Shut Up Legs

26 August, 2021 - Warren Swords

When this race came up, it clashed with UTMB's CCC in my race calendar. The CCC is 100km long with 6100 metres of climbing and starts on Friday. A walk in the park in other words.

The big secret about the UTMB races is that they're actually hiking events with walking poles and sun visors etc ;).

So since I'm running reasonably well this year, I decided to stick to running events and opted for the more challenging Downshill Uphill Mile.

A beast of a course that is 1609 metres long with a gravity defying 127 metres of climbing. Sure, 1.6km looks short on paper but as anyone who runs on a track knows, four laps can feel like a lifetime at full pelt.

Looking at the course, I felt a sub 7 minute mile was possible. James Cahill sent us on our way after an extremely long countdown starting at 10 seconds.

My plan was to run as hard until the first zig which marked 800 metres and then hang on for dear life for the second half.

The pace was high from the start with young Rian MacMaolain leading the charge along with Barry. The trouble with a mile race, you can't really sit in and wait to see who is feeling strong on the day or who is struggling on the climbs or the downhill.

You have to back yourself really from the start and pick a pace that you think you can sustain.

Wait too long and you miss the train. So I chased after Barry who was now leading with Darragh, passing Rian who looked to have gone off too quick.

The halfway mark took a long time to arrive and I was breathing a bit too hard. Rian passed me followed by another runner to leave me in 5th. At this stage, 900 metres in, I wanted to walk and felt I was going backwards.

But as the Americans say, I could smell the barn. Surely I could hang on for another lap and a half.

Channelling the German cyclist Jens Voigt, I told myself “shut up legs” and pushed on.

I moved back in to fourth and now had Rian in my sights. Taking the last zag, I knew there was just 400 metres left. Rian started to slow and I seized the opportunity. I kicked hard with 200 metres to go and passed Rian.

I could see the finish line rise up from the crest of the hill along with a spot on the podium.

But what was this? Rian came back at me with a more decisive kick and it was game over in terms of podium ambitions, finishing 4th with burning lungs and legs.

Loved this race. Really changes the dynamics of Wednesday IMRA race. There’s no time for sitting in, it’s hard from the start. There’s no hiding, any overtaking needs to be decisive.

You’re racing yourself as much as anyone else, ignoring the voice in your head saying “for **** sake, why are you doing this to your body.” But then comes that sweet release of endorphins, the high of the race, and the promise of a cold beer in the pub.

Well done to everyone, to Barry who was only runner to go sub 7 and Grace taking her second win a row.

Thanks to Andrew for putting on such a great event and all the volunteers. The Grove pub is a great spot for beers too. I'll be back there soon, without the burning lungs

Running Up That Hill

26 August, 2021 - Barry Minnock

This outing wasn't on my race calendar, primarily as I training for my 100k debut which was last Saturday. I hadn't given myself any hope of recovering on time. Seems I'm not quite ready for 100k as I pulled the plug after 60k due to onset of cramp. Disappointment from Sat did unlock the hope of recovering for this one. Thanks to a bit of sales pitch from Peter O'Farrell, I decided to enter and see how it went - at least I was confident in finishing this one even if I had to walk :)

I had a clear strategy, minimise any effort in warm-up, a few strides pre-race to prepare the heart for the shock ahead, conservative start, build pace slowly, and kick for finish on last bend. I was expecting a super aggressive start, particularly watching young Rian warming up. I anticipated to be off the pace after 500m, but actually found myself in among the leading few so confidence was building. From there I upped the pace and built a wee lead by 1k. I could then hear the footsteps of Darragh catching and we ran together between the bends. On the last bend I knew it was time to kick for home and thankfully managed to gap my old club mate.

Really enjoyable race, so thank you Andrew & Co for organising. Well done to Grace also, who demonstrated the benefits of a track (& high-jump) background for this event. As others have mentioned, I do hope this becomes an annual event - it would tie in well with end of year social with loads of chats on the warm-up/down and a great pub at the finish. Wee plate for the winners was a particularly nice touch.

Uphill Battle

26 August, 2021 - John O'Brien

The term “novelty race” had been used by one eager athlete in the warm up, but the novelty factor wasn’t long wearing off this particular IMRA event once we were sent on our way by assistant race director James.

The clear skies and slight autumn chill made for perfect running conditions.
I was confident I could at least out run the flies that were bugging everyone at the start line where another athlete observed that this IMRA race had a longer distance from registration to starting line than the actual race distance itself.

Everyone knew it was going to be tough, but the knowledge that it was also going to be short was keeping spirits buoyant at the starting line.

Once we got going it was clear there was only one way to play this. Go as hard as I could from the off and try to maintain it for as long as possible.
The front runners quickly powered ahead in front of me serving as a timely reminder I was only racing myself and it was time to get to work and grind it out.

The legs were screaming and the lungs were burning almost from the off. Local knowledge and experience was counting for precious little as I worked my way around the course.

I rounded the first bend and sucked in as much oxygen as possible on the slight dip before we started to ascend again. Keep going, keep going. Bryan Purcell was just in sight, but was at least 20 secs ahead at this stage, and the best I could hope for was to keep him in sight and not get overtaken myself.

Finally the summit came into view. That provided an extra bit of energy and I kicked for home, all the while trying to look like I wasn’t in urgent need of medical attention.

With burning throats and lungs we composed ourselves and jogged back down to the Grove for delicious pints, sandwiches and post race chats.

Excellent event. Thanks a mil to Andy and his crew for doing such a great job in organising.