Even Early Starts Race too..

06 June, 2019 - Miriam Maher

Since Brian Kitson was volunteering last night and wasn't going to put up one of his not to be missed race reports, thought I'd be safe to post without stark comparisons.

First IMRA race report - usually favour the long winded reports to match my ultra outings. Will aim to keep this suitably brief instead. Arrived with Dee, my car pooling buddy and long time racing nemesis on the hills since we both started running IMRA races in 2013.

Had settled into finishing a bit ahead of Dee on most races over that time but a pattern has emerged in recent weeks where Dee has comfortably finished ahead of me, it just won't do.

Anyway, with an unexpectedly nippy evening (maybe not unexpected but we just hadn't allowed for it) we decided, slow runners race credentials well established, to take the early start and get going.

Off a bunch of us headed - all the familiar faces - to my secret delight I was up in the top group - then spotted the first loose lace, nothing for it but to stop and retie, Dee pulls up level - feck. But I keep on pushing up and managed to keep her behind me all the way up to the summit - lovely climb up - felt great, super mix of routes on the way. Another stop to retie another lace on the way up, but Dee wasn't nearby then. Hit the summit, beamed at James and his brolly and then headed down the lovely springy descent.

Another loosened lace, just wasn't getting them knotted properly each time I did a hasty re-tie, so places lost but not to Dee.

Off the descent off PWS and down into the forest - all going well - no sign of Dee but another shaggin' loose lace! Quick re-tie - John Fitz charges past - but that's the norm and no Dee so onwards. There's only a race between one other person in my mind.

Up over the rock and down through the mix of fire roads and gorgeous foresty trails, Lorcan passes, Dee wont't be far behind..damn my inner aul wan's voice that stops me going all out on the mucky tricky descents.

Coming up past John McCann who tells me Dee is breathing down my neck - I knew it!! Not happening - not this week - upped the ante and keep on charging forward in my standard far from gazelle like strides - onto the last fire road stretch - and then the laces fully went on one shoe - will I ignore and hope for the best - can I throw caution to the winds and risk a face plant on hard fire road - whats another set of scars to add to the collection on my paper thin heavily scarred knees anyway...but just couldn't do it - stopped did a hasty retie and Dee pulls on past

Made a valiant attempt to catch up and get past her - pulled level and then she decided she wasn't having that - stretched her long legs and looped on past and with the last downhill stretch I had lost my race long advantage and she pipped me comfortably to the timing mat.

Great route, race and we'll fight for our back of the pack places again next week - at least I'm set to win one race over her - to get to the 100th IMRA race!!! Roll on Scarr.

Thanks Paul & and all the other volunteers for another superb evening out on the hills!

Warren Swords

06 June, 2019

The Kings and Queens of Prince Willam:

The fourth Leinster League race had a mostly uphill climb all the way to the summit.

At 3.7km, it was twice as long as last week's Carrick but the average gradient was a measly (cough) 7% compared to last week's 15%.

King of the mountain this week was Ian Conroy, improving on his second place KOM from last week.

Ian hit the top in a time of 20 minutes 29, 45 seconds ahead of eventual winner Colm Moran.

Third place was newcomer Alasdair Brown who seems to be good at this mtn running lark in 21 mins 54.

Fastest on the downhill was Colm Moran in a time of 16 minutes 21, a clear one minute 22 ahead of Alasdair Brown.

Third place was the reliable Mikey Fry in 17:59

Niamh Corbett set the current strava record for the ladies in a time of 19 minutes 28, taking off a a massive 2 minutes 34 seconds off previous record.

*All times are taken from Strava so there's likely to be faster times set by luddites wearing casios

Loopy doopy...

05 June, 2019 - Mikey Fry

So we’re at it again Wednesday how fast them weeks roll in working today to take my mind of the task at hand tonight stop off for nice relaxing lunch at my parents awaiting my little big boy Eli for some daddy time while mummy meets girls for lunch I’m playing trains with little man and I’m falling asleep just wrecked I’m wondering if race night might be a sofa night:)back to grid awake Zak picked up hope madness back out the door heading to enniskerry parked up in a local field just to handy race start just outside the gate how convenient Reg warm up Luke regular winner was signing autographs there was a chance for some one else to take glory also old man Farrell was making pancakes John bell was washing his shorts unfortunately his shorts got shorter Pete didn’t want to get lost....Paul gives the low down and we’re off at least this year we didn’t have to breathe in dust from car ahead:)so up along fire road we’re not going to hard nice not like last year I blame neilus for that...right turn up muddy forest trail front alasdair Ian go slightly wrong called back Colm takes the lead here Ian Damien John ahead down fire road hard right alasdair passes me before turn now it’s up some more nice trails I’m pushing after as usual bernad is behind me John decides to take a left I call him back he passes me again then I take him again we eventually hit turn to summit bernad passes me half way up I keep on his heels up to summit James tells us to touch cairn I take quick look behind i see eoin and John behind so I push on after bernad pass him this section is boggy soft and nice then pass Ian bernad then over takes me on flattish section on up little hill down again into forest I let him get just a lift bit to far ahead of me but in my head I’m thinking stinking fire road at the end..this part of the race is beautiful slippery ducky twisty fun and some cross over fire roads and it’s there the end fire road I’m pushing hard hopefully not to get passed on we passed again Justin and his merry cow belling team of jumbles and all I’m thinking push push I see that lads not to far ahead take a little look around eoin thankfully to far behind to catch me hit the last down hill finished congrats to Colm on his win Damien alasdair then bernad:) super good race thanks to Paul and pirates for making it happen....
Another warm down with Ian this week man it’s contagious onto pub nice chats with gavin and Dave some grub spots Wednesday I’m glad I went out with you....

Mikey
Whoops that french fancy was nice:)