Brian O Murchu

03 July, 2014

This is one of my favourite Wed night races. What a different course to last year and the year before!

I was asking around pre-race regarding what to expect, but no one I spoke to would tell, just that there'll be x4 peaks and a reasonable cool-down from the finish back to the cars. After doing a small recce around the start area I was relieved to find out the race would start a few hundred meters up the road so to minimise any bottle-neck onto the trail up Seefinn. As it was a downhill start it felt like a neutralised zone, then with a sharp right-hand turn into the trail the action began with a lot of trading places. It was a longer climb than I was expected up Seefinn, and I think I should really do a better warm-up as I was struggling to catch my breath the first half of the climb.

On summiting Seefinn I could see a trail of runners ahead making their way up Seefingan, I could make out the white singlet of Des Kennedy in the distance in front. Seefingan was also a longer climb than I was expecting and at the top I caught a glimpse of part of the city and the sea. Then it was straight into the descent and I noticed that the ground was much dryer than the last time I ran here in the damp and slushy underfoot conditions of 2012. I picked up a lot of speed and some places on the descent, and near the bottom just as I was about to catch two more runners I was passed by Alan Ayling. The two runners took a line to the right and Alan more left. I thought it'd be a good idea to follow Alan, but it turned out to be a big mistake. Almost straight away I fell in a wet patch of bog, and then very quickly I fell again this time getting my foot stuck knee deep. It took a while to dislodge my foot by which time a runner caught up and shouted if I was alright...ecck

After a few more falls I realised my heart was racing and I had lost the comfortable pacing I had been heretofore been running at. I was trying to remember the words of a former boss 'fine & easy, fine & easy'. Once I got to the top of Corrig I was able to get somewhat comfortable again on the descent towards Seahan. As I was passing Rachel I managed to give a shout just before I fell again...I'd lost count of the number of falls at that stage.

I found it tough going up Seahan as hill #4 was taking it's toll. Once at the summit I was interested to see which way we would descent and it seemed to be down the old route up Seahan. There was two runners close to me, but they quickly disappeared ahead on the rough descent....blah to rough descents, I'll get my own back at the trail league! There was some more rough descent through the fence but luckily for my pride I held my place and wasn't caught by anyone from behind.

What a great evening for the race with no cloud and enough wind to keep the worst of the midges at bay. It was great to see the peaks we'd navigated over during the cool-down back to the cars. Roll on Ballinastoe!