Dangan running track

pudgey22

Hi all,
I need to spend a bit of time running on the grass because of injuries, i don't want to do any more damage coming up to the DC marathon or else i'll def not be able to take part. Someone told me that if you stick to the perimeter of dangan that it's 2 miles, i've attached a bing map view of it with what i think might be the perimeter, doesn't seem to be two miles but i'm not at all sure, can anyone say yay or nay to what i've drawn? Is it red or green or am i out by a lot?
Thanks a mill!
Cheers,
P

Domer

Try measuring using www.gmap-pedometer.com if possible

Morgoth

Try www.mapmyrun.com and map out your own. With the new car park going in I think it cuts off some of the south pitch? This is an example of the old 2 mile loop:

http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/ireland/galway/727078107

Personally I use a shortened 1.5 mile version of this now, or else add in an extension down to the college to make a 3 or 4 mile loop. I find it helps psychologically when I know I only need to do "5 laps" for a long run, rather than 10 or 12 laps. :pac:

There's also a very nice 1 mile loop (grass only) if you just go around the pitches nearest the river (like 3 and a half pitches, kinda).

sideswipe

I am in a similar position to you re injuries and was advised if I was going to do laps on grass I should reverse the direction I'm running every 2nd or 3rd lap to balance out the effect of turning the same direction each lap. Not sure how good this advise is but can see some merit in it. Good luck.

brutes

Mr Morgoth has it right, thats the two miles, a new NUI car park has swiped 0.25 mile of it, BUT you can still get around it, no barbed wire or electric fences up, . Add another two miles return trip down river to college as far as rowing clubs and back if you fancy it.. Great training for the mind for marathons, and always a few heads about , rumour has it some lads live up there in Sept and Oct every year before Dublin....:)

pudgey22

Hi all,
Thanks a million for the feedback,I didn't realise mapmyrun had a satellite view until now... my main worry was would i be encountering any barbed wire or fences or was it a clear path all around, that's great that it seems to be. Hopefully this sees me right and i'll stay injury free, thanks!

HardyEustace

Mapmyrun is also missing the fact that there are works being carried out on the lower field and that as it gets wetter, you'll be running in water up to your ankles at some points.

Sometimes you've to get a bit creative with your route.

pudgey22

Hi all, one more thing on that, does anyone know if the area is lit up at night? Or is there a better green area to go if i'm on a night run? Thanks again!

littlebug

Sorry to butt in here but I'm interested in this loop too.
If you go say from the end of distillary road up to the pitches... round them twice and back to distillary road what is the distance given the latest changes. I'm also wondering about lighting/ safety, not necessarily at night but say 5-6 pm in the winter (thinking ahead :cool:)

pudgey22

Hi Littlebug, was down in Dangan last night for a jog, it's not lit at all, went around one field that was half lit with moonlight and a distant light with a mate of mine, it was fine, i don't know if i'd go on my own tho, bit spooky.....
Don't know of any other place that might be lit at night! That track down there is fairly locked up which is a pity, the one in UL used be so handy, no hassle getting on it!

brutes

Yep not the best or safest place to run after dark, but the track is booked some nights check local club sites, and can be open and unused too. Also you could get a mile loop some nights when the top two pitches and astro are lit up when college have training .

I know a few lads run there wth head torches in the dark.. not messin!!!

Try the prom Salthill its a good 3 miles return from Claddagh - Blackrock for a short jog, or run at lunch in winter. Running at night is not the easiest in Galway in winter due to poor lights and surfaces , the best I find from Dangan fr example is along main road by NUIG, through college, out the canals / by hospital to Salthill and back

littlebug

Pity about the lighting.Hopefully I'll get out early enough occasionally to get a run there before dark. I'll give it a go next time I'm in.

McConkey

Hey guys, was in a similar predicament earlier in the year with regard to injury and posted at the time to find out about places where it was possible to run on grass.

Barna woods/Cappagh road has a very substantial area of pitches, soft track and gravel that I found great. I'd say the Barna woods side could get a bit wet but there seemed to be no problem getting parking up at the Cappagh road end. Not sure about lighting there but it would be no worse than running the lanes in Dangan. Was impressed with this area as its quite an adventure finding new pitches spread out all over the place and I'd say if you were to run around it a few times early in the evening you could work out an area where it was safe to run in the dark.

Alternatively someone also suggested the race course to me at the time and I've seen a few people post here about running there.