Poohperstown yeah..

27 July, 2023 - Mikey Fry

Wow I’m wrecked as we lashed off down towards the bridge and boom into the forest up nice track onto road then threw new bike track onto poohperstown hill puff puff up the mountain warren struggling in front but got he’s gears back once we hit the top he moved on following the usual suspects Peter bring one Jerome and I passed each other out a few times but eventually got a bit ahead Enda flew past on his mountain bike turned at boots pushed on wrecked to be honest keep up something could see Jason in front so when we got to the downhill he looked back and saw me so I new he didn’t want me to pass him out so we flew down together lovely downhill hit the road then I heard someone behind me it was only flipping Tim not in race boom down beautiful forest section Jason still just in front finished in right behind him as the computer says 148 interesting into river for lovely dip back for amazing fun thanks so much Sean for an amazing race coke shower bed good day Leinster league:)))mikey out….

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27 July, 2023 - Warren Swords

Last race of the Leinster League and the lads in club vests have shown up. This throws a spanner in my plans (far-fetched) to replace a 15th spot finish with a 1 and claim 3rd place in the League.

The weather forecast meant this would be my first ever time doing a Leinster League race in the rain in my 13 years of doing the League. Surely not?

But it's IMRA Wednesday and the clouds miraculously part and we were in for a dry and warm race.

Once again, a very fast start to secure prime position through the first tree section. What felt like a nice incline during warm up is now burning the legs. I tuck into behind Jason and mentally put a "do not pass" sign on him as he's a very smart runner.

Onto the open mountain and the fast start is catching up with me along with the rest of the field. A few runners come past and Jason and the "do not pass sign" disappear into the distance. How I laughed bitterly.

Into the dreaded hike/shuffle, trying to roll myself up the hill but feeling like I'm going backwards. I can sense more runners queuing up behind me but strictly obey rule no.1 of IMRA racing, never look back. Turns out it was Peter O'Farrell and Mikey sensing blood.

The cairn appears and the heavy legs disappear as I find myself able to push the pace on the flat and downhill. Enda comes by after already making the turn. I manage to catch Jason and two others and decide to push on the last hill. At the turnaround I see I have a small gap and give it a bit of a welly. Gritted the teeth on the climb back up Trooperstown Hill and gain a place.

On to the descent and I throw caution to the wind in pursuit of the top 10. Near the scree, I overshot a turn and ended up careering wildly off the trail and ended up into the gorse on my back like a turtle.

Took a good line on the scree and managed to avoid putting on the brakes too much and the top 10 came into view. Brian Furey and Rian just ahead. Pushed hard to get into the forest first where I once again took the corner too fast and ended up on the ground again. Rian didn't hesitate and leapt over me. One last push in the forest and I get by Rian for a top 10 finish. Sweet.

Once again, a great Leinster League. It's incredible that 13 races can be put on across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains for €7 with results up by the time you get home that night. Such a privilege to be able to run every Wednesday in the hills.

Peter O'Farrell

27 July, 2023

An out and back race! The novelty. The fun. The counting of the runners coming back....now this went on a little longer than my delicate ego would prefer but heyho, let's see if we catch any of them.
Before the turnaround point there had been the climb up to the main peak, and by the top of that I had managed to shuffle horribly past Mikey Joyce Fry and had found myself on the shoulder of Warren. Weyhey. As a man who has been watching a bit of cycling lately I decided to be a cute hoor and sit on Warren's shoulder for the headwind section over to the turnaround. I may even have cackled and grinned to myself - much like a character from one of Turlough's missives. This plan lasted all of 38 seconds and then Warren ran away on me. This never happens on the TV. Hmmm. Maybe there isn't a drafting effect running, maybe Warren is much faster than me. Hmmm.
Onto the second hill and the counting begins, this goes on longer than I'd like after a big gap behind Enda and Cian. I turned just after Jason in his yellow singlet. As I had taken off my glasses in the mizzle I couldn't read the "do not pass" sign but believe me I became quickly aware of the policy!
I made my first attempt to pass and Jason sped up and launched himself into the gap.Fair enough. It's a race after all. A while later I try again but on coming runners assist the splayed elbows and once again I am thwarted. The third time his fancy footwork brought his entire body in front of me. All this very competitive instinct gave me time to study the back I was remaining behind. Much like myself, Jason favours the single glove. In my case one of my hands gets colder than the other but now I have a mild curiousity as to why Jason wears the one glove. Paul Mahon wears a buff on one hand but it appears to be welded there, much like a comfort blanket in case his head might ever get cold. Jason was already wearing headgear so probably not that.
Eventually the path widened sufficiently that not even the fully deployed elbows could fill them and I slipped past, still in the dark about the glove. Onto the next mini targets and one was very promisingly breaking rule 1 and looking back constantly. I caught up, passed a couple on the steep descent - also passing Karen Duggan with a mighty child running like a young gazelle. Into the new section and Turlough was in there - he looked to be merely sensibly minding an ankle but you never ever know with Turlough so I gave a polite hello and kept going.
Onto the finish, great craic falling down the single track trying to keep it upright and between the trees.
Thanks again and I nearly forgot to mention the charge of the light brigade at the start. Such speed! In hill runners. By hill runners!
And then the lovely dinner afterwards in the Turquoise Cafe, so a massive big thanks to all involved in a super evening and the food and the chats were amazing.