Dublin Mountain Plod - 18th July.

Slogger Jogger

This event is co-organised by the Dublin Mountains Initiative and IMRA. Essentially a half marathon from Marley Park up into the hills, around and back. c 820m of climb so it'll be a nice test.

Further details here: http://www.imra.ie/events/view/id/804/ and
also on www.dmp.ie

rovers_runner

4 stars (good)

Wow, I decided against the Wednesday league this year as it mean't sacrificing a lot of road time.

This however is perfect to prepare for the Warriors Run in August.

Some route alright......



820m of climbing also means 820m of decent

Krusty_Clown

Event requires preregistration. I've signed up already.
Exactly my kind of race, thought the first few and last few miles are on the road, so could be an argument for road shoes. Will have to do a recce soon.

Krusty_Clown

Anybody have a tracklog for this?
It could be a good run for me this Saturday, but would need to follow a course.

thepassanger

im hoping to do this event aswell, do you know when the closing date is for registration as i am unsure at the moment if i will be in the country for the 18th july? was at prince williams seat run a week ago and when this was mentioned my head said "wow perfect, just the thing to kill you". sounds like a great race

Stark

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Event requires preregistration. I've signed up already.
Exactly my kind of race, thought the first few and last few miles are on the road, so could be an argument for road shoes. Will have to do a recce soon.

Yeah I'd definitely go with the road shoes. The off-road sections are all forest road/trail.

Krusty_Clown

Here's a rough sketch of the elevation profile:



No doubt that the route I plotted is entirely wrong (I used OSM and guesswork!), so this is just a guideline. Mapmyrun.

gerard65

4 stars (good)

This looks like a great run. Would it be OK for a mountain running 'virgin'?

Krusty_Clown

I wouldn't know the route as well as others, but it's described on the IMRA site as waymarked (but it would probably make sense to know where you're going (do some sort of a 'recce beforehand))). There's a couple of tough climbs but otherwise it should be pretty accessible. Two water stations along the route too, which is nice.

If my elevation profile is approximately correct, the hard work will be done by around mile 9, so you should have a comfortable enough return to the finish line.

donothoponpop

gerard65 wrote: »

This looks like a great run. Would it be OK for a mountain running 'virgin'?

Perfect. Those trails and mild ascents would caress you gently, slowly, with understanding; you'll soon become hooked on the experience.

Plenty of time after for the rougher stuff.

Stark

Krusty_Clown wrote:

I wouldn't know the route as well as others, but it's described on the IMRA site as waymarked (but it would probably make sense to know where you're going (do some sort of a 'recce beforehand))).

There are the yellow wicklow way/dublin mountain way signs but I definitely wouldn't rely on them. The WW ones and the DMW ones overlap and the DMW ones are quite ambiguous in places. As far as I know though, the event is pitched at less experienced mountain runners so there should be plenty of marshalls out on the course and marking on the ambiguous sections.

Antigrav

Funny that. Just asked the mods yesterday if it was OK to put up event info, and up pops this post

I'm race director for this event, so feel free to ask questions here.

This route will be fully marked. Hopefully with natty purpose printed fingerboards. If not, then with the usual boundary tape. Depends on numbers.

I suggest running into the hills a few times before attempting this course. As mentioned there's a fair abount of climb/descent involved. All the way from Marlay to Cruagh is up, up, up. You then lose a fair bit, and begin climbing again. Anyone who did Tibradden yesterday will understand

This route has ben chosen for good trails, good views, and good slog.

Hope you enjoy it. Get registered as we will likely cut off at 300 runners.

gerard65

4 stars (good)

donothoponpop wrote: »

Perfect. Those trails and mild ascents would caress you gently, slowly, with understanding; you'll soon become hooked on the experience.

Plenty of time after for the rougher stuff.

How could I refuse that:D
Its the day after the 'Irish Runner 5 Mile' in the park but I've wanted to do this type of race so I think I'll give it a go.

menoscemo

Myself and woddle accidently did about half this course today. It is very steep up Cruagh but manageable. I am not sure it would be a good PB course though :D

copacetic

gerard65 wrote: »

How could I refuse that:D
Its the day after the 'Irish Runner 5 Mile' in the park but I've wanted to do this type of race so I think I'll give it a go.

I'm doing it instead of the 5 mile too.

Not sure I'd agree about the caressing though, anyone who hasn't done a fair bit of hill running or IMRA runs would be in for a shock, both with the amount of uphill and the amount of downhill. It's a nice route, pretty runnable but also pretty tough.

