Howth

Howth 5km Mountain race

Trail/Mountain running has been something I have watched closely for the past year, becoming more and more engrossed in the world of trail running each and every day.
A fast ascent of a mountain pushing hard all the way up is what I now prefer to hiking up for hours, from watching athletes such as Anton Krupicka and Kilian Jornet my love for the discipline has grown.

Kilian Jornet, one of the greatest trail runners of all time

So recently I enrolled in the IMRA a mountain running association in Ireland, and looking at the calendar my first race was in howth a 5km race.
I spent the next few weeks training hard long runs mountain runs coupled with the other sports I'm playing.
As the first race of the season drew nearer I was feeling fit and ready for a crack at trail running.
Considering I had spent the best part of last year in different mountain ranges I was well prepared, being in Colorado I think had helped.
The night before the race I stayed in Dublin barely able to sleep a wink, I was anxiously nervous my gear was laid out and I was ready for the next morning.
The next morning I woke early and had a good breakfast before making my way out to howth, registration for the race closed at half 11 so I had plenty of time.
Having got my number (248) I set of to warm up and to get a feel for the course, the first km was very narrow and a bottleneck was sure to be the outcome.
At 11:55 everyone was lined up and ready following a minutes silence the countdown started my breath became slower my heart started to race and all my legs wanted to do was explode forward, GO the sound of watches beeping into action deep breaths and feet hitting concrete for the first steps where what greeted the word.
I stupidly got caught back in the bottleneck as the race kicked off and spent the majority of the first ascent trying to pick my way up along the throng of people in front of me, by the time we reached the final part of wooded area I was up in the top 10 and feeling confident, the climb towards the mast and around for a second loop began, my legs ground upwards on the steepest section of the course where running was not possible, and once I crested this section the track opened out before me and I loosened my legs taking into a strong stride, by the time we came around for the second loop of the course I had passed 2 others and was pushing towards the front.
Around the same loop but coming back down towards the finish line I was focusing on catching the next man ahead of me but at the same time another had started to breath down my neck, we crashed down through the forest together his breath becoming closer and closer we dodged trees and leapt gaps all the way down towards the final stretch to the finish line.
I opened up leaving him behind giving everything I had left and crossing the finish line.
I finished 8th in the race, the season had started many more races lie ahead

Coming towards the finish line

Top of the Rockies

Mt Elbert 14,440 feet (4,401 m) Highest point in the Rockies of North America

A spur of the moment decision led to me lying in a car at the base of Mount Elbert preparing to summit the highest point of the rockies of North America.
I had thought that it would be later on in the summer before I would manage to get out to it, the mountain was hours away.
But the day before myself and a friend of mine had been talking about the mountain and how it would be amazing to reach its summit but that we would have to leave it till later in the summer, later on that evening we were again chatting about the mountain when we decided to take off that night.
I got my gear packed and headed to the shop to grab myself all the food id need for the climb, once I got back Triona and Dillon landed in we finished packing and hit the road.
we drove right through the night and landed at the base of Mount Elbert in the early hours of the morning.
We decided to get a few hours sleep before tackling the mountain and so we hit the hay for a few hours cramped and excited.
At 6 o clock we got ready to set off, climbers shaking the haze of sleep off began to emerge from their vehicles to get prepared. By half 6 we were ready and set to go.
The weather was brilliant as it had been throughout my time in Colorado, we made our way onto the forest trail and made our zig-zag way up the mountain passing over rivers and streams as they rushed down the trail past us.
Having walked for over an hour the trees began to thin out and a slight wind began to blow down the mountain, eventually the trees lower down on the mountain gave way to open hillside with the summit looming above.

We had been walking for a few hours at this stage so we stopped for some water and something to eat.
We drove on up across the switchbacks along the side of the mountain. There was a lot of people making there way up along the mountain and on such a fine day you could understand why, having pierced above the tree line the rockie mountains opened up around us from Mount Massive opposite Elbert to the many the peaks that where to be seen. The view was brilliant we continued on up towards the peak and where closing in on the top by midday.
Mt Elbert has two false peaks on top and made the end of the climb deceiving, when you thought you had made it to the top another peak reared its head up and you had to continue on climbing.
I reached the top by 12 o clock with Trina and Dillon following close behind we sat on top for some time taking in the views of the rocky mountains, sitting at the highest point for miles and miles was a great feeling.
We stayed on top for a long time before eventually making a quick descent, much of which we ran, down towards the car.
By 3 o clock we were back in the car sweaty, hungry and tired and we hit the road back to Denver the highest point in the rockies and Colorado reached.

