[Race report by David Furlong]

We set off at 8 in the teeming rain after hauling Ross out of the scratcher.

Got to Tracton in 2hrs20 mins which was about 1/2hr quicker than expected, so that was the first plus. It was still piddling down, got changed in the car outside some randomers house (that must have been a picture) and headed for the practice lap. We hooked up with Richie Byrne from EPIC for the practice and were instantly met by mud, roots, deep, off camber roots, even deeper mud, bridge crossings etc..etc.. hard going on the practice lap, but experience tells us it always is…

So off we go at 12 bells, me and Rossco in the ‘Elite’ section, how about that eh. First I saw of Ross was at the first river crossing where some dude tried to knock him into the river, then saved him just as he was bout to go…After that he was a little disappearing red dot in the distance

The lap was savage 85% singletrack, roots everywhere, switchbacking climbs and descents. Hard going in the mud in places but mostly rideable. A fantastic swooping singletrack tdescent then with a big drop at the end where the spectators were ringing cowbells and all that

Ross got in in a fantastic 10th place (especially given the head of him at 8 this morning  ) I was in my usual place towards the rear end, this time 21st, happy with that , it is Elites after all hoho.

race entry was a tenner, after which we got soup and brown bread in the local pub, happy days

Great start to the year, thanks to my travelling companion, all roads lead to Fermoy next week for Rd2.

Thanks to all the MBCC folks for a good day out

Results

John Treacy 10 - courtesy http://www.westwaterfordathletics.org

[Report by John Dempsey - he may have had tongue cramp but there's nothing wrong with his motormouth typing fingers! Read on...]

Great day and a great race.

Headed down with Barry for company in the car, and after talking about pretty much everything under the sun we arrived in Dungarvan in no length. Coming near the town Barry realised he’d left the orthotics at home, no bother sure they don’t work anyway says I, but I’ve no feckin insoles either says he! Sorted him out with the insoles from a spare pair of runners I had and all ok again. Turned out afterwards that Barry must have really missed his weetabix this morning though cos he discovered after the race that he had run in a pair of runners he had deemed knackered 2 years earlier.

Rocked up to the start line, drove out a bit of the course, checked out the finish area, parked 100m from start, no need to register cos we had our numbers and chips – nice. 1300 runners on the sea road in Dungarvan makes for a big crowd. Spotted Tom out the front looking lean and ready to race. BANG. No countdown just go!! Tried not to get sucked along at 100 miles an hour over the start, hit the first mile marker about 20 secs ahead of target. Fell into a little group with everyone keeping each other honest, if the pace dropped someone would shoot off out the front and everyone else follow. Kept flying for first 4 miles, struggled really hard to 5th and halfway bang on target. Dropped about 20 secs from here to mile 6 and 20 secs behind target. Really had to fight the demons telling me to just take a little walk break here, thought I wouldn’t finish, what’s the point in going on, blaa blaa blaa, the usual. No panic yet, kept her steady and managed to hold this gap till after mile 8, passing lots of people out on their feet at this stage. Not enough, I knew there was a long drag coming up and I needed to be 20 secs up not down. Hit the drag and put head down and my back into the hill. Head telling me target was gone, heart saying anything could happen yet, still 1.5 miles left. Near the top of the hill, and lost in a world of self pity someone goes about passing me out, sped up and kept them behind.   ‘A girl will always get you going’ she shouts. Just the kick in the ass I needed and picked up to finish as strong as I could and every last ounce left out on the roads of Dungarvan. Crossed the line (just in front of the lady that had tried to pass me), stuck me hands up behind my head, in absolute ribbons, gob wide open trying to get a bit of oxygen in, and TONGUE CRAMP!! I’ve gotten cramp in quare places before but this was just cruel after hurting so bad for so long over the last 4 miles.

Hit the line in 65:53, 54 seconds outside what had been a very ambitious target for me and a new pb by almost 4 minutes so not really too disappointed.

Barry grabbed a fantastic time in the wrong shoes with the wrong insoles.

Tom ran a blinder to finish 8th overall.

Nothing for it but Barry had to hit Macky D’s on the way home, an I ate like a horse all evening

Brilliantly organised race, anyone looking for something meaty to help keep the focus overnext Winter would struggle to find better.

Results | Photos 1 | Photos 2

Duathlon Training Session

Tri795 Sprint Triathlon 2012 – Registration open

We are delighted to announce that Tri795, our annual sprint triathlon is open for entries. This is an ideal triathlon for beginners and experts alike. Find out more.

Duathlon Training Session

John Dempsey, Brian Many Hats O'Shaughnessy and Martin Mimnagh at the 2011 Cross Country Seniors

Tom Hogan added another Wexford County Senior XC title to his tally in Ferns last Sunday. Congratulations to Tom from everyone in Racing795.

