Gerry Brady

21 June, 2011

Report from Karen Alexander

The wee sparrow from the Sperrin’s aint done too bad!’
The 10th GM40 Alpine Marathon on the 18th June 2011 was combined with the 8th WMRA World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge.

Total length: 37.5km
Total ascent: 8,300ft
Host town: Podbrodo, Slovenia

I can put this race down as the best race of my life! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d be coming home with a Silver Medal from the World Stage in Mountain Running. It just goes to show that sometimes you can perform well when you least expect it.

In my opinion, training was not ideal in preparation for such a test of endurance. Thanks to the good old Irish weather my long training runs were severely limited. I only managed two 20 milers’ on trails – which I knew in no way equated to what lay ahead. With only 2 weeks to go I felt totally unprepared and accepted that if I managed to finish the race I’d be thankful. The wise words from Gerry provided some reassurance that with such a slight frame the lack of mileage would be to my advantage!

Thanks to buses breaking down, computers crashing at check-in, lost luggage and forgetting orthotics I was mentally exhausted before the race even began!
Despite being the only Irish runner I was far from lonely. I had my un-official official with me (mum) and I quickly attached myself to good neighbours and friends – the Scottish team. The day before we all sussed out the course and I am grateful for their support.

The morning of the race started wet – but hey that’s what I’ve been used to! However, thankfully (as a fair weather runner!) the rain stopped just on time! The 8am start required a 5am breakfast and with only 3 hours sleep I was at the starting line.

Ryan Montgomery would be glad to hear I did’nt feel as nervous as I usually would for World events – I knew it would’nt be a fast start and there would be plenty of time to settle in! The 1st 5 miles were very slow. In fact I was doing slower than training pace! I got stuck behind slower runners on the initial ascent. Rather than getting frustrated I settled in and kept plenty in reserve for the 2nd half. At half way/the lowest altitude point I was in 11th place and feeling very good. I was running along with the English and Scottish girls and we even had time to chat!!!

At the start of the 2nd, and steepest ascent I felt fresh and was running comfortably alongside the ultimate bronze medallist (Helen Fines)

It is definitely good to know the course profile for this type of race – I knew that mile 14 – 19 were going to be the toughest and indeed it proved to be the hour of truth! I simply focused on trying to pass each female that appeared ahead of me and by the top of the 2nd ascent I was told I was in 3rd place. Despite nearly falling over in shock I quickly passed the next female and, with whatever I had left, I let loose and flew down the last 8km. I was sure the good descenders’ would catch me!
Pippa Maddams (England) was in a class of her own – finishing in 4hr 8mins. My finishing time was just over 4hr 16 minutes. Helen Fines finished about 2 minutes later.

Such an amazing experience to stand on the podium to collect a silver medal for Ireland. As WMRA commented it was an Anglo-Irish triumph!
Just to finish was my goal, top 20 would’ve been great but 2nd? I am still on cloud 9.

Many thanks to my mum, Gerry Brady, The Scottish Team, The English Team and the organisers of the race for all their support.

Top tips for long distance

Prayer works!
Carry your racing gear in hand luggage.
Never give up
Start slow
Eat Jelly Babies along the way
Enjoy the journey

Gerry Brady

18 June, 2011

World Long-Distance Silver for Ireland’s Karen Alexander

Karen Alexander (Sperrin Harriers) won a magnificent silver medal for Ireland in the World Long-Distance Challenge in Slovenia. The course was held over a very testing 37 kilometres with 2500m of ascent and 2800m of descent.

With full teams entered from the USA, Russia, England, Scotland, Wales, Poland, Czech Republic and host country Slovenia, the depth of competition was high. Midway through the race Alexander was in 11th position but place by place she moved through the field to claim silver in a time of 4 hours and 16 minutes. English runner Philippa Maddams won the gold with Helen Fines (ENG) in bronze.

In the men’s race Slovenian runner Mitja Kosovelj raised home cheers with victory in 3 hours 22 minutes. Scottish runners Thomas Owens and Robbie Simpson took the silver and bronze medals.

Women
1. Philippa Maddams (ENG) 4:08:46
2. Karen Alexander (IRL) 4:16:21
3. Helen Fines (ENG) 4:19:14

Men
1. Mitja Kosovelj (SLO) 3:22:32
2. Thomas Owens (SCO) 3:26:59
3. Robbie Simpson (SCO) 3:29:05

