. 2019 IMRA season will prove to be an interesting and fun one, judging by the depth of the competition. I'm excited.

Podium Results

05 March, 2019 - Mick Hanney

Men
1. Killian Mooney 1:40:25
2. Mark Stephens 1:48:34
3. Tom Lupton 1:49:20

Ladies
1. Kate Cronin (13th overall) 2:04:38
2. Laura O'Driscoll (17th overall) 2:11:01
3. Deirdre Galvin (19th overall) 2:12:46

Photos of winners uploaded.

Other results to follow