BUZZARD’S ROOST
Niall Gibney did not give himself much downtime after his showing in the One Day Score Event before he returned to race in the mountains. This weekend was the Buzzard’s Roost Race, the final outing in NIMRA (Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association) 2022 Championship. Starting at Carrick Little, the route takes the runners along the line of the forest before ascending into the rocky tops of Lower Cove, Lamagan and Binian. From there it’s a long descent all the way back to the start point. The challenging course covers 7.3 miles, incorporates 2,700 feet climbing and is aimed at experienced runners with ample stamina. In the end there were 47 finishers with Niall pleased to place 11th overall. He was even more delighted when he realised that he was 1st in M45 age category and to find that his time of 1 hour 26 minutes was actually 6 minutes quicker than the previous year. At the prize giving he also received a certificate for “Cassie’s Challenge” which he successfully completed in July 2021. This is a round in the Mournes set up by local legend Harry Teggarty 
and it was the man himself who was handing out the award. The round starts and finishes at Annalong Harbour and includes 50 mountain summits, 193m of climbing and a distance of 58 miles (93 Km).and all must be completed within 24 hours!! Not much if you say it quickly! More details can be found at https://cassieschallenge.com. Well done to Niall on both counts.
SHEFFIELD 10K
EDAC’s Malcolm Leick is currently on tour in England visiting family and friends and had entered the Sheffield 10K as a way of keeping up his fitness. He reported back as follows:-
“It was pretty much perfect conditions for the 2314 runners taking part in this year’s event. Starting from the city centre, the course gradually rises just over 100 metres in the first 5K, with the return leg creating the opportunity for some welcome relief and additional speed. Roadside support along the route was fantastic and the continual banter and motivation from the pacer I followed was terrific. With a shoulder injury hampering training I almost didn’t make the start line and my confidence was less than sky high. But when I crawled out of my camper van bunk in the morning, I’d already laid my EDAC race vest on the cooker hob and so it was one step at a time until I found myself ready to race. The fastest male time on the day was 31:48 and the fastest female was 36:36. My chip time was 54:45 which isn’t too bad for an OAP with three stents and two minor heart attacks under his belt!”
I agree with every word of that and more. Well done Malcolm!!
COOLEY 5 AND 10K
The 11th annual Cooley Coast Run took place on Sat 24th September consisting of 5K and a 10K with 74 runners in the 5K and 84 Runners in the 10K. The race started at the Cooley Kickhams GFC and took the runners through country roads towards the coast along Carlingford Lough. The route was relatively flat for the first 6/7 K but the wind picked up as the runners came near the waters edge for approx 1K taking the breath from them. The last few kms were slightly hilly but overall a lovely scenic route which Sharon Madine said she would run again. She not only enjoyed it but also ran well as she placed 2nd female in a time of 46.49.
Patrick, Suzy and Aine Smith also took part in the 10K with Patrick making it home in 51.07. Suzy said she was never so glad to see a finish line when she crossed it in 55.17 and Aine wasn’t far behind in 56.49. Another weekend race in the bag for this lot.
CIVIL SERVICE NAKED RUN/WALK
This event was held on Wednesday last on the Stormont Estate over the beautiful parkrun course but is not as its title suggests in any way risqué. It simply means that runners or participants must state a time in which they will attempt to complete the 5K distance and then must run/walk without the benefit of carrying a watch. Anyone found to be guilty of such a contravention of the rules will be disqualified. So after last week’s efforts at the same sort of thing in the EDAC staggered start run, Joe Quinn was keen to have another go. He intended to start well ahead of the runners so as to be finished at around the same time as the others but in the event he was delayed getting to the start and basically started at the same time. The result was that when most of the others had completed their two laps he was only just setting off on his second. However he was determined to complete the distance to finish the challenge and to his relief and satisfaction the timekeepers and other officials were still waiting and recorded his time as 1 hour 32 minutes and 22 seconds, which against his predicted time of 1.22.07 was a bit off the mark but an enjoyable outing on a lovely evening in a beautiful setting. Sam Anderson also completed the race.
BANGOR 10K the NI 10K ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Only two EDAC members took part in his event on Saturday, Aaron McGrady and Sam Anderson. Aaron unfortunately had been under the weather most of the week before the race and caused him to re think his planned assault on a time in the low 31s and after taking the first 2K relatively quickly he just eased off the pace but still finished in 40th place in a time of 35.38. Sam was rather more sedate finishing in 1.20, having spent a lot of time in recent weeks travelling to and from venues as far apart as Newcastle upon Tyne for the Great North Run and the Stormont Estate for the Naked Run on Wednesday. Well done to both for their dedication and perseverance.
26 September 2022