Uphill good. Downhill hard.

08 July, 2021 - David Power

“Done is better than perfect.” That applies to mountain running and writing race reports. It’s great to be back racing. I’m not exactly a single sport or even single event enthusiast. My prep for getting to the start line under the imposing Powerscourt Waterfall has been long and winding.
From over 10 hours on my feet covering the Twelve Bens and half the Wicklow Way last month, to running 5000m on the track 4 days ago in Carlow, I seem to mix it up. “Jack of all trades, master of none” you may think. You could be right.
Anyway I cycled down to warm up the legs and check out Hollywood, Co. Wicklow. No, not that one on the N81 (which has a big Hollywood sign on the hill these days). The other one, aka Enniskerry, which is closed off to non-famous celebrity types or film crew, for filming Enchanted. It’s looking great.
A new race location is always interesting. We know Maulin (it’s steep) but the starting venue was spectacular. The waterfall might be light on gushing water in the summer, but it’s still mighty impressive. The start did a loop on tarmac past the waterfall, then downhill on nice smooth tarmac. The pace was hot, I was up front. It felt like a nice road race, or that bloody 5000m last Sunday. Metronomic running is not my thing.
Finally some uphill through the forest. Pace slows, steps get shorter, then we’re power walking. I find myself at the front up past the first marshal, with Barry and Enda on my shoulder. The lungs are heaving. “A good walk spoilt” may have been said about golf, but that thought entered my head as I suffered up the hill.
Back down the hill we went, undoing our earlier ascent. More metres of climbing await. A long slog now through cleared forest and covered canopies. I’m back in 5th now but within touching distance of 2 ahead.
Light at the end of the tunnel I hope when I see bright evening sunlight break through. A false peak, a false dawn. Our relief postponed a bit longer. We emerge into lovely sun up near the top. Happy marshals all along the way. The views of Glencree Valley are spectacular. If you gave me a can of coke, I’d have sat down for a chat for 5 minutes.
Over the top, what views surround! A tricky, rocky descent. I tumble but roll nicely so no damage, other than a loud scream to make people panic. Confidence a bit knocked, I push on over a nice flat part. I know I’ll get caught on the descent. The decent was lovely in many ways, but horrible in others.
The steep technical bits are tough, I lose time to Peter and the guys ahead. Peter zips lightly over the ground. An American guy runs with me. Most of the descent is nice and gradual on trail. Nice views east towards the Irish Sea.
A few steep bits make me suffer. Peter glides by, encouraging me to pick those heels up. Mmmm, I’m trying like. No can do, the 2 lads pull away a lot in the last 5 minutes. The last tricky descent through the forest is tough. I’m applying brakes which tires the quads and slows me. I nearly go flying, just as John Bell zooms by like a rocket. It’s happened before!
I cross the line. Worn out, a bit disappointed in my descending but not surprised. Once I recover I’m happier, reminded of the waterfall and the wonderful setting we have all to ourselves. I heard there were even ice creams in the shop. “Upmarket IMRA” as Alan said in his race briefing.
Well done marshals, volunteers and runners. Lots of encouragement and positive attitudes – IMRA is good for the health.

Y tho

08 July, 2021 - Barra Mac Niocaill

After missing Brockagh for jab and post jab pint reasons me and my mate were back in the saddle for the Crone Wood Caper. Our pre race recce didn't even stretch as far checking which car park we were starting from but the lack of smiley lunatics at Crone Wood told us we were in the wrong place. A quick re adjust and we were ready to go. Our mindset this week was much better, we were in the grim resignation frame of mind rather than borderline despair of Scarr. We were a bit later too so had much less time to mope before the early start. After a serious bout of chemical warfare against the midgies and our customary selfie (with added giant beautiful waterfall) we were off. We stretched out along the road and after a slight wardrobe malfunction with my belt hit the left into the forest. Knowing there was a decent climb and loads of twists and turns etc I resigned myself to the grind and up I went. My mate disappeared into the distance. I settled in behind a guy with a broken zip on his backpack and we exchanged some pleasantries like 'aren't the foxgloves delightful' and 'ah Jaysus this a f***ing nightmare'. When we hit the big (cruel) descent I remembered running up it a few years before and sincerely hoped we weren't coming back this way. Eventually we hit open hillside and beautiful views to the right. My tracker told me that we had about 6.5k done so I had hopes there was a straighter easier way home and pushed on. Craggy little climb to the summit and then hit the descent. I felt good going down and despite one speed wobble pushed on a bit. Back on to familiar territory and the final run through the wood. Little sprint to the finish where my mate was waiting for me for his now customary 14 minutes. A great route, again really well marked. Loads of friendly marshalls offering encouragement and an ice cream at the end. Worth missing Love Island for.

