Brockagh Burst 2022

05 February, 2022 - Barry McEvoy

What goes through your mind during a race? This is roughly what went through mine at Brockagh Blast last week.

It’s a clear day and a fresh one, a cold wind gusts slightly, right now we are down low, sheltered from a little further up and I try not to think of that. I’ve done my usual jog warm up and a few strides and pretend I know what I’m doing, let on I have a routine I follow with religious devotion. I don’t. After 3k on my own I meet my girlfriend Aoife and brother Niall for another 2k and another few strides. I wonder what I should be doing to warm up properly? I swing my leg to the side. I’m wearing the same shorts I have worn to every IMRA race and I guess that’s my tradition until they make shorts with Carbon fibre plates in them!

Suddenly there’s people everywhere, milling, chatting and smiling, a nervous good energy in the air. Hikers walk by and look in, half wishing to be part of it all I’d guess. I wish my crew good luck with a kiss and a knuckle bump – run your best is my only advice at this late stage. I join the front of the pack. I see a few faces I recognise – Peter Bell laughing, he’s always smiling, I nod, he nods. I close my eyes for a minute and ask the mountain to look after me, I picture myself roaming around these hilltops many moons ago in a different time, I feel like I am meant to be here, I open my eyes and Brian McGuckin gives us the off and off goes my head.

‘This is a joke this pace, a horrible pace, way too fast, sure you’re the one setting it, slow down a bit – NO, why are you breathing so loud, my legs are like cavity blocks, the stupid warm up again, who’s that beside me? don’t look just stay going, Jesus this seems fast, ya may go now, who is that? I thought I was fit-why am I breathing like this, your man is going to think I’m bet already, you underestimated this first kilometre of climbing, it’s not that gradual at all, no I was going to go fast either way, this chap is flying, it’s too fast, shut up! I can’t even hear him breathing, that’s Enda, alright…. come on, this is going to be brutal, god I hate when the watch goes to the elevation screen when I want to know what pace I’m going, is their anyway to stop that? forget that get into a rhythm and stop breathing like that, that’s close to the k there anyways, I’m fading here, just turn the corner and swing the arms a bit and stay in with him.’

Enda and I run side by side up to the turn where he pulls a little ahead. It’s quite a clash of styles. While I run erratic, swerving from one side of fire road to the other, breathing very hard and laboured almost, tip toeing then striding and appearing all over the place - Enda continues relentless up the left-hand side, strong and powerful like a juggernaut, silent and methodical in his ability to move upward.

‘why am I swerving sides, wasting energy, what’s the pace – forget it! the grass lovely, these talons will make it smooth, I am light, I am fast, I am strong, stick with him, grassy bank now work, he’s walking a little, is that him breathing? keep going, just tip by, he’s back running, just tip by and tip up, what’s the time, don’t look I’m warning you, is he still there? of course he is you just went by him, nice day to be alive all the same, when you get to that rock don’t stop just increase the effort till the little downhill and breathe then, he’s back right behind, of course he is, he’s strong, he’s determined, so am I, stride up there, keep your form, it’s just pain, Jesus Christ the wind, I’m going backwards, he’s feeling it too, maybe he’s not, maybe he is, what’s it matter, you’ll find out, this climb to the summit is longer than I thought, the wind - I’m choking, turn away from it, spit, I can’t, take of your hat before it blows away, this is madness, you made it up first, not bad, turn at the marshal, thanks a million Marshal, I’m not moving, you are it’s the wind, it will be alright once ya turn down the bottom, okay just float down here see what happens, turn at those orange things, your not going to break your ankle, don’t think about breaking my ankle, you might break it on the downhill, go away. Zippy Pace, you are moving now boy, this is quick for this, he’s coming okay go faster, that’s too fast, he’s still coming, well let him go by and chase him, he’s kicking on, I’m wrecked, wonder where Niall and Aoife are, forget them for now, focus, don’t crash into anyone, Well Aoife/Keep going/windy, what’s the gap? 30m, watch them rocks, careful, these runners are useless on rock, now down this is the easy bit, I won’t catch him I’m too tired, so is he, is it 50m now, hang in see what happens, lean forward hard and take a risk ya have to, this is class, wheeee, your foot will find the place, no if I go over on this again, don’t think like that, second place wont be too bad, Enda is top class, it will be a close second as well, look at the watch, don’t start, that can’t be right can it, the record is going to go here today, both of us will beat it, sure do you want it? Doesn’t bother me, lies, go get it, you’re here now, why not. Adelante, the gaps closing I think, what will you do at the gate, it’ll just happen you’ll tip toe through naturally, 20m max now, he’s feeling it, you can win this, all out now, inject on the flat bit and take the corner sharp’.

A few corners from the end I catch Enda and slip by on the inside. He looks at me and says ‘well done or good running or good race’ Something like that. We went all out and we both knew it and at that stage it didn’t really matter who won, it was a great race. I finished a book recently by Sebastian Barry ‘Days without End’ and there’s a passage that was going through my head after it.

‘There’s no soldier don’t have a queer little spot in his wretched heart for his enemy, that’s just a fact. Maybe only on account of him being alive in the same place at the same time’.

‘Go, go, go. Strong, fast, I’m dying, strong, fast. Where’s the end? Yes! Thank god! I am going to murder a chippers tonight…… Oh Crap did I leave the oven on (I didn’t really think that)!’.

After the race I’m happy with the performance and the battle, I look forward to the next one and I’ve no doubt he will return the favour. People are saying well done and things and I want to get out of there back up the finishing fire roads to see Nialla and Aoife come in. I tell every runner what I think they want to hear, 2 bends all downhill, push on now nearly there, I tell those at the head of battles to hold on and keep going and the chasers to go one more time and catch them. Some runners smile, some don’t see me, some say thanks, some kick, others cling, it’s all the finishes right there. Its nice to support people and easy to do when you’ve won, I wonder had I lost would I be so merry jaunting up the hill, hmmm.

First cup of coffee after a race – inside and an innocent community hall noise fills the place. People are content here, maybe they might not be later on or during the week but for now in the hall having a biscuit and Tay and a raffle and its like were back in the good old days, good old simple times. I’d nearly hitchhike home if I didn’t have the car. Thanks to Brian and the crew for a great event. The Portlaoise City Running Crew thoroughly enjoyed it.

Worth noting, I am pretty sure from looking at my own stats and plenty of others on Strava that the course was 200m short compared to other years, so maybe the winning time might have been closer to 25 mins as opposed to 24 minutes had it been the full 6km – for future reference. Sin e.