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28 November, 2009

<b>Carrick Mountain Race, a runners report.</b>

According to results there were 109 runners of this race. That probably doesn?t account for the runners that finished after the results were posted or those that are still lost!

The cast of runners was somewhat depleted due to the clash with the cross country event up north. All the more chance for the rest of us to get a higher ranking for once!

While the weather was kind on the day the race probably lived up to its rating of 6. Some peoples races on the day rated between 4 and 8 respectively depending on routes taken J.

This race had something for everyone. It fooled them in in the first place at the thought of a race something similar to last years trail race but it ended up being a bit more evil than that. The Race Director wanted to make it difficult and I think we?ll agreed it did just that. Particularly so in the first 2 or so kms when many were reduced to a walking pace ascending a slippery mucky path for a climb of near on 200 metres, which doesn?t sound much in the ?writing?, but it is in the ?doing?.

Once the loop at the top was done, a similar scale and manic descent followed. I daresay this is where some of the fallers on the day were waylaid momentarily. The dreadful realisation after the descent however was the need to make up that height again by forest track and another looping path up towards the peak. A slow burn of a thing.

The marshalls on the hill did a great job in guiding us through the first 5 to 6k. Thanks guys. The fact that some people went astray thereafter was down to various things one of which was the absence of marshalls at some of the decision points. Then again a race only has so many volunteers willing to do this valuable job.

From the top of Carrick mountain the race went, mainly downwards, through forest trail through a variety of underfoot conditions some of which could be called politely ?messy?. It would appear that those that went astray did so at 1 of 2 decision points which were marked the previous night, so the storm could have played tricks. That, in combination with other markings left in the forest from previous events and people barrelling after other runners lemming-like without hesitating for a second to take stock themselves. Others were admiring the scenery and surprising deer in the forest! On the forum there have been lots of good postings since re: the marking and suggestions for its improvement next time.

Good sportsmanship was in order however. I myself yelled Paul Duffy back on the right course and he yelled back down the course to Jason. Others didn?t get a lucky shout.

DNF was a harsh ruling indeed for those that took a different route at the extreme end of the race. Perhaps an acronym of FUC ? Followed Uncharted Course would be more apt! There was lots of FUCers at the end of the race. At least 10!

The finish of the race was a long twisting turning track. The race lived up to its 11k distance and probably was by general agreement that bit too long for a winter league race. But for everyone that had a concern about the course there were others who enjoyed every minute of it.

On a personal note if it wasn?t for those other runners going astray I wouldn?t have finished as high as 14th, something of a novelty for me.

Congrats to Eoin Keith on yet another win, to our overseas friend on his 2nd place ? I think I heard him say he did an extra loop accidentally at the top of the hill. If that was the case and he still finished 2nd that is really saying something. Maybe he should be a FUC status too! Bernard rounded off the top 3 in the mens event.

Aoife Joyce, Niamh O?Boyle and Tressan McCambridge took the ladies honours. Aoife benefitted from recceing route the previous week. Something that couldn?t be said for Rene in the mens event who still went astray ?obviously in his keenness to try to beat Tim Grummell again! That?s it Tim, you lead him off course. I?ll give you a few bob the next time I see you.

So that?s it from Carrick for this year. Next year, assuming its chance comes again, there might be other route options, that the entire race can take, which would benefit a shorter race perhaps.

Thanks again to the volunteers before and after the race. Without the volunteer spirit the association cannot function. And cheers to Cormac on a well directed event.

TEAM RESULTS
People getting lost unfortunately meant that in a very competitive men's league, Rathfarnham WSAF and UCD did not have three runners to score.

1. Sli Cualann 40 (Martin Francis 8, Mick Hanney 14, Cormac O'Ceallaigh 18)
2. Setanta 40 (Eoin Keith 1, Paul Mahon 5, Sean Hassett 34)
3. GEN 69 (Ondrej Pijak 2, Alan Ayling 26, Joe Lalor 41)
4. Frostbite 107 (John O'Regan 24, John Belton 29, Daniel Begley 54)

Today's results mean only Rathfarnham have a chance of catching Crusaders currently holding onto 1st place.

No female team had three to score.

Overall rankings: <a href="http://www.imra.ie/ad-hoc/WL2008cluboverall1-4.pdf">here</a>