Me (right) and Dillon at the summit of Mt Elbert

14,000 feet

Mt Bierstadt 14,065 feet (4,287 m)

Standing at over 4000 meters high Mt Bierstadt was my first 14er (Mountains above 14000 feet) in Colorado and an amazing climb, although not technically demanding Bierstadt has an aesthetic beauty to it which makes it a wonderful climb.
I set off with my housemate Eddie at around 6 o clock to get to the mountain, the sky was cloudless as we drove through Golden and out through the village of Morrison towards the mountain, upon reaching the mountain village of Georgetown we stopped to grab some protein bars and drinks, following this stop we made our winding way up the Guanella Pass towards the beginning of the trail. We had parked the car and where ready to go by quarter to 8 in the morning.



Trail from car park to the summit

We had something quick to eat got ready and set out, the mountain was still at this stage of the season covered in snow and so within the first ten minutes of the climb we were pushing through snow which went halfway up our legs. We trudged on upwards towards the switchbacks which marked the start of the real climb, the weather was ideal clear skies and crisp cool air made for a great start by around 9 o clock we were making steady progress up the switchbacks making our way past many other climbers as we went.
This altitude was something I wasn't used to and I could feel my lungs burning as we made our ascent up the mountain, 14 times higher then the tallest mountain in Ireland a crazy thought.
We stopped halfway up the switchbacks to have something to eat and to take in our surroundings, a blanket of snow stretched out in each direction we looked, a plateau of high mountains all around us. Having eaten we set off once more.

We continued on to the top of the switchbacks at which point we entered the final push for the summit, for a while at this point the snow that covered the ground lower down was not there, but once we reached the final ridge we once again had to trudge through at times knee deep snow.
The air was thinner at this height then below I felt slightly dizzy and tired. I was taking more and more breaks the closer we got to the summit.
At half 11 we had reached the summit, having sat and eaten and taken in the surrounding peaks of Mt Evans and other 14ers we took some pictures and set off on our descent, just below us lay the saw-tooth ridge which connected Mt Evans and Bierstadt.
Many miles away from us we could see a storm moving in towards us and so once we reached the switchbacks we took into a run to get down as quickly as possible.



Me and Eddie on top of the summit

Push towards the summit of Bierstadt

We pushed on as the snow storm began to fall on the mountain, getting down in half the usual time it is supposed to take, we ran for well over a half  an hour and stopped for something to eat a bit of the way down but, by half 12 we were back at the car atop the Guanella pass.
We packed up and hit for home, a great trek and a good 14er to do as a first.

“Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.”
― Barry Finlay, Kilimanjaro and Beyond



Cliff Hanging



Carrot Ridge (Longest rock climb in Ireland)

Setting off at 4 in the morning I once again headed for the beauty of the Twelve Bens, leaving the car in the same place as I usually leave it for an  ascent of Benbaun I headed out towards the valley surrounded by the horseshoe upon which Benbaun sat.
It was a beautifully clear crisp day and as soon as I entered the valley I could see the rising sun lighting up the tip of Carrot Ridge and the white quartz shining at the bottom of the climb. I headed out across the marshy planes entrenched within the horseshoe, after a short while the ground began to rise and to become more and more rocky as I made my way towards the white quartz bottom which was to be the beginning of my climb.


route up towards the white quartz bottom of the climb

At this stage the day had all but fully began the sun was shining in the valley but in the distance a dark cloud formation was making its way towards me, which I assumed would break over me at around about lunch time.
Having crested the small ridge before the straight road towards the climb I flew towards the bottom reaching the ridge at half 7 that morning. I had something quick to eat and prepared for the climb and at 8 o clock I set off up the ridge.
Although not the steepest the ridge proved to be fairly technical and without ropes or harnesses I had to rely on my own hands and skill, the start of the climb required a lot of vertical climbing and a shimmy to the right along a ledge towards a flat space where an assault on the rest of the climb could be made.
it was a fantastic feeling, finding different holds in the surface of the rock and climbing higher and higher, all the while knowing that a small slip up could be potentially disastrous, the weather remained immaculate as I climbed a slights wind had picked up and the dark clouds were beginning to role in, towards me but at this moment in time the weather was perfect and so I pushed on towards the top of the ridge at a high pace.

