Paula's silver lining in Czechia

It’s 2.15am on Thursday, June 25, 16 degrees and a bright nighttime sky. I’m tiptoeing around the house to get ready before heading for Tuam and the 3am Citylink to Dublin Airport. I try to close my eyes and sleep, even a little, but everything is stopping me; the sky getting brighter, the traffic getting busier, the seats becoming more uncomfortable, the eagerness to get there, the adrenaline already pumping for what’s ahead.

Dublin Airport is like an obstacle course but I step it out quickly for my gate to Prague. The brightness of fellow green clad Ireland team members up ahead, the excitement, the chats, the plans. The Worlds have begun.

A two-hour flight, a two and a half hour car journey, at 3pm we arrive at Janske Lanke in Czechia, a spa town of about 700 inhabitants lying in the Giant Mountains. The highest point is the Černá hora at 1,299m above sea level where we will be running up tomorrow morning.

As I stroll uphill to my destination, dragging my pull bag, rucksack on my back, sun beaming down, mountainous scenery all around, I feel a sense of calm, of no busyness, a quietness amongst birdsong, a beauty beaming down. A small little church on the left, to the right a stone sculpture depicting Krakonoš, the mythical ‘Lord of the Mountains’ portraying the legendary giant emerging from a rock formation.

We’re told there’s a heat wave, that suncream and fluids are a must. They were right, not a cloud in sight, roasting beaming sun, so we head straight for the cold pool before a walk to meet the friends and get a sense of what’s really up there. Race day finally arrives. We’re at the World Mountain Running Championships and our first race is 2.30pm in 35 degrees, presenting a different concern today. When your body is at full tilt, running under pressure in extreme conditions, the mind can lose concentration. On uneven terrain, on the steep climb, concentration must be at 100%. The heat can do strange things to the body and so after many a chat and analysis, with 8km of complete uphill climbing to come (imagine three times the Reek yet longer again), I am running on feel today, the body must feel controllable at all times. I can’t afford to go into the red early. The heat is the added factor today.

There’s a band in the square, there are flags from all over the world, showers of cold water, and there under the welcome shelter of a huge tree are the green colours of Eire gathered. Next up the call room, checks, steps and standing in the heat. Pushing, shoving to get out. I have a good place. The gun goes off, a fast run around the square leading us up by my church way, a very steep but short climb on concrete and then into the forest. A little cooler, a lovely brown, hard but also a forgiving clay surface where jumping over the tree trunks provides another challenge. A mile of gradual uphill over uneven terrain, I don’t push but begin to pass the few that went out hard. The forest ends, out into a blast of heat, onto a wide-open ski slope, like the hill field back home, but the steepness is unexplainable.

The legs are okay and the trekking begins, hands on legs, tiptoeing my way up. I do not look up but focus on the footsteps in front, of athletes heels and how I am getting nearer with each movement, because that’s the most important thing here now – continuous movement, a comfortable rhythm, where the mind keeps positive. I grab two cups at a water station, still moving, soaking the head with one, the body with the other; what a wonderful refreshing feeling, another mile done.

Once I see grass, green and shiny, I think of days gone by, helping with the hay in roasting heat, it didn’t bother me then and neither is this… yet. I move in near the trees, a little shade, a cable car above, a sea of athletes ahead and behind but no one from my category around me now, so no pressure.

There’s screaming support from Ireland and everywhere else, telling us how far, to keep going, that I am doing well, the fists and the applause. Passing another ski lift I now begin to see people falling back, people pulling up into the shade, people unsteady; we’ve three miles left and I need to stay in this feel good place. We reach the top part of this mountain but a little to the right there’s more climbing.

I begin to think of all the times I have ran Knock ma on early mornings before work over the last few months, miles four and five are just another climb. Water again, sweets again, but one cannot take their eyes off this journey for a split second. It’s getting steeper, it’s getting harder, so I think of the Reek. I have ran it many times so I can do this too. Another gang of support, the Irish flags, it means so much, I focus on reaching them, passing them, I relish their encouragement, their kind words, it keeps me moving towards another water stop. I completely soak the body before another peak.

A friend shouts 500m to go so I push it. 500m on a track is only a lap and a bit but out here it feels like a mile; right leg, left leg, push up one leg, then the other. I begin to trot a little quicker, then faster, another incline, I slow back down, it’s hurting now. I spot people thrown along the side who didn’t make it. I am strong, I can do this; it’s all mind games now. I can hear the screams and see the activity up ahead so I push on. I know it’s not far but there are demons.

One hundred metres to go. I just run and keep running, pumping my soaking wet arms, keeping my heat-scalded forehead focused on that line. My legs cannot believe I am there. The officials shout stop, hands on my knees, there’s water everywhere, a breath without moving, another breath, water without moving, surrounded by Irish crew ensuring I’m okay.

I smile, I laugh and I hug. I’ve made it but most importantly I’m okay, no slips, no falls, no heat exhaustion. My teammates arrive over, screaming we’ve won world team silver and we jump, dance and scream with joy. A quick exit to the ski lift. I sit with friends and am in awe for miles around.

I am a runner and love to run but today’s challenge was more about survival, the biggest obstacle of all being the 35 degrees.

Jumping straight into the healing spring, the party begins, before our next big challenge on Sunday. Overcoming challenges when doing something you love, makes you want it even more, it makes the success more rewarding and the drive for the next even greater.

I can’t wait for Sunday’s race – the classic up and down.