Barra Mac Niocaill

22 June, 2021

Having been jonsing for the re-starting of the IMRA season I set my alarm and made sure I was one of the lucky 150 to register for Little Sugarloaf. During the lockdown I had kept myself from going completely insane by doing a sh*t ton (for me) of running, even managing a few sneaky trips to the mountains. An enforced six week break in May and early June left me a bit nervous but convincing myself and even a mate who was making his debut that the early season races are the ‘easy’ ones I reckoned it would be ok. We arrived good and early for the early start and as was my impression at my two previous races everything was brilliantly organised. The Little Sugarloaf didn’t look quite as little from the car park as I had hoped but I convinced myself it was a trick of the eye/mind/altitude. My debutant mate got his number and chip, we took the requisite selfies , did some token stretching and off we went. A nice gentle start going at a decent clip though the wood and field but sh*t got real on the stretch past the boulders. Managed to try to look convincing for the photo but was in full grind mode. Up the summit path and then on to the twin summits. Beautiful, beautiful running on a beautiful evening, Wicklow on the left the sea on the right. On to the descent and quite a gnarly path. Survive it and now it is time for the fun part – down! Off I fly until I turn a blind corner and jaysus more UP! Feeling like I have been lied to but knowing deep down it’s because I didn’t look at the map properly I begin sulkily climbing. Thankfully it’s not too long and turns in to a contour and then back to flying downhill. Interesting finish round the mountain biking berms and I try and mainly fail to muster a sprint for the finish where my debutant mate has been waiting for me for about six minutes. Slump against fence and watch the real deal people start to arrive, brain hurting from working out that they were basically doing five minute clicks for the whole thing. A lot tougher race than I was expecting but very enjoyable and under 160% (just) for the first time which I will take.