It's basically a 6 mile uphill run, a miles down, a couple of miles back up, then 3 miles straight downhill. Unless the weather is really bad I'd say it's a road shoe race for sure.

Krustys elevation looks right, but imo the vertical scaling makes it look a little easier than it actually is for those of us who don't like the hills too much.

Does anyone know is the entry to Masseys from Cruagh Lane pretty clear? Otherwise the route is easy enough to reccee as it's pretty straightforward.

I'll run it for the enjoyment, but it'll take a lot of holding back in first few miles to make it to the end comfortably.

Antigrav

The entrance to Massy's from Cruagh Lane is obvious. Just watch you take the fork to the right 100m up the lane. The entrance is basically at the end of this fork.

Follow the old military road up through Massy's and keep left at the picnic area. After the second bridge the trail curves around to the right and goes up the fenceline. This section can get a bit mucky, but is dry at the moment.

Coming out the top of Massy's you cross the road and follow Dublin Mountain Way markers. These should bring you all the way to Wicklow Way. Easy from there!

copacetic

Antigrav wrote: »

The entrance to Massy's from Cruagh Lane is obvious. Just watch you take the fork to the right 100m up the lane. The entrance is basically at the end of this fork.

Follow the old military road up through Massy's and keep left at the picnic area. After the second bridge the trail curves around to the right and goes up the fenceline. This section can get a bit mucky, but is dry at the moment.

Coming out the top of Massy's you cross the road and follow Dublin Mountain Way markers. These should bring you all the way to Wicklow Way. Easy from there!

thanks for that, it's a great idea, looking forward too it. Obviously would prefer a bit less road, but can't see how you can get a good start point much closer to the mountains and still make it a loop with much less road.

geld

4 stars (good)

After missing the Wicklow Trail through injury and going to miss the WW Relay through badly planned hols I have enterd for this and am really looking forward to it.

Ordinary road runners should do as besides the road a lot of the trails (but not all) are fire road and quite runable.

It's not to be underestimated though as the first six miles or so will be tough. The latter half is mainly but not all downhill. A lot of the route goes through my training territory so I hope I can make use of local knowledge.;)

If Antigrav says that registration will close at 300 then don't delay. I reckon a lot of the IMRA folk will be interested in this.

Mullaghteelin

4 stars (good)

I saw this advertised on the IMRA site last weekend and hoped a thread would appear here at some stage.
Ive never ran an IMRA race before, but I have run most of this route a number of times. Its only the stretch through Masseys that Im unfamiliar with at the moment.
I also noticed it was the same weekend as the 5 mile in the Phoenix Park but this would be more my cup of tea.:cool:
Ive registered for the race with the 25euro new member option, but I assume I also have to fill in the IMRA membership form, and bring it along on race day, as instructed on the IMRA site?

SharkTale

4 stars (good)

Mullaghteelin wrote: »

Ive registered for the race with the 25euro new member option, but I assume I also have to fill in the IMRA membership form, and bring it along on race day, as instructed on the IMRA site?

Hi Mullaghteelin

I was looking to register myself could not find it on the IMRA site can you post link.

Thanks

gerard65

4 stars (good)

SharkTale wrote: »

Hi Mullaghteelin

I was looking to register myself could not find it on the IMRA site can you post link.

Thanks

I entered from here: www.dmp.ie

SharkTale

4 stars (good)

gerard65 wrote: »

I entered from here: www.dmp.ie

Thanks Gerard65

Antigrav

Registration for the event is here

Event info is on the IMRA website

We should have an updated map up by next week, with course profile.

Krusty_Clown

Did a 'recce of the route today (what can I say, I'm eager), but hiked the route with a few friends instead of running it. We took a wrong turn in Massey's Wood, and ended up on the road too early, but otherwise followed it perfectly.

Fantastic views, great scenery, but it's going to be tough. 1,100 feet gain over 5 miles, a drop and re-climb of 500 feet and a tough fire/tarmac road descent for the last 3/4 miles. Can't wait.

Route (one wrong turn, and skipped Marlay Park).

gerard65

4 stars (good)

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Did a 'recce of the route today (what can I say, I'm eager), but hiked the route with a few friends instead of running it. We took a wrong turn in Massey's Wood, and ended up on the road too early, but otherwise followed it perfectly.

