Running on Plenty

DON'T BE RUBBISH:On Twitter recently, John O'Regan (Irish 24-hour race champion) complained about the amount of discarded gels scattered about the Phoenix Park. We noticed that it's not confined to that spot, but any popular running route.

With the increasing popularity of gels – and the rise in races across the country – people tearing open gels, gulping them down and then chucking away the wrapper is too regular a sight.

Clare Island Adventure Race says it will disqualify anyone who litters, and we noticed that the Pikeman Triathlon out of Rosslare also insists that competitors do not throw their rubbish along the course. But such rules are not common in road races, as far as we’re aware.

However, after both the 10-Mile and the Half-Marathon races in the Phoenix Park it was notable how many people were annoyed by the littering so it’s possible that a tipping point is being reached.

But if you’re on a long run this week, as you squeeze the gel into your mouth, do try and hang on to the wrapper until you get to a bin. There’s no point in being at one with nature if you then treat it as a dumping ground.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK:

. . . Are Stephen Ralph and Irish triathlon champion Bryan McCrystal, who chased down a thief who ran off with a €1,000 bracelet from a Dundalk jeweller’s shop in which the two work.

The robber got all of 200m before the two men caught him. “He lifted this full bracelet and looked me in the eye and said ‘thank you’ and ran out the door. He had a hard neck,” said Ralph, who is currently training for the Dublin City Marathon, which is on October 29th.

Unfortunately, the thief’s neck wasn’t much use in a foot race. “He picked the wrong shop to rob, with

two athletes in it,” added Ralph.

RACE OF THE WEEK:

IF YOU’RE going to do an adventure race, you might as well make sure it’s one that has such legs as the “Gravel Pit Cycle” thrown in.

Clare Island Adventure Race takes place on Saturday, and it’s a run/cycle/run/climb over almost

30km of genuinely spectacular – and tough – landscape.

In its race briefing, it notes that “This is a preliminary schedule. Ferry times and departure points may vary depending on weather condition.” So, it has potential to be an adventure before you even start the race.

Clearly, this is not for the inexperienced, and is not something to just wander up to on a whim – a

compass and survival blanket are just a few of the necessities.

For further details, check out the race calendar at runireland.com.