With thanks to Owen for this fascinating report…
Following the demise of the Wicklow Adventure Race series (or WAR as it was better known) in 2014, when the Quest Adventure Race Series launched a new race in Glendalough for 2016, I couldn’t resist signing up. For anyone that isn’t familiar with a multi-sport adventure race, they generally involve a number of stages with, as the name suggests, different disciplines, typically consisting of cycling, trail running and kayaking. Quest Glendalough offers participants 3 different distances to choose from, a 19km mini, 41km sport or a 57km expert race. For anyone that knows me, obviously there was only one option I was going to consider, the 57km expert of course!
Training for the trail running sections went well as I had completed a number of IMRA races and the Debra Ireland Wicklow Mountains Half Marathon not so long ago. I also recce’d the run stages of the race a few weeks previous so knew exactly what to expect on that front. My cycling training on the other hand simply didn’t happen. With the dark wet evenings, I found it very difficult to motivate myself to get out there on the bike. With the kayak section, being more a token gesture at only 1km in distance, I wasn’t worried about training for it.
On to race day and weather conditions were absolutely perfect. A beautiful bright, sunny but cool morning with barely a whisper of a wind in the air. The race kicked off at 8am with a rolling bike start out of Laragh GAA club and then straight into the first of many climbs of the day. Shay Elliott is a steep climb for nearly 5kms, mostly tackled in the lower range gears. Conscious that it was going to be a long day, I tried to not let myself get carried away with racing just yet, and settled into an easy pace. Once at the top of the hill, it was off the bike and on to the first of the trail runs. This trail run stage, while short at 6km, involved climbing two not insignificant mountains (Braigue and Cullentra). Again, holding myself back from over exerting early in the race (as I have done in previous races and suffered for it), I held back and jogged at a comfortable pace. Back on to the bike for 14kms and a fast descent down the other side of the Shay Elliott into Glenmalure. The thrill of the downhill was short-lived as we entered the most challenging climb of the day, the Slieve Mann climb to Drumgoff Gap. Here, my lack of training on the bike begins to show and I am passed by quite a few other cyclists. The sun also begins to make itself more known and with 6kms of gruelling uphill, I am sweating buckets. With the slow pace, I use the opportunity to devour an energy bar and have a drink of some electrolytes. Eventually the top of the hill is reached, and what goes up must come down, as we are treated to an exhilarating descent into the village of Aughvannagh. Again, my lack of experience on the bike is apparent as I descend cautiously, with a max speed of just 60kph, while my post-race Strava investigations reveal others exceed 75kph!
Still on the bike and ANOTHER climb! When I recce’d the runs a few weeks previous, I drove between each run stage and didn’t even notice this hill but I am definitely noticing it now. A cyclist in front of me has a mechanical failure as one of his pedals falls off. I feel very sorry for him, but not sorry enough to stop to help. 🙂 On to the 2nd of the 4 runs and again, while short at 5kms, I know this is the tough one. It’s steep and rocky but the reward is a spectacular view over Wicklow at the summit. I momentarily pause to take it all in before quickly setting off back down the mountain.
At the transition area, I hop back on to the bike for the last cycle stage. I take time on the slower sections to refuel and rehydrate as I know the tough penultimate run stage is still to come. In the village of Greenan, we meet up with the Sport competitors and the atmosphere is great. On the previous cycle section, I spent most of the time on my own however now there are cyclists all around me. I up my level of effort and latch on to a group of fast cyclists and we share the load by drafting back into Laragh. Off the bike for the last time and on to the 2nd last run.
Here all my training in the mountains starts to pay off, and combined with my conservative pace early on in the race means I still have a lot of energy in reserve. I start passing lots of people and it gives me a much needed morale boost. As I reach the top of the hill, I can hear music playing down below me at the finish line at the Glendalough Hotel. I contemplate how mean the route planners were as the end is both in sight and within earshot yet so far away!
As I begin my final descent to the kayak stage, a parting in the trees offers a stunning view down to the kayakers on the Upper Lake. Nearing the lake, I start to size up the other competitors, looking for someone who might be strong to share a kayak with. I ask a tall, well-built guy if he would like to share and he agrees. Life-jacket on, paddle in hand, a few pleasantries exchanged and we’re off. At 1km in distance, the kayak stage is dispensed with quickly and less than 10 minutes later, we’re back on solid ground for the final “sprint” to the finish line.
The last run doesn’t involve any hills, the biggest challenge being, circumnavigating the hordes of tourists visiting Glendalough on this beautiful sunny day. I spot a guy from my race ahead of me that I recognise from an earlier stage and suddenly the race is on! I know this isn’t a dash for a podium position, heck I’ve no idea where I am even placed, but suddenly passing this guy means everything to me. I run a sub 7-minute mile for the last mile and while far from a PB, with 56kms already in the legs, it’s enough for me to cross the finish line ahead of my accidental opponent.
With nearly 58kms completed and 3hrs 46min after setting off, I’m done and dusted. The results later reveal I finished in 34th position which I am very happy about. Home for a long shower and a well-deserved rest and to eat everything in sight.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1138784742
