Getting Lost in Glenmacnass

12 July, 2021 - Barry McEvoy

First race back since Maurice Mullins Ultra way back in September 2020, seems like a long time ago now. Since then there have been injuries, comebacks, training and an FKT on the Slieve Bloom way which left me lacking all motivation to run afterward.
This being my third week back in a new training programme I decided it was time to get a race in, looking at all the events and results so far had me feeling very jealous and I couldn’t wait to hit the mountains and race again.

A few weeks before the race I spent a weekend in Laragh with my girlfriend Aoife and we did the Mountain skills one course which was essential in order to run this race and also for anyone who spends time in the mountains, especially alone in all types of conditions.

2 weeks before the race I came up with map and compass and new navigation knowledge and set off to figure out the basic route. As I approached Tonelagee summit that day the weather got very bad, Icey rain and howling wind, ducking behind a rock at the summit I took a bearing checked my car keys and set off in the direction of Glenmacnass Car park, 5 minutes later I realised car key was gone (forgot to close zip on my running vest) this turned into 35 minutes in the freezing cold trying to retrace steps which as I had run all over the place and changed direction a few times proved impossible. The cold got to me and I was numb through and through and abandoned the search. At this point I’d lost any heart for the run and made the call to the parents to bring up the spare. I ended up way off line in the end and basically running through the middle of nowhere with some deer until I hoped fences and returned toward the Brockagh side of the mountain. A navigational nightmare and I wasn’t feeling quite as brilliant about my new skills.

I was back again last Saturday to have another go, this time the mist was down in the car park, very poor visibility all the way, the drive was even tough. I remembered my way to Tonelagee and took my time to get a good bearing and found the right path and the fast grassy downhill to Glenmacnass. It all went smoothly from there and I was feeling like a navigational genius by the end. Then I realised my Salomon rain jacket had fallen off the back of my pack and was gone and cursed myself for being such an idiot again. That’s the backstory for the race

On race morning I was feeling fresh, took the day off on the Friday from training and did small 6k in Dysart woods back home in Portlaoise the day before to get the legs going. I arrived early and into the Farmers field and played a few tunes and got myself sorted. I look up a lot of results and photos and reports and read back all the former years and noticed a lot of Stall worth IMRA people around. It started raining just before we got going but was warm and I set off in the sleeveless.

The whole way to Brockagh I’m adjusting to the climb, the pace, racing, breathing seems too laboured but not too bad as I am only 9 days off the cigarettes and committed this time not to go back there again. Eddie and Enda inject some pace as we hit the diagonal grassy track over to Brockagh and I’m a little behind, realising my flat base pace is lacking, but I stick within 20m all the way. Just before the summit I pass Enda who walks a little and gets a drink, Eddie has bolted ahead and is almost out of sight due to the mist, the rain is picking up and we set off for Tonelagee, Enda right behind me. Its wet and boggy and hardcore.

This section goes on a bit longer than I remembered and as we near where the upward slog commences the three of us join back up again. I push ahead on the climb, hiking hard upward and reach the summit first and set off on a bearing I think is right, very quickly I am doubting myself and hear the lads coming behind we and we all run on hard before we stop and wonder where the hell are we. ‘Maybe this way, maybe that’, trying to make a right decision. We finally realise we’ve come over the other side of the lake and face a long run around to Glenmacnass and luckily Eddie seems to know the way round and then up toward Glenmacnass which included a stream crossing and soaking feet. The terrain here was boggy and harsh and sapped the legs and the life. We reach the checkpoint and are under the impression there may be one runner ahead of us.

The three of us cross the road and head upward once again toward Scarr. Once again, I pull a little ahead as we head up, but Eddie is right behind me and I think Enda may be dropping off a little, but I don’t look back because it would take far too much energy and looking forward is hard enough into the wind and rain. There’s a big group of mountain bikers at the top and Eddie shouts ‘how far ahead is your man’ don’t think they a clue what we are on about and probably wondering why we are in singlets. Its fast now and we rocket downward step for step Eddie leading the way.

When it flattens out a bit Eddie moves onward, and my lack of flat pace is evident again. I wouldn’t say I conceded defeat here, but I was willing myself on through willpower at that stage. Eddie is in sight the whole way until just before there a grassy T junction, then he disappears, and I think ‘shit which way’ fully convinced Enda is just behind me. My instinct says right, and I just go, soon I recognise the steep downhill and know I’m not too far away from home and maybe ‘third’ place. As I step over the barrier here the groins cramp and I’ve flashbacks to MM 10 months ago and I walk for a minute then I shuffle run, right at the edge of what’s possible, I cross the road onto the single track and emerge from there within touching distance from home. I hear no one and run in for a second-place finish and shake hands with Eddie, it was a great race and a well-deserved win for him!

