IMRA season 2011

donothoponpop

Here's a new thread to replace our 2010 one. Its a place for discussing hillrunning, races, training, equipment, shoes, banter: so long as it goes up and down, and makes you mucky, this is the place for it! I'll put in a few links for new runners who might be curious about hill running, feel free to post more relevant info below so that we can direct newcomers to the first page of this thread throughout 2011.

What is hill running? Irish Mountain Running Association for all the information you need about races, dates, maps, carpooling, results, etc.

Do I need special gear? In general, the only specific gear you need is hill running shoes, which will provide extra traction for the different terrain. Most hill shoes have less cushioning and support than road shoes, and are more durable. Some good shoes are discussed here, here, here and where to buy them

Other gear you may need, depending on the difficulty of the race, may be waterproof clothing, map and compass, mobile phone.

How do I enter? IMRA membership is €10 per calendar year, and then €7 per race. You can register your details, (gender, age grouping, club affiliation), before each race, once that is done, you are in the system, and will be included in the results (with lots of neat graphs and charts so you can track your progress throughout the years races, and that of your rivals!).

Do I have to be in a club? No, you may leave the club section blank if you wish. However, the inter-club rivalry is a big part of the races, and gives runners down the field a chance to "score". If you are not a member of another running club, you can put down "Boards ", and be a part of the Boards team who run the IMRA races. (You do not need to join the official Boards AC team to run IMRA races, just frequent this forum, turn up and run, although you must join them if you want to run for Boards AC in AAI-run events). There is also an inter-county rivalry, so you can enter your county (of birth or residence, especially if that contributes to a bigger geographical spread than Dublin and Wicklow!).

Besides the above, carpooling helps to lessen parking problems in often remote locations, turning up early (+1hour) before the race start helps with registration queues, and most of all volunteering often helps keeps prices down and organization efficient. Through these pages, we have ran a couple of very well received map-reading course's. The ever-popular Wicklow Way Relay had two teams comprised of Boards runners, and we manged our luck, to win the whole thing:D, and the team captain hasn't lost his cheesy grin yet (as I keep reminding my friends in the Rathfarnham team, we'll be more gracious about winning in 2011;)) We had a great time talking about, and running in, IMRA races in 2010, thanks to everyone, from all clubs and none, who helped make it such a huge thread! Onwards and upwards in 2011!

nerraw1111

The Winter league dates are up.

Happy to see some Sunday races.

donothoponpop

nerraw1111 wrote: »

The Winter league dates are up.

Happy to see some Sunday races.

AWESOME!

My local training ground, Annagh Hill, made the cut! Spanking brand new course (photos here and here ). Special prize for the first (non Imra prize winning) Boardsie to the gate at the summit.:)

Great to see Trooperstown back too, KC has unfinished business on this route. Maulin looks sadistic, 11k course, thats 820m climb in 5.5k :eek: Howth and Ticknock are great starter courses. There's a nice look to this WL, a bit of something to interest everyone:)

Toblerone1978

Folks

I've a normal pair of runners, but I want to buy a decent pair of shoes for mountain running / trail running.

Any suggestions of good shops to go to for (a) suitable shoes and (b) knowledgeable staff.

Preferably in the South East!


Must appreciated.

sean_84

Toblerone1978 wrote: »

Folks

I've a normal pair of runners, but I want to buy a decent pair of shoes for mountain running / trail running.

Any suggestions of good shops to go to for (a) suitable shoes and (b) knowledgeable staff.

Preferably in the South East!


Must appreciated.

Ideally you would have a different pair of runners for trails and for off-trails (open mountain). I find that my normal road runners are grand for the majority of trails to be honest, but for rougher stuff Inov8 or Walshes would be well regarded brands, but I don't know if you can get them in the south east.

I do know they have some of the adidas and mizuno trail/fell runners in alfie hales in waterford city that may be worth checking out

Krusty_Clown

donothoponpop wrote: »

Great to see Trooperstown back too, KC has unfinished business on this route.

Hmm, 8 seconds to steal back. Time to start training. It's my 'A' goal for next year.

shels4ever

That 7k in Howth looks a niceone to start. Is that going up by the gold club?

donothoponpop

Howth starts from the GAA grounds, runs up a bit from the Golf Course. Last time it was run, a heap of runners took a wrong turn and disrupted the checkered-trouser classes.

