Rollercoaster

13 August, 2023 - Andy Keeling

Got on the road early and headed north up the M1. Then realised my maps on my phone wasn't working and i hadn't a clue how to get to the race start past the turn off at Newry. Pulled into the services to try and see if I could figure it out. Luckily once inside i spot Liam and Clare who are also heading up. I'll follow them. I gatecrash their applegreen breakfast and we get down to talking lines try to gather our memories from previous 77's races. We get on the road again. I follow closely behind their van through the showers and sun. We pass roadside warning signs telling us to "prepare to meet our maker" and to repent and the like. Gulp. Eventually the showers part and we arrive in Newcastle. We make our way into the reg station. Gear gets checked, dibbers and numbers issued then into our gear and the race begins. Donard from sea level makes for a tough start. We clamber up the falls at the ice house and onto the open heather. And up to the wall corner. Normally a descent after a massive climb offers some sort of a breather but not here. Not in the Mournes. Steep steep steep. Its like some giant gave wicklow a big bearhug and squashed everything within down to a quarter the area. Mountains concertina-ing and becoming more pointy in the process. I almost fall many times loosing heel grip on the way down Donard. Back up again on the rollercoaster and across to Commedagh and into the wall. Some early heroic overtakings by other racers on the initial climb are starting to take their toll. I see them start to flag. I gain places on the ups and downs to Lamegan. Without thinking i head straight off down the direct rocky descent here. I had planned on opting for the nicer longer grassy route towards the reservoir but too late, im in the rocks now. Down to the col and out towards Binian. Its a long way to Binian. it's hard to know now who is passing who here. Lots of route choice. Lots of hikers. Lots of mist. The out and back offers a chance to see just how fast the race leaders are going. Wowsers, can they keep that pace up for 30k on these hills? Turns out they can. Back down towards the col i cut the corner slightly and down to the dam. I empty my bottle of carbs and salts into me and grab my drop bottle on the dam. Off towards Meelbeg. Sloppy. Not much running to be done here. I keep up a solid march in and out of soft wet hags. Trying to embody Daniel Day Lewis' "Bill the Butcher" from gangs of New York. An angry determined march into streetfight battle. It's as fast as i can hope to travel across the squidge. At Meelbeg i pass a few more early heroes who's balloons have popped. I try keep things steady and ration food and drink so it hopefully doesn't happen me. Meelmore, over the wall and down the tough descent. I remember a nice line from two years ago here which takes me to the foot of Bearnagh. Grizzly Bearnagh. So steep they gave up building the wall for a bit at the base. Deemed so steep no sheep could ever scramble through that gap. When the wall starts up again I handrail it and dig in to the last peak. Some very encouraging tented spectators lift my spirits as I start out down the Brandy pad home. I look at my watch and realise, although the peaks are done, i still have a fair distance to go. Nuckling down and passing a few runners here i make my way to the col that marks the start of the final descent back down to sea level. Here I remember that I have a cheeky little gel in my pocket. Never usually gel. This was a freebie i got at the Dublin marathon last year. Been hanging around like a creep since then waiting to fulfil its destiny. That is open my eyes and wake me up for the last drop. Loads of near misses here as i clip rocks and cause walkers to gasp. Surely he'll faceplant. I just about save each trip and keep on skipping along the long stone flatley glen riverdance to the forest. Down down down to the very welcome arrow marking the turn towards the finish. I thump down the tarmac and over the finish and in to dib my final dib. Phew. Handed a lovely commemorative sew on patch. I've two now. What a race. I'd recommend highly. Get up that road to the mournes. They're not that far. Sure you can see them from Wicklow on a good day. Some great running up there.