Day 2 - An RD Perspective

16 July, 2025 - Barry Murray

I wasn't in the race although I felt like I was !

The first race I ever organized was a triathlon in Dunmore East about 20yrs ago. I remember I didn't sleep a wink the night before. I'm a bit better these days but was still up at the crack of dawn, eyes wide open, lying in my tent on the morning of the race. Thankfully, we had most of the main logistical work done weeks in advance and I had Robbie Williams to bounce things off over . We also had a man on the ground who is born and bred out west of Dingle, Dáithí, so it was great to have the local knowledge and contacts.

We had already run the race last October with myself and Conor as RD's so the layout was already in place and groundwork was laid. Still, with the bigger numbers, extra transport, more marshals, hot weather, there was still plenty to think about.

Again Mr Reliable Nick had the van in place in Paul Geaneys courtyard and was helping to get everything set up. It was a beautiful morning, so warm it had a "foreign" feel, like you were at a race in France or Italy. With plenty of parking, spacious courtyard and toilet access , the registration process went smoothly. I took a gamble in booking an open top bus but it paid off with the weather and with an additional minibus, everyone was shipped off to the start line at the base of Mt Brandon. I jumped in the car and made the last few calls to the marshals to make sure they were in the right place. Arriving at Mt Brandon, everyone was just strolling up the the start line lapping up the sunshine. Luckily, there was a strong breeze which I am normally cursing in Kerry but on this particular occasion it was needed. I had my race briefing written out but decided to just keep it bullet point as I know from standing at start lines that I never really take them in ! So with just a few key reminders, I made a call to the time keeper and first aider Roisin back at the finish line, and set them off up Mt Brandon.

Got back in the car and headed back to the finish area. All quiet back there , with just myself and Roisin. That's the bit of relax time for an RD, marshals in place, runners all on the course, so its usually just a case of waiting for anyone to get lost or injured. That didn't last long as about an hour into the race and I get my first call that someone has injured themselves. Luckily another IMRA stalwart Martin Hennessey stopped and helped the injured party, Katie, who had hit her shin off a sharp rock and split her skin open which needed stitches. Dee O Gorman also attended her too and the compress bandage she had worked perfectly, not a drop of blood was coming from the wound. I got onto Nick, who was course Marshal and our mobile first aider, and he made his way over to meet Martin who was walking with Katie. Once we knew she could walk , we decided to just get her down off the mountain and I jumped in the car to pick her up at the pass. Just moments later, I get another call, and I'm told a runner has had a bad fall and possible broke his arm or hand. Thankfully this happened close to where I was picking Katie up and Nick was able to guide both of them down to meet me. I drove up from the Cloghane side of Mt Brandon and was able to get the car relatively close to where they were exiting the course. I hiked up to meet them and both injured parties were in fine form. The guy who fell was French (Damien), just over visiting a friend for a week, and his elbow had ballooned so looked like a possible fracture. Got the two of them into the car and Katie booked herself into the Southdoc. Damien had to get to Tralee general hospital for an x-ray so we just got him back to the finish area to wait for his friend to finish.

It was touching the 3hr mark by the time I got to see people finishing. Everyone unexpectedly looked a bit baked and fried. Thankfully we had plenty of ice, soda, shade and beers available ! Our marshals whatsapp group was used to just keep track of first and last runners. Our Mt Brandon summit marshal Fiona was able to go back down to the carpark after the last person came by her. She drove back to the finish area and took on finish timing, so fair play ! Gerard started the demarking and course sweeping until he got to the next main marshal post where Carol Finn was stationed with the water and first aid kit. From there, Nick took over and swept and demarked the course to Conors Pass where the marshals there give him a lift back down to the finish. All the course marshals were looking a bit baked too so it was almost just a tough day for them as it was for the competitors !

Great buzz at the finish area with plenty of people staying on to rehydrate. We waited for the last person to cross the finish line and then rounded up the marshals and packed everything away. I did the customary prize giving to the first 3 men and women who put in some strong performances.

With the balmy air and everyone in celebratory mode, it was into an air conditioned pub to watch the All Ireland semi final ! A great win for the Kingdom rounded off a great day and then it was one too many with the big crew of IMRA folk for the rest of the evening.

All the feedback was positive with everyone saying how it was like just looking at several postcards out on the course. The weather, although hot, made it. The campsite was ideal and just a short walk from the town so that was an added bonus. Will probably have to set a higher entry list figure next year. Thanks to all the volunteers, course marshals and those that helped me out along the way to put all the pieces together.