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Hmm, 8 seconds to steal back. Time to start training. It's my 'A' goal for next year.

Methinks I'll have to up my game by several notches to stay close. I'm hopeful you'll not risk those fast marathon ankles on the downhills though:)

shels4ever

A great think I know the route , Ran it a few times years ago.

christeb

shels4ever wrote: »

That 7k in Howth looks a niceone to start. Is that going up by the gold club?

looks like a new route, map is here. I'm sticking it in the diary as a must. Run out and back for a nice LSR!

Slogger Jogger

The dates are up for the Wicklow way trail and ultra aswell. Both a worthy aspirants for race event of the year in the IMRA calendar (after Annagh hill of course )

El Director

Wanted to toughen up a little last winter and decided to do 3 of these, absolutely loved them and they stood to me throughout the whole season. Did Tinto Hill race in Scotland 3 weeks ago too. So going to do 3 more this winter and really looking forward to it now.

Krusty_Clown

donothoponpop wrote: »

Methinks I'll have to up my game by several notches to stay close. I'm hopeful you'll not risk those fast marathon ankles on the downhills though:)

Marathons are so....this year.. I'm all about the hill runs next year..

donothoponpop

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Marathons are so....this year.. I'm all about the hill runs next year..

I was afraid you'd say that! I'm going to really, really, really, up my game this year, and even then I'll be lucky to serve morning coffee to your wake.

But its a challenge, so may the best man win!:o

Slogger Jogger

2010 thread locked when theres still a race to go

Postman delivered the 2010 yearbook today. A fine book by any standards, illuminated by the photos taken by John Shiels and many fine articles too. Lots of boards runners in evidence. I think between gohard and KC, you guys have a monopoly on some photos. Ever the photogenic ones . A major gap is the lack of at least a chapter on the Wicklow way relay win by Boards or a pic of the winning team .

donothoponpop

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

2010 thread locked when theres still a race to go

Sorry! Opened again for anyone who wants to categorically discuss CB Race on the 27th Dec:o

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Postman delivered the 2010 yearbook today. A fine book by any standards, illuminated by the photos taken by John Shiels and many fine articles too. Lots of boards runners in evidence. I think between gohard and KC, you guys have a monopoly on some photos. Ever the photogenic ones . A major gap is the lack of at least a chapter on the Wicklow way relay win by Boards or a pic of the winning team .

We form a team, we turn up, we whup everyones butt. High performance my a$$ :mad::D

Krusty_Clown

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

I think between gohard and KC, you guys have a monopoly on some photos. Ever the photogenic ones .

Probably the airplane pose. I only ran 4 IMRA races last year (average place = 8 (you really gotta know how to pick them. )).
Hmm. Could be a good xmas pressie (if Santa is reading).

jeffontour

I reckon Mr. Shiels has a duvet cover with gohards mug on it his lense has such an afinity with him!

My copy is enroute. Looking forward to a scan through it.

Slogger Jogger

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Probably the airplane pose. I only ran 4 IMRA races last year (average place = 8 (you really gotta know how to pick them. )).
Hmm. Could be a good xmas pressie (if Santa is reading).

No actually, but its the cool sunglasses and smile bit when the rest of us are in pain

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

Going to do a few of these next year as some of the events look good. Must join up to Boards AC when i get around to it.

Slogger Jogger

Kannon Hot Freighter wrote: »

Going to do a few of these next year as some of the events look good. Must join up to Boards AC when i get around to it.

You can sign on your imra registration as Boards in any event. Enjoy.

thepassanger

very excited for the new season! plus the winter league. will there be that innov8 bumbag again for the leinster league?

ocnoc

donothoponpop wrote: »

Maulin looks sadistic

I assume thats a typo and you meant to say "beautiful"

Slogger Jogger

thepassanger wrote: »

very excited for the new season! plus the winter league. will there be that innov8 bumbag again for the leinster league?

Lets not get ahead of ourselves. We're not even in WL yet.

