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Good luck to the guys travelling to gowran tomorrow for the Leinster road races.

Registration by hand can be made on Saturday 12th May at Terenure College between 1PM and 5PM
And on the day of the race (Sunday 13th) up to 10.30am. Additional fee of €5 applies on both days.

Race numbers, timing chips and t-shirts may be collected on Saturday 12th May at Terenure College between 1PM 5PM or on Sunday morning prior to the race (from 8.30AM).

Terenure Directions: Go in the main gate off Templeogue Rd and go left at 1st. junction. Gym is along on the right at rear of large car park.

So please root out those unwanted bags and bring them along to registration on Sunday 13th.

Tell your friends and bring some extra cash to the race . Here’s your chance to get that special bag at bargain prices!

Despite being a little over an hour from Dublin the journey took longer than expected with tractors, ploughs and all varieties of combine harvesters beeping their horns and blocking the roads around Trim and Athboy for the St Patricks day celebrations. Despite the diversion we arrived in a deserted Kildalkey village with 45 minutes to spare. Only the local pub was open so we took refuge from the torrents of water and watched some of the parade on the TV.

All was going well, until about 12.30pm when a heavy shower moved in and refused to move out. The flat course had been bone-dry but the Baskinagh Highway ended up being the Baskinagh Canal with a lot of standing water and pot holes you risked loosing more than a shoe in.

The race kicked off at 14:00 meeting at Kildalkey Parish Hall. 127 lined up for the race, the first in the 2012 Meath series. A group of 10 or so runners were grouped closely for the first 3 miles and then things started to spread out a bit. The 3rd mile brought us off road into a local trail for 3/4 of a mile.

It wasn’t until the last mile that the rubber hit the road. Going into the race looking to keep the gap between myself and the lads down to 30-40 seconds I was delighted to be running well and hot on Phil’s heels with 800M to go. A good back and forth ensued and we were fast making ground on Paul. The last few bends weaved around a local housing estate. With 200M to go Phil pushed ahead and out-kicked me on the last turn. It was a great race non the less and given another 100M we could have had a three-way Sportsworld photo finish. Covered head to toe in more muck than your average cross country there was something satisfying about having made the effort to run. Just 3 seconds on the clock separated us in the end with Paul running 26:21, Phil 26:23 and myself 26:24. With3 solid runs and Peters help we comfortably picked up the mens team prize. With Phil and Paul both likely to run the national 10K they are both looking good for some great times.

Great race and as always I recommend everyone in the club give the Meath series a go over the summer. Yesterdays race mostly consisted of club runners but as always catered for all standards.

Thanks to Peter for racing on theteam and supplying the great photo. You can check out this and other great photos on his Flickr Set

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When the gorse bursts into hazy shades of yellow you know Spring has arrived.
It arrived on Sunday last and it gave a big piggy back to some stunning sunshine.
We know because myself, Stephen W and Ronan were on our way with the dawn. Our mission? To run and race the intriguing ‘trail run’ in aid of that incredible charity, Debra Ireland.
Our destination was The dizzy heights of The Wicklow Way for starters. To finish, a little mountain from the flat bed of Glendalough to the summit of Brockagh Mountain. Thing is, it was off road and Boy! Do we mean off road.

The warm early morning reception at Glendalough matched the warmth of the volunteers and patients. It’s easy to say “they are incredible” but please look at Debra Ireland’s website to see why.

Ronan, a running warrior had entered the half marathon. Stephen and I the 10k. Before long we gave up our snug chat, jumped on buses and went 6 miles straight towards the sky to the Wicklow Gap. Not bad you might think, a little trot back down. Don’t be fooled.

The Dad of a sufferer made an emotional speech at the summit. The heavens shone brightly and tears flowed. (I really do want you to look at www.debraireland.org) sadly, she had gone to heaven to warm up our day. It made us think and, most of all, how amazingly lucky I am and you too.

Ronan went a half hour earlier complete with camel pack and Stephanie Bergin. The Gods were seducing us. To a soft 1,2,3 we were off hurtling down the boggy soft drenched earth. It was unbelievably difficult and there were yelps, groans and pain. Shoes were sucked into the bog, bones crunched on granite, water seeped everywhere. 1k was torture, only 9 to go.
With too much eagerness, I was in 3rd place but don’t worry, it didn’t last. Soon, you were on your own, the 150 runners were already spread out.
Down bog, up road, through a river, spinning down on granite we hit flat ground after 5k. Legs were gone and our Garmins were displaying embarrassing times.
Into Glendalough but a sting was waiting. Up a mountain, not Zig zagging, straight up. It was murderous. At the top, not 1 but 4 styles in a row. My left leg wanted to stay put but came with me after much persuading..
Stephen had drifted back, his shoe had been stolen by the bog and he recovered. Ronan and Stephanie were high on the hills, we couldn’t believe their strength.
I battled with 3 runners and finally had my moment in the last 400m. Where the speed came from only God knows.
The finish was beautiful, just like emerging from an enchanted forest. A beautiful golden retriever came up with eyes wide open to offer his welcome. He drank my water and then another. It was a highlight.

Stephen came in a little later then Ronan and Stephanie looking like The Mud Man. His immaculate white top was now Wicklow brown. We were high up the placings but that’s not the point. The point was Debra Ireland.

We all have challenges, problems and worries. On Sunday we suffered. I’m glad we did. Why? It’s a tiny reminder of what matters. It balanced everything.

To Debra Ireland and my great running buddies, Ronan, Stephanie and Stephen, thank you for an amazing day, an incredible run and for keeping us grounded when the hills had other ideas.