Clare-Burren Marathon Challenge 2012

seanin4711

Anyone doing/done this ???
Just wondering on some feedback as I have signed up for it !
Is it very mixed surface some of the "trail" running seems very rocky and hilly!
slan
johnnyboy

acurno

Yea its good. Very good. Toughest marathon I've ever done though. Mostly along the burren way so it's a marathon distance mountain race really. You'll be walking a good bit of it as the gradient is very steep at parts. And just when you think you're back on the road with 5 miles to go, up you go again! On the road for about 3 miles in total, the rest, off road. Some smooth trail, some, very uneven surface.

Highly recommended. Very dependent on the weather though how hard it is. Roasting two years ago when I did it, but it bucketed down last year and 3 years ago. Trail runners are a must.

tang1

acurno wrote: »

Yea its good. Very good. Toughest marathon I've ever done though. Mostly along the burren way so it's a marathon distance mountain race really. You'll be walking a good bit of it as the gradient is very steep at parts. And just when you think you're back on the road with 5 miles to go, up you go again! On the road for about 3 miles in total, the rest, off road. Some smooth trail, some, very uneven surface.
Trail runners are a must.

Is the half marathon the same acurno??

darrenoconaill

Tang,

I've only ever done the full but the terrain is similar for the half. Both follow the same route till around 7 miles where the half m runners break off. They then follow the Burren Way (tarmac) for a bit before heading uphill and off road again, then down a muddy descent and rejoining the coast road for the last couple of miles.

As acurno says it's a tough day and you could get any kind of weather but it's a great event. Did the first one in 2008 and have been back every year since.

eoinín

I walked the half marathon route last year in the pouring rain and it was quite a slog, mostly due to the churned up muddy ground on the mountainous parts of the course. I imagine even in dry conditions it would be a tough race, more suited to those accustomed to mountain running. There are certainly parts where non mountain runners would have to walk.

HelenAnne

I did the 10k run last year (while Eoinín walked the half!) in the lashing rain.I loved it, the views, the friendly atmosphere etc all made it a really great race. It was my sister's first 10k and she loved it too. I'd love to go back & run the half some year.

ger664

tang1 wrote: »

Is the half marathon the same acurno??

Yes it is. As others have said on a dry day its tough but scenery is makes up for it. Ran it in 09 in the rain and it was a rough slog. I'll always remember some guy smiling at me in my road runners at the start. The second decent in the wet can be very hazardous, as I found out, spent most of it on my ass. Trail runners are a must if its anyway wet.

tang1

ger664 wrote: »

Yes it is. As others have said on a dry day its tough but scenery is makes up for it. Ran it in 09 in the rain and it was a rough slog. I'll always remember some guy smiling at me in my road runners at the start. The second decent in the wet can be very hazardous, as I found out, spent most of it on my ass. Trail runners are a must if its anyway wet.

Fingers crossed its dry so, cause dont own a pair of trail runners and not going to invest in some just for one race, thanks for the info.

galwayhooker

Hi, just wondering if anybody doing or who has done the half marathon of the burren marathon challenge.Am doing it next sat and don't know what to expect.just wondering if it's very tough, whether there is water provided and so on

darrenoconaill

galwayhooker,

see this thread:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056638326

Course is tough enough, most of it is off road. There are plenty of water/food stops along the way. It's a great race. Enjoy!

seanin4711

looks like Saturday might be warm!

http://www.clareburrenmarathonchallenge.com/

frigged

Hi lads, I'm "attempting" the full on Saturday. I've ran marathons before but never off-road like this one. For those who have ran it before, did you bring your own water, gels and bars for along the way or just rely on the stations to get them?

acurno

Brought my own gels. Water stops are good and 'regular' enough that you won't be panicking. They'll have bars and sweets so you won't go hungry either. For a mountain race relying on volunteers it's actually great that they've so many stops. How they carry the tables up the mountain is anyones guess.

seanin4711

acurno wrote: »

Brought my own gels. Water stops are good and 'regular' enough that you won't be panicking. They'll have bars and sweets so you won't go hungry either. For a mountain race relying on volunteers it's actually great that they've so many stops. How they carry the tables up the mountain is anyones guess.

moutains???:eek::eek::eek:

tang1

Weather given warm & dry for tomorrow. Nice day for running around the Burren!!

ger664

Do not forget to carry sun cream tomorrow. We dont want anyone getting a farmers tan.

tang1

Great race, worth entrance alone for the scenery. Man it was tough in places and the heat made it tougher. Race i would do again, plenty of water stops and well marshalled.

Bugsy2000

A seriously big 'well done' to all who took part in this today.

I was having a lazy family day down on Fanore beach which the marathon runners pass after around 18 miles. I hung around offering jellies & water for about an hour & I found it tough even doing that. It was crazy heat to be running in but ye all had a smile on your faces.

As tough and all as it looked I was still mad jelaous of ye. I even thought of jumping in and running the last 8 miles with a few of ye for the crack. (I don't think the missus would have approved though)

frigged

I'd signed up for the full but was just no way I'd have been able to do it today. I knew if I went that mountain at 6 miles I wasn't coming back down so i turned right and did the half instead. I have to say Congrats to anyone that finished that today. Very tough course never mind the heat.
Still really enjoyed it though in that sick sort of way

diddleyland

had a ball out there yesterday, completed the full, fair play to all the marshalls and mountain rescue crews, all so helpful, friendly and happy, twas like being abroad in the glorious sunshine and the locals couldn't have been more friendly, anyone i spoke to thanked me for coming to there area, amazing, really looking forward to doing it again the scenery alone will bring me back:D:D:D

galwayhooker

Well, seeing as ballyv only 15 min spin from my home said better do race completed the half - very very tough and heat didn't help.thank God met 2 lovely women from limerick who were at my pace and full of chat and craic.bombed it back to ballyv on the road for last 3 miles.Super organised race and very friendly people about.thanks a million to the stewards who were out on the route - great locally supported race

seanin4711

Bugsy2000 wrote: »

A seriously big 'well done' to all who took part in this today.

I was having a lazy family day down on Fanore beach which the marathon runners pass after around 18 miles. I hung around offering jellies & water for about an hour & I found it tough even doing that. It was crazy heat to be running in but ye all had a smile on your faces.

As tough and all as it looked I was still mad jelaous of ye. I even thought of jumping in and running the last 8 miles with a few of ye for the crack. (I don't think the missus would have approved though)

thanks for the encouragement!
met you at fanore on way round!

darrenoconaill

Great race again in the Burren. Weather was unreal. Superbly organised as usual. On a personal level I had a bit of a horror show. Had a chest infection for the last few weeks but decided I'd chance running it anyway. Was wiped out after 14 miles and it was a long hobble/walk/crawl home after that. Lesson of the day: don't try running a marathon with a chest infection.