 

The top of the climb sways towards the right and I found myself towards the end of the climb going sideways and upwards with the sway of the ridge, by this stage my fingers were beginning to tire and grow sore, it was almost quarter to ten in the morning I had been climbing for well over an hour, I reached the very tip of Carrot Ridge at ten o clock that morning.

As I turned around to stare at my surroundings, while the final rays of morning sun still remained, I was in awe the bright pink of the sky contrasted sharply with the blackness of the skyline piercing mountains, the valley below looked even greener with the small white dots of sheep covering the landscape.

I made the small remaining ascent up to Binn an Tsaighdiura and sat for something to eat, it was a great morning and it was only as I began to make the decent down the scree slopes beside the ridge that the rain began to fall.

Having reached the bottom of the slope I made my way across the valley and home.

 

The Twelve Bens

THE TWELVE BENS

The greatest mountain range in the Connemara region star shaped splayed across the countryside. Doing the twelve in one day was tiring and magnificent. Climbing with Peter O Connell a seasoned climber who has been to the top of Mt Everest and back made doing the twelve much easier due to his navigational sense.
We met at Kylemore Abby at 4:45am and I left my car in a nearby layoff, we then continued on in Peters car towards Derryclare the first peak of the day and the place from which we would launch on to the next 11 mountains. The weather was pristine not a drop of rain and the sun could be seen slowly making its way up above the horizon. Having left the car at the foot of Derryclare we prepared and then set off leaving at 5:17am, the darkness of the previous night was washing away as we walked pitch black turned to an outlay of the land an eyrie outline of our surroundings until eventually the sun began to illuminate the mountain range, we were at this stage 3/4 of the way up Derryclare by 6:17 we were sitting atop the mountain eating and reading our map. We were already cutting down on our estimated time, at this stage the fog began to close in around us and completely obscured our vision making the map vitally important, we then set off for the next mountain of the Twelve Binn Chorr (Bencorr)

resting on Derryclare

We set off relying heavily on the map and our own sense of direction the day was perfect bar the fog which had closed in on us.
We flew to the top of Bencorr and were on top by 6:55am cutting our predicted time down by 35 minutes in other words we were flying along. We didn't stop here and continued on towards Binn Dubh (Bencollaghduff) It was at this stage of the day were we lost our track and went way off course, instead of heading to the left after Binn Chorr to head towards Binn Dubh we continued on out along the ridge due to the fog, we then realised we had gone to far and decide to make our way down along the side of the mountain and head back up the valley towards Binn Dubh. This proved to be an exciting but overall useless exercise, we skirted down along a thin face towards the bottom of the valley and then began making our way uphill once more along scree and rock. Instead of skirting along from peak to peak we had now gone back down to come back up, an interesting in a gully along the way we crossed some stubborn snow which still clung to the mountain reluctant to let go as clearly the rest had.

Having regained the height we had lost we reached the summit of Binn Dubh at 8:30am an hour later then predicted, stopping for a snack we carefully read the map not wanting to make the same mistake twice, we then set off once again making for Binn Bhraoin.
The fog was still affecting our vision and we almost strayed off the path off the wrong side of the plateau we were on, we managed to readjust and find our path and so made directly for Binn Bhraoin making it to the top by 10:25am, 25 minutes later then we had originally planned but we knew our direction from this point and had our bearings so things would go smoothly from here.

view as we made our way from Binn Bhraoin onto Binn Gabhair

The fog was gradually receding as the day wore on and things began to become a lot easier, myself and peters moods where lifted as the fog had gradually begun to drag the mood of the day down, but as we inched towards the rocky slope of Binn Ghabhair the fog began to clear fully.
Having stopped for something to eat atop Binn Ghabhair we made the short hop across to Ben Leitrí a gradual slope led from one to the next. I felt fresh and once the fog cleared we could see for miles in each direction, being able to discern where each and every mountain was made the day much more enjoyable as we were not so worried about getting lost or directions.
And so with the clear blue sky above and the twelve bens visibly stretching out in each direction with 6 already done we made for the 7th summit Binn Gleann Uisce which we had judged would take an hour and 45 minutes yet only actually took us 27 minutes as we jogged and sprinted our way to the top, taking a huge chunk off our judged time, having lagged more than an hour behind due to the fog we were now almost a half hour ahead of schedule.