Fantastic views, great scenery, but it's going to be tough. 1,100 feet gain over 5 miles, a drop and re-climb of 500 feet and a tough fire/tarmac road descent for the last 3/4 miles. Can't wait.

Route (one wrong turn, and skipped Marlay Park).

Whats your thoughts on footware? Road or trial shoes?

copacetic

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Did a 'recce of the route today (what can I say, I'm eager), but hiked the route with a few friends instead of running it. We took a wrong turn in Massey's Wood, and ended up on the road too early, but otherwise followed it perfectly.

Fantastic views, great scenery, but it's going to be tough. 1,100 feet gain over 5 miles, a drop and re-climb of 500 feet and a tough fire/tarmac road descent for the last 3/4 miles. Can't wait.

Route (one wrong turn, and skipped Marlay Park).

did a small recce of a section yesterday also. Starting to wonder was it a good idea entering! In serious doubts about whether I can actually run it all, although it's mostly a runnable gradient, 1000 foot up is 1000 foot up. I reckon I can probably take it really slow and run the first 5 miles, but after the downhill bit, the run back up tibradden is a right kick in the teeth!

Not that it matters, I've always had to walk sections of the IMRA runs.

Very motivating to get you working hard between now and then though!

gerard65 wrote: »

Whats your thoughts on footware? Road or trial shoes?

I'm thinking road for the cushioning still, but will have to pick the right ones, mine have quite soft soles and could feel the rocks quite badly through them.

Krusty_Clown

Road shoe all the way. They'll probably get a little muddy, but it's mostly road + light gravel + forest + fire road. You'd get away with a pair of very road-biased trails shoes, but unless the weather is very crappy, I'll be going with normal runners.

Krusty_Clown

copacetic wrote: »

I reckon I can probably take it really slow and run the first 5 miles, but after the downhill bit, the run back up tibradden is a right kick in the teeth!

I didn't think the Tibradden climb was too bad (at least you get a nice downhill break before the climb), but I reckon the climb towards three rock after coming down off Tibradden will be tough, just from sheer tiredness. And the tarmac road downhill from Kilmashogue is going to be a killer on the quads. Quite easy to go wrong in a few spots (if you weren't carrying a map), such as Massey's, and the inital climb up Tibradden.

tempo

Id love to run this route if a few people are up for it?
maybe organise some Sunday???

RacoonQueen

tempo wrote: »

Id love to run this route if a few people are up for it?
maybe organise some Sunday???

Definitely, some were talking about it today for next weekend. But yeah, even a weekend in June would be good.

gerard65

4 stars (good)

tempo wrote: »

Id love to run this route if a few people are up for it?
maybe organise some Sunday???

A couple of us are doing part of this next thurs afternoon, but I'd be on for the full route some sun before the race.

Antigrav

Here is an updated map showing milestones, water stations and course profile.

It looks bigger than it is

Krusty_Clown

Thanks Antigrav. Having checked out the route at the weekend, I think you'll definitely need some marshalling or sign-posting in Massey's Wood, Cruagh Wood (at the junction where you turn off) and the Pine forest, so people know which paths to take. Lovely route, though I don't suppose there will be much opportunity to enjoy it on the day!

It's hard to tell what happens in Marlay Park. Is there a loop at the start or at the end, or both?

copacetic

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

It's hard to tell what happens in Marlay Park. Is there a loop at the start or at the end, or both?

+1 to this, I was assuming it was a loop at the start to spread people out a bit, but it's hard to tell.

Krusty_Clown

Also, I'm sure you know this already, but a marshall will definitely be required just before the 6km mark, where the trail crosses the road at the hair-pin. Dodgy spot!

Antigrav

We currently have 12 marshal points identified. Eight are on road crossings and four at trail turns. Now just to recruit some marshals!

I have noted the spots you mentioned, and think we have them covered. There should be plenty of markers, with arrows at all junctions.

We have a smaller loop identified for marlay park (not the one on the map). The start will be in the field on the other side of the car park from the new playground. You will run away from the car park through a gap in the hedge before looping anti-clockwise around a grassy field and joining up with the road. A left turn will bring you straight out the road to the entrance gates and right turn towards M50 underpass.

The loop is to get us to 21.1k and also avoid a pack of runners hitting the road en mass. The loop will be used at finish too.

Massy's is easy to recce if you download the 'O' map from here. Make sure you turn up at control 9 and not 3

Woddle

I'll stick my name down for marshalling, its only up the road from me and I plan to be out with the camera anyway so if you don't mind your marshalls taking pictures you can count me in.

