Heneghan looks ahead
Heneghan - moving on
After a (by his standards) disappointing run in Andorra last weekend international fell runner John Heneghan was pragmatic in defeat as he looks ahead to the rest of the season. His main focus for the late season is the big American Skyrace, Pikes Peak, on the 15/16 August…
I have just got back from Andorra, where along with Rob Jebb, Tom Owens and Nick Sharp (and a special guest appearance from Robs brother Andy), I ran the Andorra Skyrace. I had a nightmare struggling in in 19th.
I set off feeling quite good, going up the first climb without pushing too hard, but then coming out of the trees I fell apart in the sun, as soon as the race got high I suffered with the altitude as well. I don’t think I have ever done so much walking in a race, all the main climbs were so steep that nearly everybody walked them all, and even on some of the descents I was walking bits as I was so groggy that I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t just trip and fall. I must have drunk about five litres of water on the way round and despite this I still never quenched my thirst.
However, although the race was a bit of a nightmare for me, in places it was also one of the most spectacular races I have taken part in. Some of the views would have been breathtaking, but for the fact that I didn’t have any breath to take, and some of the running, such as the main descent, was amazing.
I’m looking forward to a much needed break from racing now for most of July, hopefully followed by a good end of season.
