Lots of Other Factors: Ballymac 5

Doocey’s Bar Ballymac 5, Friday July 25th, 2014

Running is not just about running. There are lots of other factors, as will be seen (clearly, I hope) below.

Now well past mid-summer, and approaching the final races for 2014, I headed towards the spectacular Nire Valley last Friday evening.

Pre-race: a sizeable number presented at the Community Centre for hassle-free registration, and outside they chatted in the warm evening sunshine. Many, I suppose, chatted about the intense heat of the early afternoon, and were glad that a cooling breeze was sweeping through. Some, I suppose, discussed the good form of friends and maybe even rivals. I’m fairly certain that Garth Brooks was not mentioned. His race was run.

Along with many others, I jogged the short distance to the start line and on towards the valley. I made sure not to go too far, because once again, I intended jogging this race. That sounds contradictory, but the plan was in place, and I intended sticking to it.

Note of interest: In recent races, I’ve noticed that athletes seem to know exactly where to position themselves prior to the starting gun. Helped by locating others with similar times in recent events, and deciding to move slightly up or down the field depending on other factors, it all works like a well-oiled machine.

3-2-1-GO: Quite happily positioned near the back of the bunch, my first mile proved to be a bit quicker than I intended at 9:10. When I passed the mile-marker and noted the above time, it was clear to me that I needed to back off a bit more. My cycling Tour of Meath 160k 36 hours later was a big priority. As luck would have it, I noticed Tricia Cullinane a little bit ahead of me, and decided to move up, but not to move ahead. Tricia was making her first appearance following her Viking half-marathon in Waterford in late June, and she urged me to push on and do my own race. However, my mind was set. I eased back into warm-up pace, and enjoyed the chat along the way. Mile 2: 10:00, mile 3: 9:57, mile 4: 9:55. Now there’s consistency, despite constant slight uphill to the wood entrance, two stiffer inclines through the wood, and some downhill before returning to the final  mile.

We pushed the pace just a little bit, and just a little bit again with 800 metres to go. I was anxious to follow the pace rather than set it, and we had a small little skirmish, without any major injury or fatality. Then out of the blue, with 200 metres to go, my running buddy showed her competitive fangs as she sprinted hard. To her credit, she did shout out “Come on, Padraig”, as she left me two yards behind. And so, battle commenced. I did not realise that it was to turn into several smaller battles, each slightly more intense than the last. As soon as we were once again shoulder to shoulder, off she went again…and again, until by the time we crossed the line, it is likely that the officials thought we had battled in such fashion for a full five miles!

Friendly rivalry

Final time: 47:53, average HR 145. Happy with that. Number 9 completed.

My photographer buddy, John Coleman caught the agony and the extasy of running. Looking at these pictures later, the thought struck me that running is such a powerful thing. It mattered not a tad to us that we were fighting it out for 156th place. The level of intensity that an athlete can pull from deep within, based on training and lots of other factors, is significant. This intensity is very empowering, as it shows (well, it does to me anyway) that the human spirit is designed to feel at its most magnificent best when the unachievable has been achieved; when hard work is rewarded; when a journey is shared; when partnership and quest for victory can live side-by-side.

I knew I’d been outsprinted, so I put on my “camera face”

Finally, thinking a little further about this blog in recent weeks, I’m looking for ways to move it outside the box of an entirely personal perspective. I have received some interesting feedback about the personal participant slant of running or cycling, and it will remain my primary focus. However, beginning with this post, I’m introducing an element where I “notice” and acknowledge an athlete for one reason or other (factors, again!).

Mary Mangan Dyer ran this event in 37:11. and as she mentions in her post-race interview “I’m one happy bunny”. Here she is coming home to a wonderful PB. Well done, Mary.

A personal best to remember! 37:11

Other other factors:

• I am sure that the good local folk appreciate the beauty that surrounds them on all sides. Ballymacarbery and the Nire valley area is a truly spectacular place, from the lowlands of the village, changing several times on the approach to higher ground to Powers-the-Pot. Now, there’d be an amazing endurance run!
• Many locals came out to watch the event and cheer us on tonight. On such a beautiful evening, they sat on garden walls or stood by the roadside. Many were small children, perhaps runners in-the-making.
• Perhaps there are further other factors, not mentioned here. Do feel free to add your own other factors as comments.

 

Official WWAC report: The link is here and Race results here

20th ANNUAL GER WYLEY SPORTS/SKINS SUMMER SERIES 2014-RACE 9.

19TH ANNUAL DOOCEYS ORIEL BAR BALLYMACARBRY 5 MILE ROAD RACE

You can’t get to much better than this as our race sponsor commented ,Yes the sun was shining and one of the largest turnout of runners seen for many a year attended last Friday evening’s Ballymacarbry 5 mile road race, the third last race in the 20th annual Ger Wyley Sports /SKINS summer series for 2014. Anyway, The Doocey’s Oriel Bar sponsored Ballymac 5 mile road race saw a field of 175 complete the scenic course on the night. Our sincere thanks go for the 19th time to the Doocey family of Doocey’s Oriel bar who once again this year sponsored the race.  Thanks to Michael Doocey who was on hand to present the winners with their prizes. We are indebted to Race director Frank Bolger for all his practical help ensuring the runners had a safe and enjoyable run in the Nire Valley. Frank was one of the founding race committee members way back in 1995 when this race started and his still the leading figure each year since. Frank was our honorary race starter last Friday evening also and finished off his evenings work by also doing race sweeper, many thanks Frank. Our thanks to Coillte and local forester Kevin Power for his ongoing help and assistance with holding the event through the wood . Thanks to Danny O Rourke all at the community centre for permitting the use of the fabulous facilities, entries were taken at the hall and changing and showers were also available which was really appreciated by one and all.  We would like to especially thank John Condon once again this year as indeed he has now for many years given us permission to go through his land which is part of the race course. Thanks to our committee members who made the sandwiches, to John of DC Images on camera duty.To Ann for the prizes and to Brid, Megan, Shirley, Sharon and Liam for the entries and results. Our thanks to Jim Fleming for all his help with this race also.Thanks to Conor ,Jamie and their new assistant Patrick who were on duty out on the course and to Liam O’Donnell on the van duty. Our thanks and appreciation to the Spellman family who provided the water station at mile 2 mark this was much appreciated by the runners. All in all another great community effort saw a most enjoyable nights racing in the beautiful Nire valley se you all in 2015.