Krusty_Clown

Antigrav wrote: »

Massy's is easy to recce if you download the 'O' map from here. Make sure you turn up at control 9 and not 3

Now if I'd only had that map last weekend! From point (3) we decided that uphill was the best course of action, and ended up at (2). A quick clamber and we were onto the road. Still, had we followed the correct route, we wouldn't have met the ice-cream van.

liamo123

Hi all just after coming across this thread and signed up immediately.. Have never done any hill running so this will either make or break me!!!

If ye decide to run the route before race count me in

Antigrav

Anyone who would like to help out as a marshal can do so a number of ways:

If you are an IMRA member you can volunteer as a helper on the event page. You have to have a MyIMRA login. If you need one, PM me your mobile number, and we'll text you a password.

You could just PM me your name and mobile and I'll get in touch, or just email info@dublinmountains.ie.

Thanks. Any help is greatly appreciated.

gerard65

4 stars (good)

liamo123 wrote: »

Hi all just after coming across this thread and signed up immediately.. Have never done any hill running so this will either make or break me!!!

If ye decide to run the route before race count me in

Memoscemo and I will be having another go at this route some Saturday soon so keep an eye here. I'll post details of meeting point etc., and anyone is welcome to join in.

Krusty_Clown

gerard65 wrote: »

Memoscemo and I will be having another go at this route some Saturday soon so keep an eye here. I'll post details of meeting point etc., and anyone is welcome to join in.

Another go? how did the first go-go?

gerard65

4 stars (good)

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Another go? how did the first go-go?

We just did the masseys wood section today. We'll add a bit more next time. Todays run was good but its very tough in sections. A few more runs around the hills is needed before the race!

menoscemo

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Another go? how did the first go-go?

Yeah it was tough and a lot of unexpected objects to climb over in the wood. I wasn't expecting fences and walls and the like Next time we will do Masseys wood and part of the section over towards Glencullen combined. I'd say anyone who can keep running up through masseys wood will be near the front of the field.

Edit to say, just entered offiically now. I normally only ebter races with a chance of breaking a PB but I don't expect that to happen here. I bet the pints will taste good after this one

ocnoc

if your a PB hunter, mountain running acts as great training.... PB's take different meaning in the mountains - how fast can you descend 3km through heather or scree? How quick can you ascend 500m in bog?
Much more fun than bragging about any 5k time :P

Slogger Jogger

4 stars (good)

Reminds me a bit of the book Feet in the Clouds.. the bit where it detailed the downhill exploits of the top fellrunners who would run 100m faster than any world records. I've never ran a 5k race, but I've run some great 5k downhills :rolleyes:

ocnoc

I can recommend the descent of Camaderry as fast and furious. Just turn over the legs and hit the S bends hard

Krusty_Clown

Did another 'recce of the route today (running this time instead of hiking!). Even in the pissing rain it's a lovely route, though I did again manage to take the wrong path in Massey's Wood. Just as well the race isn't on until July. Might give me a chance to find the right way!

SharkTale

4 stars (good)

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Did another 'recce of the route today (running this time instead of hiking!). Even in the pissing rain it's a lovely route, though I did again manage to take the wrong path in Massey's Wood. Just as well the race isn't on until July. Might give me a chance to find the right way!

Have tried 3 times to get out of Massey's Estate but with no luck :mad:

Would some one be able to give directions from the gate on Cruagh Lane how to get on to the road at the end of the estate?
Or I am better cutting through the estate on to the main Kilakee Road (Hell Fire) continue up the road and rejoin the plod as per the map

Thanks in advance.

tunguska

This race looks like a doozey! Screw the addidas 5miler Im running this instead. First mountain race so go easy lads ok

menoscemo

SharkTale wrote: »

Have tried 3 times to get out of Massey's Estate but with no luck :mad:

Would some one be able to give directions from the gate on Cruagh Lane how to get on to the road at the end of the estate?
Or I am better cutting through the estate on to the main Kilakee Road (Hell Fire) continue up the road and rejoin the plod as per the map

Thanks in advance.

After about half a mile into the wood, you come to a fork in the path. It seems that the natural way to go is up towards the picnic area (I think it is signposted 'picnic area' up to the right) but you have to take the low road downhill to the left for a bit then you turn a corner and start climbing again.
That's what myself and Gerard65 did it like anyway. I think this is right.