Westport - Achill greenway. Made for a marathon.

Slogger Jogger

The extended greenway on what was the old railway was opened yesterday. Funnily enough its 42k. Guess its a route thats waiting for a marathon

gerard65

First thing that I thought of when I saw this on the news last night:D Or an out and back ultra!

griffin100

I ran the 17km of the original Mulranny - Westport greenway last summer and it's a fabulous route. Numbers would have to be limited though as it's very narrow in parts especially around the gates. Would be a nice event though.

Slogger Jogger

I'd be there in a shot. A limit on numbers would be sensible, but with chip timing you need not have a mass start. Most marathons thin out very quickly in any event.

geld

gerard65 wrote: »

First thing that I thought of when I saw this on the news last night:D

They say great minds think alike! Being a Mayo man I have being following this on F/B for some time and it's on the to do list to cycle it on my next visit down.

It would make a great marathon alright in terms of a route and if the starts were well staggered it should work out fine.

kit3

Had been thinking of this too - in Achill for the "summer" (great storm going outside at the moment). Logistics could be difficult however as the route crosses the main road in a number of places and is actually on the road in others. However ......

snailsong

I heard rumours of a planned 10k but the council haven't given go ahead yet and apparently they may not be that well into races on the greenway as this doesn't exactly fit in with their original vision. It would be great to see though imo, its already pretty busy with runners and cyclists including myself. The surface is excellent for running, much more forgiving than tarmac. i didn't cop til now that the distance is perfect too. Doh.

dev123

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

The extended greenway on what was the old railway was opened yesterday. Funnily enough its 42k. Guess its a route thats waiting for a marathon

Was thinkin the same myself as soon as I saw our Enda open the route on the news.

Between this route and this route in China (give or take a few yards), I am starting to scare myself when all distances I hear are immediately broken down into race distances!!!

I'm hoping to run from Westport to Newport and back the week after next. Tis supposed to be holidays but the DCM plan tells me I will be doing 15 miles that week.

Has anybody run on the newer sections?

smithwicks

The greenway has been the most positive piece of tourism infrastructure built in this country for years. It shows that if the right facilities are built people will come in their droves (50k) this year.

It would be great if a marathon could be run there, getting more people in the country to this part of the north west. Getting more to see the greenway will speed up similar projects around the country. Ie the Sligo to Claremorris old railway line and the line that goes from Tralee to Waterville in Kerry.

Apparently they are looking to create more trails that will bring people o the foot of nephin mountain (804 Mts).

There is also the western way which cross crosses around that area, this goes the whole way to Bangor erris, Ballycastle and I think onto ballina. I have done some of this on a mountain bike which is fun. Really nice run in the summer also (boggy in parts).

Anyone who wants to run where the only sounds in places are running water and sheep I would highly recommend it. The greenway is the icing on the cake.

I am not involved in any way with these projects, but quite proud to be from close to the area and love being able to get away from it all whether on foot or bike.

robinph

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

I'd be there in a shot. A limit on numbers would be sensible, but with chip timing you need not have a mass start. Most marathons thin out very quickly in any event.

I'm sure I saw somewhere about them setting people off in pairs at 30 second intervals for a half, possibly on the Arran Islands. That would sort out any congestion problems on a narrow path, just make figuring out results a bit tricky.

aburke

robinph wrote: »

I'm sure I saw somewhere about them setting people off in pairs at 30 second intervals for a half, possibly on the Arran Islands. That would sort out any congestion problems on a narrow path, just make figuring out results a bit tricky.

The Croí Inis Boffin half marathon works like this. Runners start in pairs with a gap between each pair.

Mr Freeze

aburke wrote: »

The Croí Inis Boffin half marathon works like this. Runners start in pairs with a gap between each pair.

Good Idea. So many bottlenecks in the greenway path if a large crowd was let off at once.

A race on it sounds great but I think its unlikely, as racing was not in mind when they made it, and I've heard they won't allow it, the council that is.

Although that's just what i've heard from chatting to people around the town, who knows what will happen. For us people based in Westport anyways, its gonna be great for training on.

Shane O' Malley

Was up there recently and ran about 10k of it.

Ground can be rough in places and sometimes very steep.

However the wind was the worst. Some very exposed parts and the wind can be strong at the best of time.

Would be one tough race.

gottarun

Just announced on the radio this morning that they will be doing the same with an old railway line between Galway & Clifden. Another route could open in a few months.

Slogger Jogger

gottarun wrote: »

Just announced on the radio this morning that they will be doing the same with an old railway line between Galway & Clifden. Another route could open in a few months.

Great news. I can't see it open that quick though . In places there are embankments left over from the railway but in other places theres nothing. Theres lots of water to cross to I expect so lots of bridges to re-erect along that route.

TFBubendorfer

gottarun wrote: »

Just announced on the radio this morning that they will be doing the same with an old railway line between Galway & Clifden. Another route could open in a few months.

Now you have me dreaming that they will do the same with the old Farranfore - Cahersiveen route.

ultrapercy

10k on the greenway in late September, not sure of date around the 24/25 I think.Entries on runireland.

belcarra

http://www.runireland.com/events/great-western-greenway-10k
€20 entry fee.

This is the same weekend as Rathfarnham 5k...:(

Mr Freeze

Sounds good, I must try and find out what the exact route is.

snailsong

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Great news. I can't see it open that quick though . In places there are embankments left over from the railway but in other places theres nothing. Theres lots of water to cross to I expect so lots of bridges to re-erect along that route.

Westport-newport was in a similiar state about a year ago. Amazing what can be done with a bit of will.

snailsong

Shane O' Malley wrote: »

Was up there recently and ran about 10k of it.

Ground can be rough in places and sometimes very steep.

However the wind was the worst. Some very exposed parts and the wind can be strong at the best of time.

Would be one tough race.

Were you up at the Newport- Mulranny end?
I did a 20k out and back at the westport end on sunday and it was very flat (as Mayo goes), sheltered and the surface was excellent.

The only downside is the 1k or so where its not complete and you have to go on the main road. Hopefully that'll be sorted soon.