Chasing the O'Boyle

Its that time of year again. Sleep deprevation training aka exams! Although sleep deprevation training is good for the likes of the rogaine. Its not so good for the Leisnter League races. Up half the night, then up at 0600 to be into college for 8. It ain't fun I tell ya.

My 3rd race of the Leinster League was to be Brockage Mountain. As I wasn't the freshest I decided I'd use my head and see where that got me this week. As I floored it off the last day and suffered big time for my efforts I decicided to take it nice and handy and not do anything too crazy.

I warmed up with fellow club mates Niall and Seamus. The race had the feeling that it would be brutally fast. I began to get excited.

Down the hill to Esso. Big crowd at the start, or perhaps it seemed more than usual due to the small lane. We took off with Eoin Keith setting the pace, I sat in behind him and waited. This was the big plan, don't lead the race at all. Play it stupidly safe. We tip on up the road. Around the barrier and into the forest. I glance around, see who's up in the mix. We're still pretty bunched. As I look back, Barry ups the pace and legs it off closely followed by Kevin along the fire road. I let them go, they'll get tired - right?

As we contuine to climb I begin to feel better and better. I look around me and see who's in my group - Eoin, Aarron, Niall, a Sli Cullen lad and another rathfarm guy. Three rathfarm, only two CNOC. It'll make an interesting finish. If things stay the same when we change direction.

As we climb the zig zags, Aarron jumps to the front and I run up beside him. I want to try keep everyone in check. The pace slowly increases as we climb. I'm consious of not wanting to run too had too early so I ease off and sit at the back of the group, in behind Niall and Eoin. As we reach the grass ramp, my legs know they are in for a great degree of pain. The guys keep a steady pace but I drop it back a bit - its a long way to the top. As we climb, I can hear a runner behind me. No idea who it is. I just tell myself to keep turning the legs over and focus on Eoin just in front. I take a quick glance behind me and see none other than Seamus!

I was estatic! It was game on for CNOC's first team win in a long long time. He spurs me on as he cruises by using his leg strength to full advantage as he slowly reels in the runners. As we climb up and up my body begins to react. I'm sweating buckets and my leg turn over is reduced. Coming apon the first of the roller coaster section I attack the small descents not wanting the gap to grow. We pass the marshelled junior turn around point. I wonder how Brian is doing before I turn my attention to the matter at hand - getting up this bloody mountain!

As we reach the flat boggy section, I have a view of the lead group all spread out. Its a lovely sight. Barry is well in front, Niall is battling away and Seamus is slowly gaining on everyone, millimeter by millimeter. I put the head down and start to plug away. No point enjoying the view. As I climb the grassy track I notice that the gap between Eoin and myself is stuck. Its going nowhere. I try to up the anti. I have no idea if it worked or not but the runners up ahead are hurting. They're coming back to me.

I reach the first of the last rolling hills. Barry blasts past. He's on fire. I contuine to dig, I know the top is close. I come over the bump and I can see the cairn sillouetted by the sun. It looks epic.

Seamus comes flying by, then Kevin, then more bodies. I force my legs to turn over as the cairn gets closer and closer. Jason (i think, bit blurry) screams encouragement at me as I stumble around the rocky surface. My mind has gone a little bit dissy. Joe offers water but I decline, part fear if I bend down I'll fall, part wanting to get on the attack as quickly as possible. Its game on.

I start the descent hard even with the lactic flushing through my legs. I know I'll recover, be it 10m or 100m. I'll be back to full flow quickly. The track is clear for me, I bump into another runner as I increase my pace. My mind is working over drive as I pick my route through the steeper upper slopes. Out onto the bog track and its a matter of putting the boot down and going back to orienteering route... track? who the hell needs a track!

