Howth but not as we know it

03 February, 2025 - Mick Hanney

A windy day it was when we arrived at the Summit car park. The calm weather from my drive up from south Wicklow was left behind.

Before this race I had ran 11 iterations of Howth summer and winter races but never before had I been on the trails served up to us on Saturday. This route was a treat.

For the 2nd week in a row I realised I didn’t have the right runners for the job at hand, this would become more apparent after my warm up which only covered a bit of the course.

First of all we had views of the sea. We would have a favourable wind on the start and finish sections but the bits in between would be wind facing. Is drafting allowed in an IMRA race?

Congrats and thanks to Jody who received his special IMRA volunteer t-shirt at the start.

Fast start, splashing through pools and over rocky bits past the EIRE No.6. Then a bit of cross country mud, where keeping upright was a challenge. Around the 2k mark there was some unexpected rock climbing and I guess it was around this point that some runners missed a marker or the marker was missing. In any event we were well marshalled up and around, as I tried in vain to keep pace with Andy Keeling, who must have had better grip on his shoes than me, who had little grip.

Heading back against the wind it took some effort to not fall on the slippy mud in places. It was along here that I was passed by a few runners including Con Halpin, who must have backtracked to correct course, then had the tough job of making their way through the field.

The tracks were narrow as we headed in the direction of the lighthouse and we were meeting juniors on the short course who started after us. Passing was difficult on twisty single tracks.

Running towards the Bailey with the sea crashing on the left of the cliffside was lovely. Turn right and a trundle up the road passing some runners, not sure if they were juniors or seniors, before the last section of trail and the steep climb up the finish line. I finished muddier than any race in recent memory, not what you would expect from Howth.

It was great to see a different side of Howth. Thanks Jody and team for a great event.

I got lost. Again!

02 February, 2025 - Peter O'Farrell

This was the finest Howth race I've ever got lost at :) I've gone wrong at many Howth races but this one was without doubt one of the most beautiful and picturesque races I've ever done. The views out to sea and down to the lighthouse were absolutely stunning. There's loads of handy parking, the course - the parts of it I did - were good fun, this is the course that the views from Howth deserves and all credit to the organisers for putting it together.

Our happy carpoolers this week included my neighbour Rahul at his first hillrun, I told him - with my many years of.........experience.........to not just blindly follow the runners in front and to keep watching for the tape...

I had listened carefully to the instructions and yet still found myself running........blindly after the runners in front.........along the lowest cliff path looking directly down into the sea and thinking.......was there something about not being on the lowest path.......did someone shout the call me back..... there's 6 lads ahead of me all running hard.........try to catch them.......worry about going wrong later......yes went wrong, damn and blast it. Again :)

Many many other people go right so much like last week I can only blame myself. My other happy carpooler Anthony had had a great comeback race at IMRA after a few years out and Rahul had raced well. Both of the lads had to listen to my whinging on the way home, God love them. They might re-consider the whole carpooling notion. I've a car going to Trooperstown, spaces to spare...