Once again racing is the main topic. I can't seem to get enough of it lately!
My single road racing appearance of the year can around once again. The Inter Colleges Road Relays. I was sadly demoted to DIT's second team. The team still was still made up of athletics on elite scholarships - but road running just wasn't our thing. Cowzer took us out on the first leg, he's one of the top tri gurus in the country.. before the race he did 2 hours on the bike and straight afterwards he headed to the pool to get his fix in. He handed over to Niall Ewen, the mountain man, he struggled with the pace but posted a good time none the less. At which point i stepped onto the road... although i gave it socks and caught a few teams my speed wouldn't be classed at all. Packie took us out on leg 4 and someone else who got dragged out took us home in 17th... The first DIT team came home in a very crediable 6th position. Things look good for the IV XC champs in march!
From Maynooth we traveled onwards to kildare to celebrate my 21st. Needless to say there was blood and mud in epic sumo matchs. The following morning the CNOC army headed to the curragh plains for a fartlick session. More mud, water and hills to sweat out the booze (one bottle of millar) from the previous night.... 15km of random beastings and a 3km topless sprint back into Newbridge, with yound Kev taking the honors at the post. A really fun training session - my younger bro still isn't right for the hammering he recieved :P
This weekend brought with it heavy rain, strong winds and the Inter County Cross Country Championships. This race was been used to select the Irish team to run at the Spar European XC champs been held in Dublin. The course was rolling hills that got very cut up as the races went through the programme. Finally, after a long cold wait, the final race of the day took off. The Mens Senior 10,000m. Kildare had a county team for the first time in years! The likes of Eoin Bret and Pat Malone were back in the white singlet to give it socks.... well, that makes it sound overly epic.
The mud, wind and rain really knocked me about the shop. I got dropped off the leading group as it left the start line and i had to fight the entire way. I was passed by an U23 running but i bid my time and waited, just kept turning over the legs as the mud encased everything... On the final lap he was dead on his feet, i brushed past him and set my eyes on the 3 galway singlets up ahead. Just before the summit of the final slope i went for it, caught them by suprise and finished just in front. Sounds epic but it reality it was only for the (extremely) minor places.
When the results were counted i was 84th across the line and 17th U23... could be worse. I was pretty annoyed afterwards but these things happen, i'm no speed merchant.
Icing on the cake was Kildare getting the 3rd place county prize.
Time to get stuck into the milage between now and Spring Cup, i might ever go crazy and pick up an orienteering map!
Every cloud has a sliver lining.
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