Best & Worst

Best & Worst continues with Richard Hawkins telling us all about his county glory and a dreaded day in the woods!!

Races

Best: My best race was the County Roads Championships this year in Castlelyons. I had competed in this race once before in 2018 when I narrowly finished outside the team placings for a team gold which was disappointing. My times have improved since then so was interested to see how I would do over the 4-mile course now. It is now a combined male and female race and the total field of 232 runners eclipsed last years field of 111 runners. Every category was extremely competitive and was a revival of this Championships best days. There is nothing like Championship racing with a gun start, knowing who your competition is and having to produce your best effort on the day. I was in 4th position in my category for the first half of the race but managed to stay in touch before gaining places on the long drag in the second half of the race to finish in the silver medal position, just ahead of the third and fourth place runners. I was 2 minutes faster than my previous outing as well so was delighted. Any notion of getting a swelled head were quickly dispelled when I went to proudly collect my medal and I was asked ‘And who are you collecting it for (he obviously thought I was way too young for the category)? My blushes were spared when there was a shout (I think from John Quigley), that’s Richard Hawkins!

Worst: It was a 10k IMRA trail run in Ballyhoura. With a Marathon and Half-Marathon also taking place, a modest sized field offered an opportunity to do well on the day. From an early stage there were 3 of us who were well clear of the rest of the field and an unlikely podium position with a nice prize of Innov8 trail runners seemed a formality. However, when Willie O’Donoghue from Moureabbey milers (who had sensibly recced the course the night before) broke away, I was left running with the only other person who I have come across with an equally bad sense of direction! Instead of following the red and white tape markers we found another course marked with pink ribbons, so like Hansel and Gretel we ran deep in to the forest until we couldn’t go any further. We were so lost that we didn’t find our way back to the course until we met the guy taking down the course markers and to add insult to injury we still had to cover the majority of the distance from the rear of the field to finish. Definitely a day to forget!

Running Shoes

Best: Nike Invincibles or Zoom Fly 4’s give me the support and cushioning to run more often without picking up injury which has been a big help.

Worst: Due to long-term injuries when I was younger I never expected to be able to run, when I did find myself able to run a little I felt I couldn’t justify buying expensive running shoes because I didn’t have faith that it would last so I bought a pair from Lidl! A big mistake and it wasn’t long until I was injured again so a valuable lesson learned. I use orthotics now in a good quality shoe and haven’t looked back.

Food

Best: There are a lot of good products on the market for pre-workout and recovery but this can be an individual preference. When I started running I did a course with Catriona McKiernan who I always find is a wealth of knowledge and common sense, she told us that her ‘go-to’ for recovery was and still is a banana and milk. Very simple but good advice and an easy one to have your arsenal for adults and kids alike!

Worst: Have to avoid food with soluble fibre before a run, particularly in the morning to avoid logistical dilemmas!

‘Best & Worst’ continues with club member Denise Maher telling us about two 10 milers that offered such differing experiences

Races

Best: The John Treacy Dungarvan 10 Mile was my best race to date. It is run on a flat fast course, around the scenic seaside town of Dungarvan. It is held annually in early February. The conditions on the day were ideal for running. No wind or rain. Not hot but not too cold. It was my first time running this race, but I was reassured beforehand that it was a flat course, so I decided to stick with my plan and run with the 95min pacer. I had done a lot of hard training in the build-up, and it stood to me on the day. I knew that if I just stayed with the pacer, I would get the time I wanted. I pushed through a hard 9th mile and managed to keep up with the pacer. I finished out in a time of 1:34:09. I was beyond delighted. I am looking forward to racing again in Dungarvan next year.

Worst: A race I would rather forget was the Cork City 10-mile in 2022. The race follows the river Lee through the Marina Walkway, The Blackrock Loop, and The Old Railway Line. It is normally held in August. It was my first 10-mile race and my preparation for the race was far from adequate. It began at 5pm but the day had been very hot, and it continued into the evening with temperatures well above 20 degrees on the start line. I hate running in the heat and I was not helped by the lack of water I had drank on the day. I also had made the mistake of not doing enough distance training in the build-up to the race. The first 3 miles felt like hell, the heat was intense, and I believed I had no hope of finishing. The dehydration really took its toll in the later miles of the race, but I did eventually make it to the finish. I was absolutely wrecked after it. But this year, I am out for retribution and hopefully my preparation and training will be better this time around.

Our new series of member profiles ‘Best & Worst’ continues with star athlete Jennifer Goggin Walsh. With a running career that has seen some incredible highs across road, track and XC, we were always going to get great stories from Jennifer. 