IMRA Coillte Crone Caper

08 July, 2021 - Peter O'Farrell

A new route up to Maulin tempted me and about 160 others to head down to probably the fanciest new parking field I have seen at an IMRA event. Waterfalls, mature native woodland, reinforced grass parking bays, efficient easy registration and ice-cream!
Designed and marked by Alan Ayling and made feasible by good work from Justin Rea in the securing the use of Powerscourt Waterfall this was going to be a tough but exhilarating return to racing. It was great to see the familiar faces even if sometimes the masks made it a bit of guessing game as to which familiar face it was.
When I read the route required 8 marshalls I did wonder but the joy of IMRA includes volunteering and after the frantic start on downhill tarmac I settled into grading which was the best and worst marshalling spot and who had the best anti-fly techniques. Many head nets were in play at various left and right turns in the infested forestry but Marshall Warren had the best of both worlds on the summit of Maulin with super views and no flies to worry about. It took 40 minutes to reach him and then only a further 17 to the finish. A great course really, really really uncomfortable fast tarmac start, really really uncomfortable steep climbing and really really really lovely fast descending sections with the tiniest soupcon of free route choice through a steep grassy bank. Alan Ayling has done an amazing job on the course.
In the end the end came, I’d had a good race, never troubling the front but having great battles with the lads around me with some climbing well, some flatting well and some descending well. I passed and was passed by both Dave Power and Matt Kane in the final few km with a 1-1 draw the personal result, no extra time or penalties in IMRA though so home to watch extra time and one penalty on the soccer box.
In a reminder of the lengths required to win I saw the winner running back towards Enniskerry after the race, I believe he also ran to the start. Thanks again to Justin and Paula Rea and their team.

Mighty.

First caper in a while

08 July, 2021 - Mick Hanney

My last race was Drumgoff last year, nearly a year ago, so I was really looking forward to this race, though a bit nervous at the prospect.
Powerscourt waterfall made for a perfect race setting with parking, loos, shop and views and easy (well hard) access to the hills.
No problem social distancing here as we have the place to ourselves.
Great to catch up with and see familiar runners. Lots of new faces in evidence too – IMRA must be getting good word of mouth. And familiar faces up the front and in the top of the results. Some things never change :-)
A steady start, behind the fast and faster leading groups. Trying to get into a reasonable position before the climbs start. Trotted and marched the steeper climbs, tried to get the old legs turning on the more runnable bits. Yoyoing with a no. of runners, losing ground on climb, gaining on flat etc.
Saw Alan Ayling and Pol O’Murchu in the near distance but I never came close to narrowing any gap. I have work to do!
Loved the route. The ruthless race director brought us up, then back down towards Crone before the main climbs to Maulin started. Lovely tracks through the forestry.
The open mountain was fab. Thankfully we had a clear evening for it. A greeting to Warren on the top and from there the real fun started. More lovely tracks through the forest, nipping and tucking with fellow runners and passing some early starters. Probably earned a couple of places from having the right runners for the terrain, while others were slipping and sliding from lack of grip.
Fast and furious finish down through the trees to the Powerscourt waterfall grounds, over the finish mat and we’re done.
33rd and 3rd in age group, the AG competitions being as competitive as ever.
Loved the route. Its slower I am getting, relatively, but we persevere.
Thanks to Justin, Alan and the team of volunteers, especially those out on the hills.
Hopefully the waterfall will become a regular event location. It has so much going for it.
VAR check on Peter O'Farrell ;-)

In fear and trepidation

08 July, 2021 - Miriam Maher

A race starting and finishing at a waterfall was just too irresistible to miss. The fact that Alan Ayling designed the route was something I just had to get over.

Hike up run down and stay upright running down was the game plan. That and, of course, take the early start. To have chosen otherwise would have doomed the volunteers for an extended midgey coated stay at the finish line.

Off we ran, not before getting confused about the start line and only making it there in time to head off – missing Alan’s race briefing – probably just as well…. the less I dwelt on it the better.

The actual running finished decisively when we turn off the road up through the trees. Broadly speaking from then I heaved myself up the relentless climbs, tottered down the unexpected downward stretch (knowing that what goes down must come back up again) and huffed and puffed my way to the summit.

The beaming marshalls all the way around and the excellently marked route meant that all we had to do was keep moving, even if it felt like I was in slow motion for much of the steeper climbs. I love Maulin summit – it is like being on top of the world – but there was no lingering at the summit this time, despite the unexpectedly fabulous evening.

Dee and I have resumed our deeply serious mini battle that Covid stopped for all of 2020. We will assure each other that we are just getting around – but we never lose sight of where the other is on the course.

Despite my best attempts and despite that fact that she was wearing a back brace from a recent injury – gallingly she made it up to Warren at the summit before I did. But the same injury resulting in the back brace meant that I had the advantage on the downhills, and I inelegantly ploughed down past her.

The helter skelter downhills were class, torn between fear and fun all the way – it was seemed over far quicker than I had expected. Got around in one piece, upright all the way, my beleaguered scarred knees untampered with. 99’s sealed the deal – what an evening!!

Can’t claim last night’s race over Dee – but when the back brace is off…it’s game on.

Alan – you are an evil genius – fantastic route, thank you! Justin, Paula, Peter and all the team – huge thanks for a super evening – just brilliant. Nothing beats the mid-week high of an IMRA Wednesday evening race.