Turlough Conway

22 February, 2011

A nice morning, followed by a rainy journey down with a cold and misty compromise at the race start at Trooperstown. Jason Reid had travelled down with me. Just back from 6 weeks training at altitude in Iten, the home of elite world distance running, he was in flying form and quietly rearing to go. I had him as favourite for this race. Peter O' F was in attendance but had cycled down and that would have taken from atleast his speed in the damp conditions. I also spotted Liam Dunne, 2nd in Ticknock, in attendance. A strong runner but probably not a match for Jason in current form.

We jogged the first 1 k up the route as part of warm up. It was plenty wide: the race had a very looong climb, 3 / 4 time wise. No need to start fast, plenty of room to pass.

Off we went, half the field bolted up the fireroad! Crazy. Sean Dunne, a strong climber, being watched by Liam Dunne with the danger man Jason jogging in 3rd or 4th. Peter was moving through the field nicely but looked like he mightened be shaping for a win today.

Slowly the fast starters started drifting back. I was going easy but didnt feel great. Onto teh tarmac and more coming back, the speed already gone from the legs after the climbing to date.

We passed the base of the hill with a view of the steepish descent: hill didnt look too high. Staright forward enough run around and climb and eventually coming down.

At this stage Jason leading was being tracked by Liam Dunne just still visible for the last time dissapearing around the corner.

Peter was now leading a chasing group of 7-8 runners, just visible for me in the mist.
Rounding the corner and back comes Sean Dunne. If he gets a little more climbing endurance hell be a force to be reckoned with. More stragglers coming back and im going well passing consistently.
I remember to keep my cadence up in the climb and to speed it up again when transitioning onto flatter sections. There i am at the Boots feeling good and theres a mini group of 2-3 ahead. I pass Zoran, Brian Caulfield and Barry Cronin. Im feeling great and wohoo theres teh group now of 4 containing the 3rd place runner.

At this stage Liam who had been tracking a comfortable Jason had fallen. Jason checked if he was OK, he was able to continue, but wasnt able to hand onto Jason anymore. Jason was gone into the mist presumably home free.

I was within 10 metres of the last runner of this group as we headed around to teh last climb. I was very positive. Have been doing some speed training and reckoned if i could get to that group id have a good chance of taking a few places. Peter was not running as fast as usual on the flatter bits and i figured the cycle may have blunted his leg turnover. If i could take a scalp from that group it would be Peters. I could remind him of that till Maulin!

Adrian Hennessy had broken clear of the group which caused their speed to increase. I upped it too, getting tired but closing. Now we were climbing. Adrian appeared to have mistimed his attack as the climb was longer than expected. I mistimed too to be perfectly honest and silently cursed every mini false summit continuosly appearing out of the mist.

Peter swept past Adrian followed by Robert Caffrey. Peter is making ground on all of us now. Hes not climbing any faster than before, its just weve run out of strenght.

Finally the descent. Disapointed with a dithereing descent down the steep part past the hill walkers which put Peter, Adrian and Robert out of range effectively. Ben Mooney was visible but 30-40 metres ahead.

A quick glance behind and its bad news. Bernard Fortune is charging down the hill with Brian Caulfield and Zoran. Bernard finishes like a train and this time is no exception and Brian is fighting hard to keep him at bay. Thus my attention is drawn behind instead of in front.

I stride out, but am very tired now. The two lads are closing fast. Through the gate and a quick glance back. F***. Not enjoying this any more i turn my legs. They dont respond, the descent has murdered them! I see ahead that Adrian is chasing Peter but not gaining. A similar gap back to Robert and thats how it ended.

Im waiting for teh flat bit and can hear footfalls approaching, smelling blood no doubt. I am seriously thinking of stepping aside to let the two troublesome individuals pass and jogging home. But cant do that. Completely defeats the purpose and quite difficult to explain afterwards.

The flat bit of fireroad arrives. Only 200metres to go after this bit. Hold the gap for this flat section and go all out for teh final fast downhill. I work very hard here. The gap widens. Now I spot the line. I realise Ben Mooney ahead is reachable. I find a bit of kick, he hears me responds bravely going all out, but im closing fast. I accelaerate past he tries to reply but the line is his enemy and i get a sneaky place.

Have been doing Jasons “diagonals”: a session wheer you run fast the diagonal of a soccer pitch and then jog the side very slowly before doing the other diagonal. In Kenya they do it for 40 mins. I have done a few for 20. Have got a few sneaky places as a result so highly recommended.

No sogn of Jason at the end. He arrives a few minutes later telling us he has just finished! Missed the turn off the tarmac. He was dissapointed: a win would have been a nice early reward for the training in Kenya, but hes fit as a fiddle and in control of his goals for this year.

The ladies race looked like another cracker, with leass than 30 secs seperating Suzanne Kenny and Karen O'Hanlon again, with Suzanne taking it.

Well done to Rachel and the organisers.

Theres a big lookout for a race director for the Carlingford LC race.

If you were even half thinking of trying directing a race for this year please volunteer for this if youre available.

Rene Borg

21 February, 2011

TEAM RESULT

MEN
1. Rathfarnham WSAF 19 (2 Peter O'Farrell, 5 Turlough Conway, 12 Neil Bolger)
2. Sli Cualann 32 (6 Ben Mooney, 11 Martin Francis, 15 Sean Dunne)
3. Boards AC 74 (16 Jeff Fitzsimons, 17 Theo Mooney, 41 John Ahern)
4. UCD 121 (7 Brian Caulfield, 10 Zoran Skrba, 104 Stuart Scott)
5. Sportsworld 126 (14 Damian Kelly, 38 Jakub Splawski, 71 Eoin O'Brian)
6. CNOC 129 (39 Brian Hill, 42 Conor Short, 48 Ruiri Short)
7. Crusaders AC 192 (27 Oran Murphy, 79 Tony Berkery, 86 Ken Cowley)

LADIES
1. Sli Cualann 57 (13 Emer Geraghty, 18 Claire Collins, 26 Maxine Bonus)