Benlettery




















View from the top of Binn Gleann Uisce

Having made our way to the top of Binn Gleann Uisce we rested for a longer period of time before making the push towards the 8th peak of the day Ben Baun the highest of all the bens standing at 729m high. We had a large drop into the valley floor below before we rise again onto Ben Baun.
We were feeling good and had put ourselves back well on track time wise, the weather was good and we were feeling good.
I refilled my water from a stream flowing down towards the valley floor and we ploughed on towards Ben Baun, we talked and joked all the way towards the next peak but once we reached the bottom we both headed off in different directions and agreed to meet at the top, Peter headed along an opposite route to me. I headed directly for a face of rock I could see to my left and spent the next 45 minutes climbing up along the face towards the tip of the peak, this was by far my favourite part of the day picking my way up along the stony face rock by rock. at around ten to 3 I reached the top of the face and walked along the top of the mountain for the next ten minutes until I reached the peak at bang on 3 o clock, the exact time we had planned to be at the top for, Peter arrived within a minute or two of me and we sat for some lunch looking out on the 4 peaks left to be reached, perched on the highest point in the bens mountain range.

 

Eating on top of Ben Baun

From here on we made very quick progress the next 3 mountains, Benfree, Muckanaught and Ben Cullagh, Having eaten a huge lunch atop Benbaun these 3 combined took us less then 2 hours. Peter was suffering slightly with his knee and my legs were beginning to feel the strain.
The weather remained perfect as we danced along the walls towards Ben Cullagh, this quartet from Benbaun was the most beautiful part of the day from thin ledges to high vantage points looking out on the surrounding landscape we had it all.
We reached the top of Ben Cullagh at twenty to five in the evening, this was nearly 2 hours quicker than our expected arrival time, we had eaten up time and could now leisurely stroll towards Benbrack our final descent and ascent of the day.

making my way up Ben Cullagh,, Muckanaght and Benbaun can be seen behind
me with Benfree hidden by both mountains



View from the top of Bencullagh

Having eaten the remainder of the food I had brought with me I refilled my water in a nearby stream and ploughed on ahead. The final climb of the day was at times difficult due to the tiredness of my legs, we were much slower getting to the top of this mountain but still managed to crush the time we had set ourselves.
We congratulated each other at the top and having stopped for some food and a talk about the day we eventually set off for home. We came down along a beautiful ridge we had traversed dong the mountain skills course a few weeks before, as we came down the ridge we saw Kylemore Abbey and sweeping views of the surrounding mountain ranges and valleys, it was a magnificent way to end the day.


View of Kylemore as we descended

Having reached the bottom we skirted along the outskirts of the lake and at 5 minutes past 7 that evening we reached my car.
We were exhausted and starving but also very happy, I sped towards Peters Car passing by the edges of the mountain range which we had just walked in its entirety, I dropped Peter at the bottom of Derryclare where our journey began said goodbye and hit for home.
The sun set and disappeared below the horizon just as I reached home, A full range conquered and an amazing day spent.