Bloody Brandon!

15 July, 2025 - Deirdre O Gorman

Brandon Ridge Half Marathon looked like my kind of race. Not one to meticulously plan a calendar of races, I usually just pick and choose what looks like fun; lots of climbs and open mountain = my kind of fun. The trip to Dingle would round off a few sun soaked days of running sections of the Kerry Way before packing up the gear and heading along the coast to set up camp again in Campail Teach an Aragail, just a few minutes drive from Dingle town.

The legs were pretty tired already as we signed in and hopped on the open top bus for the trip to the race start. A slow jog up the road got them moving a little better but they were still protesting quietly. It seems to be taking me longer and longer these days to settle in to races so I accepted it was going to be an uncomfortable first hour or so. The climb up Brandon was a pretty quiet affair; uphill starts usually are as everyone tried to get a handle on their breathing, with the odd nod or single-word greeting to familiar faces. With temperatures in the high twenties forecast, and nowhere to hide on the whole course, everyone was trying to avoid an early implosion! The breeze that picked up across the higher sections was a very welcome addition. As we neared the summit and veered down to the right, my quads feeling more like mush than muscle, I struggled to move at any flowing pace on the descent. The two Martins and Andy breezed passed me before the gradient eased and we were strung out along a single trail with lots of razor-like rocks jutting in all directions.

The rocks would take their first casualty when we came across a runner sitting on the side of the trail, holding her shin. Martin and Andy had reached her before me and Martin was already trying to stop the bleeding with a buff he was carrying but it was still pretty heavy. She told us her name was Katie as I pulled a VetRap bandage from my pack and started wrapping, with the buff as a compress. Years of bandaging horses has come in handy many times in the hills and I never venture out without a bandage or two in my pack; and these even withstand Galty bog-tried and tested!

Once Katie’s leg was wrapped, Martin guided her on a short cut to the ridge to meet Nick, who was the first aider out on course, while myself and Andy headed up the next climb, back on route. It was a bit of a struggle to get the legs going again; they thought they were done for the day. I knew a good few people had passed when we were stopped so I threw any plans of racing out the window and just enjoyed the views and chats along the way. The surrounding coast, ridges, lakes, everything was crystal clear and stunning!

Martin caught back up to me and we made our way across the hills towards the water station at the 8k mark, down a tricky descent with plenty of rocks, hidden holes and (as Martin discovered..) hidden trip wires! I heard a crash behind me and turned to see him spread eagled on the ground. He had caught a foot on a piece of barbed wire lying right across the trail. As he got to his feet I asked if he’d hurt anything…’just my shin…’ I was confused, I couldn’t see anything on his shin…maybe he was getting soft??

He straightened up and I saw the blood dripping freely on to his shirt…ah, his chin! Bar wrapping his whole head in what was left of the bandage, there wasn’t a whole pile I could do for this gash. Anyway, these Limerick lads are meant to be tough… ‘Do I still have all my teeth?’ he asked, pulling his mouth wide. ‘You do’. Grand so. After putting some rocks on top of the wire to try to prevent any further spills, we headed down to the water station where Martin washed his face and I refilled a bottle, before we headed up the next steep climb. I started to pull away slowly but did keep checking over my shoulder that he was still moving and not wandering around in circles. ‘Any headache?’…no….’Dizzy?’…no. He seemed to be moving well. Those Limerick lads must be tough. He would end up with four stitches that afternoon.

As we crossed the bog, I spotted Kristen up ahead. A marshal at one of the fence crossings then told me I was the fourth lady and pointed ‘third is just up there’….That was it. That competitive side that I had packed away nicely when we had stopped with Katie poked it’s head up. Like a bloody meerkat.

My legs were just starting to get going at this point (told you they took a long time!) so I thought I’d be able to close the gap. By this point we were nearing the road crossing at the Connor Pass, which I knew would then lead us down to the town. I passed Kristen not long before the road but, knowing how strong she is on the downhills, knew I’d have to push hard to stay away. Don’t look back.

The descent down from Connor Pass was a lovely, springy, grassy trail. There were a few boggy sections but they cooled the feet nicely. The heat was really tough now as the breeze had been left up on the mountains. Just as I approached the end of the trail I could see a female runner up ahead. Was I hallucinating or was that second place?? As I pulled alongside I glanced over but didn’t recognise her. She might be quick on the road, she was obviously quick on the hills…Only one thing for it. With a quick ‘hiya, well done’, I put the foot down. Don’t. Look. Back.

