Stone Cross to Lug Relay rescheduled for Sat Oct 1st

donothoponpop

Stone Cross to Lug Relay 20th Aug 2011

IMRA's other relay is on in a couple of months, and probably deserves a thread of its own. Boards entered a team last year, PositiveNegativ and JeffonTour passing the baton to yours truely in 2nd place, which was held well until the top of Lug, until a navigation cock-up of Rathfarnesque proportions (pre-2011 precision) left us adrift. The next couple of months training will atone for that mistake...

Three legs, open countryside, proper hill-running, lots of slop; what's not to love? Early recce's and route choices will pay off on the day, so start thinking about runners and legs now. This great relay deserves to be better supported- anyone else intend stepping out with the faster, shorter, trampier, sister?

jeffontour

In there like swimwear.

Slogger Jogger

I'll give it a go and try and keep jeff honest on leg 1. Could be a lost cause as Jeff, you've been brill this year. Will be up for recces shortly.

jeffontour

Sloggerjogger the complement is appreciated coming for yourself but I think with another couple of months in your legs it will not be a guaranteed run out for me! The great thing about stone cross is we should not be limited on our team numbers!

Oh and the recces start next week with the seefingan race. I decided against racing tonight in favour of the Dunshaughlin 10k Saturday to see how my pace translates to the road. It's my birthday plus my folks live out there so hoping for a significant pb.

Then Stone Cross will be amongst the top priorities for remaining race season. Here's to dpop finding his way this time round

donothoponpop

jeffontour wrote: »

Here's to dpop finding his way this time round

Ok, cards on the table, (and since PN is abroad), here's the lowdown on what happened. I recce'd, recc'ed, and recce'ed; I knew lough Firrib, I did the Peat Hag Twist, I raced the crows from C to C. I ran up Lug, more than once. After all that, I asked PN what map I should bring- Harvey's, say's he. Which only shows one line off Lug, and borders soon after. Figured that was the easy part, so never recce'd to Fentons (I'd done it often enough, right?). So I took the one line, trusting the map (and PN), even though it didn't feel right, and ran outta map. Totally PN's fault, he's the navigation part of our triumverate (Jeff, you're the brains, beauty, and charm, if it gets you on my side;))

That error has been gnawing me all year, it will not be repeated again, and I am hungry to make amends.

Mothman

I won't commit yet, but I reckon I'd be on for leg 2.

I'm hoping that in another couple months that there would be a bit more endurance in my legs.

Mothman

Not quite so keen now
Did recce of Sally Gap to Mullaghcleevaun East yesterday at about 3hr pace (for the leg)

I think I'd struggle to break 150 minutes and I just don't have enough running in my legs.

Not closing the door though. I will recce rest of route and while I'm not looking for a run, if I'm needed to make up a team then I can probably be talked into it.

donothoponpop

Bump!

Boards have at least one team now, looking for a few other souls to make up another two or so. C'mon, anyone still digesting their LL burgers, sign up to earn your real mountain stripes!:)

Any other teams doing it? Are Rathfarnham going for the double? The CNOC team are the form team on paper, but a lot can go awry on the day...

Krusty_Clown

donothoponpop wrote: »

Bump!

Boards have at least one team now, looking for a few other souls to make up another two or so. C'mon, anyone still digesting their LL burgers, sign up to earn your real mountain stripes!:)

Any other teams doing it? Are Rathfarnham going for the double? The CNOC team are the form team on paper, but a lot can go awry on the day...

Would love to do it, but I've got to find two seconds in the Frank Duffy 10 mile the day before.

Slogger Jogger

The date for the relay might change. The RD is flexible and is open to it, from the IMRA site earlier..

