Race report for the 2021 Glendalough Tucker Trail – a first time ultra-race perspective.

23 August, 2021 - Eoin Kelly

It’s a small world we live in. Having completed my first Ultra Race I was feeling fantastic but walking like a geriatric penguin when I bumped into one of my neighbours in the caravan park in Brittas where I was spending the week after the race – a strategic decision based on the fact that there are no stairs in a caravan! A discussion ensued on the merits of long distance running and he mentioned that he used to know a man through his work with the RSA that was into it. Turns out it was Adrian Tucker and my neighbor said he was the single best individual in the Garda Siochana he had ever had the pleasure to meet. He spoke so highly of his memories of Adrian and was delighted to hear of a race in his honour.

And what a race!

I was a little nervous prior to signing up, having run only 50 km in a stretch prior to the event. However, a good year of very consistent 50 to 80 km weeks had me confident that I could complete the distance, just maybe not within the cut off times!

The first obstacle was to decide what to wear, what to pack for the transition area and most importantly what food to bring. I think this was almost the most difficult aspect for an inexperienced would be ultra runner! Shorts, tshirts, jackets, shoes, and lots of runglide – clothing sorted. Food – peanut butter wraps were the main sustenance having overloaded on cereal bars on my 50km run and not wishing to experience that nausea again. I tried to keep the sweet stuff to a minimum. Electrolyte tabs for my bottles and a carb/electrolyte tab also, just in case - food sorted.

An easy 5km along the beach in Brittas and then into bed for the early start. Alarm set for 5am with the van parked up the road so as not to wake the kids. Woke up at 4.45 anyway so got up and out. Had planned to have my breakfast at Glendalough so a twisty, windy half hour drive later I pulled into the upper lake carpark and had my trusty Weetabix and branflakes. The plague of midges in the carpark ensured there was no unnecessary hanging around outside the car, so out for registration and kit check and then back into the car for respite from the itchy feckers.

Race start was called with a short walk to the upper lake for a photo and a few words in memory of Adrian and we were off.

I had planned to take it handy for the first leg to ensure I didn’t blow up spectacularly in the later stages and held to the rear of the pack, which it turns out was the ideal place for me for the day. A lap of the lakes and then into the first climb up the spinc route. A good test of the hiking legs and we were soon on the boardwalk and enjoying the descent complete with the Glendalough deer. Across the foot bridge and into the rocky descent, still taking it easy, and extra cautious after meeting one of the front runners who had taken a tumble and was gingerly making his way down to retire and start the recovery for what looked like some nasty cuts and bruises. A nice cruise along the path and we were over the hump and heading up the Glendassan Valley to the Wicklow gap carpark. Some more hiking and jogging along one of my favourite trails, with the lead runners flying by on their descent, and the last steep climb before the carpark came into view. Sat down for a minute to tighten my laces as the bog was doing its best to remove my shoes on the way up, and I could feel a little rubbing around the ball of my foot, which was worrying at such an early stage. Ate a small snickers bar from the table and then down down down, passing a big group of hikers who were enjoying the bog, and chatting with Roelie, Avril, Phil and Karl at various points along the way. I jogged the last flat stretch with Avril at what was definitely too fast a pace for me but I was getting some great advice for later in the race, so stuck with her back to the transition area.

Leg one done.

