Annacurra (Wicklow) Trail Race, 29th April.

Slogger Jogger

Our local community is staging a race on Sunday 29th, 2pm start, registration from 1 in Annacurra village.

We are a small village which has everything handy for a race. We have parking. A community hall for registration (& loos). Adjacent pub for post-race. Start/Finish is beside car park.

The race is 10k which is 90% forest trail. The first 3k is a loop of new trails our community has constructed in our forest. The next 7k are are loop of higher trails descending to the start/finish point.

Route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/157958091 The route will be fully marked and marshalled. We won't use chip timing. This route is quite hilly and is not a PB friendly course (the downhill last 5k is maybe).

Race is no frills but hopefully reasonably priced. €12 entry with reduced entry for OAPs, students, unemployed. We'll have prizes for 1, 2 and 3 in mens and ladies and spot prizes through the field. We''ll have post-race refreshments.

We are seeking an AAI permit for insurance. This isn't confirmed yet.

Funds raised by this race will go towards our trail building costs. We are totally self funded as a group and we are nearly there in terms of being able to have an official opening of our local amenity that we are proud of.

We hope people will come and join our race and make a good day of it.

If you like your hills you'll like this.

Mothman

Good luck with this SJ
Alas for me it clashes with a lovely bluebell run

Slogger Jogger

Mothman wrote: »

Good luck with this SJ
Alas for me it clashes with a lovely bluebell run

Funny you should say that cos our forest could well be awash with bluebells at the time too. Another time, for a social run perhaps.

Slogger Jogger

Photo of a section of our boardwalk.

Slogger Jogger

Heres the route, attempted a bit faster. Nice and fast back 5.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/158666901

Encountered half a dozen deer on the trails too which really added to a nice run.

Slogger Jogger

Photos from trail route:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mickhanney/sets/72157629256094838/
A day like today would be ideal. Great views to Lugnacoille.

AJCOT

Stunning photos, I hate hills but this is too tempting to miss. Any possibility of a 5k downhill?:)

Slogger Jogger

AJCOT wrote: »

Stunning photos, I hate hills but this is too tempting to miss. Any possibility of a 5k downhill?:)

Thanks. Yeah, just get to the 5k mid point and you're laughing from that point

Slogger Jogger

Just giving this a bump. We'll have showers available at the adjacent GAA club.
Trails drying out nicely with the fine weather. Lots of confirmations through on FB. Should be a good race from the names that have confirmed so far. The more the merrier though

Squeakf99

Hi, This looks like a great run. Would I need specific trail runners or would regular ones be ok? Also, would there be any transport available from local bus stop or train station?

Slogger Jogger

Squeakf99 wrote: »

Hi, This looks like a great run. Would I need specific trail runners or would regular ones be ok? Also, would there be any transport available from local bus stop or train station?

Regular runners would be just fine. I'm afraid we are off the beaten track in terms of public transport. Try talk a friend (with transport) to run, or post here looking for a carpool space? There should be people travelling down from Dublin and I daresay someone would oblige. Cheers.

Squeakf99

Thanks, I will try to convince some friends. If all else fails I might try bus it to Arklow and get a taxi from there. Thanks for your help

Slogger Jogger

Squeakf99 wrote: »

Thanks, I will try to convince some friends. If all else fails I might try bus it to Arklow and get a taxi from there. Thanks for your help

If you are stuck, I have it listed as a facebook event, so you might post there looking for a lift from Rathdrum or Arklow.
https://www.facebook.com/events/348920681817101/

Slogger Jogger

Looking good on the AAI permit front thanks to support from friends in Parnell AC. I'll know for sure next week.

If anyone wants a run out on the route before the event I'd be happy to oblige.

If you've a target race soon and racing this doesn't suit you you'd be welcome to join us for an easy training run around the route on the race day. Its for a good local cause.

Krusty_Clown

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

If you've a target race soon and racing this doesn't suit you you'd be welcome to join us for an easy training run around the route on the race day. Its for for a good local cause.

Good idea SJ. Will try to make it our for an easy run. Don't think the legs will be back in shape for a fully charged attack!

Slogger Jogger

Gearing up nicely for this race. Organising a race is a mugs game :rolleyes: I must volunteer someone else to do it next time.

Would be great to see Boardsies down for this. A bargain €12.

Timmaay

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Gearing up nicely for this race. Organising a race is a mugs game :rolleyes: I must volunteer someone else to do it next time.

Only took you what, a full month to come to that conclusion:D. I learnt that quick enough, but unfortunately could never find a willing victim to takeover so I find myself stuck in charge of too many races!

Slogger Jogger

AAI permit secured. Less than 2 weeks to go and the bluebells are appearing in the forest. Whats not to like.

Slogger Jogger

€30 winner for 1st man and woman. €20 and €10 for 2nd and 3rd. Spot prizes throughout the field. Prizes aren't big but we hope to guarantee a good event.

Slogger Jogger

Looking good for next week. Bluebells are starting to come out too.