Racing 795 was ably represented in the challenging 10km race by John, Brian and Martin pictured above. 2012 could be a big year for some of these lads in XC and on the mountains so watch this space.

More Photos

Brilliantly produced by our new friends at Highwind Films.

Champ Lorraine with the coveted trophy

Congratulations to our new Club Champion, Lorraine Byrne. The result was announced at the Racing795 end-of-season party in Ferns last Saturday night. Lorraine was presented with the Championship trophy by last year’s winner, Rudolf Brinkman.

Lorraine threw herself wholeheartedly into competition this year, competing in no less than seven triathlons as well as mountain bike and running races. Lorraine is a regular participant in training sessions, league races and other club activities. Even when not competing Lorraine is always on hand to help out. All-in-all a very popular and deserving winner.

Runner-up this year was Frank Burke, with PJ Dunne in third place.

Club league prizes were also presented at the function. Joy Furlong picked up the 2010-2011 Winter League trophy, while Summer League honours went to the team of Frank Burke, Joy Furlong and Brian O’Shaughnessy.

Don Morrissey was presented with a special award in recognition of representing Ireland at the 2011 Pontevedra ETU Triathlon European Championships.

John says…

Great running out of Brian O’Shaughnessy again, the man just cruises up hills like they’re not there.

We arrived in plenty of time and the three of us, me , Brian and Bernard Fortune headed off for a warm up run. Made three mistakes; firstly trying to keep up with Bernard, secondly trying to maintain conversation with Bernard, thirdly deciding to head up the first big climb during our warm up… with Bernard. The man is a savage, top ten finish again.

I was happy enough to come home within a few minutes of last years time, Shaughs actually improved on his and pulled off a fantastic 21st place.

€7, great race, snappy results, soup & sandwiches in warm pub afterwards, hopefully a few photos posted up today / tomorrow – couldn’t beat it. Powerscourt really is a fantastic race.

Brian says…

If you do one run next year make it this one! It’s a 16km natural assault course with 950m of climbing over a beautiful part of the wicklow mountains. There is also a short course.

This is caveman running! All sorts of terrain, fire road, mud paths, bog, slippy grass, rock, streams, and sleepers. You go from climbing on all fours to tearing down tracks faster than you think possible.

Got 4 nice slaps coming down from Djouce. Passed four middle aged hikers on my arse with a sheet of water spraying up from under me! Thankfully nothing but pride hurt. Great feeling coming down the home straight and a course you could run ever week and still enjoy it.

There are all sorts at these IMRA races and generally an easier going and better atmosphere than road racing. One old fella in the over 70s class (yes there’s a over 70s section!) had a bum bag not for his gels but his pipe! Smoking away on it before the race. €7 for a really well organised race, results online within hours and soup and sambos afterwards. Their website is one of the best and most functional websites in any arena you’ll come across.

Results

Well done to Joy Furlong, Peter Coulahan and PJ Dunne who all ran last Monday’s Dublin City Marathon. Here are their stories…

Joy

Well it was with great plans and great optimism that PJ and I left Bunclody on the morning of Oct 31st, positive chat and energy abundant in the car. We had a game plan and were definitely going to get each other round. Our plan was to go out with 3.45 pacers , PJ’s role was to get me up the hills and I would get him home. But, like all great plans…..

We arrived in plenty of time to get organised, or so I thought. Got gear sorted etc, then mistake No 1. I joined the masses of people in the q for the loo and PJ went to drop our bags and that’s were it started to go wrong, I didn’t see PJ again. Once out of the loo it was a scramble to the start line and the crowds were massive, corraled into a lane way I thought nothing for it only to ever so nicely push through these people, PJ had to be found … Out of the lane into more masses, spotted the purple 3.45 balloons up ahead and tried to make my way to them , jumped barriers, waded through people, climbed up on barriers, (for a higher view as I’m quite short) ignored workmate, all in vain PJ was not to be found. Settled myself some way behind the 3.45 pacers but at least I could see them.

