Achill Half Marathon

kit3

Hi,

Anyone else doing the Achill half marathon - it's on 3rd July

Cartman78

Might give it a go if I'm not on holidays.

Would advise some serious hill-training for anyone considering doing this race - there's some real killer hills in the last 8k or so.

belcarra

I agree, the hill at mile 9 as you leave Doogort for Keel was much tougher than expected.
Stay on for the evening and head out to the local pubs - it was great atmosphere last year!
Unfortunately, I'll be out of the country for it this year.

guapos

yeah im doing it with a few friends, sounds tough though. some runs around howth should help

kit3

3 stars (average)

Yeah, the hill out of Doogort is tough alright. I did it last year - my first half marathon - talk about a baptism of fire :eek:

buck65

Same here, actually there is a gradual climb out of Keel for about a mile between 2 and 3 miles too. After that it levels out for a few miles but the last4 or 5 miles are tough, very tough. Great race thoug if a tad expensive.

catweazle

I got badly caught out on this last year my first race too, there are some hills at the start but as you are fresh these are fine. The friends told me it was more or less flat from then on, was feeling good so pushed on and had confidence of coming in well under 2 hours until I came around past Doogort.

Eventually had to give up and walk, the climbs just kept coming.

How is this compared to Connemara half.......is Achill tougher???

Krusty_Clown

I haven't done Achill, but looking at the elevation profile it looks about the same. In Achill, there is one hill climb of around 92m and a couple of smaller climbs of 47-50m. Looking at the Connemara half profile there are two climbs of around 90-100m. But then it's all relative to how you feel on the day and how much training you did on the hills for a particular race.

kit3

3 stars (average)

buck65 wrote: »

Same here, actually there is a gradual climb out of Keel for about a mile between 2 and 3 miles too. After that it levels out for a few miles but the last4 or 5 miles are tough, very tough. Great race thoug if a tad expensive.

At €60 it's on the expensive side alright. A lot of local charities/organisations received funds from the race last year as well as the two main charities they had supported. I spend the summer there so I know a lot of these groups and can see the benefit.

RoyMcC

catweazle wrote: »

I got badly caught out on this last year my first race too, there are some hills at the start but as you are fresh these are fine. The friends told me it was more or less flat from then on, was feeling good so pushed on and had confidence of coming in well under 2 hours until I came around past Doogort.

Eventually had to give up and walk, the climbs just kept coming.

How is this compared to Connemara half.......is Achill tougher???

Me likewise, a couple of years ago. After the first climb I reckoned it would be straightforward thereafter. Then there seemed to be spectators on each subsequent hill shouting 'last hill' so I'd put in a big effort only for the next one to appear. They have a wicked sense of humour out there That said I'd love to run it again.

(And it's tougher than Conn btw).

kit3

3 stars (average)

RoyMcC wrote: »

Then there seemed to be spectators on each subsequent hill shouting 'last hill' so I'd put in a big effort only for the next one to appear. They have a wicked sense of humour out there That said I'd love to run it again.

(And it's tougher than Conn btw).

Same jokers were there last year - must be a local 'sport' for the day !

watergal

I did this last year and it's the first time ever I've felt my thighs burning in a race ... tough, but very enjoyable. go for it !

Killerz

I did both Connemara half and Achill last year and I found Achill tougher overall. For me, i was able to handle the one long hill in Connemara easier than the many hills in Achill. Thats my opinion.

Thoroughly enjoyed Achill (and connemara) tho, and yes, the after-beers are good craic (if u can stay awake!).

We camped at the campsite on the beach last year - great location if yer into that sort of thing, and the start line is at the campsite.