At this stage there are too many ascending runners to pick out who I'm chasing. It calls for one simple tactic, every place counts. As I plunnet down the mountain, the ascending runners (mostly orienteers) are shouting at me. I distinctly remember hearing Niamh scream "catch Niall". I think its a great idea. But before I reach Niall, that yellow bouncing singlet 200m in front I have two rival club runners to dispose of. I ran past one in a blue top, he didn't appear to put up a challenge. I was beyond obsessed. All I wanted was Niall. I hurtled down the track. I was gaining on the 2nd club runner, the gap was cut to nothing. To over take him I bailed onto the smaller trail. What I didn't see was the pack of climbing runners.... I hurtle towards the lead runner - who freezes. On see'ing her hesisatation I lunge over the heather and rocks back onto the larger track, gain valuable meters on the 2nd rathfarmium runner. Niall.... He's not travelling as fast as I am. This fuels my maddening obsession of burning it past him. We reach the last rise as we bare down apon the Junior turn around point. Niall boucing through, I contuine hot on his heels. I see a white top.... fellow CNOC running Regina looks to be in a word of pain. She ye'll encouragement as I run past. I hope Niall didn't hear it. I'm on top of Niall and I accelerate past him, putting on a burst to get a physological advantage. As I leap over the loose rock I felt my foot catch my calf. Fear flushes through my body. I keep my balance and slow down the pace for a split second. The fear encompassing my body. I shake it off as qucikly as it arrived as I set my eyes on the next runner down the line. Eoin Keith. Niall is forgotten about as my legs turn over as fast as my brain is firing commands to every nerve in my body. I can see the gap physically closing between Eoin and myself.

I push and push and push. The gap is no longer closing, it appears to stuck. As we come into the switch backs, Eoin is turning the corner in front of me. The thought plays through my head - a da ja vu of Maulin where Peter had the advantage going onto the fire road. I push the pace. I know I can catch him. He has a 24hour run in his legs. He has to be hurting. We descend the switch back. He maintains the gap.

The flat fire road. I'm pushing as hard as I can. The gap stays the same. I refuse to give up. The gap closes slightly. I know I'm running out of time, I see Collieen on the track, she gives a bit of encouragement. I'm flat out. The gap is closing. I'm running out of time. Around the final bend. My legs are screaming. My brain is screaming. My legs yell stop, my brain yells faster. Conflicts of interest. The gap closes smaller. Eoins pace decreases, he crosses the line. I contuine to accelerate across the final few meters towards the line. 5th. Beasted by Barry and dumped by Seamus who paced his race to perfection. When I cross the line I don't stop running. I jump at Seamus. I was estatic that he had pulled off a top 3 but more importantly put CNOC into a string position where we could take the team win

I was buzzing after the descent and catching the rathfarm runners. Now the wait was on. Niall had to cross the line.... A rathfarm runner comes in... its gona be tight. Niall comes around the last bend. Yellow singlet clearly visible as he beasts it towards the line. Finishing up in 7th....thats CNOC with 15 points. We need a runner to come across the line, anyone! before a rathfarm runner... Sli Cullen follows Niall 46 seconds later. Win for CNOC. Bo yeah!

Not only did CNOC take a podium in the mens along with the Team win - Niamh as usual ensured that CNOC we battling for the win in the womens is well. Can't have the guys getting all the glory!

As I was descending at break neck speed it was Niamh O'Boyle who was beasting it up the mountain well in the lead of the womans race. When she hit the summit she was well in front of the next woman and 21st over all. It was monsterous climbing by the pocket rocket who's conistant climbing demolalised those around her who thought they could break her mentally by accelerating in bursts - sounds to me like they were bursts made out of fear. She descending conservately/racing the M50 winner Martain Francis to finish in 18th (gaining another 3 places). Scary girl.

And that doesn't wrap up CNOC's success on Brockage Mountain. In the Junior race, Brian followed the tactic of get a gap on the flat at the start, then attack the climb... once he reached the turn around point, he attacked again and floored it down the mountain. For a first mountain run, he certainly attacked the course. It'll be interesting to see how IMRA's favourite junior Alex copes against Brian sheer strength and climbing ability matched with his blistering pace on the flat. It'll be game on in the junior races from now on.

Not a bad day at the office for CNOC. Bring on the next summer series!!

The Valley of Death

Glenmalure; a fortress of the United Irish men during the 1798 rebellion due to the access problems for British army, a steep sided valley with a scattering of trees with the Avonbeg river flowing down the middle - some call it hell, some call it heaven.

My experiences with the valley are many, the first been my Wicklow Way attempt with Niall Ewen back in 06'. Got a meal and a bed and we were out of there. The valley is also home to two of the most feared climbs in Wicklow - the Shay Elliot and Slieve Maan.

Basically its one hell of a valley, used to seeing people suffer on its slopes.