I'm a willing leg 1 runner / recceer in due course.

donothoponpop

Just recce'd (most) of leg three... Jeez it can be sloppy out there! I jumped from one peat hag, landed knee deep in muck, spent two minutes trying to break the suction and free myself:D

I was in cloud starting off, doing well with map and compass, but the cloud lifted so I could see the whole horrible extent of what lay ahead. Top tip for anyone recce'ing this leg- Lough Firrib on the way back is quite swimable, and is one of the highest places to swim in Ireland. Well worth a splash!:D

Slogger Jogger

I'll be up for a recce of leg 1 over the coming weeks. First I need to get the Galtees out of the way.

PositiveNegativ

donothoponpop wrote: »

Just recce'd (most) of leg three...

Most of it, as in just to the point of fecking it up last year???
Just asking.

Ban me, go on.
No wait you can't.

jeffontour

Will not be round this weekend for recce duty but should be focusing more on this from next week lads.

donothoponpop

PositiveNegativ wrote: »

Most of it, as in just to the point of fecking it up last year???
Just asking.

Ban me, go on.
No wait you can't.

I can ban you from our team, still got that power:D (nothing to do with the fact you're unavailable on the 20th...)

Ok, this has been set for the 20th, so we have Jeff, SJ, and me confirmed. I'll nominate myself Team Captain and enter a team, so all that left is to pick up those medals!

Anyone else want in, we'll see if we can get a 2nd BAC team?

Slogger Jogger

Heading from Kippure to Sally Gap.. is there time to be made going across the bog (following the bearing of the start of the Kippure road from the Antennae), or is a road run down the access road and along the Military road to S.G. the wuss's choice (but at least its constant running). Did anyone stick to the road off Kippure last year? I intend doing a recce (hopefully this week) but the road is looking enticing.

geld

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

...the road is looking enticing.

Be careful with this sort of language, it might ruin your reputation.;)

(Sorry I can't answer the question)

Slogger Jogger

geld wrote: »

Be careful with this sort of language, it might ruin your reputation.;)

(Sorry I can't answer the question)

I've learned a valuable lesson from last week's nav challenge. The direct line (through the bog) isn't always what it seems. It can lure you in and suck the life out of you

donothoponpop

Two ways to look at it:

1) I suck in the muck, so take the longer road

2) Get better in the muck

I've got the same dilemma with leg 3, but I've recce'd. As I play it out in my mind I'm battling specific peatstacks against specific longer firmer ground. Recce recce recce;) Run both (road versus "crow flies", and decide what would be best depending on conditions.

pablo t

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Heading from Kippure to Sally Gap.. is there time to be made going across the bog (following the bearing of the start of the Kippure road from the Antennae), or is a road run down the access road and along the Military road to S.G. the wuss's choice (but at least its constant running). Did anyone stick to the road off Kippure last year? I intend doing a recce (hopefully this week) but the road is looking enticing.

Hi Mick,
Having gone the road in 2009 and across the bog in 2010, I would recommend a direct line across the bog
1. Because its probably a bit quicker and
2. Its way more fun.
The road run seems to drag on quite a bit

Slogger Jogger

Taa Paul. I hope to check it out tomorrow and I'll report back.

P.S. According to geolives theres c. 2k of a save to be made in crossing the bog. That save is cancelled out by the likely speed of travel, but we'll see.

donothoponpop

Rules below. Number 4 is good to see, it respects the toughness of the terrain. Having said that, we've plenty of tough IMRA guys here; can we get any more to come forward and be part of a team? Don't be shy, spend €7 to enter this, or sit in a bath with a bale of Bord na Mona briquettes. Your money, your choice.

Rules:
1. All teams must consist of three different runners.

2. Each team must have their own support crew and organize their own logistics.

3. Change over allowed at official stage ends only.

4. Only runners who have previously competed in an orienteering event of green course standard or above,
or who have completed a mountain race with IMRA difficulty grade 8 or greater may participate.
Competitors who have not achieved the above standards may contact the race director directly to discuss
other qualifying standards.