This is gonna be my first half marathon- did the 10k there over the weekend but that avoided most of the major hills (although it did have 2k of beach thrown in to finish)

tempo

It's going to be my second half marathon.Ran my first one in Donegal few years ago in under 76mins and was hoping to go quicker here but by the sounds of things it sounds very hilly.
Should be good craic after though!!!

tempo

3 of us heading up on friday.booked a hotel for friday but can't get anywere for sat?
any suggestions?
really want to stay up for the after party.

catweazle

I am lucky a friend has a holiday home there, I dont know if you want to rough it but the campsite looks like great fun there. Otherwise have a look at this site, I think Keel is where it all happens

http://www.achilltourism.com/selfcatering-1.html

kit3

3 stars (average)

A lot of action in Keel but Dooagh is also only 2 miles away if you cannot get any accommodation in Keel. Two good pubs in Dooagh also and hotel with late 'nightclub' is between both.

mithril

catweazle wrote: »

I am lucky a friend has a holiday home there, I dont know if you want to rough it but the campsite looks like great fun there.

it is but I barely got a winks sleep either the night before, or more surprisingly, the night after the race.

Cartman78

Anyone know if the route will be amended for this year?

Wouldn't mind if they reversed the route like 2007 - it did feature a hellish 3 mile slog into a head wind but seemed a lot less hilly

kit3

3 stars (average)

Don't think they have. They said that they changed it in the first place after being asked to. I would reckon that it would be better the other way around also. The last two mile or so would be downhill and so would the steepest hill (around mile 9 the way it is now). Wouldn't hurt to email them and try I suppose - If they got enough requests you never know ......

Mountain Rescue

its quiet expensive to do the race,i done the 10k a few weeks ago and that only cost 23e,compered to 60e for the 20k,

mithril

Cartman78 wrote: »

Anyone know if the route will be amended for this year?

Wouldn't mind if they reversed the route like 2007 - it did feature a hellish 3 mile slog into a head wind but seemed a lot less hilly

If you don't like hills, don't run the race. There are plenty of flatter alternatives.
If you are starting and finishing in the same place, you are going to have the same elevation to climb, so not sure how much of a difference it will make which way you are running.

Cartman78

mithril wrote: »

If you don't like hills, don't run the race. There are plenty of flatter alternatives.
If you are starting and finishing in the same place, you are going to have the same elevation to climb, so not sure how much of a difference it will make which way you are running.

Never said I didn't like hills - but I would prefer them in the early stages of a race in an ideal world. The clockwise route is (if memory serves me right) pretty much downhill/flat for the last couple of miles. Either way, this is still a great event and a great challenge and a dip in the Atlantic afterwards will soothe any aching limbs.

re: Mountain Rescue - I think a lot of the registration fee goes to local charities. Someone on here should be able to give more info.

kit3

3 stars (average)

yes - a lot of the registration fee goes to local groups / charities. The website (www.achillmarathon.com) gives details of the amounts paid out last year & pictures of funds being presented. e.g. I was there a few weeks ago and my kids had a great time playing in the brand new playground in Keel which was one of the things funded out of last years proceeds

tempo

40 days to go to the big race.To be honest I wish it was in 2-3 weeks.
Sometimes you pick an event thinking ''must give myself plenty of time to get fit''
Has anyone started Hill SESSIONS for this race?
Looking forward to the after party!!!

RoadKillTs

2 stars (poor)

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guapos

Does anyone know where we register on Saturday morning?

Really looking forward to the run and views followed by world cup and beach party, what a great day its going to be.

galwayspur

4 stars (good)

guapos wrote: »

Does anyone know where we register on Saturday morning?

Really looking forward to the run and views followed by world cup and beach party, what a great day its going to be.

I think there's a tented village set-up there for registration/number pickup that morning.

Really looking forward to the race now, I have a feeling we'll be battered by the wind which is forecast for the west coast this weekend. I suppose the wind will be behind us at some point.

TakeaBowSon

Looking forward to this immensely!

kit3

3 stars (average)

You register in Keel - last year there was a marquee down near the playground and the camping site. As far a I know you can register on Friday also. Weather could be interesting - Achill is a windy place at the best of times ! Hopefully the wind will be behind us for the final hills :eek:

guapos

Good luck to everyone tomorrow, I think ill stay away from the pints tonight and give myself a fighting chance

Husavik

3 stars (average)

Did this run there yesterday. The route was very up and down and it was windy and showery on the day, so all in all a very challenging run. There was a carnival atmosphere at the start, literally, with a big amusements style tent adjacent to the registration tent. It also seemed like half of Achill was involved in some way with everyone taking great pride in their event.