Photo0131 by Mick Hanney, on Flickr


Photo0130 by Mick Hanney, on Flickr


Photo0127 by Mick Hanney, on Flickr

Kurt Godel

No photo, but etched in memory is the spectacular view of a damp Aughavannagh valley from this evenings recce. Several members of our Tri club ran the marked route tonight, and all gave it a hearty thumbs up. The race has just enough climb to be a hill run, without wrecking anyone too bad. All the terrain is easy trail, this race must be recommended for runners looking to test the waters for hillrunning. A very good intro race for anyone considering doing IMRA races this summer.

Slogger Jogger

Cheers KG. It was spectacular alright. I love the smells in the forest after rain. It really wakens up the senses.

Slogger Jogger

Despite the stormy weather the route is looking mighty ahead of Sunday's race. If you want to do a 10k with a difference, this is a nice scenic offering without having to threaten your PB. If you do threaten your PB (with nearly 300 metres of climb of the distance) you are doing well

hollypink

This looks like a lovely route but is the race more aimed towards serious/fast runners? I'm pretty slow but tempted at the same time!

Slogger Jogger

hollypink wrote: »

This looks like a lovely route but is the race more aimed towards serious/fast runners? I'm pretty slow but tempted at the same time!

hp - all welcome. There'll be runners of all ages and abilities and there will be walkers out too, so you should be at least somewhere in the middle

Slogger Jogger

Any other boardsies tempted. Just €12. No pre-registration needed.

PaulieC

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Any other boardsies tempted. Just €12. No pre-registration needed.

is it just a turn up on the day with your money ? I'm tempted. How far a drive from the big smoke ?

ultraman1

cambo_gueno wrote: »

is it just a turn up on the day with your money ? I'm tempted. How far a drive from the big smoke ?

#
yes and not far

Slogger Jogger

Just turn up. 45 mins from the Loughlinstown roundabout. N11 to Rathnew. Turn for Rathdrum and onto Aughrim. We are a few mins on from Aughrim.

RacoonQueen

I won't make it to this now unfortunately. Forgot it was my mammies birthday.

Best of luck with it SJ, no doubt it will go well.

PaulieC

what time does the bootcamp warmup start ? I assume you have one

RAL3

Think i'll join ye in the wilds of Wickla

PaulieC

just back home after the race. Thumbs up all round. Great organization, friendly people, great course, although the 2-5k was a bit of a slog. Well done slogger, fair play to you for pulling it off. Will be back next year I hope ?
And to ral3, who just pipped me at the end...

hollypink

I second that; very well organised and such a scenic course. The hills in the first half pretty much defeated me but it made the downhill second half all the better. I confess that I was a tiny bit worried about getting lost as I knew I'd be at the back but there was absolutely no risk of that, with plenty of marshalls and arrows pointing the way. Well done to all involved!

Slogger Jogger

Thanks all. The weather conspired against us, but we still raised over 1,000 towards our cause. A great result.

Despite the conditions there was some great runs out there.

Krusty_Clown

First hill race in 9 months, so I'd forgotten how tough those hill are. Wasn't long remembering. Super race, really well organized. Great to have all those volunteers at all of the junctions. Had a blast.

Slogger Jogger

Good vibe back in the pub too, with nearly everyone managing to secure a spot prize. Sadly Kurt Godel didn't make it back. Something to do with a broken chain. See.. you can't trust those bikes.

I got drowned going back up the trails to secure locks back. Next time the runners can jump the locked barrier

Kurt Godel

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Good vibe back in the pub too, with nearly everyone managing to secure a spot prize. Sadly Kurt Godel didn't make it back. Something to do with a broken chain. See.. you can't trust those bikes.

I got drowned going back up the trails to secure locks back. Next time the runners can jump the locked barrier

Well done Mick as RD, very slick race, everyone was complementing it. Sorry I missed the pub, stupid bike, that'll learn me.

Got a few pics and vids from the sidelines... well done Torben and KC...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv5_RjccMOY

Kurt Godel

Photos from todays race (not great, taken on iPad in dark forest). I have more. so pm me you number if you're not included.

Kurt Godel

...followed closely by Mr. Clown in 2nd place, with a nice leaping technique. Spot the moment where he contemplates doing a cheery airplane buzz for the camera, before pain decides not to let him

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjwmDQg2wDk

Krusty_Clown

Looking very much like Mr Tango. That's some lead that Torben opened up on me. I was 10 feet (maybe 5 seconds) behind at the crest of the hill and he finished 43 seconds up on me. Well played that man.

Slogger Jogger

Kurt if you had a carrier on that bike of yours you could have taken away the poor unfortunate dead deer from the top road (most probably hit by a car). Would have kept you in venison for a while.

PaulieC

hey, I was 26th! Yay me. My quads are complaining this morning though, after the last few kms

RAL3

Great event, well done to SJ on the race organisation and to himself & all involved in the development of the trail itself. Terrific facility but I'm really glad I don't have to train on it!!

First time in a 10k race that I've had to stop and walk, albeit for a few yards, and before I had even covered 3k!

I think Krusty was having his soup in the pub by the time I crested the hill.

However I really enjoyed it, the downhill 5k was a real roller coaster to say the least.

cambo_gueno wrote: »

And to ral3, who just pipped me at the end...

In fairness CG, I only pipped you cause you eased up - great run, you can fairly fly on those downhill sections.

Slogger Jogger

Poll added, thanks.

The forest is a bit calmer this evening. The calm after the storm.

056 by Mick Hanney, on Flickr