5. Teams to be pre-entered, closing date 17/08/11.

6. All runners must complete IMRA 2011 registration form if not previously registered for 2011.

7. Once race starts no change to runners or running order are permitted.

8. All participants must be at least 18 years old on the day of the competition.

9. Each runner to previously familiarize themselves with their leg of the run (maps available on site).

10. Each team is responsible for their own safety and no runner may start their leg before the previous leg
runner for their team has arrived at the changeover point.

11. Strict cut-off times will be enforced for each leg (see race event page). Teams failing to meet cut-off
times will be disqualified and must drop out of the race.

12. No runner may commence their leg before their team’s previous leg runner has reached the hand over
point.

13. The compulsory kit must be carried by all runners for the full duration of their leg. Kit checks will be
carried out at the start of each leg. Items that must be carried are:
a. Map
b. Compass
c. Whistle
d. Water (500ml min)
e. Emergency food
f. Mobile phone with IMRA emergency number
g. Rainproof coat
h. Head Cover (cagoule with hood or hat acceptable)
i. Foil blanket

Slogger Jogger

Things didn't work out in my favour to do the recce this morning. I was intending to do the trail race tomorrow but could recce instead. Or, early doors Thurs or Friday would suit. My plan was to recce from Seefingan onwards, so get a direct line to Seefingan from say the Kippure estate and recce the 2nd half of the route as I'm comfortable with the section til there.

Slogger Jogger

Glad to have got my recce done for the part of leg 1 I was unfamiliar with. Lots of boggy stuff up there. If theres bad weather / low cloud on the day of this race it'll be a long day With visibility the most efficient route to the road from Kippure is pretty clear and runnable. The road bit at the end sucks.

pablo t

Just looking on IMRA I see there is still only one team entered. I wonder is there a few more lurking in the background waiting to enter or is this race unlikely to go ahead?

Stark

I was just talking to the RD and there's still only 2 teams entered. Guys, if you're thinking of entering teams, enter them now. If your entry is in the post, send the RD an e-mail to let him know it's en route. The event won't go ahead unless there's at least half a dozen teams entered.

donothoponpop

This event has been rescheduled for Sat Oct 1st. Philip is looking for 10 teams before running it, so lets get some teams together. Its really do-able, there's lots of time for recce's, so lets get out and support it. If races and routes like this die, IMRA is going to be swamped by an ever increasing number of trail loops. There's a place for that, but there's got to be a place for the mucky stuff too.

I'm going to recce leg 3 again soon if anyone wants to join. Bring your rubber ducky for a dip in Lough Firrib.

Slogger Jogger

Too near the marathon for me tbh.

PositiveNegativ

I'd rather spent 3 hours in the sh*te of Barnacullian then on the roads. Signing up for Leg 2.

jeffontour

Will confirm within the week but should be good for another craic at this.

Mothman

New date clashes with NI orienteering champs. Rules me out

PositiveNegativ

Sorry lads, going to have to see sense, face facts, take the long view and (insert another random sports cliché).
The Lug Relay is beyond me so I'm going to withdraw, find my slippers and pack a good pipe.

Stark

What!?

Stark

A pair of slippers and a pipe doesn't stop Mick Kellett from getting out there.

Mothman

PositiveNegativ wrote: »

I'd rather spent 3 hours in the sh*te of Barnacullian then on the roads. Signing up for Leg 2.

PositiveNegativ wrote: »

Sorry lads, going to have to see sense, face facts, take the long view and (insert another random sports cliché).
The Lug Relay is beyond me so I'm going to withdraw, find my slippers and pack a good pipe.

Will the real PN please stand up

PositiveNegativ

The answer is in the name. I can never make up my mind.

Barnacullia will always be preferable to a race on the roads at a length dictated by the pleasure of HM's viewing platform. Just right now sitting on my ar*e is preferable to both and medically advisable.

More's the pity.

Stark

ocnoc

The map for the NIOC is awesome.... so CNOC may not be there (me, shea, roar, kev at NIOC... Fat N is in Scot).