Have to say the volunteers out there in those conditions are selfless and I will have to get involved soon in that side of IMRA, the weather was atrocious all morning. I got a medal and was delighted with that and had the tastiest flapjack, who I was told were made by Clare Keeley? Need the recipe for those ones!!

It was a brilliant to return to racing in the mountains, the unmarked course was difficult for me as I’m unskilled and in the infancy of my navigational training but it’s a great challenge and a tough circuit, as Eddie said, as we were running around ‘this course has everything in it’ I laughed at that bombing it off Scarr, it did have it all, I will give it that (except sunshine). I look forward to some more racing before the summer ends.

Circuit of Glenmacnass

12 July, 2021 - Gareth Little

https://summit2summit.wordpress.com/2021/07/12/imra-circuit-of-glenmacnass-july-11-2021/

Which way is up?

11 July, 2021 - David Power

IMRA Circuit of Glenmacnass
11th July 2021
I think I was a bit optimistic with the sun cream this morning. It wasn’t part of the mandatory kit. I didn’t even wear sunglasses. I arrived early to a farmer’s field in Laragh and met said farmer for a friendly chat, while I sheparded cars in.
We were competing with the car boot sale across the road – although only one car got mixed up and did a quick u-turn. The woman and her mother declined my invite of a mountain run.
Race director Brian announced that the start and even the finish had moved. So much for recces, it would now be a bit longer. He also announced there’d be no chip timing, so not to be expecting results til “during the week.”
I like the sound of this race. No pizazz, no social media, no drama. No course marking, no photographer, no chip timing, no sunshine, no fixed route. Just 4 control points to hit (the 3 big peaks of Brockagh, Tonelagee and Scarr, plus the Glenmacnass crossing).
It was good to see the mandatory kit being checked for everyone – we were going up onto open boggy mountain, with low visibility and cloud cover. Should you fall or need help, you could be waiting a few hours, so least you need is a whistle, jacket, hat, food, water, compass, map.
The latter two were a new challenge for me – I’ve done more hill walking in the past year, but not as comfortable navigating under pressure in a race. Not having my phone was deliberate, so I’d have to rely on bearings, my map markings and failing all, memory and gut feeling.
Anyway, it was a 20km route with about 1,000m of climbing over 3 peaks. Not too technical or rough ground, more blanket bog and defined walking tracks through the hills. Easy if you stay on track, not so easy if you have a momentary lapse.
Start bang on 10:00am. We all shot off left from the barrier, through a woodland trail. Lesson #1, go direct, not on the big shiny road. I'm up with the lead group, happy in my mind on how to get to Brockagh at 557m. Damn, we emerge after a switchback behind some runners who shot up through the trees. Lesson #2, experience counts.
I felt happy climbing, we diverged a bit into groups, picking slightly different tracks, all heading up around Brockagh East. I reach the summit in 4th then lesson #3 hits me hard. I follow the path I see, rather than getting my bearing and ensuring I follow it. I know from my map marking I need to go north, about 350 degrees, yet I innocently head west and go down this trail. It’s only 2 minutes, but by then it’s too late to go back, so I try going cross country N/NE and start cursing myself. I eventually get back on track, spotting runners on the ridge above.
Damn, I’ve lost a lot of ground, but re-focus and start picking off runners. I know the route up Tonelagee (817m), fairly boggy but runnable ground. The climb is steep, I pick off a few more and reach the top with Warren. It’s windy with warm soft Irish summer rain blowing from the southeast. I make it down the tricky descent and am happier now descending towards Glenmacnass.
Joe has jellies at the crossing. Up we go again, Scarr (640m) being easy to reach on a track. I’m still picking off runners, but they’re getting faster so harder to catch. I pass Kanturch and remember the last time I was there, when I realised, I had dropped my phone at Tonelagee during a lunch stop. Forlornly, I looked back across the valley, 4km as the crow flies, but a long walk for a tired walker. Long story short, I found my phone, a car journey and Wicklow Gap hike later. That memory makes me smile.
Descending towards Paddock Hill, I pass Pól but can’t shake him, he’s moving well. The views are limited to a few hundred metres, so I try spot the next runner up ahead. We get onto the Wicklow Way, descending fast through the mountain bike trails near the Military Road. Pól passes me again, we push on over the river and slippy sleepers.
Lesson #4 know your route. We come to a junction, touching distance from home and I go right, following the WW but half knowing it’s not the direct line. Anyway, I eventually make it home. Lesson #5 you should cross the finish line from the right direction like all the normal people. Instead, I run to the barrier from the opposite direction.
I’m not the only one, it seems lots of people had navigational challenges throughout. That makes me feel better. It’s not just a test of speed or technique, but also navigational awareness and confidence. In that department, I’m only a gasún. More of this please.