After a tough QUEST Glendalough last year, I had a better appreciation for the distance. The routes are hilly, but feel adventurous and I was nervously excited. March can bring any type of weather, so we hoped for the best but definitely got the worst.
Katie and I stayed in Cork with my sister Emma and her boyfriend Joe. We had an early start to drive down and get Joe and I registered for the expert route. It was windy and gloomy as we rolled up to the town centre start line, joined the crowd and were very quickly counted down.
The first 10km was busy with cyclists everywhere. The group spread out as we climbed the steep country roads to Moll's Gap. Views were great, but the headwind hit hard as we set off downhill towards the town. I missed my aerobars as they're not allowed, but hunched as best as I could to push through.
Near Kenmare we turned left up a horrendously steep hill, winding along back roads to the first run. Racking the bikes we looked up at the behemoth of a hill ahead of us: 1km of a tarmac path that must have been 45degrees in places. This led to 3km of hilly trails to reach a turning point. The out and back route was busy with people, and the muddy track was getting worse with every step.
Learning from past experience, I played this tactically. Walk the uphill's and run the rest. It's a good feeling to powerwalk past a runner on a hill and when they're wrecked at the top you take off.
All in all, this was a nice fun route. Wet and muddy with some jumps across (and through) streams. Great feeling to scan the tag at the turning point and apart from the wind it almost seemed like a nice day. I passed Joe shortly after I turned and he was all smiles. The first tarmac hill was dangerously steep to run down but before long I was back on my bike and off again.
This next winding cycle was all hills on some questionable surfaces. Grass in the middle of the road made two distinct bike lanes with a fast one I used to overtake a lot of people. I had plenty of water and most of a protein bar until a bump in the road stole the rest from me. On multiple long hills, everyone I could see was walking their bikes up. In the lowest gear I just about made it through, proud to have cycled it all.
About 10km in, the wind picked up and rain began. It was now freezing and my hands were icy even with gloves. At times hail pounded and made it difficult to look anywhere but down at the ground. The roads were getting very wet and progress was slow up the hill to the next transition, but eventually I got there.
Everyone looked tired at the transition. This again was a straight 4km run to a turning point, then back. It was instantly mucky and everyone coming against me looked liked they'd been at war. I hoped it was only the weather that had them looking so shell shocked, but the muddy, and some bloody, knees said differently.
About 2km in I continued my tactics over the small rolling hills. After one it all came into view, a long track to the top of a mountain with people scattered along it. Ominously far away and people around me saying 'it couldn't possibly be that'. This big reveal is probably the coolest memory of the day, even if it was awful. Whoever chose this route has a sick sense of humour!
The weather got worse by the minute and it was a long slog. At points it was a slippery stream with no footing. It seemed like the top would never come but eventually it did, and here you could see a farther peak with the turning point. This top boggy section was the worst, and the hail was painful.
I laughed at how funny the whole situation was, it felt like a fight for your life up there. Eventually I was on the way back and in no time was laughing my way to my bike, passing others who had it all ahead of them.
As I grabbed the bike I was feeling pretty out of it and managed to lose my running bottle. The weather was relentless and everyone was freezing. I reckon it was among the worst conditions I've ever cycled in. The road to Kenmare dragged on forever and at times felt really dangerous.
Cold hands could barely use the gears or brakes and puddles spanned the whole road. Wind blew us all over and who knows how well drivers could see us with their wipers on full blast. I kept the head down, sang my songs and pushed through the headwind, but it wasn't easy. Eventually we entered Kenmare and were diverted to bike racking on the grounds of a hotel. Too windy for kayaking so all that remained was a 2km run around Reenagross Wildlife Park, which was beautifully harsh for the sections along the waters edge.
I slipped once or twice on the sand and stones but soon approached the hotel again, looking for the finish line. My goal had been sub 6hrs but I'd maintained a fast pace all day and without the ten minute kayak, I was way ahead of that. I sprinted flat out for most of this loop and around the hotel grounds praying for the finish to be close.
Directed towards the town centre, I knew that was likely too far to hit my new goal but kept up the sprint anyway. Around the last bend I had nothing left as I raced under the line.
5hrs 00mins 22s
The weather was horrific but it was an amazing moment. As the signs and barriers blew around, I stuffed my face with flapjacks and still had my mouth full for the photos.
The afters were basic compared to Glendalough, just soup and a windy marquee. Katie and Emma weren't expecting me for another hour so I had some waiting to do, but was soon borderline hypothermic. Gavin Sheehan was doing finish line photos and came to my rescue, letting me borrow dry clothes and get changed in his van. It was wet, wild and miserable for the rest of the day, especially walking out to get the bike.
Unfortunately Joe had succumbed to the weather and wasn't able to finish, but it was to no fault of his own. The day had thrown it all at us and the tough route became brutal. On any normal day it would have been a much better experience and I've no doubt he'll smash the next one.
It's strange to go from a comfortable bed to the blood, sweat and tears of those hills, then home and cosy only hours later. Although not the highest of highs, there definitely were highs amongst the lows. I'm really happy with how I found humour in the worst moments and put the head down to trudge through it all. It's probably a very different event in the sun, but maybe if it was on in July it wouldn't be the adventure they wanted.
Overall I'm really happy with the day and I'm excited for upcoming races like QUEST Killarney, hopefully in nicer weather.
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