The Circuit of Avonbeg, brain child of Paul Nolan was race three in the Leinster Championships and race two in the Long Distance Challenge.

Originally I didn't know about this race until I came home from college on Wednesday in a really bad mood. I had a puss on me that would make milk turn sour. Niall asked what my plans for the weekend were, response - study.
His look of shock was pretty surprising. He began to ramble on about this circuit of avonbeg race. I was sceptical thinking it was another bog standard imra trailly run. None the less we whipped on the maps and laptops and had a gawk.

First glance, I was stunned. Second glance, - think young child receiving exactly what they wanted at Christmas...but better!

The maps came out, phone calls got made, satellite images downloaded. It was game on.

Jump forward to the weekend. Friday night I got a text from Roar saying that Niall was still eating. I whipped out the pot and lashed on my extra pre race meal - pasta and rashers. I began to fuel up for a battle of attrition.

Apparently Niall planned to sit on my shoulder during the race and wait until the final climb and then burn it past me. I played along saying he was dreaming etc but deep inside I knew it was possible. He had serious mileage in his legs and unlike me, was training his ass off!

Woke up Saturday morning at 7, ready to completely bate the food into me. I said I'd take 5 and rolled over.... 9am (woops) out of the bed - porridge, 2l of water (with glucose), coffee the usual. I had that sickly nervous feeling. I knew I'd be battling for the win.

11am, welcome to the Valley of Death.
Changed and ready to lock and load. This was it. Epic race of the year number 1.

Start line - Paul explains the story. I half pay attention. We wait. 12:00:00 and we're gone.

Niall, Peter and myself sit at the front. I tense up, waiting for someone to make a break from the line. No one does anything crazy and we get into a rythem running up the switch backs, its only the warm up. Chat chops and changes. Peter drops back to chat to one of the other lads. I keep an eye on him - waiting for him to take a different route.

No one does anything nuts and we continue to climb. Niall looks very comfortable, I can feel the pace ramping up but I keep it cool. Track keeps rising and we hit the open mountain. Across the terrain and Niall gets a small bit in front. We hit the control at Arts Lough (25:52, 4.11km 360m)

Punch the control and we head towards the ramp. I jump in front of Niall and up the anti slightly. I want some breathing space between myself and Peter. We walk up the ramp hard and search for the track. No dice. We back track and head up a sheep path. (After, Peter assumed we were going for it, he seemed happy we reappeared)
The serious climb to Clohernagh began. I sat in behind Niall. He led the way. We continued to climb. I felt the burn as Niall got a gap. I waited and bid my time. As we climbed, I saw Dons bright top. Headed in his direction. I ran at him. Niall yelled over, I looked up and realised the cairn was to my left, I turn and leg it over. On touching the cairn I decided its time to leave the party and go for it (18:51 1.84km 300m).

I get a gap on Niall and Peter and just put the head down. The mountain is covered in hikers as I continued to drive up the highest mountain in Leinster. I can smell the summit, the summit of victory, two stone cross to lug titles. The Circuit of Avonbeg title has a nice ring to it I think. As I climb a hiker asks is it an IMRA run, I resist the urge to say what I really feel and nod as I hammer it. I reach the cairn. The crowd look horrified as a skintly clad manic touches the piller and turn tails to leg it down off the mountain. (15:05 2.83km 122m) I flack it down the spur in the direction of Camenabologue. Its a beautiful descent. I take on a wee bit of liquid and glance behind me. I've increased the gap on Niall. I don't have a visual on Peter. I know he's there, he's always there, waiting... waiting to pounce.

As I reach my trail of pain, the one I usually suffer up as I attempt in vain to break 2hours for Stone Cross to Lug... I'm flying down it - the first dodge route choice also comes my way as I accidently contour around the small summit. None intentional. I clip along as I hit the "track" and continue on. Just keep the legs ticking over. I reach my decision point. I can follow the track up (directly to the cairn) or I can veir off and be a beast and do it along my route from S2L. Its an easy choice as I leg it off the track and head directly for the summit. Through the peat hags, feeling strong. Up across the the first rise, not feeling as strong. Deep heather. In a world of pain. I look down at my watch and read 12.75km - my heart plummets. Not even half way and I'm in bits. I pull out my magic water and I feel better as I climb. As I reach the long flat summit, I see a white hat bounce up along towards the cairn from my left. The person is wearing a red singlet. PANIC! Who the hell is that I wonder. It looked like Lawlor... I begin to freek out and up the anti. He's an ould lad. The thought occurs that I have just made a MASSIVE route choice error. I begin to curse myself as I attempt to re focus and not panic. I wonder how far ahead Peter and Niall are. This is not goina be fun coming back over Lugduff if I have to chase hard. I run around the cairn (26:32 4.87km 130m).