I took the decision to change shoes at this point as the slight rubbing was still noticeable and I knew there wasn’t any rocky stuff left so I put on my beat up old Altra lone peaks that have almost no grips remaining but are like a pair of slippers. Instant comfort. Grabbed two peanut butter wraps, changed the empty electrolyte bottle for a carb one and headed out on leg 2. Should have checked the water bladder but rookie mistake – pressed on without checking it! Again, familiar ground between here and Oldbridge so measured my pace, kept it steady and chatted to Phil for much of the first climb with Avril pulling ahead. Cross the grassy hillside, up past the Brushers gap hut and then along the road to Oldbridge. The front runners passed us on their return Glendalough along here, so I figured I was doing ok. The Oldbridge to Lough Dan stretch was all new to me so stuck with Phil and Karl along here and soon passed the Marshal and started the descent to the beach. On the way down here I took a swig from my water and realized it was empty, no problem still have a lot of the carb drink – wrong – also nearly empty. Got down to the beach, around the flag and started the jog back out. Once we hit the uphill I knew I had to slow down, I was hungry, thirsty and feeling very flat. At least I had done a marathon at that stage though so felt entitled to a little moan!
I knew I needed some food, but the peanut butter wraps definitely required water to wash them down. I figured I would have to wait until I got back to the marshal on the road. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity the steep grassy downhill came into view and the marshal was just around the corner. I stopped and he very kindly refilled my bladder and gave me a banana. And a nicer banana I have never eaten! Seriously, it was amazing. At this point Karl and Phil had pulled ahead so I slowed down and made sure to get lots of water and the peanut butter wrap eaten. Slow and steady along the road back to Oldbridge feeling pretty rubbish but keeping my race plan in my head – ‘always be moving’. I got cold enough to put on my rain coat for a while too.
Then the sun came out for a very short stretch and I was on the climb to Brushers Gap and down the descent to the grassy bit. I passed a couple of hikers here, who asked if there was a race on, and I explained the event. They were suitably impressed which seemed to give me a lift, though it could have been the banana, water and food starting to take effect!
When I crossed the grassy stretch, I looked back and could see Roelie coming along a few hundred meters behind and I figured he would catch me pretty quickly and I would have company back to the transition. I must have picked up a good bit on the next downhill stretch as he didn’t catch me and when I got out onto the green road after the lower carpark, I saw Karl and Phil up ahead. I trailed them into transition by a few hundred meters.

Leg 2 was done.

I changed my tshirt and cap, filled my water bladder and got another electrolyte bottle and a carb one too, for good measure. I wasn’t going to run out of liquid again! Had a nice swig of coke from the refreshments table along with a banana and headed out of transition a few minutes behind the two guys. Roelie came into the transition as I was getting ready to leave, so again I was sure he would catch me pretty quickly.

Out on leg 3 and feeling OK. I was in uncharted territory now as I was beyond my previous 50km record but I knew I was going to finish, bar an accident, it was just a matter of getting up the interminable climb out of Glendalough. Hike the hills, jog the flats and downs, always be moving! I caught sight of Karl and Phil a few times on the climb and measured my progress against theirs. First time I was 600 meters behind, the next time I was about 500, and then it was 400 – so I was making progress and still moving despite the never-ending climb! Nearing the top of the climb I met the first place guy on his way back down to the finish, and he looked like he was out for a fun run, flying it still. I made a mental note to compare how I was looking at the same spot on the way back! The descent to the pub began and I realized that my quads were getting a bit worn out. Nothing to do but head down and enjoy the descent, down it went, and down some more, onto the road around the corner and there’s the carpark, with Phil and Karl in a few seconds ahead of me. Awesome, company for the return leg!
A swig of coke and another banana and off we went. I was delighted to have the company and the two lads were a massive help at this stage. We met Roelie shortly after we started up again and he looked like he was doing well. Again, hike the uphills, and jog the flats and downhills. Eventually we got to the top and the descent started. We passed the point where I had met the leader on the way up, and I figured that he had looked a lot fresher than I was feeling, but I was still moving and happy out.
Down we went with my quads screaming at me, they didn’t want to play this game anymore! Any slight uphill was taken at a hike with thanks from my quads. Pretty soon we were on the last steep stretch down to the finish line, and the pain didn’t seem too bad anymore. Across the finish line to be met by my wife and three kids, who waited there for me despite the lashing rain and the midge attacks.

Leg 3 done! Race done! My first ultra done. 10 hours and 40 minutes of ‘always be moving’.

And I have to say, I would do it again tomorrow! When I finished, I thought ‘could I run another 50km now to complete the Wicklow way?’ The answer at the time was definitely no, however, in hindsight maybe I could!

Massive thanks to Greg and the organisers, what a team! The race was run to perfection. To all the volunteers who braved midgemageddon and the rain so we could run around the beautiful mountains of Wicklow in safety and comfort a massive thank you. I’ll get my name on the volunteer list to pay it back properly in the future. Thanks also to Karl and Phil for the company on the last leg, I would have struggled a lot more without your support.