Races

Best: Running since I was 7 years old so hard to pick one standout race. From childhood memories winning Cork Community Games and getting to represent Cork in the national finals in Mosney on two occasions, 1500mts & Cross Country. Back then Community Games was massive and the Mardyke would have been full. You had to meet out by the quays across from the bus station and walk out to the Mardyke with all the different districts in a parade through the city. The weekends in Mosney were fantastic, met President Mary Robinson there and lifelong friends made. Winning Cork Junior Cross Country on my Dad's birthday was another great race, I remember getting into 3rd place and thinking I can win a medal when my Dad shouted you can win this and so I kicked on and did. It was completely unexpected as I was 16 and running under 19. In most recent years it was winning the East Cork Road Championships on the infamous Ballynoe Hills with my running hero Sonia in the race.

Worst: Competing in the National League Final a few years ago when my hamstring tore mid race - it felt like getting shot, I tried to run/hobble on to get the points for the team but had to pull out. Worst feeling in the world when you feel you have let down your team.

Training

Best: Haven't done this now in so long as I'm not training properly or competing but if I can get through a number of 5x1km sessions at goal race pace or faster it gives great confidence before any race. During Covid myself and Willie Walsh did these regularly.

Worst: Hill repeats in Marlogue Woods in Cobh. Every Wednesday afternoon I would go out with my coach Willie Cronin and we would do 10 of these. They were about 300mts long. He would go half way up and I would have to catch him before we finished. I think these sessions were how I won the Junior Cross Country.

Weather

Best: The nicest weather to run in is in Costa Teguise Lanzarote. It's warm without been too hot and humid with a nice breeze. We used go at Easter time before Covid and I loved going for a run each morning.

Worst: The worst weather is driving wind and rain in November. I'll never forget running back in from the city with Willie Walsh along the open quays back in towards Glanmire. We were so miserable we stopped talking to each other. They say you never regret a run but on this occasion we did!

Delighted to start our new feature ‘Best & Worst’ with Club Chairperson Willie Walsh. Willie talks us through some of his racing highs and lows, the music that gets him singing (screeching) and the perfect climate for coaxing him outdoors!! 

Races

Best: Art O’Neill Challenge. While not as prolific a racer as I used to be I still race when I get the opportunity but my favourite race was / is the Art O’Neill. I haven’t done it in a few years now but have completed it six times and never outside the top 10. It’s a 55km (roughly) unmarked route from Dublin castle to Glenmalure in the heart of the Wicklow mountains that retraces the steps of Art O’Neill and Red Huge O’Donnell in their escape attempt from English captivity in the year 1592. Spoiler , Art died… It starts at midnight and if you’re lucky you get to see the sunrise as you descend the mountains into the Glenmalure valley. The first half is on road and the second half over the open mountains. A unique race that’s ran on the second Friday night in January and signing up for it always gave me great motivation to train through the winter months.

Read more here https://www.artoneill.ie/about

Worst: Dingle Marathon. Controversial maybe because of the wonderful setting and atmosphere around this lap of the end of the peninsula. My second ever marathon was down there and it didn’t go well. Bounced around the first half all the way out the coast route to Slea head but as the half marathoners turned left into Krugers pub in Dunquin I found myself alone on the road all the way back to Dingle not realising that I was in second place overall until the bottom of the mountain they send you over on mile 21. Made the top of the pass in the midday heat on a September day with temperatures in the 30s (no exaggeration) I suddenly got assaulted by the worst case of cramping I’d experienced to date in my life. From my fingers to my toes everything started to lock up. Limping into Dingle I wobbled through the finish line and sat in the sea on the slipway with my medal and tee shirt and like my best ever marathon finish they both went missing. 

If you’re interested in a brilliant half marathon try https://www.dinglemarathon.ie/course.html

Music

Best: I’ve a very eclectic taste in music and depending on many factors I could go down many a rabbit hole on Spotify. I have to admit that my body does produce endorphins when listening to ballads or trad songs. I can often be heard screeching Christy Moore or Luke Kelly lyrics on a cold winters night around the north side when I think no one is out.

Worst: EDM or Techno. I just don’t get it. Can’t relate and switch off immediately.

Weather

Best: I prefer the heat of summer and not having to think about how many layers or whether to wear a jacket or not. My body feels better in warm weather also and doesn’t have as much aches and pains after a hard or long session.

Worst: I don’t like rain at anytime but really dislike the feeling of cold wind driven rain in the depths of winter. Even though I’ve raced in atrocious conditions over the years as I’ve aged I’m not inclined to venture out in the rain as much anymore.