Mighty fun!

24 April, 2023 - Peter O'Farrell

Another fine race in the heart of Wicklow, this week with a staggered start for all and presumably a staggering finish for some.3 teams took to the start line and so a race was on. There was also a solo race happening in tandem with our relay event and as become the norm in recent years, this was the more popular option with 28 entrants.
With positive ageing to the fore the team of 4, with a combined age of many, had a start time of 08:35hrs. With positive discrimination the Orla half of our team ensured a 09:20hrs start and the other team of 2 with neither age or women had to wait till 09:40hrs for the off. All this 08:35hrs and 09:20hrs and even 09:40hrs occured before I even left the house, thanks to Jarlath and Dave for car-pooling Orla to the start and leaving me a leisurely morning of coffee and dot watching on the trackers. Eventually I dragged myself away from the following of the dots and headed down to Glenmalure to meet Orla.My good luck continued as the very worst of the weather fell all over the 3 Lakes area of the course, happily for me Orla was out there. By the time it was my turn for leg 3 the rain had gone away and the clouds had lifted. Some excitement had passed through the end of leg 2 checkpoint in the form of the solo runners and I was looking forward to catching and passing the poor lads. There's something very enjoyable about chasing down lads and ladies who are normally the same or faster than me and so I passed a few along here. With the good weather and my recent recce of leg 3 I hit both lakes like someone who can actually navigate - thanks to Paul Mahon for the tip to hold height and come into the second lake with minimal height to gain. I wasn't fooled though by my good luck with the nav and offered up silent thanks that I didn't mess it up this time. I then went crashing through the forest with great gusto and by more chance than design hit the fireroad exactly where I wanted, just above that horrible felled area. Ran around the fireroad to the checkpoint, said hello and thanks to Hilary, said hello to Orla and the boys and deployed my secret weapon for the day - bouncy cushioned road runners. My simple plan was to run the fireroads all the way along leg 4 and not be tempted by any shortcuts and bouncy runners were the job for that. As were the non cushioned super grippy hill shoes for leg 3. So that all went well, had a bit of a chat with Paul on Mullacor and then dropped into the finish, to meet John this time and then Orla and the boys. Great day out finished off with a super dinner in The Wicklow Heather.
Chapeau to all the soloists and most especially John, Lillian, Fin, Daniela & Eoin (+2 patient youngsters), Tom, Stephen and Hillary. And a special Thanks to Orla for minding her 3 boys and doing the hardest leg of the day.