Glanageenty Loop

I am finally getting around to doing this post.  Glanageenty is an amazing place and at the moment it is my favourite place to run.  Whenever I am in Co. Kerry, I bring the trail runners and always try to make time for a run here.  It is not far off the main road between Casteisland and Tralee.  It is based near the small village called Ballymacelligott.  It is very accessible.  The loop is on the land of the mountain running legend that is John Lenihan.  John was crowned World Mountain Running Champion in 1991.  You can see how it came about as he had a ready made course as his back yard.

 So when I heard that there was a race coming up here, I pencilled it in.  On Saturday, Dec 13th, 2018, it was the inaugural Glanageenty Loopers trail races.  There was a 10km, half marathon and full marathon.  I signed up for the 10km.  My race consisted of one big loop while the half marathon was 2 loops and the full marathon was 4 loops.  

The weather was a big talking point that morning as torrential rain was predicted but everyone was hoping to be off the course before it arrived.  The marathon started at 8:30am, followed by the half marathon at 9:30am and finished with the 10km at 10:30am.  I was used to running here so I knew what to expect.  Even though they changed the direction of the loop and it went through John Lenihan's farm which you are not allowed to do on a normal run, I still felt confident enough about the run as I knew the terrain.

There was about 40 runners in the 10 km race.  I was up at the top straight away and I said I would stay up at the top as long as I could.  As the race pushed on, to my surprise I was with the leaders and now three of us had pulled away from the pack.  I was thinking I could have a podium finish.  It was very helpful to know the course as I knew what was ahead of me.  After a couple of kilometres, the eventual winner, David White, pulled away.  I tried to keep up my I was aware that could backfire on me.  I tried to stay as comfortable as I could on a mountain race.  This is not too easy as your heart rate is constantly going up and down due to the severe uphills on the course.

David had stretched ahead of me, but I noticed that a gap was appearing between Fran, in 3rd place and I.  I made a goal to hold onto to 2nd place.  This was not easy as Fran was never too far away.  But there was some spots I power hiked, as I was going the same speed as running but power hiking saved energy.  I knew with about 2 km to go that it was mostly downhill so I opened up the legs a bit.  The gap to 3rd place opened up a bit more.  I was looking at my watch and set myself another goal of finishing under the hour mark.  For the last kilometre, I emptied the tank.  I was delighted to cross the line in 2nd place and in a time of 57:27.  I accomplished my two in - race goals of holding onto 2nd place and finishing it under the hour mark.  I was really satisfied after this race and I loved every minute of it.

Just as we arrived at the finish line, the heavens opened.  I was delighted to get finished before the down pour. It was not a day for hanging around.  I got out of there and warmed myself up back at the house where I was staying.  I was sitting down with a hot cup of tea when an unbelievable down pour occurred.  As a result of the bad weather, some participants who were taking part in the marathon were taken off the course for the own safety.  Despite this, it was a very well run event and it is a race I hope to again.  This time I am hoping to take on the half marathon.  

Glanageenty is a real trail running spot.  There is something about it.  It has three routes on it so there is one to cater for all fitness levels.  I would highly recommend it if you are in the area of Tralee or Castleisland.  You might come across a few of the Glanageenty Loopers (local running group), who are always around for a run day or night.  Or you might just meet the running legend, John Lenihan, as he tends to his cattle.  Put it on your list of places to run.  You won't be disappointed.  

Seeing Improvement

I am about 3 months into my training so that would give me enough time to assess my training methods and see if I have improved.  I have not been able to put the time I would like into my training schedule because of a new job and a new baby.  I feel though I have put in enough time to see improvement and that has been the case.

It was hard to gauge any improvement during the cross country season as it is not based on times.  I just stuck at it and I feel it has brought me on leaps and bounds in the last month.  There was a few weeks where I was getting my two threshold runs, one tempo run and a cross country run in during the weekend.  With this type of training I was going to see improvements. 

It didn't feel that way when I competed in the Clare Senior Cross Country in early December.  It was a 10km run on a relatively flat course.  I finished 27th and I was the 6th scorer for my club team St. John's, which helped secure 2nd placed team.  It was a tough race as it was ran at a scorching pace.  The distance didn't phase me but I had to be careful not to go out too fast as it would have been a tough second half of the race.  By going out conservatively, I lost the field ahead of me and found it hard to gain places.  There was some real greyhounds running in this race.  It was great to be a part of it and I am looking forward to improving in the race next year.

After the Clare Senior race, I wasn't sure where I stood.  The following week, I put in a good week of training for the weekend. I had two races in Kerry.  On Saturday, I competed in the Glanageenty 10km Trail race.  Glanageenty is a unbelievably place for a trail run.  It is in the parish of Ballymacelligott, which is between Castleisland and Tralee.  I am going to do a full post on the race and Glanageenty as it is a one of my favourite spots to run. I finished 2nd in the 10km trail race in a time of 57:27.  I was over the moon with this.  I received a lovely medal and framed picture of Glanageenty.  It was an excellently organised event and I will come back next year to take on the half marathon.

The following day, I travelled to Newmarket in Cork to take part in their annual 5km road race.  I had made a new target of breaking 19 minutes for a 5km since I broke the 20 minute mark easy enough.  I did not think I would do that in Newmarket as the legs were tired after the trail race the previous day.  I warmed up well before this to loosen up the body.  I got up near the front to avoid the crowd as there was over 400 runners.  I did the first kilometre very quick and I felt I needed to slow down.  I got into a comfortable rhythm and I was clocking a kilometre at around 3:45. I started to feel it around the three and half kilometre mark.  A group of about three people came up on my shoulder and I said I would stay with them.  We went through the town which had an uphill so mentally I knew when I got to the top of that, it was down hill after that.  Once I hit the downhill, I put the boot down and raced for the line.  I could not believe it that I crossed the line in 18:24.  I was delighted.  It is a really good course to do a PB as it was won in 14:40. Coming home that evening, I was wrecked but satisfied as I saw progress today with my new PB for 5kms.

Since that race in Newmarket, I have completed two more 5km road races.  On St. Stephen's Day, I was in Farranfore to compete.  This was a tougher course than Newmarket.  There was three testing hills.  I clocked this in  time of 18:39.  It was not a PB but it was more satisfying as I knew the course was tougher and it would be a big ask to break 19 minutes.

The next race was the Christmas Cracker in Ennis.  This should have been a challenge to my PB as it was an ideal course.  It showed me the importance of warming up and eating well before a race.  As I did not do both great, I struggled in this.  I still managed 4th place and broke 19 minutes with a time of 18:53.  I did not enjoy this race as I felt sick after it.

I have turned my attention to trying to break 18 minutes for 5kms as I have completed three races under 19 minutes.  This will take a lot of work though.  It is great to see progress and know that the training is working.  I am hoping to do a 10km very soon and will look to reach my goal of breaking 40 minutes for 10kms.  I am hopeful I can do this. Anyway, thank you for reading and at this stage progress is happening and hopefully it will continue.  I will keep you posted.

Happy New Year