ARMAGH INTERNATIONAL ROAD RACES
Neil McCartan upped his distance from the 2016 race from 3K to 5K for Thursday’s International Road races in Armagh, and recorded a superb time of 15.06 in probably the best ever race at this distance. The competition was red hot and resulted in 78 runners dipping under 15 minutes.
Ciaran Denvir tried his hand at the 3K and this vastly underrated young man once again proved his recent form was no fluke by posting 9.55 – a stunning result.
SUPER WOMAN
Alison Gilliland was also in scintillating form as she returned to a distance more in keeping with her junior days, and showed she is still a force to be reckoned with by claiming 3rd place in the Over 40 category in a time of 11.31.
COLD IN THE DUNE
I really must give a mention here to Clare Carson who completed last weekend’s Dune Half marathon, wearing only club vest and shorts. What’s wrong with that you ask? After all you’re always complaining when EDAC members don’t wear club colours. Well the operative word is ONLY – I know many runners like to be unencumbered by too many layers during serious races but this is February when temperatures barely rise at all never mind rise above anything. Given that Clare admitted to only thawing out on Tuesday afternoon, the advice from this corner is wear something over your club gear – an old T-shirt or top – which you can throw away when you warm up or at the beginning of the race. Remember if you haven’t got it with you you can’t put it on, and even if it’s not de rigueur, if you have it on then you can take it off. And another word of advice – wear a pair of gloves when the weather is cold and windy. On the same basis as for the extra top – if you keep your hands warm you’ll all be warm, and just as importantly you’ll prevent the wind causing chapped knuckles. End of sermon.
However the good news from Clare is that in spite of her encounter with the Ice Man she finished in 1.49.20, knocking 2 minutes off her previous best for the distance. So who needs advice from me?
LAST ONE STANDING
Saturday brought near perfect conditions to the Co Down coast and augured well for the second running of the Last One Standing (LOS) in the Castleward Estate. Before the “main event” starting at 12.00 noon there were 2 races the first a one lap and the second 2 laps of the LOS loop.
Eithne McGrattan and Bernice McCann tested out he underfoot conditions over the longer distance and were suitably impressed to be glad they hadn’t entered the LOS itself. They were more than satisfied with the very impressive medals which their efforts earned for them. Michael McKeown also ran in the 8.2 mile circuit and appeared to take it in his stride.
Aaron McGrady took advantage of a weekend home from London to take 2nd place in 52.33, using this one as a warm up for Jimmy’s Ten in 4 weeks time, just behind the Newry strong and always competitive star, Don Travers. There were 2 other significant finishers in the 1 lap race, namely Denis Keane who came second in 28.23, and Bobbie Irvine who was 15th in 38.57. Their relevance? Well Bobbie won last year’s LOS overall after 30 laps and completed 27 laps (114.1 miles this year before he finished, while Denis was one of the 2 survivors (the other being Peter Cromie) who were timed out on lap 36 or 151.2 miles. That is 36 hours on his feet, without sleep. And in the nature of the race without rest either!
Did they have to carry out a recce beforehand? In Bobbie’s case I would have doubted that and I wondered did this short, sharp sprint affect their later performance? In Denis’s case obviously not.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
Basically the format is that everyone starts at 12 noon and runs or walks or both a 4.2 miles circuit in and around the beautiful surroundings of the Castleward Estate. Then everyone has to be on the start line again at 1.00pm to repeat the route again, and every hour thereafter. It is not a distance race. It is purely and simply a test of endurance stamina, bloody mindedness and an ability to tell the time! No exceptions would be made for anyone who did not cross the finish line in 60 minutes or who failed to cross the start line again on the next hour.
LOGIC
I decided last year after doing 5 laps that completing another 2 to achieve the marathon distance should not prove unduly difficult, if I trained a bit harder. And it wouldn’t have if I had, but I didn’t so it did.
THE THREE AMIGOS
I was one of three from East Down who had entered the LOS long enough ago not to have to think about it too much – in my own case until it was too late to do anything about it only turn up.
Keith Andrews and Davy Foster were my two clubmates, Keith like myself trying to improve on last year’s performances while Davy was having his initial attempt. Keith’s target was 10 loops = 42 miles while Davy’s was in his head and mine was to get to 6 and then do another.
It all sounded very do-able but I have to say that if it had not been for the support and encouragement of many of the East Down members and their friends and the people in general who were there I would not have made it.
((NO) LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?
I duly got to the end of lap 6, which meant that I only had to complete one more in whatever time to claim my medal and head for home. The 7th lap was the first to require the use of head torches and though I knew I wasn’t going to be able to run any more I would have retired after that one anyway on health and safety grounds. In my view it was too dangerous underfoot on the long muddy downhill stretch through the 3 mile point until the end. Clearly all those brave souls who carried on through the night thought differently and/or had better lights but I reckon that a few torches along this particular part and indeed at strategic locations around the lonelier, wooded areas would help enormously, not only with showing the way more clearly but for the benefit of those of a nervous disposition who feel frightened or intimidated by the rustle of wind in the trees.
THANKS TO ALL
Many others contributed too, mostly my fellow runners who know the value of an encouraging word or two and the organisers, Adrian and Sammy Daye and their crew. Take a well deserved bow followed by a week’s rest! A splendid event with only that one criticism.
I am also indebted big time to Linda Cunningham and Kim Surginor who met me just as I passed through the marathon distance point and who literally provided me with physical support for the next half mile. Then having made it to Mile 2 in 35 minutes, I knew that I would miss the cut off point but I didn’t care. All I wanted to do was finish.
THE LIGHT BRIGADE
To my rescue one again came my niece Oonagh Brétéché and Michael Cultra, complete with powerful torch and they stuck with me until 2.5 miles before I headed off alone to battle the dreaded laneway. Eventually, I homed in on what appeared to be a great star. It was in fact Oonagh and Michael again, armed with a more powerful beam this time who guided me home. An hour and nineteen minutes for that final 4.2 miles, but I was finished!! Back then to tea and food in the tent where my family waited with all sorts of comforting words and others like,” you’re not doing that ever again” as if I needed telling. Once again thanks to everyone there who helped me back to “normality” and to Catherine Miskelly who plied me with strong sweet tea and “unfinished” though not unwanted, soup earlier.
NEXT WEEK
Saturday is Civil Service Cross Country day at Stormont with a full progamme ranging from Primary School to Over 65 Masters races and with a new course to savour a great day’s racing is in prospect.
AND BEYOND
Locally Sunday week brings us once more to the beautiful Strangford Lough shore for the annual Ben Derg Coast 10K, which begins at 1.00pm, with registration in St Malachy’s GAA Club from 11.00am.
Joe Quinn
20 February 2017