trail running in cork

sgal

Hi, I'm looking to get into trail running, I do a small bit of road running, just up to the 10k mark, but I find it can get a bit "samey". I've just ran through the woods next to Garryduff in Rochestown where I normally just walk the dog and loved it, fierce close to where I live; lots of mud; steep hill, no cars; very different compared to road running. Unfortunately it's not a huge area to cover and only a small bit of is "tracked". I would like to ask anyone else out there if/where they go trail running around Cork? Thanks.

Orobhsa

Ballincollig regional park have a few routes. 3 - 4 miles. Take a look here -

http://www.eagleac.net/content/view/102/83/
http://www.eagleac.net/content/view/101/82/

Ryder

Currabinney woods?

anymore

You could also try Farran Woods or Kilmurray.

anymore

Orobhsa wrote: »

Ballincollig regional park have a few routes. 3 - 4 miles. Take a look here -

http://www.eagleac.net/content/view/102/83/
http://www.eagleac.net/content/view/101/82/

You could run for up to 3/4 of an hour or even an hour hereon on a route if you get to know the area.

KentuckyPete

Massive trail running in Curragh Wood - just north of Midleton. PM me if you can't find it.

pablo t

sgal wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking to get into trail running, I do a small bit of road running, just up to the 10k mark, but I find it can get a bit "samey". I've just ran through the woods next to Garryduff in Rochestown where I normally just walk the dog and loved it, fierce close to where I live; lots of mud; steep hill, no cars; very different compared to road running. Unfortunately it's not a huge area to cover and only a small bit of is "tracked". I would like to ask anyone else out there if/where they go trail running around Cork? Thanks.

Hi sgal. . .i go to garryduff most days of the week after a few road miles and its probably possible to make a 20minute continuous loop. after a bit of exploration you will find some side trails and just by going in the opposite direction it can seem like a totally new loop. its great for intervals if thats your thing as you can string hard - easy loops together i do a bit in curragh woods too which is bigger but the same idea. go through carrigtohill village from cork. take a left after costcutters and follow this road for about 3 miles then come to a main road from midleton. go left here and the entrance is only150metres ahead.
but if you want some serious trail you cant go wrong with ballyhoura mbt trails. its a bit far i know. failing that head for the galtee mountains (again a bit far but well worth it. sorry for the long winded post

sgal

Thanks for the replies, not sure how to select someones post but would like to ask Pablo t when he runs in garryduff woods - do you stick to the main trail or do you run up through the woods beyond where the trail stops? I'm not sure how to approach a run if i was to go from road to trail to heavy trail back to road. I have Solaman goretex trail runners which are great but son't think they are designed for road use.

pablo t

sgal wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, not sure how to select someones post but would like to ask Pablo t when he runs in garryduff woods - do you stick to the main trail or do you run up through the woods beyond where the trail stops? I'm not sure how to approach a run if i was to go from road to trail to heavy trail back to road. I have Solaman goretex trail runners which are great but son't think they are designed for road use.

when you run past the metal barrier,you have about another 600metres up to an opening in the woods. instead of following the main trail up the woods you can turn right here,drop down by the river and run along to one corner of the woods then its a steep climb up from here and you basically skirt around the perimeter of the woods back to the opening where you first turned off right. that alone will probably take you the guts of 20 mins. and just by keeping a lookout you will find one or 2 more routes to change it up. RE the footwear you will get away with a pair of road shoes. its muddy but you will manage.
enjoy!

anymore

pablo t wrote: »

when you run past the metal barrier,you have about another 600metres up to an opening in the woods. instead of following the main trail up the woods you can turn right here,drop down by the river and run along to one corner of the woods then its a steep climb up from here and you basically skirt around the perimeter of the woods back to the opening where you first turned off right. that alone will probably take you the guts of 20 mins. and just by keeping a lookout you will find one or 2 more routes to change it up. RE the footwear you will get away with a pair of road shoes. its muddy but you will manage.
enjoy!

