Race to Glory in Kiltimagh

Shauna Jackson (GROW Area Co-ordinator, Mayo) describes first hand her experience participating in the Kiltimagh Race2Glory adventure challenge.

A wet and misty morning greeted my husband Andrew and me, along with over 150 other competitors in Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo on Saturday 12th July for Race2Glory. This was my first ‘adventure’ race. A big deal, as I’d only been back running since March after a few years break and let’s just say, I’m no spring chicken anymore! Andrew, a hardened and experienced adventure runner (multiple Gaelforce races and half marathons), had agreed to do the whole thing with me at my pace.

Race2Glory, Kiltimagh, 2014

The race involves 17kms of running terrain comprising of road, trail, bog, river and a very big hill, and another 23kms of terrain on bike which also includes another very big hill. Participants can register to do the event start to finish, or elect to run and bike as a part of a team and take one of the 3 stages each. The start was nerve racking, especially as the ambulance that was to be stationed at the top of the first hill, had got stuck on the hill we were about to run up! The race was delayed for 15 minutes, adding to the anxiety all participants were feeling by then. We were wearing GROW biking tops, which attracted lots of attention from the start (a few quips about boys in pink), so passed the time chatting to other runners and filling them in on GROW when they asked about the tops.

In the first stage (a 10km run) the first hill, aptly named ‘Spankers Hill’ is just 1.7kms from the start, and ascends to 850ft. It’s was a really steep climb, which all but the elite athletes’ yomp up, rather than run! Next came a run through bog and it wasn’t long before I was knee high in a bog hole. Luckily trainer integrity was maintained and with the help of Andrew and a marshal I managed to clamber over a few ditches and streams. After the bog, came another 7km run with a long decent down to the bike transition, with a massive hay bale to clamber over thrown in for good measure and a scramble net just before the bike pick-up. By then I was exhausted and the mantra ‘I can compel my muscles and limbs to act rightly in spite of my feelings’ was never far from my mind, there was still 30km to go!

As we began the 23km bike ride, the heavens opened and we were soaked, but managed to get the head down and bar one walk up another very big hill, the bike ride had gone well.

Once the bikes were dropped off, stage 3 was a 7 km run. The pain in my knees now (a long standing problem) was nearly unbearable, but Andrew had warned me, that the worse thing I could do now was slow down or stop, I had to keep moving. Just as I got into my running rhythm, I was guided by a marshal into the Glore River. We picked our way up the rocky river, in some parts way over waist height, managed not to fall and clambered out to finish the rest of the run. With my knees now just about holding me up, the final 5 km was hard going, but the support of the locals at water stations along the way was really wonderful.

As Andrew and I finished, I cannot explain how happy I was to complete the race. In little over 4 months, I’d gone from being a very occasional runner, to completing my first adventure race and fundraising for GROW in the process. We finished at the back and it didn’t matter- I was so happy to finish and get round without giving up. It was one of the most physically and mentally challenging things I have ever done and with the help of others I had managed to finish. I hope that by completing the race, I can motivate and encourage others that it’s never too late to start something new and that those experiencing mental health issues will be encouraged to continue their own journey towards wellness and recovery.

By next year I promise I’ll have a better handle on those hills! Anyone want to join me?