That road is bloody long. Dead straight, zero shade, it is downhill but the tarmac just hammers the already mangled legs. I think I passed two more guys but I’m not sure, all I wanted was to get out of this sun. I was like a woman possessed. Finally the big, colourful sign of Lidl came in to view; the finish line was just around the corner. Up the hill and into the car park to Roisin and Shane and their clipboard. Once I’d stopped running, the heat was actually worse but a few Coke’s with ice later, the sweat started to slow.

A few finish line chats, a trip out to Ventry for a swim, fish & chips and a few drinks with the usual gang rounded off an eventful but super enjoyable day. Big thanks to Barry and all the brilliant volunteers; roll on next year!

Brandon

15 July, 2025 - Andrew Coghlan

It was 25 years since I was last in Dingle and 1989 since I had spent a summer as a student in this wonderful part of the country so I was very excited to be heading down to summit Brandon for the very first time. It had been on my bucket list to summit here for a few years now, so with the sad demise of the Reeks weekend, the tent was packet to see what West Kerry had to offer. The first 4k of uphill hiking and running was a great way to get the heart rate going, surrounded by other similar focused individuals, with interspersed conversations and quiet reflections. The summit didn't seem to be getting closer, until it did, With a typical grassy top we rolled over the high point to see the ridgeline stretch ahead of us. Now, at this point, I should say, I do love a good technical decent, and with the grass dry, I couldn't but help myself and really have fun. I have been called lots of things as a mountain runner, but Martin Cooneys description of me (see below) and as 'Shit through a goose' is definitely a new one (and taken in the humour it was written). I was really enjoying myself on this one until just in front of me, I saw the first fall of the day. Initially, I thought 'She'll be up and on again quickly' but then realised that it was a bit more serious than that. Clutching her shin, I could see bright red blood seeping from a lovely split and I knew that this was where running became secondary. I was either the right man in the wrong place or the wrong man in the right place so I stopped and did what I could but being quickly joined by Deirdre and Martin ( who both had much better first aid kit than me) we fixed Kate up to allow her to walk her way out of the hills. Deirderes horse bandage over Martins buff was the business and did a right good job in turning Kate into a walking wounded. In fairness, everybody that passed us over the next few minutes stopped to ask if they could help, if we needed anything. In the few years that I have been mountain running, this was the first time that I saw an injury that would require a DNF and a few stitches. Line Deirdre, the lactic acid had built up in my quads and it took a while for the legs to stop protesting. The next few Kms were spent moving as best as I could and not really getting the opportunity to enjoy the views, I moved through the hills, following the flags. Like a few others, I too found a bit of loose sheep wire and received 3.0 for my full dive from the invisible judges. Fortunately, I landed in some good Kerry bog and was unhurt. By the time I passed the water stop and faced 'that' climb, I was really feeling my earlier exertions and struggled uphill, using the sheep wire as an aid to ascend. The top bog became a drag and it was this point that Deirdre passed me, like I wasn't there, mentioned something about Martin and a fall. I cheered her on, knowing that I had no hope of staying in touch and focused on my own race. I could see The Connor pass coming closer, and my cheering better half, forever clapping gave me a lift (figuratively, not actually - that's illegal while racing). Through the pass and up the hill, 'Turn right here' the marshall said. I was delighted as I thought there was more climbing. Woohoo, another (somewhat) technical downhill allowed me to make some ground. But that was short-lived as soon I hit gravel and then tarmac. I hate tarmac. My legs turn to jelly and it's such a drag. Maybe I was regretting my earlier speed descents ??? Nah, never! Anyway, I just had to tough it out, awful stuff. Eventually, after what seemed like an age, I saw Lidl and then the finish line. Delighted to end, a handful of ice cubes under my hat ( that's as close as I will ever get to Western States) and a cola, crisps and sambos. Only at this point did I see Martin Hennessey and his modern artwork of a shirt and his new double chin(ouch!). Now I knew what Deirdre said when she passed me. A few chats, a pint and a satisfied boy was sitting in the Kingdom. Great day out. And glad to see Kate made it back to the finish, not too much the worse for her fall, but stitches to follow. Congrats to Ellen on returning to racing too! Can't wait for next year

Brandon Ridge Half-Marathon… Hot Day Out There!