I would also suggest that before you go through the barrier, you can turn sharp left and go up the steep bank and run along the top through the woods until you reach the point where you can see the Monastery Road and then double back to the barrier and go up the pathway; instead of tuning right down to the river, I usually go left into the wood area and coninue along this path, crossing the stream and then following the left hand side as far back into the wood as I can and then I double back to the clearing again and up the hill and keep left from the top of the hill. The great thing aboout that wood is that you dont have to keep to trails - make up your own circuits as you go along. Some people may like doubling back of course but doing so allows for a greater variety. It is brilliant for building up miles doing hills.

anymore

For really serious hill trainning, the circuits in Garryduff woods can be combined with a run down Coach hill and up Clarkes hill and then into the woods. If anyone hasnt run in Garryduff Woods before, be warned it is very hilly !

pablo t

hi anymore, i usually run those variations you are talking about. the one where you go up as far left as you can will actually bring you out on the road to douglas rugby club which is the way that i sometimes enter the woods depending on what mileage im doing on the day. so like you said the variety is endless and you just need to explore a bit. its certainly not big enough to get lost so no worries there.

sgal

Thats great info on Garryduff Woods, think I'll be able to build up a lot of fitness/stamina etc. as I can run away handy enough on flat roads but hills kill me, the hill up the edge of the woods is steep enough without throwing coach/clarkes hill into the mix!

anymore

sgal wrote: »

Thats great info on Garryduff Woods, think I'll be able to build up a lot of fitness/stamina etc. as I can run away handy enough on flat roads but hills kill me, the hill up the edge of the woods is steep enough without throwing coach/clarkes hill into the mix!

The funny thing about hill running is that you get used to it after a few months - I started running hills partly to take some of the pressure off my feet as I had been having problems running on the flat - since resolved.
An alternative hill run on the road nearby is to park at the Apts on Rochestown Road and run down to the Finger post at Douglas and then up Maryborough Hill until you reach the signs for Rugby/Football pitches and take turn left down towards Garryduff and down the hill to the main road again. this is approx a five mile route, I think. The hill up Maryborough is tough and is about one and a half miles, so it is one that should be left until a runner has built up a bit of stamina on hills.

sgal

Thats a good sounding route, will use the hill up edges of the woods first as I won't feel as self conscious if I have to stop as I would road running hills round Rochestown/Douglas with all the traffic! Woods are also handy as I can have the dog running with me, she loves running with me but hard roads are a no go as she has dodgy joints/hips. Had fairly long (flat) road run today so looking forward to shorter but harder run tomorrow morning

natian08

Hi sgal,

I just moved to cork and im looking for some decent hill runs also,I was wondering if you tried any of the above and how you got on.I dont know these places at all as im only here a few weeks.I did a bit of adventure racing last year and found i didnt have enough hills done at the time,too much road.Thinking of fitting in a few races the end of the summer so need to get started.Does anyone on here know of any clubs that cater for adventure racing?
thanks

KentuckyPete

natian08 wrote: »

Hi sgal,

I just moved to cork and im looking for some decent hill runs also,I was wondering if you tried any of the above and how you got on.I dont know these places at all as im only here a few weeks.I did a bit of adventure racing last year and found i didnt have enough hills done at the time,too much road.Thinking of fitting in a few races the end of the summer so need to get started.Does anyone on here know of any clubs that cater for adventure racing?
thanks

Where are you living natian? There are some fantastic hills for road running on the north side of the city - gradual, medium, steep and super-steep -
while many of the woods mentioned in this thread give you good hill running on trails.

There are no dedicated adventure racing clubs that I know of but a good few of the Cork Tri club do the adventure races too so you could hook up with them to get started - they do a cycle every Sunday from City hall at 09:00 I think. Their website is here

natian08

Thanks Pete.Im in douglas myself.I might look into the tri club and see,unfortunately i sold my road bike a while back and only have a mountain bike at the moment :rolleyes:,so need to get my hands on one again soon.I want to get stuck in at this stage if im to get the fitness levels up in time to do a few races this year.I did Dingle last year but its way too son now to be ready for that but there are a whole load of them this year.Seems to be getting quite popular.I wouldnt say it will be long before some clubs start popping up !!