KEVIN MANSELL GIVES POWERFUL DISPLAY TO WIN HIS FIRST.

Running the Ballymacarbrty 5 for the first time is a goal for many but for one individual who not alone was running the race for the first time last Friday evening but he actually went on to win the race, now that is defiantly some achievement. One of Tipperary based club’s finest athletes on the circuit presently Kevin Mansell put in a brilliant run to take the title for 2014 with a time of 25.55.Holding off a stiff challenge from previous race winner Philip Harty West Waterford AC who was 2nd in 26.11 .The two battled together for the first 3 miles with Philip actually setting the pace for all of the first 3 miles of the race, when in the Wood section of the course on the hill after the 3 mile mark Kevin put in a surge which was to settle the battle between the two as he opened up a nice gap on Philip over the top of the climb and by the time the race was back on the downhill road section there was only going to be one winner as Mansell powered his way over final mile to cross the line 16 seconds ahead of Harty. the split time’s for Kevin were 5.08 mile one,10.29 mile two,15.45 for mile three and 20.48 for mile four. Waterford’s Trevor Power who was with the first two finishers for the first 2 miles finished 3rd in 26.54 well clear of twice race winner Raivis Zakis West Waterford AC who was 4th in 27.43.The over 40 category was claimed by Alan Ryan West Waterford AC 30.52 with Waterford’s Jim Baldwin taking the over 45 prize in 29.56. Ray Hahesy West Waterford AC has recently being making the over 50 section at all local races his own and last Friday evening was no exception as he once again claimed that category with a very good time of 31.09 Tommy Cahill Clonmel AC  claimed the over 55 prize with a time of 33.51.Well done to all winners and runners.

RESULTS OF BALLYMACARBRY 5 MILE 2012

1st Kevin Mansell Clonmel AC 25.55

2nd Philip Harty West Waterford AC 26.11

3rd Trevor Power Waterford AC 26.54

0/40 Alan Ryan West Waterford  AC 30.52

0/45 Jin Baldwin Waterford AC  29.56

0/50 Ray Hahesy West Waterford AC 31.09

0/55 Tommy Cahill Clonmel AC 33.51

Junior Philip Hunter Sligo AC 30.42

ORNA MURRAY RUNS 2ND FASTEST TIMES EVER TO WIN LADIES RACE.

Young Orna Murray set the Nire valley alight last Friday evening with a brilliant run in the Ladies section of the race. Orna who recently returned from athletic scholarship in Stony Brook College will pursue her academic career next year in UCC as she goes on to further her studies. Oran runs with Ferrybank AC and her time of 30.12 was the 2nd fastest time ever recorded by a lady over this Ballymac course. The record is held by Pauline Lambe who in 2009 set a time of 29.48.Onra from the gun meant business clocking 5.49 for the first mile and followed with a 6.15 a 6.07 and a 6.08 over the hilly wood section of the course, she finished 8th overall from the field of 175 finishers, brilliant running from young Orna who we can expect to see a lot off in the winner enclosure in future races. Previous winner of the race Clonmel’s Angela Mc Cann  finished in second place with a time of 31.16,this was  a very good run by Angela as this time would on another day be good enough to win this race but for the exceptional run for Orna. One of the leading contenders for this year’s overall series West Waterford’s Sinead Mansfield finished in third place in a time of 32.20. The category prizes were over 35 Mary Molloy 39.23 , over 40 Brigid Coffey for the 2nd year in a row 39.23 , over 45 Ann Dunford 34.34 who also won this section in 2013. the over 50 winner was Una Uí Mhuirithe 37.46 mother of our race winner, and Ciara Burke once again picked up the Junior prize with another solid 37.46. Just to mention a big well done to all the Ladies who were running their very their first Ballymac 5 last Friday evening Ye did superbly well, we hope it won’t be your last outing over this beautiful scenic course.

LADIES RESULTS

1st Orna Murray Ferrybank AC 30.12

2nd Angela Mc Cann Clonmel AC 31.16

3rd Sinead Mansfield West Waterford AC 32.20

0/35 Mary Molloy IND 34.55

0/40 Brigid Coffey West Waterford  AC 39.23

0/45 Ann Dunford  West Waterford AC  37.49

0/50 Una Uí Mhuirithe IND 34.34

Junior Ciara Burke IND 37.46

ZUZANA MALIKOVA VOUCHER WINNERS FOR BALLYMAC 5.

For each race in this years Summer Series, as she has also done for the past 2 years, Zuzana Malikova has generously sponsored 2 massage vouchers.The winners of the vouchers for the Dooceys Bar 5 mile race are Niamh O’Donovan and Anthony Flynn.Zuzana is a Neuromuscular Physical Therapist and Massage therapist and is based at the Complementary Health Clinic, Tournore, Abbeyside. She can be contacted at 087-1218721