 

 

 



Rapid Ascent

Benbaun is a magnificent mountain, beautifully secluded in the wilderness of Connemara, and on this day it was an amazing run, the sun was beating down, a dew lay on the ground following the previous nights rain and I had the mountain to myself at 7 in the morning. I packed lightly seeing as I was running to the top, leaving from the bottom of the ridge I hit for the top of the mountain.
This run is testing in a beautiful way, making your way up the ridge and also the final push up to the summit is very steep while in the middle the ground is very marshy and broken but remains relatively flat.
The first 10 minutes are always the toughest and so they proved to be in a good kind of way, having reached the top of the first ridge my legs had loosened up and I could open up on the flat ploughing through the marshy terrain leaping over wet ground and making towards the peak I could see rearing up ahead of me, I had this entire part of the land to myself and it is a wonderful feeling dancing along walls 100's of meters above the ground with your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground, how I spend most my days anyway.
The ridge on the lead up to Benbaun is a magnificent part of the run stretching for a few kilometres before finally you come up to the bottom of the last major push upwards. The clouds began to clear as I made my zig zag route up along the scree towards the top of the mountain,  I could see lough Inagh and the surrounding Maam and Bens stretching out to either side of me.

 I pushed on towards the summit ploughing up through the sliding rock, I reached the top in 26 minutes and 45 seconds, I sat on top in the makeshift shelter surrounding the trig point caught my breath and took in my surroundings. It was a wonderful day the sun was bearing down and all around me were the mountain ranges, scenery, lakes and rivers of Connemara. I sat eating for some time before packing up and hitting for the car along the centre of the horse shoe, following the river back towards the main road and my car.
A brilliant run, simple but testing and a great way to spend the morning.



"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way"

 

The Snowy Slope



       

Devilsmother 654m

A great trek and one filled with stunning scenery and majestic landscape. I left at 6 in the morning and again made my way towards Leenaun, taking the second right turn before entering the village I headed towards Lough Nafooey the road down towards the lake is stunning, it spirals downwards with sheer drops to one side at all times. The sun hadn't yet begun to rear its head but the sky was tainted with a pink hue indicating that sunrise was near. I then turned left along a road which flirted with the edges of the lake entrenched within this mighty valley I had descended into, another left turn soon followed and I was making my way along a very narrow road which ended at a farm hugging the side of the mountain. I parked up alongside the road and set off as the first rays of sun began to caress the surrounding landscape. Having made my way onto the farmers land I mad towards a fence I could see running the length of the spur, this part of the walk was extremely marshy and wet and my feet were truly soaked by the time I got to the spur.
                 I made directly for the fence leading up the mountain and began to follow the fence upwards towards the saddle between the spur and the ridge of devilsmother. Looking upwards I could see that above 550m height snow had settled, and on top the snow looked quiet dense. This I believe sped my pace up as I hurried to reach the snow, At times I opted to head towards faces and boulders in order to get some climbing in bar simply walking. The sun at this stage had fully risen and it lit up the side of the devilsmother giving it a golden glow. I continued on up the path towards were I could see the fence turning right towards the summit.                                                          

From this point onwards the ground began to gradually become more and more densely condensed with snow, the spur I had been climbing on swerved off to the right in the direction of the summit. I made directly for the summit the wind was at this stage picking up and gusting through the re entrants along the ridge. Eventually I stopped to have a small snack and survey the scene I was perched on a rock covered in snow and to my left I could see Killary Fjord and all the way up to the peak of Ben Gorm and Ben Creggan. In the distance I could make out Maol Reidh shrouded in cloud. And to my right I could see the path I had taken up and also Lough nafooey and the surrounding bowl shaped valley and mountains. I looked up and could see the peak of the mountain around 150m above me. I packed up and continued moving upwards. The snow was halfway up my calf at this stage and I was enjoying the walk. I could make out the cairn shrouded in white atop the mountain and made directly for it.
                   



The view from the top was beautiful I could see for miles in each direction. out into the lowlands of mayo from the valley I had risen out of and also the surrounding mountain peaks all the way up to the highest one in Connacht. I sat and finished off the remainder of my lunch contently taking in the surrounding area it. I then decided to leave my mark on top of the mountain and began making a snowman, rolling the snow for many meters back and forth until I had created a large snowman, I then sat again and took in my design.. a masterpiece. When I finished eating I packed up and made for home along the path I had ascended. Giving one last glance at frosty perched alongside the cairn.

                    I reached the farm at the bottom of the mountain at around 12 o clock and as I was clearing the final gate I gave a final glance upwards the snow had receded in the time it had took me to descend and now only the peak remained snow covered with the outline of the snowman still visible a memory preserved for now.

 

Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top.
Then you will see how low it was.
- Dag Hammarskjold