
It’s Friday
the 15th of June.
It’s 8.00
pm.
It’s about
to begin.
On your
marks, get set, go!

You quickly turn
right and begin a slow long descent around the perimeter of the Porchfields; a
wonderful green area that annually plays hosts to a multiple of local
festivals. At this stage, you will be full of adrenalin drawn from the crowds
shouting you on at the start as well as the hundreds of other fellow runners you
are competing with. When you include three or four hundred metres of downhill
it will all add up to you probably going too fast. SLOW DOWN!!! I repeat SLOW
DOWN!!!
Every year in the same way Becher’s Brook used to claim countless runners and riders in the English Grand National so too does the first kilometre of the Braveheart. Too many runners take off too fast and don’t slow down till they hit the river. By that stage, it will be too late and you will pay for it in the last kilometre where the 'Three Sisters' await!
Every year in the same way Becher’s Brook used to claim countless runners and riders in the English Grand National so too does the first kilometre of the Braveheart. Too many runners take off too fast and don’t slow down till they hit the river. By that stage, it will be too late and you will pay for it in the last kilometre where the 'Three Sisters' await!
Thankfully, though Braveheart is one of the most beautiful short races in Ireland, and globally up there with the er… Machu Pichu 6k, the River Nile 5 mile and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon 10 k, the first kilometre is the least scenic so use this downhill section to SLOW DOWN. Allow others to pass you, knowing full well you will see them again in the second half.

Unfortunately, you will have to look out for that film clip later when you re-watch the movie. For now, you can only allow yourself to roll down the steep little hill happy that you haven’t overdone it through the 1k mark.
At the river, you will turn a sharp left in under the bridge, by a recent image of William Wallace before passing out (metaphorically we hope) into the Sheepfields.

Swinging up to your left, your second kilometre will begin with a steep incline up away from the river. Take your time and keep the pace steady. It’s still a long way to go. Once over the brow you will be greeting by one of Trim’s finest amenities, the Sheepfields. Though it might seem like something out of a Royal decree from Richard VIII that these lands in the centre of town should henceforth be left to sheep, it was in fact one decision those in power did get in right during the Celtic Tiger by safeguarding this green area and not turning it into housing. On any given day, everyone and their dog will be out here ‘a-walking’. Today it’s your turn.



Passing the
Priory/Ruins you will have a short respite as the path dips down back to the
river turning right for the long run in. At this point, almost exactly half-way
it is good to reflect and think how you are feeling.
- If you are feeling strong and chasing a time you might like to up the tempo just a bit. Don’t shoot off for home but just turn the volume up a little.
- If you are not feeling great then reduce it a little. The ‘Three Sisters’ still await and you will be glad that you didn’t blow your gaskets along this river-run and had something in reserve for the final segment.


At this
point a kilted man on a stallion waving a 3-foot sword, his face painted blue
and white will come alongside you to cheer you on. At least that’s what we hope
if we ever have unending resources to put into the race. Until then, draw
energy from the fact that as you pass under the bridge for a second time you haven’t
far to go, except for those ‘Sisters’.



Turning another sharp right, keeping the tree-line to your left you will nearly be at the end of your feet but will have just enough left for one last push. Keep it steady and just as you reach the Sheep Gate, the only surviving gate into the Medieval town proper, empty whatever you have left on the final ascent up the Third Sister. Through steep and cruel, remember she is just 30 odd metres of pain before you are in the presence of the Yellow Steeple and finished! Braveheart 2018 ticked.
Congratulations! William Wallace would have been proud.
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