Dunebuggy

Leinster, Connaught and Irish Championships Dates for 2011 are now up

donothoponpop

I love this drip-feeding:D More up now, Leinster Champs see Mount Leinster and best course from last year, Circuit of Avonbeg, return. Don't know Mullaghcleevaun, but looking forward to finding out. LC's look brilliant, well done PN.

Boards will be defending their Wicklow Way Relay title on Sat Jun 11th, places for the "A" team are up for grabs:D

Dunebuggy

donothoponpop wrote: »

Boards will be defending their Wicklow Way Relay title on Sat Jun 11th, places for the "A" team are up for grabs:D

Nominating Gohard for the A Team, i know he is off skiing for a week, so he may not get a chance.

donothoponpop

Dunebuggy wrote: »

Nominating Gohard for the A Team, i know he is off skiing for a week, so he may not get a chance.

He certainly hit a purple patch as this year went on, I'm sure he'll be on the team in the sort of form he's been in...

Just to clarify, "A" team places will be based on form in the months leading up to the relay. It's the fairest way to do things, so in a couple of months we'll ask anybody who wants to be considered to sign up (and twist a few arms to get others:)). You will only be considered for routes you have run previously, and 2011 recce's will be mandatory. Knowing those twists and turns is literally the difference between a winning team and a losing team.

But there's a lot of great runs ahead before we get to that point! My call above was more a "call to arms" than seeking expressions of interest- but great to see that all the same! BTW, I reckon we have the makings of a 7:30 team from these parts...:pac:

Dunebuggy

donothoponpop wrote: »

You will only be considered for routes you have run previously, and 2011 recce's will be mandatory.

So running legs 1-4 backwards(well in the opposite direction) in the snow yesterday doesn't count :-)

Slogger Jogger

A great list of events. Some old reliables and new routes to explore. Nice to see Nephin getting its 'day in the sun' in the Connaught championships.

donothoponpop

Dunebuggy wrote: »

So running legs 1-4 backwards(well in the opposite direction) in the snow yesterday doesn't count :-)

It counts Fair play to you, I really wanted to be part of this run. What were the conditions like?

Dunebuggy

donothoponpop wrote: »

It counts Fair play to you, I really wanted to be part of this run. What were the conditions like?

Conditions from yesterday

eamonn wicklow way.jpg


We had around 44k of snow out of 50k. It was very hard around Djouce and walking and sliding backwards down curtlestown was tough. We saw 5 people the whole day and the only trails we saw were Pauls and Jasons ahead :-)

Awesome day out though - great sun and smiles in the beginning and in the pub after !!

donothoponpop

Well done to St. Bridgid's AC in Meath, for getting their Mullaghmeen Hill Run in Oldcastle onto the calendar. It will form part of the new Spring Trail series, which will be ideal for anyone who wishes to try hill running, before the harder summer races begin.

donothoponpop

Everyone is constantly impressed by the high value to cost ratio of imra races. A whole years worth of quality races at €7 a pop, which is only made possible through a very strong volunteer ethos. There's a volunteer chart where you can sign up to help at upcoming races, and help directly keep this great race organization strong. Laptop operators, first aid people, are always at a premium, but every race needs helpers for registration and entry. All this requires is you turn up a bit earlier, and man the desks for a half hour or so (you can then run the race yourself). In particular, the early races of the year are very busy with new registrations that need to be processed, so you might consider helping out there. The best race calendar is only possible with help from the best people. (Spot prizes also tend to be mysteriously won by volunteers;))

Imra- its how Russia would have looked had Stalin never been born.

donothoponpop

Rene has a "scoop" preview of the full upcoming calendar over on MS&T.

nerraw1111

That's a cracking preview. Interesting to read about the more open/fell races in the calendar this year.

Nice to see the return of the marathon plod, really enjoyed that event last year.

On another note, the year book arrived today. Fantastic work although I can't help thinking it could've been better in they included my mug

Ar Strae

Ahhhh 2011... *rolls up sleeves*. Had to drop out of running for the latter half of 2010 after breaking my ankle on the Fairy Castle race. But this year...this year..I will NO fail! :-)

Looking forward to it...trying to build back. Reckon I'll skip the WL given my bad balance on ice and snow and still concerned about my ankle.