And so we were off, it was very congested at the start and really right the the way through the park before it spread out a bit. The atmosphere was electric and the crowds cheering were fantastic from start to finish. Every inch of the road was lined with people fair play to them. I was seriously impressed. Working off my garmin for pace I ran comfortably and on target for the first half, a couple of testing parts i.e. avoiding the scrums at the waterstations, dodging bottles from people like myself with bad aim, one or two hills and the long drag up to the half way mark. All the while expecting PJ to saddle up beside me! Went through the half on time but the negative thoughts started to creep in. Doubting Thomas. Way too early for this and found myself digging deep to remove these thoughts. Soon enough I could see the purple balloons moving further away, at about mile 15 I decided that 3.45 was not going to be for me. The reality was very disappointing, so now it was plan B, get home and any improvement on time a bonus. I ticked off each mile, literally taking it mile for mile, found it to be a long lonely road even with the crowds. The only familiar face was David before I took on Roebuck hill , he definitely gave me a lift as the garmin showed a good pace, lots of walkers and me running past the lot of them. A different story on Foster’s Ave, could feel my left calf tightening and was sure it would cramp. Ever so slowly I shuffled up that hill, thinking to myself do not walk like so many around me but just before the crest I gave in and walked ( my mantra to PJ going up in the car was no stopping to walk, however slow keep moving) literally for the count of 20 steps and then into the rythmn of running again. I was not to be defeated. That was one of my slowest miles but the power of positive thinking is amazing, the pace was picked up and I clocked two good miles after this. The last couple of miles I found hard, although passing lots of people there was also lots passing me. Here I saw people hurting really bad, I was baffled at how you could let your body go so bad. Seriously, don’t ever under estimate the marathon, because on the day it takes all sorts of prisoners. My last two miles were by far the slowest and to be honest I was concentrating so hard at just getting over that line I really didn’t get to enjoy those last few special moments.

Relief was immediate on crossing the line, a very tough day at the office. Why it did nt go according to plan is the burning question. All the hard work did not pay off as well as I had hoped but it was a PB nonetheless, 3.52.41, a six min improvement so going in the right direction. Got in just before that torrential rain came, but due to slow shuffle to find my gear bag I was soon soaked. No rest for the wicked as my marathon continued, it was to the car at snails pace, huge effort to bend myself into a sitting position and the road home for trick-or-treat time for the kids.

I still haven’t seen PJ!

Peter

4.24! As slow as my last IM marathon. I  started off behind the 3.45 pacers and within 2 miles knew I was going to have problems. Slowed down and hit the halfway mark in 1.55hrs but was really struggling. Got slower and slower and when the 4hr pacers passed me I just gave in. I walked most of between miles 17 and 25. Got overtaken by fat aul ones and people in fancy dress. To cap it all off,  it was peeing down for the last 3 miles. Overall a horrible day out.

After swearing off ever doing any long distance stuff again on Monday evening here I am on Wednesday about to register for the Hardman IM again, I just cant resist the cheap entry fee.

PJ

As Joy said the journey up to Dublin was all positive and full of planning.

The plan was simple and maybe that’s why it didn’t work!

Out with the 3:45 pacers Joy , Peter , James(a friend from work) and myself.

Great plan for me anyway I thought, as all the above have marathons under their belts already.

Yvonne dropped us at the Mespil Hotel and a quick walk down to baggage drop area.

As Joy said we then lubed up and generally readied ourselves for battle.

Plan disaster 1

I dropped our bags to the allotted area and Joy went to the ladies!

We never saw each other again (still haven’t!)

After a quick look for Joy and also trying to locate my friend James with no luck I headed off to the green zone.

I got as far as the alley way and had to wait there for the starters gun.

Plan disaster 2

I couldn’t even see the start line let alone the 3:45 pacer balloon.

While waiting in the alley I spotted Gary from the Ray D’Arcy show. The guy who lost the 12st and who was planning on walking the race. Respect by the way.

How far back was I ??

The gun went and out we came of the alley……. I was about 40 mts behind the 4:00 pacer.

I decided to try and catch up to Joy etc

Passed the 4:00 pacers in the first mile and was slowly gaining on the others.

The closest I got was 50mts from them but I felt I was going to hard so pulled back the pace.

Saw some supports in Chapelizod and that gave me a boost.

Was still on target at 13 miles but the next 7 miles were painful my right calf felt like it was going to cramp at any minute and my right knee was really sore.

David F gave me a boost at 18.5 miles.

Somewhere just after heartbreak hill I saw Eamon Tilley who ran across the road to give me 3 triangles of toblerone (God bless that man)

It must of worked because I did the last 6.2 miles in 49:30!( according to tds timing)

I must admit I walked twice up two short steep bridges.

The last 385m of the marathon was not the joyful experience I was hoping for but more about getting to the line.

As sore as I was feeling running, the 10 mins of pain after the finish will take a few weeks to forget.

Race plus 10 mins = never again

Race plus 24hrs = when’s the next one!

Finish time 3:54:23

Well done to Joy and Peter.

In my ignorance I had being asking experienced marathoners silly questions like “if I’m feeling good with 10km to go do I push on” How I can laugh now

 Dublin Marathon Results

Aisling Foley was the winner on the day and is the early series leader. No doubt the handicapper will be out to get her next time.

Ross Moorhead had the fastest gross time, covering the 18km on his agricultural touring bike at an average speed of 35km/h. Very impressive in the conditions.

A notable absentee from the race was Frank Burke who, to give him his due, had a decent excuse. He cycled from Bunclody to Galway during Saturday’s monsoon!

Round 2 takes place on 20th November.

Results

Photos