As I run after this red singlet runner I look harder. It doesn't seem right. As I look again, it wasn't a singlet - it was Peter O'Farrel with a red bag!
With that minor glitch sorted I gave chase and went low and straight to Conavalla. Peter went around. I dropped low and went for it. When I hit the slope I began to go backwards. I put my hands on my knees and pushed on. I didn't know where Peter was, it didn't matter. I reached the flat surface and hung a right and legged it for the cairn (19:57 2.87km 150). I yelled at the hikers if any runners had gone past. Apparently one in black or white had. They pointed back in the direction I came from. I assumed it was some other random person out for a run. Surely no IMRA runner would have wussed out and gone around a second time....

Onwards to Lugduff. I descend down and up through the blasted peat hags. Lucky enough the ground was dry enough. I got onto the spur and was happily motoring along. Views were amazing. A cloud had covered the sun and there was a slight breeze in my face. Perfect day in the mountains. At this point, I assumed Niall McA was long gone and I had no idea where Peter was. I was just enjoying the run.

As I ran along, I saw a glimps of white through the hags. I did a double take as Peter was clipping along about 60m to my left.
"How the hell did he end up over there!!
What the hell!"
It was game on... again

We got chatting and we discussed how we ran the routes so far. He was pretty horrified at the time gain I got by going straight. Advantage Colm.
He then upped the anti or perhaps all my breaks applied. Advantage Peter! I had run completely empty! I looked down and it was bang on 19km. I was gutted. I looked down at my map where I had cunningly written lots of stuff to keep me going. Choice pieces were
Relax, HTFU
Everyones hurting, stay strong
Focus, SFUA
Never give up
but the one that got my eye the most was "they'll come back to you, they always do". Heading for Lugduff I was hurting but I knew Peter had to be is well. He's human. He has two legs, two arms and a set of lungs just like everyone else. I put the head down and kept going. Hit Lugduff, the gap was the same as Camenabologue (23:10 4.15km 100m).

The hunt began in ernest. Head down, keep the legs turning over. I was closing the gap, inch by inch. He hit the climb for Mullacor and he didn't look too healthy. I cut the gap further and just kept plugging away. The gap was closing. He upped the pace as he reached the flat. I ran past the first cairn and ran at Peter. He turned and headed for me. "Your route choice to win it" he says smiling (he's always bloody smiling in the mountains). I hit the cairn (15:30 2.63km 100m) this was it. The route choice to win or lose it.

This was the big gamble of the day. I said I wouldn't do it if I was winning but I had nothing to lose by taking it now. I went straight for the forest. Head directly for the ride. My compass was taped for this win or lose route. I stumbled down through the rough grass. I was nearing the forest but I couldn't see it. I kept running. I knew it was there, somewhere! I say a slightly wide gap. Bingo! Into the forest onto a motorway. I was at my limit coming down it. I could see the road. As I neared, Peter ran along it. I had him. There was nothing in it. I dropped across the road and onto the ride on the far side. I had him. It was mine for the win. I was at my limit coming off the mountain. Down the ride. My vision was going blurry with the water leaking from my eyes. I popped out onto a small felling track. In front of me was a wall of green. My heart plummeted. And then I plummeted straight into it. I fought and cramped, ducked and dived as I tried to get through. Limbs and equipment got caught as I forced through it. I kept forcing my way down. I knew Peter was well gone. I was now in a position to lose further places. I reached a track. I knew where I was. The river. 350m above the last control. I cursed myself and went for it. It was horrible. If I took this route in an orienteering course I'd nearly dsq myself for been a muppet. It didn't matter. I reached the road and was on top of the control 3mins later. I just cruised down the rocky track to the finish.

(click for full image)

Finished up 2nd in 2:42:20 26.13km and 1370m climb.
Niall McA crossed the line in 3rd - turns out he didn't have the lead after all. According to him, he was hunting me down heading up Conavalla.

