The Bray Bust up

When a car full of CNOC orienteers goes to a Hill run you know you'll be up for a laugh. Been crushed behind the long legged Ruairi Short in the back seat is something that has to be tried to be believed. Excusing a near fatal side sweeping it was all good.

Arriving at the start early, been 3rd entry on the list as usual gave me plenty of time to warm up and get the head sorted. Getting changed it was remarked how nippy things were getting. I knew this wouldn't last long.

For the warm up I headed up the hill, climbing slowly the legs felt fresh giving the track session the previous night. Hitting the mud, I cursed Gerry for his suggestion of flats... unknowing how far the mud and roots would stretch. As I hit the road at the bottom, I was joined by Paul Mahon and we went up again. I silently noticed how heavily he was breathing as we climbed slowly.... Race tactic sorted - go hard, burn em all off.

At the start there was a BIG crowd. I wiggled my way to the front and waited. Slightly nervous... waiting.

And with a go we were gone. I went out and sat at the front, watch Eoin Keith and Niall McA. Taking the race at my pace. Going up the climb, I stuck to the front and ran comfortable at my pace. Reaching the steps, I upped the pace, hoping to drag some of the guys with me to help me keep a high pace. No one took me up on the offer, so I wasn't going to hang around and run someone else's race.

I didn't look back, I just kept climbing at an up tempo pace. At a turn closing on the top I took a glance back and I had a big gap. Reaching the rocks below the cross I bounced up, happy out. As I looked behind on the final face up to the cross, I looked back and I reckon I had 30seconds on Eoin Keith. Happy days.

On the small descent I focused on keeping a good pace, then I came to the first junction. From the map and everything else I began to run straight through the junction... Suddenly the Marshal began to yell at me that I was going the wrong way, I looked back at him as he was pointing to the right, I hesitated and took off to the right, mean while, Eoin, beasting down the hill yelled at me saying that I was going the wrong way.... I stopped, completely confused. Eoin began to yell abuse at the marshal, clearly very pissed off. After realising the marshal make a muck up, I took off again after dropped 10seconds (how the hell do you drop 10sec on a mt run!). Running up the track my legs began to feel the burn. I set into an all right pace but my rhythm was gone. As I fought to get it back, Eoin passed me, closely followed by Drute of SligoAC. They were clipping along a little to fast for my liking so I decided to get them on the descent. On reaching the up to the second peak I was reeling them in, I heard the summit marshal scream at the two of them so they also took the wrong track...! As I reached the cairn, I took the corner really wide, not expecting such a tight turn around. Down the descent my vision was going blurry. I fought to regain focus, and my balance as I upped the pace. As I rejoined the main track back I saw Roar turn off for the final climb, he was running well.

Descending hard my right foot began to feel weird, I looked down and realised that my shoe lace had come up done! Another WFT moment, I had forgotten to tape my shoe laces! I debated for a few hundred meters if I should continue to run or stop and tie it. After careful consideration, and realising that I may A) break my neck on the descent and B) lose a final sprint in, i skidded to a stop and tried to tie my lace. Although it seems like an easy thing to do, when your attempting to tie it with lactic flowing through every part of your body, your hands are shaking and your heart rate is close to 200, it makes it ever so slightly more challenging! (another 10sec down).

After the brief freak attack I was shocked that no one had passed me, I took off again, assuming that I would never see Eoin or Drute. As I climbed back up the small rise, I began to see pretty colours in front of my eyes.... This amused me and my pace dropped, but see'ing a different marshal at the junction switched me back on again. On the final descent I was at the limit of my kit, flat racers. Another WTF moment. I got blitzed by Healy coming down the muddy section, my road runners unable to give me the grip or confidence that my mud claws usually provide. As we neared the steps I saw a flash of yellow.... Turns out Drute can't descend either.... Hitting the final cement section I was pretty flat out.... I didn't have the same kick I had on Crone, shit happens.

As I ran by the finish, Eoin crossed the line to take the win, I followed in 4th, 35seconds down.

What I really love about IMRA is that they are more hardcore than the AAI. All the XC races this year have been under distance - they all claim to be 10km races but there usually 7-8km. IMRA however say its a 5km race, as with Bray... but when your racing for 29mins, you'd think its a dam slow 5km, until you look at your GPS that night and realise its actually 6.5km! WIN!

13% extra free :)