Carrauntoohil Mountain Race

22 July, 2024 - Martin Cooney

Carrauntoohil Mountain Race (Galtymore On Steroids!)
By Martin Cooney

It was a lovely dry day with very little traffic on the roads on my way to Cronin’s Yard so I made great time to get down. I was greeted with a big smile from John Cronin himself as I came through the barrier. I parked up and got my bag together for the race. Brendan Collins pulled in beside me with his clan. We exchanged words about the new course before he headed up to check in. I went up to check in and was greeted by some smiling faces in the form of Joan Ryan, Aileen Field, Michael McSweeney and or course Julie and Brian Byrne. As I checked in, I found out that we needed more or less the full race-kit so headed back to the car to re-pack, sun-screened up and back to the start.

Gear check about to take place; I open up my bag. “Oh Sh*t”, where’s my jacket? I rush back to the car so my lack of warm-up now has done a 180 degree and I am now sweating profusely trying to get back to the start on time. All the “big guns” were up the front getting ready to bolt off. So I trudge towards the back of the group as that is where the “pop gun toys” belong!

Robbie Williams gives us a general description of the route and what to expect on it & then away we go. I took off at a slower pace than normal knowing that it was going to be a long day out. The field of runners stretched out pretty fast & by the first bridge, it had split into two groups. I happened to be at the front of the second group as we headed onto the soft, peaty ground. It was fine at the start but after five minutes, my legs were sapped from the heavy ground. Back to a power-hiking pace and trot when it was possible. The gradient slowly became steeper until there was now rocks to contend with as we trudged up the right side of the slope following the markers onto “The Bone”. There were 4-5 people around me but the hiking on a sloped hill was tough on the ankles. Finally got to the proper rocky section & some scrambling was required. All four limbs working together now to keep momentum going. I passed Mairead O’Keeffe who had completed the Skyline the day before. She told me there would be water there on the way down. Ten minutes later as I reached the summit, Dee O’Gorman passes me like I am stopped just as I said hello to another volunteer, Martin Hennessy.

“You’ll enjoy the next part” said Martin. I tried to acknowledge but was completely out of breath. Off I took on a gentle downhill with Dee about 20 metres in front of me. I couldn’t catch her at all but we hit an uphill so I was able to keep momentum going. I catch up and pass Dee just as we went over the top of Cnoc an Chuillinn. I moved very well down along this descent and keep a trot going as I went up to the top of Cnoc na Toinne, where the top of the zig-zags are. Across the top of this and down the soft peat towards the top of the Devil’s Ladder. I could see a guy with a yellow top on & it looked like Jimmy McIntyre. I thought I must be doing alright if he is still within my sights. I am careful not to stride out too much as I still have to go back up all that I have come down so far as well as still having to ascend to the summit of Carrauntoohil. Just then, the leader of the race flying by me in the opposite direction- big, smiley head on him; high on life or drugs or something!

I start my ascent of Carrauntoohil as I break out my second energy gel hoping it will help get me to the top. A slow hike keeps my legs going but it is energy sapping. More runners come down against me so I know that at least in 20 minutes or so, I should be doing similar myself. As I finally can see the cross, I come across the King of Carrauntoohil; John Lenihan who is walking down the hill with a group of hikers. 19 times a winner of the race (I think), I don’t think there can be any doubt that he is the best there has been on this majestic mountain in running terms! I stop to greet him, shake his hand and exchange a couple of words. I move on & just as I do, Dee passes me again. I get to the summit, take a drink of Coke off Eoin McMahon as other runners touch the cross and start their descent.
I start moving again, only to find that I am struggling to keep up with the runners who have passed me. A decent descent brings me back to the top of the Devils Ladder where Alan Ayling gives me some water. Back up the hill towards Cnoc na Toinne which seemed to take forever. I met another volunteer, Damian McDonnell (with Nick Hogan) who give me more water, which I am most grateful for. Down a gentle descent at a reasonable pace, I try to take in the views as a gentle breeze hits my sweaty face. As I finally start to make my way up Cnoc an Chuillinn in all its steepness, I can see Jimmy Mc in front of me. I have Jason and Brendan Collins as well as Liam Kenny for company. They seem to be way stronger than me at this point. The ascent seems to take every last ounce of effort out of me but thankfully I made it to the top. Down a gentle slope & back up one last gentle up onto the eastern summit. Martin Hennessy greets me once more as I start to make my final descent down “The Bone”. I move along nicely but am joined by a runner I am not familiar with. I catch up to Jimmy Mc and ask if he is okay. He says, “Legs are like jelly buddy, keep going- I’m grand”. He looks okay so I follow his instructions but am still closely followed by unknown runner. I can’t shake him off & stop for a bit of water from Mairead O’Keeffe. I lose about 10 seconds but the hydration is needed to see me home. I catch up to unknown runner & together we pursue & catch Jason & Brendan Collins. We are like 4 lemmings going down the rocky slope, one behind the other. Jason C then stops as if he is shot- “Cramp” followed by some expletives which I cannot print due to censorship issues! He is handed jellies as we all keep going; now 4 have become 3!

We finally come to the end of the really rocky section and are now on soft peat. I follow Brendan Collins over the brow of the hill and am still being followed by unknown runner who is hovering around me like a fly on cow-s*ite. I am unable to shake him off. The ground has some rock in it so trying to survey the ground 10 metres in front while also still watching my footing. Liam Kenny lost ground as he went down the side of the hill but has made up ground and is right with me. I have opened up my stride knowing that we have less than 2km to the finish. The soft peat is lovely to run on but there isn’t much of a path. Liam strides ahead of me just as we are coming off the peat & onto the rocky path back to Cronin’s Yard. He catches Brendan Collins just as they go over the green, metal bridge. I push one last time up the slope and seem to be catching Brendan. I join him as we are together stride for stride. We exchange some pleasantries before he tells me to keep going. His legs are gone but he reckons I can catch Liam. So I go for it. I am striding out away from Brendan. I am catching Liam. “I’ve got him”, “I’ve got him”; “Nope!” … Not even close, Liam turns on the turbos or whatever he had and is gone. The turns coming was like a car rally- “left 90, right 90, right 80, left 90, over the concrete bridge, left 180° and go, go!” I run the last 20 metres to the IMRA tent, give some sort of wave of acknowledgement to the people taking my number, then collapse on the ground trying to get some oxygen into me.

What a tough course- the Galtymore race on steroids! A great day out on the highest slopes in Ireland, followed by some lovely goodies & chats. Many Thanks to all the volunteers who gave up their weekend for this festival of running (5 races in 3 days); to our leader Robbie Williams for organizing, to Cronin’s Yard for having the best Apple Tart with cream in Ireland (while also looking after our cars and providing showers). Finally; to anyone who reads this, thanks for taking the time to listen to my suffering!