Detailed womens results (intermediate splits on event website)
1,MADDAMS,Philippa,ENG,4:08:46
2,ALEXANDER ,Karen,IRL,4:16:21
3,FINES,Helen,ENG,4:19:14
4,PANKOVSKAYA,Irina,RUS,4:21:25
5,ROWLANDS,Andrea,WAL,4:24:08
6,CELINSKA,Anna,POL,4:24:40
7,KHAITOVA ,Nigina,RUS,4:26:25
8,LUPTON,Anna,ENG,4:26:49
9,ESENTIEROVA,Adela,CZE,4:27:45
10,MAXWELL,Fiona,SCO,4:29:46
11,PRIESTLY,Andrea,SCO,4:30:50
12,RIDGWAY,Sarah,WAL,4:33:47
13,MRAK,Valerija,SLO,4:35:32
14,KHAZOVA,Yulia,RUS,4:36:47
15,TUSAR,Mihaela,SLO,4:38:24
16,KOVACIC ,Danica,SLO,4:39:59
17,GORDON,Claire,SCO,4:40:31
18,RYCHTER,Antonina,POL,4:41:04
19,JURSIC,Veronika,CRO,4:42:46
20,PODOSENOVA,Svetlana,RUS,4:45:37
21,STELMACH ,Dominika,POL,4:47:21
22,WERMESCHER,Ildiko,HUN,4:47:41
23,LAPANJA,Marinka,SLO,4:49:25
24,TROBEC,Ursa,SLO,4:55:11
25,NIKOLESIC,Ingrid,CRO,4:59:57
26,DA FORNO,Daniela,ITA,5:06:19
27,ANDREEVA,Žana,SLO,5:10:38
28,BARTLETT,Anna,WAL,5:12:56
29,BLABER,Lucy,AUS,5:14:34
30,RUTAR,Katja,SLO,5:15:21
31,GORBUNOVA,Olga,RUS,5:15:55
32,RAKUÅ ÄŒEK,Katja,SLO,5:18:32
33,REJC,Nataša,SLO,5:18:35
34,ZAJEC,Jera,SLO,5:18:57
35,Å ORLI,Marta,SLO,5:24:46
36,VLADIMIROV,Petra,SLO,5:25:33
37,TRONTELJ,Marija,SLO,5:34:26
38,BALANT,Zinka,SLO,5:34:27
39,KONEÄŒNIK,Katarina ,SLO,5:36:11
40,FINŽGAR,Nadja,SLO,5:39:03
41,ÄŒUFER,Milojka,SLO,5:39:25
42,GRM,Olga,SLO,5:41:02
42,JELOVÄŒAN,Ana,SLO,5:41:02
44,SENKOVIC,Senka,CRO,5:44:21
45,HÖDL,Maria,AUT,5:44:32
46,STARE,Jana ,SLO,5:46:29
47,DECRISTINI,Chiara,ITA,5:46:32
48,JENSTERLE,Marjeta,SLO,5:50:55
49,ORTAR,Miranda,SLO,5:53:27
50,KENDA,Andreja,SLO,5:56:54
51,VRHUNC,Marjetka ,SLO,5:57:46
52,ROGELJ,Jožica,SLO,5:59:19
53,CICUTIN,Lara,ITA,5:59:25
54,TOMAZIN,Daša,SLO,6:00:19
55,LIZIER,Laura,ITA,6:06:46
56,KUSTERLE,Mateja,SLO,6:13:05
57,DELLA ZONCA,Giulia,ITA,6:13:18
58,GRIÄŒAR,Polona,SLO,6:14:10
59,TRÄŒEK,Vida,SLO,6:18:12
60,ÄŒUFER,Metka,SLO,6:21:45
61,BAJŽELJ,Mojca,SLO,6:25:47
62,VITEZ,Nela,SLO,6:26:32
63,JEJČIČ,Darja,SLO,6:27:43
64,PAROVEL,Vesna,ITA,6:28:58
65,DEBEVEC,Uršula,SLO,6:31:57
66,MLAKAR,Polona,SLO,6:32:21
67,TALJAT ŠULIN,Nežka,SLO,6:33:02
68,MOSER,Marija,SLO,6:34:00
69,TÖRNAR,Irena,SLO,6:36:24
70,BAJŽELJ,Jana,SLO,6:37:42
71,TEKSTOR,Božena,SLO,6:40:12
72,LEBAN,Marina,SLO,6:42:42
73,GODINA,Adrijana,SLO,6:48:46
74,Å ULEK,Suzana,SLO,7:00:03
75,ÄŒUFER,Valentina,SLO,7:00:14
76,BUÄŒEVEC,Vladka,SLO,7:11:48
76,GOLOB,Alijana,SLO,7:11:48
78,LIKOSAR,Janka,SLO,7:19:41
79,HOÄŒEVAR,Irena,SLO,7:28:24
80,KUMPERÅ ÄŒAK,Vera,SLO,7:30:59
81,BOŽIČ PUDGAR,Sonja,SLO,8:11:02
,HMELAK,Maja,SLO,DNF
,STERLE PODOBNIK,Andreja,SLO,DNF
,SUSTARSIC ,Mateja,SLO,DNF
,KLOBAS,Milojka,SLO,DNF