10 Things I Think About The Cobh 10 Mile 2026

1. Social Media

I think that social media has a lot to answer for. It’s causing a lot of problems. Big problems. People don’t want to run races with hills because of social media because you are supposed to run a P.B in every race and be in a state of perpetual improvement and betterment, regression will not be tolerated. Time goes out the window in Cobh, it’s a race, it would probably work better as a random distance, whatever the lap is.

2. Down With This Sort of Thing, Careful Now

I think that there is always something to worry about with races. This was a new one on me. Will I have enough diesel to get to the race? Will the protesters have taken the roads in? Luckily the scirocco sips diesel as slowly as I run up hills so there was no problem. I took the backroad of the backroad from Glanmire to Carrigtohill on the advice of John Meade who rang me as he was on his way to Cobh while I was having my breakfast of brown granary toast with peanut butter and an aeropress coffee which was very nice.

3. The Ascent

I think that my favourite part of the Cobh 10 is the ascent to the start from the town centre by the cool coloredy houses that tourists come to take photos of. I don’t know why that hill isn’t in the race. It would make the race better, probably attract more lunatics like me, the flat track runners are already deterred by the lesser hills in the route. Actually start the race in the town up the hill and make it 18k. Perfect. Imagine the photos, my calves would look excellent.

4. Sted Sarandos

I think that John Meade isn’t to be trusted. You never know what he is up to. There was no sign of him on the entry list, perhaps he entered under a pseudonym Harry Styles style because as soon as I completed the ascent to the start I spotted him looking fresh and rested having lots of photos taken with all his fans. I should just assume he will be in Cobh as it is made for him.

5. Sonia Asked Me

I think that John Meade is a genius mind game player. He loves to play tricks on his opponents. The first thing he said to me was “Sonia has asked me to pace Lily”, “We ran 53:30 last year”. It must have been totally made up as within half a mile John Meade was gone having resigned from the pacing job and appointed me in his place.

6. Me a Lady and a Bike

I think that once John Meade resigned from his pacing duties and disappeared up the road I had a nice stress free race. I didn’t really mind John Meade beating me as much as I normally would as I won the East Cork Road Championship on Thursday so I had enough glory for the week, I wouldn’t want my head to get too big, I could end up minding myself and selecting two races a year to peak in. Miles two to seven were hilly but fine running along with Lily Partridge and the bike assigned to the first lady.

7. Let Me Help

I think that I would have been better off resigning from my unofficial pacing job rather than being fired after seven miles. I thought I was doing an excellent job but on the long straight slightly uphill section into the relentless wind after mile seven Lily didn’t seem to appreciate my help anymore and said “let me help” before opening a gap that I only closed on the downhill before turning left under the railway bridge at mile eight.

8. Mná na hÉireann

I think that it would have been better if John Meade had stuck to his assigned pacemaking role as he could have responded as gaeilge to the shout of Mná na hÉireann as I ran past struggling to hold onto the back of Lily Partridge. Unfortunately my gaelige doesn’t work at 5:30 pace so I couldn’t correct the error.

9. Two Miles Easy

I think that the last two miles would remind you why people like running great P.Bs by me on nice flat courses with no wind. It’s really lovely and effortless to float along on a flat road in magic shoes. I looked at the watch and realised that all hope of a sub 55 clocking had vanished so I ran home at an enjoyable effort only to pass Michael McMahon who was obviously and visibly horrified at my lack of pointless suffering.

10. Aperture

I think that I was very unlucky not to get to go up on the bandstand and meet Sonia. I was first of the people who got no prize, a thing that will probably never happen to me again once I finally turn 40 in May. Shane Myler felt sorry for me so he gave me a hat to compensate which was nice. I also got another cup, the second of the week, the Cobh 10 cups are very good cups having the perfect aperture for sitting an aeropress on top. It’s a great race the Cobh 10 once you free yourself from the tyranny of times or perhaps run under a pseudonym if you must.