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Art O'Neill Challenge 2011
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4 stars (good)Good video..
Enduro, that was one big backpack, don't tell me you ran the full race with that on :eek:
That was me arriving to Dublin castle, having parked up my bike nearby. So my race backpack was actually inside that one (I used a Columbia Mobex for the race, or the hamster tent as DaPope likes to call it
... light, stable and compact) 0 -
4 stars (good)nerraw1111 wrote: »Great video.
Managed to make an appearance leading out the ultras before I copped on what i was doing.
Is that you in the yellow hat having a "jaysus, what way do I go" moment ?nerraw1111 wrote: »Git101, that tache is more recognisable than Willie O'Dea's!
I'm not quite sure how to take that :eek:
That moustache has Samson like qualities, without it I'd be weak as a kittenThat was me arriving to Dublin castle, having parked up my bike nearby. So my race backpack was actually inside that one (I used a Columbia Mobex for the race, or the hamster tent as DaPope likes to call it... light, stable and compact)
That's mad !! You cycled to the start and then ran won the AON.
I thought that you maybe thought the AON was too easy and packed loads of water bottles into the big backpack to make the challenge more interesting.... 0 -
You cycled to the start and then ran won the AON.
I thought that you maybe thought the AON was too easy and packed loads of water bottles into the big backpack to make the challenge more interesting....
It was actually full of rocks, he did some Mountain Meithal work on the way...:cool:0 -
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I had spent over two hours assigning sometimes reluctant walkers to the various leaders at Kippure House. I was hoarse by 6.20am when I found myself on my own in Kippure House with twenty-two "where's our leader-you promised us a leader" walkers. After a bit of "will you take this group?" from some assertive-type guy I eventually left with them at 6.30am.
Before Ballynultagh Gap we caught up with the previous group and paused for a while in the bitter cold. For the rest of the journey to Baravore everything went well, apart from losing three people at Ballynultagh Gap and another few at Ballinagee Bridge. We crossed the finishing line in the area of 16.45 hours.
Problems? None - except one girl who insisted on entertaining everyone with her tinny transistor radio on the road walk to Ballynultagh. Eventually I had to ask her "Would you mind if we didn't have to listen to that radio?" She said ok and then had a cigarette before we ascended Black Hill.
My own club, the Irish Ramblers, provided seven guides. I'm pleased to say that their navigation was flawless and each one acquitted themselves admirably.
I'm looking forward to next year and hoping I'm not the last one out of the blocks! 0 -
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4 stars (good)tommytommy wrote: »hi all... Is this an event that takes place every 2 years or will there be an event happening in january 2012? I have been speaking with a few people who have said there will be no event this year... I don't want to train in vain you know?
No such thing as training in vain, there's nearly always an alternative race
Anyway, I got an email from Gearoid saying the event would be going ahead on the 6th/7th january. There might be a backup date as well in case it's pissing rain that weekend according to the email.0 -
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3 stars (average)watercarrier wrote: »a couple of idiots guides got lost aswell if memory serves me right
Yup, I was one of them.
If competent navigators were struggling at points - can you imagine the carnage if there were no guides
There were a lot of people who were unprepared physically for the challenge, if you disagree, just look at the large numbers that got the bus back from the Wicklow Gap road.
You should always challenge yourself, but be realistic.
I think I was more vexed by one particular hybrid/ultra that didn't have the right kit, couldn't navigate but said she knew where she was going cause Eoin told her(?), and my mate found her lost and freezing on route, gave her his kit and got her as far as the Wicklow Gap road before she got on a bus. Its such foolishness that darkens my view of it.
So maybe painting everyone with the one brush was overly harsh.0 -
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Yup, I was one of them.
If competent navigators were struggling at points - can you imagine the carnage if there were no guides
There were a lot of people who were unprepared physically for the challenge, if you disagree, just look at the large numbers that got the bus back from the Wicklow Gap road.
You should always challenge yourself, but be realistic.
I think I was more vexed by one particular hybrid/ultra that didn't have the right kit, couldn't navigate but said she knew where she was going cause Eoin told her(?), and my mate found her lost and freezing on route, gave her his kit and got her as far as the Wicklow Gap road before she got on a bus. Its such foolishness that darkens my view of it.
So maybe painting everyone with the one brush was overly harsh.
Bit my lip and promised myself I would say nothing but heres a couple of points from my point of view:
I spoke with Ocnoc shortly after the event last year and to be honest dont agree with most of the above based on following reasons;
1. Our group took off like a hares straight from Kippure on immediate uphill which knocked the wind out of me personally. A lot of the group could not keep up with pace straight away.
2. Guides were fresh and did not take into consideration some of group had run first portion no matter what pace they ran at. Start off moderately and build up pace would be my recommendation.
3. I dont believe anyone who completed hybrid were physically unprepared. There is at least 2 of those who pulled out at final checkpoint that I know personally, were able to run 50km mountain races comfortably not too far either side of this event.
4. One of the members of our group was fit enough to continue from final check point but stated he was demoralised by the fact we were one of the first to leave and even though we pushed hard we seem to be losing track on all other groups.
5. If there were no guides a lot of people would not compete in event. The fact that you volunteer allows people like not confident enough to navigate to compete. I know I appreciate this.
6. Cannot understand how someone cannot have right kit when we have kit check at sign in. wonder do we need to complete kit check as we leave Kippure house.
7. I believe that was the first group walk that some guides ever took on so it was a learning curve for quite a few people. So in my opinion guides should not be so quick to fault others. My own personal issue was I got ill and dehyrated which was naive and appreciated the eventual help from guides.
8. We have all had to pull out of races\events in the past as stated by a guide last year and it is naive to think this is down to fitness or being unprepared.
With the role of guide comes great responsibility. Hopefully some of the guides have learned from this experience on the importance of motivating group & keeping them together. Rather than accusing those of us who pulled out on last stage of being unprepared and idiots, maybe the guides should analyse the % of their groups that pulled out of the event compared with other groups. lets be honest people in the group I was in considered themselves advanced so thought of themselves as well prepared.
My two cents.0 -
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