EPIC course. Definitely a keeper in my books. Even as a training loop it would kick ass. It had everything. Climb, heather, bog, descent and even a bit of forest. A proper mountain run.

Paul should design more exam time races! Good hussle :)

(more photos where they're up)

Leinster Champs - Pure Speed, No Technique

After last Wednesdays attempted to beast it off at the start and drop the entire field at the Prince Williams Seat Hill Race I decided to adopt a different tactic for the Leinster Orienteering Championships been held on the epic mountain of Carlingford. The mountain and I have a short and painful history - Autum Series Race, DNF, Irish Middle Champs; 3nd, Irish Long Champs; 2nd, Irish Relay; 2nd, Spring Cup Race; Injury.

So with this I returned hoping to adjust many a wrong and many a mistake that have hampered my orienteering success on the mountain. It was an ideal place to try defend my Leinster Senior Orienteering Title.

Starting 12mins after Seamus, my tactic was simple. Take the first control handy, then get stuck in and start eating the gap, second by second. After spiking the first control ouvit (2nd fastest, 0:19 down on Ger) I decided to open the gas.

I climbed hard and then this happened.... not sure what happened

After giving Shea a good head start, I got into a flow and began to orienteer really well. Spiked 3 and 4 and continued up the hill to 5. Excuted the leg perfectly but I didn't read my control descpt and with the control buried close to the cliff, I didn't see it and dropped another minuite running around in circles.

After this blip, I upped the anti and began to orienteer, kinda. Suffered up the hill to 7 and attacked number 8 agressivelly. Needless to say, as I descended down, I got pulled by the contours and managed to hit number 9 after a little running around - doh!

Following 8, I began to orienteer better, I was running well and keeping my head clear. I battled away and asI punched number 14 I was one second down on Shea and 2:15 down on the current leader, Ger. Then I pulled out a series of orienteering skills that are the blessing of every other orienteerer in the country and the reason why I don't run sub 5min/k's on every map.

I'm not even sure how to describe the mistake. I was clear in the head, I was running strong, I knew I had the race in the bag and perhaps thats why it all went to shit... These were the easy controls to clock up the extra distance and bring us home.

16 was a matter of running to below the big cliffs below the 12th control. These cliffs were BIG. Impossible to miss.....

So I took of from number 15 and was picking up the pace when I see a control a little up the slope, for some reason I decided to check the code on it, it reads 154 (number 17 was got 54). My though process was this..

"What the fuck.

How am I here already!

I wasn't running that fast... o well

Right climb the slope, look out for the steep ground and the reentrant....

Hmmmm....

hmmmm....

fuck...

where the hell is this fucking re entrant....

That was number 17...right.... right....

of course it was 154....

where the hell is this piece of shit.....

ok. Stop. Relax.

Ok, thats that, thats that.... so wheres the fucking piece of shit...

(Hugh walks past)

Where the hell is he going...

o....

Oh! FUCK!!!

O MY SWEET JEASUS.

How!!! WHY!!!! NOOOOO!!

RUN

FASTER. EVERY second counts...

SHIT SHIT SHIT...."

As I hit 16, I turned an descended. Reading my map (first mistake). I was panicing. I was freeking out completely after dropping 5mins. I dropped down the contours. I couldn't see the control. I paniced more.... I attempted to keep calm but I was failing.... Hugh walks past again. I felt like crying.... FAIL.

After this, I just ran the rest of the controls. I ran them hard but my heart wasn't in it. It kinda showed by walking up the hill to the last control.

It wasn't a good day at the office.

I reckon it was a mixture of been off colour for most of the week and the added grief of my thesis and other project work due....

I'll make up for it this weekend in Glenmalur.

+25km +1300m climb

Ya win some, ya lose some. I already had it so I didn't want it half as much as I did last year.

After the post-mortem - I'll be all guns blazing next year. You don't appreciate something until you know longer have it.

The six inches in front of your face

You have to want it

Or as famous Arnie says... I'll be back

Senior Squad Weekend - How not to Orienteer

After a double lab on friday, orienteering non stop for the weekend was always going to be fun.

Race 1

First stop was Slievenagore for a middle distance race. It started well and then began to fall apart. Heading for no 5, i only saw the track below and not the track above which resulted in this....

