Lakeland 15 mile

TheRoadRunner

Heard about this race last night. Apparently it use to be very popular in the 80s and 90s. It's back this year after a gap. Details can be found here. I'm thinking of running it at planned marathon pace if it fits into my schedule.

Anybody any memories of it from previous years?

liamo123

I'l definately consider this aswell.....Perfect timing in relation to Berlin alright...

shels4ever

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Heard about this race last night. Apparently it use to be very popular in the 80s and 90s. It's back this year after a gap. Details can be found here. I'm thinking of running it at planned marathon pace if it fits into my schedule.

Anybody any memories of it from previous years?

Yep think this will be a good race to target, was down at this race a couple of times in the early 90's or late 80's and always seemed like a good race, I see its a new course also.

The Hammer

shels4ever wrote: »

Yep think this will be a good race to target, was down at this race a couple of times in the early 90's or late 80's and always seemed like a good race, I see its a new course also.

This was a fantastic race in the past. The route was truly around the lake region around mullingar. Gerry keirnan ran 73 minutes for it. The new route is a bit challenging in places. There will be some guys of your standard RoadRunner from both mulling harriers and tullamore harriers out to give it a lash. Great timing for an autumn marathon.

Hard Worker

Great race in its' day. I did it about 5 years in a row. It's a pity they had to change the route.

shels4ever

Just noticed that they will have half mara splits in this

marchino

This should be an excellent race and i hope it gets the support it deserves.
It will be a good trial for does running dublin in october.

chinguetti

Profile shows a bit of climbing from 4.25 mile to 8.25 mile. 200 feet in total.

Any other local info on this race as thinking of doing it?

Clum

chinguetti wrote: »

Profile shows a bit of climbing from 4.25 mile to 8.25 mile. 200 feet in total.

Any other local info on this race as thinking of doing it?

That profile description on the Garmin website doesn't start at the race start. The race starts in Tyrellspass. This means runners hit that hill at the beginning of the race. It's the only real hill on the course but it's a good one! I've never run it before but cycle over the hill on a weekly basis. From a cycling perspective it's easier to go up the hill the way the race goes rather than from the other side. This run route gives a nice long descent too. (I normally cycle the opposite direction taking in the longer ascent). That hill section is on the old N6 so it's a good surface on a wide road (hard shoulder either side).

Apart from that it's pretty flat. Could be argued that it's a rolling course but really anything else is a very small hill, a bump more like.

I'm doing this race. Used to man the water stations at the old Lakeland 15s and, as a young lad, was in awe of people completing 15 miles. I've plenty of marathons to my name now but glad to get the chance to run the event which pretty much introduced me to long distance running.

AngryLips

Lakeland? The course suggests there are no lakes in sight.

The Hammer

AngryLips wrote: »

Lakeland? The course suggests there are no lakes in sight.

County Westmeath is widely known as 'The Lakeland of Ireland'. Close to 22,000 acres of the county are occupied by water, mostly in the form of lakes.

nerraw1111

From what I remember, this was a classic race and up there with the Ballycottons etc in terms of popularity on the club racing circuit.

I spent many a year as a kid up there doing the water stops. Surprised that it appears to have dropped off the radar.

AngryLips

The Hammer wrote: »

County Westmeath is widely known as 'The Lakeland of Ireland'. Close to 22,000 acres of the county are occupied by water, mostly in the form of lakes.

I know. What I meant is that it's too bad the course manages to avoid all of them :rolleyes:

chinguetti

Clum wrote: »

That profile description on the Garmin website doesn't start at the race start. The race starts in Tyrellspass. This means runners hit that hill at the beginning of the race. It's the only real hill on the course but it's a good one! QUOTE]

Thanks for that Clum. So to confirm - we start at 4.5 miles on the profile and go start uphill for about 4 miles and then downhill and flat to the finish.

Clum

chinguetti wrote: »

Thanks for that Clum. So to confirm - we start at 4.5 miles on the profile and go start uphill for about 4 miles and then downhill and flat to the finish.

It's not quite that bad. As far as I know it starts in the middle of Tyrellspass (about mile 7 in that gps mapping) and heads east. The hill is just outside the village and lasts about 500m. Should be over within a mile or two of starting the run, depending on where abouts in the village the race starts.

There's a nice long descent from the hill pretty much all the way in to Rochfortbridge (the next village on the route). After that the course has some minor ups and downs but nothing you'd notice really. Just thinking about it the last few miles are probably a gradual uphill but on most days you'd have the wind on your back for these last few miles (it's always in my face when I cycle the opposite direction on this road) heading back in to Tyrellspass.

It's not really a tough course. That elevation makes it look worse than it is. There's a section just after half way that's dead straight for a few miles, that'll do your head in more than the hill at the start!

chinguetti

Thanks Clum for the info. If the race does start before the worse of the hill, thats great as it encourages one to start slowly and not too out too fast. The drag for the last few miles makes it like Cork to Cobh so i think i'll entry it in due course.

marchino

see Mullingar Harriers website for full details.
only a few days left.
Time to get entering.
Reasonably priced considering some races and a good excuse to get 20 mile in between warm up and cool down, for those interested.

Full spread refreshments, half mara split time and post race video afaik.
Might even bring out my massage pelint for post race rubs if anyone is interested...

chinguetti

Did this today and have to say, a mixed bag of a race.

Its a well organised race and well marshalled and a fine spread afterwards. The wind was a bit of a pain as it always seemed to be in my face.

The course profile should state that the course is undulating as it is quite hilly, up and down alot. The hills aren't much, apart from the first one, but they keep breaking the heart when you see another one up ahead. The straight roads would drive you mad as well. Loads of water on the course as well in bottles and cups by the locals which was a lovely touch.

Good course for someone seeing how their training is going for a marathon later in the year. I knocked out a new pb for 10 miles (1.07.12), Half (1.28.36) and 15 miles (1.42.00) but the results have me at 1.41.55 so all good. Have to acknowledge the fact that a good man from Mayo AC keep me going until two miles out when i was threading water. Savage time from an O60 by the way.

However, the goody bag for €30 online (€35 on the day) entry fee was shocking. 2 bananas, a bar of chocolate and a bottle of water isn't on. A flyer telling me the discounts i can get in a local shop ain't any use to me as i drove down from Dublin. I know they stated that they only decided to have the race a couple of months ago but Cork to Cobh is €15 on the day and i would save that on the train fare. I'm not looking for a t-shirt but a cheaper price would be better.

Also, there was way too many cars driving along the course supporting runners on narrow roads and it is dangerous. I had to keep running in the verge to let the cars pass by who kept passing me out repeatly which is a right pain and the stewards needed to stop this. Its pure daft in my mind.

If they sort out those two issues, they will have a cracking race in my mind.

RAL3

chinguetti wrote: »

I knocked out a new pb for 10 miles (1.07.12), Half (1.28.36) and 15 miles (1.42.00) but the results have me at 1.41.55 so all good.

Outstanding, you have gone on to a different level with that performance