‘Just because some of us have a bit of grey hair doesn’t mean we’re not still highly competitive’

Two best pals who scaled the Spanish Pyrenees and arrived home world champions in a competition says age should never be a barrier in achieving your goals.

Siobhan Foley (55) and Karen Crean (50) were among dozens of Irish master athletes competing in the The 23rd instalment of the World Masters Mountain Running Championships held last month in Canfranc Spain.

The event is held in partnership between the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and World Masters Athletics (WMA)

The Irish were out in force over the three days events bringing home a total of 31 medals across individual and team events - four gold, 12 silver and 15 bronze.

Both Siobhan and Karen competed in the Uphill 6k race where they faced a grueling single ascent, with a slope of 1,000 metres to the top at Larraca in the Canfranc Valley overlooking a large part of the Pyrenees and France.

Karen formerly of St Bridget's Athletic Club and currently a member of North Westmeath AC finished in first place in the W45 team winning a silver medal.

Meanwhile, Siobhan Foley a member of Dunboyne Athletic Club was on the W55 team who finished in third place won bronze. The two athletes competed against some of the world’s best mountain runners.

It is not their first foray in the sport with last year overcoming hugely testing conditions and stiff opposition to claim medals at the World Masters Mountain Running Championships on the island of Madeira.

"We started in sunshine at the bottom and by the time we got to the top we were in the snow covered Pyrenees, it was incredible," said Karen.

"It was 6km uphill with over 1000m of elevation," she added.

"With 1km to go at the very top, border line eating dirt is the only way I could describe it because you were face to face with crawling!

"But when we got to the top, the view was just breathtaking."

Lung-busting climbs to snow-covered peaks and blistering descents on loose technical terrain sums up this year’s three-day event in the Pyrenees according to Siobhan.

"The race started with very cold temperatures, a little drizzle and short glimpses of a snow-covered peak, 3,000 feet up," she said.

"With the first snow of the year gracing the finish line there was mandatory gear to be carried including a hooded, waterproof jacket and an emergency blanket," she added.

"I started out fairly conservatively and didn’t panic going through the inevitable bottle neck that occurred going from a double track to a single track trail. I soon settled in and was trying not to think too much about the runners that I knew were clipping my heels!

The Dunboyne AC member said that through switchbacks, short technical sections and views that she dared not distract herself with, she kept pushing and waiting for the turn onto the final, brutal, 30 percent slope to the top, trying not to think about "the searing pain" in her lungs and legs.

However in the distance shouts of "come on Ireland" from fellow Irish supporters and competitors along with family and friends got her to the finish line.

"The effort earned me a bronze medal on the F55 team and once the world stopped spinning and I could breathe, I was elated," said Siobhan.

Mountain running is not for the faint of heart, no matter your age or experience level. Even so, athletes flock to the high country to challenge themselves over uneven surfaces with steep ascents and descents, while factoring in the uncertainty of variable weather conditions. There are a lot of events to choose from and for masters-aged competitors (ages 35-79), a world championship is staged annually.

"As usual this year’s event was filled with folk from around the world chatting away before the races only to put their heads down and battle fiercely when the gun goes off on race morning," said the Dunboyne Athlete.

"Just because some of us have a bit of grey hair doesn’t mean that we’re not still highly competitive and love the thrill of racing," she added.

Despite suffering with vertigo, Karen overcame the unforgiving altitude challenges endeavouring to get to the top of the 3,000ft mountain and says the crawl to the finish line was as much a spiritual experience as it was a physically demanding one.

"My dad, Michael passed away in March after a very short illness and mam, Marie, who passed away 13 years ago would have been a big influence for the running in my life," said Karen.

"When I was running and climbing higher and higher up the mountain I actually felt like I was closer to them, maybe because it was so peaceful and quiet, it was an amazing experience," she added.

"We got 4km up and the altitude kicked in and I was quite nauseous getting to the top but it didn’t take away from the stunning view.

"I rang my family and I said I don't know whether I'll ever be as close to mam and dad again

"I was first home in the over 45 women’s team.

It was worth every step up.

"It was an epic experience that will stay with us forever."

Karen is keen to tackle the preconception that challenging yourself physically is only younger people and says she is nowhere near retiring from the extreme sport.

"I was glad they didn't give us an easy route because of age because our bodies are well able to be challenged, mentally and physically and I think it is great that Masters Athletics allows us to still be competitive and take risks," said the Oldcastle athlete.

Explaining how she became interested in mountain running, Karen said:

"St Bridget's would have been my first and only club for years and we would have gone to some of the mountain running events including one in Howth around 15 years ago now and I really liked it but still preferred the track running.

"I always loved the freedom of the mountains and would have always went to Mullaghmeen Forest and any chance I got I would have headed off for mountain runs even while training for the track.

"Then I tore my ham string really badly about eight years ago and I was told that sprinting wouldn't really be an option going forward so I just took to the mountains then slow and steady and haven't looked back."

It was her mother's determination to instill an appreciation for health and fitness into her children that Karen credits for her success in the athletics.

"My mother was involved with St St Brigid’s AC along with Michael Heery and for her, movement was key and she drummed that into us from a young age and she felt that you wouldn't need to be taking pills of any form if you were exercising," she said.

"Mam was a school teacher and trained in England and would have done a lot of mountain hiking herself," added Karen.

"She always wanted us to be out and about and active and she brought us to every track and field event every Sunday, I don't think we ever had a Sunday dinner!"

"We were on the road all of the time with St Brigid’s AC and she much preferred it that way, she was a driving influence. "I still feel a connection with my mum when I'm out there on the mountains."

You might be forgiven in thinking that after such an arduous challenge as climbing the Pyrenees, the mountain running duo would want to have a well earned rest well think again.

Siobhan is already gearing up for the Amsterdam Half Marathon later this month and has her sights set on the UTMB Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc next year, a competition justifiably regarded as ‘the most mythical and prestigious trail running race in the world’. A mammoth 106-mile adventure on scenic but savage mountain terrain, this epic foot race spans three countries – France, Italy and Switzerland – and around 10,000m of elevation.

Meanwhile Karen is eyeing up the European Masters Off Road Running Championships taking place in Mount Etna in Sicily next May.