I thought the run was well organized. There were water stations roughly every 2 miles with 200ml bottles with the sports style tops. At the end when you cross the finish line and all you want to do is lean over the nearest bit of support to recover, there were volunteers coming over to you and enthusiastically offering bottles of water and being generally friendly. I thought it was a nice touch. My only gripe was that when I went to get my burger at the runners stand, the queue was about 50 people long. A friend had gotten one earlier and left it for a dog as the middle was 'raw'. So we made the short trip to the lovely 'Beehive' instead for some fresh Salmon salad. That it is in a far flung location meant that most were going to have to spend at least one overnight there but that only added to the specialness. Will try to do again next year. Time 1.36.

galwayspur

4 stars (good)

Hats off to the organisers of the Achill Half, they put on a great event on Saturday and deserve a lot of credit. I arrived in Keel at 9:40am and made my way to the registration marquee and was dealt with in a friendly and efficient manner there.

After a nice enough first few miles with only a couple of gentle inclines to negotiate, the second half of the race was a real slog. Taking in the great scenery on the way around was a real plus - Dugort beach is stunning!!

Thanks to the spectator in Dugort saying "just look at the road - DON'T look at the hill!!" as we passed I knew what was coming. The hills between 7.5 - 10 miles were really tough going and I was just about running up them. To see yet another hill just before mile 12 was a nightmare, and pretty much ended my hopes of getting in under 1:50.

Great support all the way around from the locals, plenty of water, a decent goody bag with a quality tech t-shirt. Overall a very enjoyable race and in my opinion worth the entry fee.

I had wife & kids with me as supporters for the day, there was plenty going on in Keel and a superb atmosphere.

I'll be back in 2 years (going to do Connemara next year to compare).

WezzyB

Have to agree, organisation was fantastic as well as local support. I also like the fact it's on a Saturday and not a Sunday, gives you a chance to enjoy the island for the rest of the weekend.

This was my 2nd time running the race and will be back next year for sure.
This race is a lot more difficult than Connemara in my opinion, I did that race in 2008 and might do it again next year to prepare for Achill.

kit3

3 stars (average)

Out of internet contact all summer so only getting to post on this now. Have to agree with the other comments - very well organised race and enthusiastic volunteers. Wind was a killer on the day - must be more prepared for those hills next year !

marchino

4 stars (good)

kit3 wrote: »

Out of internet contact all summer so only getting to post on this now. Have to agree with the other comments - very well organised race and enthusiastic volunteers. Wind was a killer on the day - must be more prepared for those hills next year !

kinda in the same boat kit3, well iv just joined so only getting ta post on dis now too!! i had to giv it the full 5 stars on ratings and im not being biest, even do i won this i wud still have given it top marks. firstly, the water organization was top drawer the handouts and the bottles were easily slugged whilst running (notin worse then plastic cups!), the people of achill were very supportive and good natured. the craic across the road in the pub was mighty, think argentina were playin germany in the world cup at the time and it added to the post race atomphere. The massages after were a nice touch too and went down well as did the natural sea water which helped d legs too... the pipe band playing before the start was differnt and added to the atmosphere but for god sake mayb next year move them out of the way before starting the race!!! (im told sumtin similar happened in 09') just a suggestion but its common sense, lucky no one got flattened by bagpipes!! prizes were generous and greatly recieved altough the presentations were a little dragged out into the afternoon. But overall well done to achill, great race and lovely scenery, might well be back next year.

pdiddyw

Is there many planning on dong this run this year?
I couldn't find any threads for 2011 on it?

snailsong

I intend to do it, expect lots will.

catweazle

Hoping to do it, need to sign up soon I think as registration will be closing, will be my third crack at it. Its a great race

pdiddyw

Does it start off with an incline for the first couple of km's?
Thanks

catweazle

Ya theres a long drag between 2-3 miles. Its fast up to mile 9-12 where there a few humdinger hills and then the last mile is downhill again

Here you go from the site

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/23483617