Racing to oblivion!

Melodramatic title ahoy! I was full of angst after my (relatively) poor showing in yesterday's aptly named Hellfire and Brimstone race. Results are not yet in, but I struggled to run my own race in the warm conditions and I was disappointed with my performance.

Somehow I managed to miss the race description:

"This will be a far tougher version of the traditional Hellfire race(hence the Brimstone!!)..."

Thankfully Ben Crane returned to the Leinster League, with a solid run. With Vivian and Ruth cheering on, I managed a strong finish and overtook most people in the final stretch, but it was a salutary warning not to be complacent in your training or lose your focus during races.

On the plus side (though nothing to do with running) Colleen Marlow has a new website, where you can find (and buy) her beautiful art.

Playlist

Having all but given up the possibility of making a decent mix for my friend Conor, I've added the handy last.fm playlist to my blog, which pretty much says what I'm about. I must give thanks to KT for providing me with most of the tracks.

This is playing a variation on the tracks I'm listening to as I run up and down the hills around Dublin.

My actual hillrunning playlist is:

1. Art of Noise - Moments in Love [to relax the pre-run nerves]
2. Boyz Noise - Volta82
3. Antena - Camino Del Sol (Joakim remix)
4. Booka Shade - Tresspas06 [a motivational tool for attacking big hills]
   
5. Ricardo Villalobos - Dexter [classic and raises the hair on the back of my neck]
6. Dominic Eulberg - Potzblitz and Donnerwetter
7. Booka Shade - In White Rooms
8. Vitalic - You are my Sun
9. Ellen Allien & Apparat - Do Not Break
10. Nathan Fake - The Sky Was Pink (Holden remix) [to coast into the finish with]
    

King of the hills... er, not quite

I'm alive! I finished my first race of this year's IMRA Leinster League. And although I didn't place as highly as I had hoped (90th, rather than 75th), I'm still really happy with how I did on my first proper race back, since I hurt my left knee a two months ago. I'm even more happy that my body - particularly my knees - felt good and I had no worrying pains.

It was a beautiful evening for running (or doing anything for that matter!). There was lovely, crisp light on Bray Head and the air was cool and fresh (but not cold). I wished I could have stopped to take some photos (and catch my breath!).

Unfortunately, I made a couple of mistakes that cost me valuable places in the race. Firstly, I started at the back of the field. It was very congested at the beginning, where the course was narrow, and I had to fight my way forward, during a steep climb. If I had been further forward, I might have lost places as the race went on, but only from serious runners.

And secondly, I did not bringing a little energy snack for halfway around the course. So, by the final stretch I had hit the wall and couldn't sprint finish. And I've never felt so wrecked at the end of a run!

I had a great run and I learned a couple of lessons for next week!

Run in the hills!

This evening is my first hill race of the year!

I took part in the Irish Mountain Running Association's (IMRA) Summer League, last year. Unfortunately, I overdid it and could only run two races.

About a month ago I hurt my left knee again, but after some physiotherapy, I've been able to train again and I feel pretty good now.

My aim, this year, is to finish seven races inside the top 75:

"Summer league [is] held on Wednesday evenings in Dublin and Wicklow. There are 12 races in the series starting at about 3.5km and building up to 12.00. They are run on marked routes mainly tracks but can be quite rough underfoot. You must finish 7 races to be deemed to have completed the league and claim your IMRA T-shirt or fleece, depending on funds."

As well as the competitive aspect of hill running, I love getting out in the hills. I also find a meditative quality to running as well. I find it peaceful and stimulating at the same time.

I'm cultivating this aspect of running and I've been inspired by Danny Dreyer's Chi Running book, which I am now reading, which draws on the technique of Tai Chi to improve running form:

“T’ai chi is the mother of all martial arts, based on the premise that all movement and power originates from your center, not your arms and legs.
For centuries, the Chinese have studied animal movement and found that all movement in the body revolves around a central axis (along the spine) while the arms and legs remain as relaxed as possible and act only as conduits for the force generated by your core.

When these principles of alignment and relaxation are applied in ChiRunning and ChiWalking, efficiency increases and impact with the ground decreases. You can run farther, faster or more often without increasing your risk of injury. Your body no longer breaks down because you’re practicing to run and walk with more fluidity with every step, while using the pull of gravity for propulsion.”