14 July, 2025 - Martin Cooney

By Martin Cooney

Another Butch & Sundance adventure began as Frankie & I met at 7am at our usual meet spot. A blissful sunny day; not a cloud in the sky nor an a**hole on the road all the way to Dingle. Mind you there were a few Sunday drivers just starting out as we passed through Camp- the sort of drivers that make a Tibetan Monk scream in anger. We parked up in the Dingle Mart carpark; where we met Kevin Lenihan, Mairead O’Keeffe and Martin Hennessy but to mention a few. We got changed into our running gear, went up to check-in for the race and collect a class T-Shirt to mark our entry for the race. We met the a lot of familiar runners like the West Cork trio of Sean, Micheal & Henry as well as some county Clare lads like Damian Landy, Gearoid Cleary and Seamus O’Grady. The day was already hot at only 10am and due to get hotter. Then onto the bus we got to bring us to the start at Baile Breac carpark at the western side of Mt. Brandon. The bus dropped us off and 1.5km walk into the beginning was a good enough warm-up for most. Once at the start line, Barry Murray (RD) gave us an overview of the course including the fact that there was an 800m ascent over the first 4km; before he set a large crowd of runners off like a flock of sheep let off to graze the open mountain.

I was about halfway back in the crowd as we took off. The pace was slow and steady going on up the rocky road before it opened out into the short grass section. Nobody was doing a Usain Bolt on it as it was too steep, too warm and going to be too far on a day like today. I trotted on up with Sundance (Frankie) doing his thing and leaving only his dust in front of me. I was with Micheal, Sean and Kevin at the start but I inched away in front of them after about 1km so had no-one really to chat to for a while. At about 2km, Dee O’Gorman popped up beside me and we both commented on how beautiful the scenery it was. At this stage, I was hiking rather than jogging. I looked at my watch to see my heart rate. I made a decision that once my heart rate hit a certain number, I would go back to hiking rather than try to waste energy running. I also set myself a goal of staying with Dee as much as I could as she is such a steady runner; really good at uphill and flats and not too shabby on the downhills also! It was tough going to stay with her but the terrain flattened as we curved to the right around the mountain but still gaining elevation. We slowly gain ground to Martin Hennessy and just as we reached the summit where we are directed right, we catch Martin and “Sundance Frankie”.

Off we all went in a south easterly direction down a steep, dry, defined path which had a pickling of rocks and grass amongst it. I descended well and pulled away from the group slightly before being passed by some guy who was either high on life or high on something else. I wonder if he realized it was a Half-Marathon cos he was gone like s**t through a goose! We were on this descending track for about 2km before it started to rise again. As it rose, I seen a runner had stopped. She was getting assistance from “s**t through a goose” guy. I asked them if they needed help. She seemed to have a bad enough cut. Just then Martin and Dee came along, both having more first-aid equipment than I had. I spotted a marshal and trotted up to let him know to contact base regarding this, which already had been transmitted. On I went as the situation seemed to be in control. Just after passing the marshal, I hit a wall of elevation which takes you up along the Brandon Peak ridge with some of the most amazing views you will ever see in your life. It had been a few years since I have been up here so I had forgotten just how much in awe you are of the views on a clear day- spectacular to say the very least! There is a wall of elevation in front of me- 180m over the next 800 metre in distance. I break back to hiking but absolutely everybody around me is hiking. It is too energy sapping to try to jog up this. I catch up with a few runners as we come over the summit of Brandon Peak to a flat, then very narrow area onto the summit of An Gearan. There is a drop to my left of over 500 metres so you don’t want to lose your footing on this part as it will probably be your last time doing it. I glance back after crossing the narrow path to see if I can see Micheal, Frankie, Dee or Martin but not in my sights at this point. I am starting to doubt myself a bit and think that I may be going too fast as never ahead of these runners at this stage. However; I am feeling okay in this heat and my heart rate is where I am hoping it will be.

