10 Things I Think About Running

10 Things I Think About The Coolagown 10K

1. Coolagown or Donoughmore

I think that it is a terrible shame that my two favourite races in June were on the same night. Both are excellent races with similar hilly finishes. It was very difficult to pick between the two so I went with the one that I haven’t won before because it was closer to Glanmire and John Meade would almost certainly be there.

2. The Usual Suspects

I think that the Coolagown 10K would probably be postponed if John Meade couldn’t make it. I strongly suspect that Coolagown 10K was moved to the same night as Donoughmore to suit John Meade. Nick O’Donoghue who ran the race two years ago but didn’t actually run the race was also present along with new local East Cork resident Conor McCauley

3. Commentary

I think that Coolagown has the best commentary team in athletics, never mind Greg Allen or Steve Cram, Coolagown has Dick O’Brien with his unique horizontal commentary position in the back of a van. When the race got underway a group of four quickly formed containing Nick, John Meade, Nick’s lookalike and another runner. The van containing the commentary team dropped back to our group to ask John Meade who another runner was who told him that it was Conor McCauley, then the van sped up again.

4. Ingebrigtsen Tactics

I think that after 16 years of running I might actually have learnt tactics. It took a while but it is gradually making sense to me. I decided that I would adopt modified Ingebrigtsen tactics like Andrew Coscoran tried in the 1500m final by sitting at the back of the lead group as much as possible.

5. Elite Clipping

I think that the major problem with sitting at the back of a group is clipping. I am an incredibly awkward lump of a runner so running behind people is very uncomfortable. Unfortunately for Conor this meant that I clipped the heel of his white Saucony Endorphin Elite shoes just after a mile. Unlike other runners I apologized immediately so it was ok and not a problem.

6. McCauley is Suffering

I think that when someone becomes like the running version of Manchester City everyone wants to beat them. This was Conor McCauley’s problem in Coolagown. John Meade was on a mission and I was willing to support him with information. After the first two downhill miles we turned right onto the flattish section. Suddenly and inexplicably Conor McCauley started to drift off the back of John Meade, I was so determined to be disciplined with my tactics that I stayed behind Conor even as he slowed. Eventually a gap opened so I bridged up to John Meade and whispered the codewords “McCauley is Suffering” and away he went.

7. Eastasia and Eurasia

I think that it is interesting in running how your enemies, rivals and allies can switch so rapidly. Suddenly John Meade had become my main ally to end Conor McCauley’s Manchester City like dominance. I sat behind Conor for the next two miles while John Meade pushed on but not far enough ahead for the race to be considered over. Being the master tactician that I am I was hoping that John Meade might burn himself out and I might beat the two of them.

8. Silage Season

I think that John Meade had a lot of luck in the last few miles. First we had the silage wagons at four miles which distracted myself and Conor and then the jeep on the road at five miles that allowed him to pick the better line on the road. As we reached the five-mile mark it was still in question who would win. Dick O’Brien in the van was clearly routing for a John Meade victory as we were reminded that the gap was growing.

9. Two Mile Mountain

I think that the Coolagown 10K course has been specially curated to the needs of John Meade. The last two miles are made for him starting with a gradual climb to the left turn where the steep climb kicks in before a downhill sprint where he can use his speed. It is pretty suited to Conor McCauley too as became clear in the fifth mile as I was swiftly dropped and his assault on the lead of John Meade commenced.

10. Party Like It’s 2019

I think that I thought I would never see the day again that John Meade would just prevail over Conor McCauley in a local road race. Back in 2019 they were back and forth every race, then Conor got gooder. It took the 2024 Coolagown 10k and an inspired performance by John Meade to return us to the good old days of 2019. I just about got up the last mountain ahead of my lookalike Nick O’Donoughue to finish on the podium which was very unlike the days of 2019. To celebrate the great race we returned to the white pavilion in the tidiest town in East Cork for excellent apple tart and excellent prizes. A great night.