One evening at the track Vivienne suggested a weekend away and do a race, Jan jumped to the comment and straight away told us about Curracloe in Wexford, close to her hometown. Great idea! We posted on Running page, etc… and eventually a group of 8 were able to make it. Jan since then added a new job to her life as Events manager and Oh man she shined on this one. Listen to this!
Sometime before the weekend I casually asked her if she knew it was a flat course, expecting a Yes. however with a big smile said, Oh no, it is trails and beach… to which I could not hear anything else she spoke about… in my mind was trails and beach, beach and trails….. what have we done!!
In the morning of the 3rd of October Sam and Geoff who arrived the previous night, Jan, Angela and Lyndon in one car and Eileen, Vivienne and myself arrived in another, met at the Curracloe beach. It was cold morning. We met at the Surf shack (very Bondi Beach look of it ) It was really cool. The race was organised by Born2run, who are Geoff’s ‘neighbours’!!. We put our numbers and straight from that it as the path to the beach. We went to see how hard the sand was…. instead we found this paradisiac beach of white sand,… endless…. soft beautiful sand…. Oh it was fantastic! How amazing… what a beach……… HOLD ON! Are we supposed to do 5k on this??!?!?! Oh now I am worried. We saw the half marathoners come from their first lap. Imagine doing that twice… Went back to the Surf shack and start getting ready for our race. Jan’s mam was going the 10k walk, and Jan’s friend Brenda her very first 10k. Some brave woman!
We got organised and we started going to the Start line. We had the honour to share starting line with Stevie McGeown … he did 100 marathons in 100 days and he was going to do another marathon the next day. Some man!
Suddenly the horn went off, and off we all went. As expected Geoff and Lyndon were nowhere to be seen. Whereas the girls we kept an eye on each other. After 1 k of road running we started going through the trail, it was ok-ish.. but at least me, and I guess the rest, kept looking at the ground all the time to make sure we didn’t lose the footing. It was a narrow-ish path if you met other people, but felt very peaceful. Maybe I was too concentrated to see where I was going that I could not see or hear anything at all. Running between trees, etc… was very nice but tough. At the 5k there was a water station…. and then I remember what had happened along the way. Before the Start we were told that if we ran into difficulties let another runner know and they will contact the Order of Malta…. I was not exactly sure how that was going to work on those paths but thankfully everyone was good and nothing happened. After the water station a couple of not so big but steep hills and lights went on! Massive clarity and the beach was there. 5 full k of beach to run. It was a mixed feeling, it is like in the summer walking on the beach… your feet sink down and you walk like a duck… imagine running on it. The feet was going really down into the sand. I glanced Vivienne quite ahead of me but I lost her as I could not figure out where was the hard sand part. There wasn’t any really. Some areas were a bit better but…. it was not hard. I kept going up and close to the shore and up again, until a lady who looked like she knew what she was doing passed by me and I decided to follow. It worked (within reason).
I passed by Jan’s mam who was walking with another lady.
But at last I saw the end of our race when we had to turn towards the finish line we have the last hill of sand… I would say most people walked it. It was ‘impossible’ to walk, never mind run. Geoff and Lyndon, who already arrived, were there to cheer on us and I think they saw the worst faces on us. (what goes on tour stays on tour) and eventually reached the top of the hill and a steep hill down to the finish line!
Oh that was some run! Vivienne had arrived already and we met at finish line. Eileen arrived just behind. Got an amazing medal!! Water, banana and kit kat. We had to give the chip back and a very helpful volunteer unlaced the shoes, took it for us and tied the laces back. And off we went to join the boys and see the rest of the ladies arrive.
Jan arrived and I was shocked as she was just back from injury and she did an amazing time. Followed by Sam, Brenda and Angela. the 4 of them one after another.
We all thought it was great, different by very tough. To compensate we had an amazing weather. We all went to have soup and bread. It was tasty after that run.
Vivienne had the brilliant idea of having a bath in the sea. So after the race we all went… and well, this is Ireland and October so we went as far as legs could go .. it was a lucky dip – whoever was more than 1 min was very lucky ;o))) Lyndon won as you can see on the photos.. he is even posing ;o)))
Water was really, really cold but did wonders for our legs. Thanks to ‘the Lads’ for the advise!
Went back to the hotel and had a Wexford speciality recommended by Jan, rissoles. Delicious!! Got ready and went out to party all night!
Jan found us a extraordinary restaurant. Everything was delicious.Food fantastic, place really nice and cosy, staff fantastic! And then of course ‘pubbing’ afterwards. And that is the end of the report. Only thing I will say is that Angela had no voice the next day ;o)
And here are the times!!!!! Dunboyne caused some impression!!!!
Ana Quigley 62:13
Angela Egan 70:34 -1st in her category
Eileen Soraghan 63:51
Geoff Hamilton (paid for a round of drinks as he arrived first… his rules ;o)) in 14th position overall!!! 47.33 and 1st in His category
Jan Rice 68:53
Lyndon Thomas 54:58 – 2nd in His Category
Sam Hamilton 69:21
Vivienne Lennon 60:27
That was the end of an amazing weekend and Thanks to Jan for organising it.
Thanks to Sam for the photos!! http://dunboyneathleticclub.com/gallery/surfnturf-10k-race/