Just as I leave the summit of An Gearan, I meet First-Aid Officer for the day, Nick Hogan who is making his way back to attend to the female runner who had the bad cut. I explained how far back she was before Nick told me to hop the fence, keep it to my right and follow it all the way to the saddle, where I would meet another marshal. Off I went down the marshy, soft, peaty ground which was spongy underfoot. The ground flattened for a while before getting steep again as the wire started to veer us left. As I followed this, I passed a female runner as I tip-toed over the rocks on this narrow, cambered path, which turned a sharp right before taking us over to the saddle. The saddle sits at about 400 metres above sea-level. I meet Carol Finn and another volunteer and decide to take on some water here rather than at the next water station at the Connor Pass. It is hot here with no real breeze at this location due to the hills all around. I am hoping that this may suffice to get me all the way to the finish but I most definitely need to have enough to get to the next water refill. I am passed by a few runners including the female runner which I had just passed while I am stopped. So I take off in pursuit knowing that there is a horrible climb in front of us all. Over the next kilometre, there is another 200 metres of ascent on soft peat ground, which I know will drain the legs on the best runner. It takes 17 minutes for this one kilometre, so a slow slog indeed up to the summit of An Scraig. My legs are drained as I try to break back into a slow run. The grass is reasonably long from here but it may help as we descend. Initially it starts as a gentle descent as we head east before getting steeper as it bring you down to the saddle before the summit of An Bhinn Dubh. I catch up with a runner and we both comment that it is a hot, tough day. I look back and can see 2 runners motoring well, whom I believe to be Kirsten O’Sullivan and Dee O’Gorman. As we pass another runner on the ascent up An Bhinn Dubh who is walking, we give him some encouragement. He responds in what I think was a South African accent- “I’m done man, toasted, cooked!” We pull away from him and just after the summit, then I pull away from the other runner. I can see the female runner in front of me and as I am almost at the Connor Pass, I can see that she has started her descent towards Dingle.

As I pass through the Connor Pass carpark, I am offered water but I decline as I had enough with me I think. I cross the road, up a boreen path for about 100 metres and am turned right by a marshal. I pause for a moment and take a breath. I look back at the carpark and can see the white top & baseball cap of Dee. She is absolutely flying it. I start my descent on what was an old bog road which is now covered in rushes and wet and squelchy underfoot. My first goal is to stay upright, second is to catch the female runner in front of me and third longer term goal is to stay ahead of Dee. I start running and am enjoying it as I am finding some grip on the rushes… Like the Bull McCabe in the film The Field I can hear his voice roaring at me “C’mon Tadgh, Hup Tadgh, Faster Tadgh!” I respond to him in my head- “I will Bull; I will but my name's not fe*kin Tadgh!”

Within half a kilometre, I have passed the female runner. I glance at my watch and if I can believe it, I am doing almost 15km/h so I am not slouching. I do not look back as I can only look after myself at this stage so on I go descending this less steep terrain at a great pace. I am definitely catching runners in front of me. As I cross a little bridge, Mick Hanney has stopped to take photos (thanks for them Mick) and hit an old overgrown tarmacadam road. It is tarmac road from here to the finish with a hill in between so I just try to run well. Through a couple of swivel gates and slowly up the hill. I can’t help but glance back and can see Dee is on the tarmac too but I reckon I have a lead of about three minutes with 3km to go. As I go over the hill, the rooftops of Dingle can be seen for the first time. I pass through a junction where a marshal shouts encouragement to me. I can see two runners with blue tops ahead. It isn’t long before I pass one of them as I complete kilometre nineteen in sub 4-minute. The road flattens as I meet the first houses of Dingle with one kilometre to go. I am gaining on the next blue top runner, who looks back and gives a wave. It turns out to be fellow Clareman, Damian Landy. He is too far ahead to catch but I try to keep my distance to him. Down to the traffic lights, directed right up the hill and finish the race as I hit the courtyard of Paul Geaney’s Pub.

I struggle to breathe for a few minutes while the stifling heat was almost unbearable. Now I could give you a BS story that I went straight into the pub, drank 17 pints and was seen doing a Hula dance in Dick Mac’s later that night but well, it would be lies! What actually happened was I had a glass of water, followed by a coke with some lovely sambos and waited for all the other sufferers to arrive back. A great day out but I tell you one thing, everyone will remember this race!
“Sundance Frankie” arrived in a good bit after me (which rarely happens), depleted of all energy and wanting nothing but creamy pints even though he had to drive us home. One poor crather had heat-stroke, while another spent the last half of the race getting sick at scheduled intervals. Sean O’Leonaird was so goosed after the race that he hadn’t even a smart comment to give so you know then it was a tough day.

Thanks to Barry Murray as RD, the volunteers on the day for making this happen so that the rest of us could run the fantastic race. Unbelievable course with great views on a roasting hot day. Thanks to Paul Geaney's Pub for letting us use their facilites and providing food.

Congrats to Henry Browne on a great win- not sure who won the female section as report completed before the results! I will update once I know.
Congratulations to everyone who ran the race on this hot day, you must all be as silly as me… but we’ll have the memories.