'How far will it be Dun'?

'Lets do one of those trail runs you know up in the hills of castlesdonavan' am yeah ok, i respond, I look at thge map for 10 minutes, gotta plan, 10km, proper big lump of a hill in the middle. Pack the bum bag, map, compass, rain jacket, survival blanket, compeed, whistle, locozade energy tablets as emergency food and 2 cereal bars.
Off we head in the van, ken, alex and myself. We start up a big long road hill, then hit the really wet, slippy bog trail up the back of the once much talked about Mullaghmesha (the glory days of pirate radio, 80's and the mast that was up there) we are walking alot of it, it would be exhausting running and we are out for a trip on a sunday afternoon, more than any specific workout, alex and i have tired legs from a hard hill run the day before anyway, relax enjoy the day. We get to the top its very misty, 40 metres visibility, we are running along now for a km on a lovely spongey water bed of moss and peat. Soon the poles dissappear, we are on a featurless plateau, time for the map.

I guess where we are , take a bearing and we head off with the lads out front so i have something to line the direction arrow with, there is almost no features, we hit the small lake i was hoping for, its tough terrain, contour around, follow the river hit the bigger lake, then east and onto the trail, push on running here, it feels great, it really feels like a team adventure race, we hit a trail junction, yeah up here, lovely running, 'no, no, i'm wrong, sorry back again', fun running though so who cares, then down a super track flying for a mile, god what craic. Yeah drive on ticking off the features, great trail, hit the road , look up, 'o, i know that trail, its on the bantry.....................side!' open out the map, i was navigating fine but was going to the wrong location, i am roaring laughing on the inside, and questioning 'did i actually mean this' 'did i want to end up wandering in the dark' 'maybe' i definetly have done this to almost everyone in know for the craic of it,
subversive subconscious!

So this adds over 5 miles of road, with lots of hills, 'really, o fuck' did you do that on purpose' i say 'no' but if i am honest, i have no idea, but i can say that 'it' will definetly happen again!

We drive on, then some ball sack issues and a dodgy knee slow us to a walk, grand sure, even in shorts, in the dark, in November. The stars are out, the chat is good and i am only half hungry, would love an expresso though.

'How far will it be dun'? 'Am, an hour and a bit (een)' 'RIGHT'!

So thats it a lovely 3 and a half hour trip on a sunday afternoon, cool.


Post note, did a hard basketball session on monday night, shot the ball very well and did 20 hilly miles on the road along the beaches and coast near clonaklity on wednesday, 2.40, so thats 4 hardish days so rest needed now!