After that hidious error I continued along, my orienteering was very sloppy. After getting into a half flow I was headed for 11 and this happened....

At which point Ger saw me leave the contro,caught and passed me as I had another scenic route to 15. Shocking orienteering. Dropped 8mins.

Race 2

StringO.... An epic battle of punching speed, control flow and speed endurance. First up was Declan, he knocked out 1:15, followed by myself in 1:15, followed by Ger in 1:15.... I couldn't let this stand so I went out again, and clocked 1:15! Ger decided this could be gotten lower so he flacks around and does it in 1:13. With this challenge set, I went out and managed 1:12. Twas alot of fun.

Race 3 - 14

Micro maddness! After a cup of coffee and a walk up the mountain in search of a set of keys, we headed to Kilbrony Park for the Senior Squad Fundraiser.

It was a series of controls everywhere and an insane maze. 4 runners would mass start into the mixture of barriers and tape. Fastest runners were all CNOC based (as usual).

The second micro sprint was a series of controls, everywhere. It was basically a flat out sprint trying to keep your head. I managed to orienteer at this point and actually won 3 of the 4 (WOC team member Seamus O'Boyle was the only one to take my scalp, by a mere second).

The squad then packed up a truck full of acquired fences from a highway maintenance company, we won't point fingers

Gun hoe!

My usual tactic in a mountain race is to find someone fast, sit on there shoulder and wait and see what happens.... Ok, so thats a down right lie, I like to go out hard with someone and then either outsmart them or get dropped... However, last night I decided on a completely different tactic.

Having biked out via Glencullen and the devils elbow, the legs were feeling good. A little too good considering the lack of breakfast, lunch and the tiny dinner.

Arriving at the assembly and watching who turned up.... the only notable people missing was Gerard Butler and Brian Furey - everyone else had shown. It was going to be one hell of a race.

We all lined up on the small country road and we took off... I sat at the front... waited.... waited... Then on the first mirco downhill I went for it, I sprinted off keeping a fast but "controlled" pace.... ok so thats lie number 2.... My HR was through the roof, for the first 2km I averaged 189bpm (I didn't even reach that in the IOC , at all!!) I didn't look back. Clearing the barrier I heard a cheer from behind, i reckon I had 50m of a gap. Up the fire road and Barry M just closed the gap as if it wasn't there. I eased off the pace a fraction knowing he had serious speed, I stuck behind him before the second climb - on reaching the single track I jumped in front of him and floored it again. On reaching the flat track he upped the pace and got a gap. My legs were pumping acid. It was so sore, a beautiful seering pain encompassed my body (hadn't done a speed session in ages).

I took off after him and was on his shoulder as we went up through the small track through the woods. He got a small gap and it slowly began to increase as we climbed. My legs were getting heavier and heavier. I could hear the closing pack baring down apon me as Barry put more distance between us. I hit the track and I knew the guys were on top of me (after taking a sneeky glance behind me).

I was planning to recover on the road but they just opened up the pace.... or perhaps my pace just plummeted. It didn't matter, I got dropped, badly.

I struggled up the ride as they just kept coming past me. Although it was slightly demoralising I just kept saying to myself I'll catch em on the descent... and the feeling of finally getting up a lot of the gunk from my lungs felt so so good.

On reaching the Wicklow Way I finally got a wee bit of pace back in my body and I was slowly realing in the Crusader runners. Inch by inch. However half way up the peaty track I got this pain in my lower back... I attempted to ignore it but it was so constant... I stopped once or twice but I ended up walking up a lot of the way. Very disappointed that I couldn't run it at all. On the descent however I kept up a good pace and ran technically very well. Gaining time on the two Crusader runners. Nearing the end, after the final barrier I caught one of them and tried to break him mentally. I failed the first time but after the small rise (the drop I attacked off of orginally) I attacked again and got enough of a gap that his head dropped. Stayed in front until the finish. Finished 8th... worst IMRA result to date but a lot of lessons learned. The course record is 28 which is very doable on a good day... Great course, great set of sessions.

I took the flatter route home on the bike with Niall.... I was completely bet when I got home.

Most people complain of having a head ache the morning after a good night out....

My only complaints are my lower back, calves, thighs, gluts, baby toe, ass..... Good sess! :)