10 Things I Think About Running

10 Things I Think About The Cork County Senior Cross Country 2024

1. The Last Supper

I think that it is terrible that Lennox’s is closing. Rhona was a much bigger fan that I was so she insisted on standing in a monsoon on Saturday night for two hours for a bag of chips. The chips were better than I remembered as good as Kiely’s, great fuel for a XC race.

2. In Anticipation of Precipitation

I think that the rain that fell on Saturday was wonderful for XC. I was expecting wonderful muck and lots of it at the field in the absolute middle of nowhere somewhere between Rathcormac, Conna and Dungourney. I was so sure of muck that I swapped the 9mm spikes in my Dragonflys used for Galway for 12mm.

3. Hiding in the Long Grass

I think that the farmer of the field at eircode P51 YX33 must be an excellent farmer. The monsoon on Saturday had almost no effect on the field aside from making the grass extra-long and thick with dew. I considered swapping back the spikes to 9mm but that takes ages, and it doesn’t really make a difference anyway when all you are trying to do is beat John Meade who doesn’t care that spikes come in different lengths.

4. Inside Line

I think that I was very clever at the start. The starting area was very wide and not flattened out as the decision to equalise the distances men and women run for XC had had the same effect on participation as if the women’s 100m hurdles became the women’s 110m high hurdles. The only bit that was anyway smooth was the inside of the course, so I lined up there and had a nice smooth getaway.

5. The Cabbage Patch

I think that the start of the race was very calm. There was no mad rush off the line mainly because everyone was terrified of the ground beneath them. It was all routine enough until after about 500m we turned sharp right into what to the unqualified eye looked like a cabbage patch. The cabbage patch had one line, step off it and you were taking your shoes into your own hands so it was single file.

6. Down the Hill

I think that in a XC race I rarely get worried if I end up a little bit back after a lap. There will always be some bit of a downhill where I can fly by people like John Meade who have gotten an advantage over the first few 100m. Sure enough on this course the last 300m of every lap were a lovely sweeping downhill left-hand bend that I ran as hard as I could every time flying by John Meade and making him incredibly angry.

7. It’s Only a Tempo

I think that one of the great things about cross country races are the supporters on the course. Be it the “Well Done John Meades” or the “Up the Barrs” or the newest iteration today, “it’s only a tempo” from the Ben Smiths fans, they provide constant motivation to beat who ever they are directed at. As for me, I get no shouts or encouragement, possibly because I’m intimidating or unlikeable or both.

8. There were Two Barrys

I think that it was great to have the two Barrys in the race to provide additional motivation. I spent most of the race chasing one of them. It took me two laps to pass the Cork has only one Track Club Barry. Once I had dispatched that Barry I set to work on catching Barry Twohig who would have been a major beating on a par with beating John Meade by at least thirty seconds. Surprisingly with a lap to go I found myself ahead of Barry Twohig but on the last hill out of the cabbage patch he powered by along with Tim O’Donoghue.

9. Vendettas and Old Scores

I think that XC races are very unusual events. Once you get outside the top 5 it is basically a collection of moderately old men settling old scores and rivalries from years of racing each other. It is completely pointless, there isn’t even a time or a PB like you get in the great ego fest that is the marathon. It’s just about pure hatred and beating whoever is in front of you. It’s wonderful stuff.

10. Victory over John Meade

I think that it was great to finally get my annual victory over John Meade. It has taken me until October to do so because he has had excellent form all year. It took a lot to beat him as he would have followed me regardless of whether we were 10th or 1st. Once I crossed the line after a vicious sprint where I ended up closer to Barry Twohig than John Meade was to me I threw myself on the ground after a small modest celebration before being handed a silver medal, not for beating John Meade but for coming second in the team to East Cork who are unbeatable and possibly the best cross country club ever.