But loving the look of the LC, (Delighted to see Tonelagee still in..woohoo!) want to run the WW trail for the first time, the Relay of course. Maybe Circuit of Avonbeg...

It's all looking good!

Ro

thepassanger

donothoponpop wrote: »

Rene has a "scoop" preview of the full upcoming calendar over on MS&T.

look at that handsome devil legging it down croagh patrick! .................:cool:

geld

Anyone know why the IMRA website is down? I couldn't access it today or yesterday.

Dunebuggy

geld wrote: »

Anyone know why the IMRA website is down? I couldn't access it today or yesterday.

SJ has over worked the server looking at Slideshows of himself all day :-)

Domain has expired, hope to get it sorted in the morning

geld

Dunebuggy wrote: »

SJ has over worked the server looking at Slideshows of himself all day :-)

He'll have to fix that injury and get back out running again!:D

Dunebuggy

Dunebuggy wrote: »

Domain has expired, hope to get it sorted in the morning

Fixed

Dunebuggy

Summer league is up - Ballinastoe course is to be determined but it will be a classic I am told by the Route Marker

donothoponpop

Charles Barrington Memorial race of the Sugar Loaf postponed from the 27th to the 31st Dec, weather dependent.

ocnoc

Yes Jean et al, the race will go ahead unless there is thunder and lightning, blizzard conditions, or some sort of biblical plague. Snow won't really make the race any more treacherous than the stones that have littered the route since... well, since before the bible.

I'm assuming that mountain runners laugh at challenges, sneer at difficulties, grasp at opportunities, and that enough of you care about one of the really classic race routes that exist in the Leinster area to make an exception to the post-Yule torpor that riddles our angst ridden nation and will get out and do it.
Blow off the post-Christmas blues. There will be post race pints in the Glencormac Inn.

Leopardstown may be cancelled, but the Barrington goes ahead.

I saw the above email on the fourm and I thought - Long Live IMRA. Hardy men and women who laugh at inclement weather and grotty terrain.

Then I was brought back to reality of the conditions.

ocnoc

Imagine if there were off trail races mid week. Heaven. I'd be burnt out by the June Bank Holiday weekend :P

Krusty_Clown

donothoponpop wrote: »

Charles Barrington Memorial race of the Sugar Loaf postponed from the 27th to the 31st Dec, weather dependent.

It seems so wrong to postpone an IMRA race due to inclement weather, but on a positive note, I'll be back in Dublin on the 31st. Would love to get a race in over the festive period to see just how unfit I've become, and give me my mojo back for a positive start to the new year.

Slogger Jogger

Can't mess around with runners safety, you wouldn't be forgiven if anything awry happened. Lots of us would like to run in the snow but this can't be done in 100% safety on the Sugarloaf. Maybe over a snowy traily course but not there. Theres the certain matter of race logistics too. I've the race gear and I've been snowbound a lot in recent days. I couldn't guarantee I can drive anywhere in 2 or 3 days time. Hopefully New Years Eve will bring better race conditions.

ocnoc

Mountain Racing by its very nature is a dangerous sport.
Flinging oneself off mountain tops at "if i lose concentration i will die" speeds isn't exactly something in line with been safe and healthy. Every time we enter the mountains, we have to take stock of our own abilities before we do anything. Be it letting Brain get a gap so I don't collapse with fatigue on an exposed erret in the Reeks or when I hit the brakes (rarely ) on a rocky descent. I am taking responsibility for my own actions.
Surely the same applies for all races in all conditions. Thats also why a lot of open mountain races have kit requirements.

However, I do see your point about race kit been at different ends of Wicklow and the ability to actually get to the base of the mountain.

Nothing wrong with a 6km run in to the start

Timmaay

The sugarloaf race last winter was the most dangerous race I have ever done, you couldn't put foot on any of the paths, they were pure ice, and the gale up the top would have blown ya off if you stood up straight! The weather is part of the mix in hill running I know, but I think you need to draw the line somewhere and sending people up the sugarloaf in icey conditions is just asking for trouble!

ocnoc

geld wrote: »

that's a pretty snobby comment to make and is a bit insulting to all those who are regulars on the Wednesday IMRA runs.

Wow dude! No insult was meant! Comment been edited to remove insult