Kerry Trail Run August 3rd/4th

b.harte

So,
After the success of the recent group outing on the Wicklow Way (Which was bloody hot) it's time to come down to Kerry for a bit of a skip along "The Kerry Way".
August Bank Holiday Weekend, Sat 3rd / Sun 4th (or both )depending on consensus.
Because of the terrain and the prevalence of low cloud I'm going to suggest a choice of routes.
Route 1:
Meet & Greet in Killarney, get mini-bus to Glencar (Climber's inn) and run / walk / cry our way back to Killarney.
Glencar-Bridia Valley-Black Valley-Galway's Bridge-Torc-Killarney
Approx 42km.
The 2 valley sections are rated "difficult" large rock outcrops, steep technical ascents & descents and tricky in the wet (personal experience). The rest is a good mix of single track, boardwalks and unpaved roads, with about 15km of paved sections. (shoe choice might be an issue)

Route 2:
Meet & Greet in Killarney, get mini-bus to Blackwater Bridge and run our way back to Killarney.
Blackwater Bridge-Templenoe-Kenmare-Galway's Bridge-Torc-Killarney.
Approx 40 km.
A better alternative if the weather is poor, it will still be wet, but the terrain is not as harsh, again a mixed surface with less of the rocky stuff.

Both of these routes allow for water drops at halfway or the option for those not interested in doing the full distance to drop in late / stop early.

I think the mini-bus to the start point may be a better idea as anyone pushed for time won't have to wait around afterwards if they don't need to.

I'll merge my individual gps routes and post over the next few days.
I have a recce of route 2 on Sunday morning.

Mini-bus is provisionally in place, max 14 people 10 a head.
Start times can be juggled depending on those making the long trip.

So, any takers?

Bertie

career_move

Sounds great Bertie thanks. Count me in

b.harte

Good stuff.

Route 1:
Some road km missing at torc-killarney (through the flat park) but you get the picture.
The Kerry Way: Glencar-Black Valley:eek:
The Kerry Way: Black Valley - Torc

Route 2: To follow

sideswipe

Sound great b. fair play. I'd LOVE to do this but need to do some negotiations first! Will know for sure in a week or so.

b.harte

sideswipe wrote: »

need to do some negotiations first!

Yup, I know that feeling.:o
Best of luck, hopefully we'll see you in Kerry.

belcarra

Best of luck with this B!
I'd love to be able to drop down for it but will be in the midst of my faster training for Chicago by then (including the Rock n Roll HM that weekend).

blockic

belcarra wrote: »

Best of luck with this B!
I'd love to be able to drop down for it but will be in the midst of my faster training for Chicago by then (including the Rock n Roll HM that weekend).

+1 for me unfortunately! Hope you get a good gang down there.

statss

I'm also doing the Rock n Roll HM, best of luck with it, will do it another time hopefully

b.harte

Looks like it could be "Bertie few mates" on this one
Still, it's the quality of the field, not the quantity that matters.
I might even get a podium place :eek:
Route 2 option is below:
Blackwater Bridge - Kenmare
Kenmare - Killarney

I'll shamelessly bump this in a few days and add a table.
On a more positive note, if numbers remain low we won't need a mini-bus, I have a bike trailer...will make a good warm-up.

mr.wiggle

Has a definite date been decided yet as the weekend is approaching soon?

I'll give a tentitive yes to route 2 as I will defo be needing a stop along the way ( I'm not in the
Ultra bracket ) , and Kenmare looks like a nice option for refuelling. ( coffee and cake I mean! )
That weekend will be week 3 of my DublinM training plan which calls for an 8 mile hilly run and a 14 mile slow run, so route 2 is perfect as a 2in1 option. (with the above sanctioned break of course)

Mr.W ( comments in brackets are a speciality of mine )

b.harte

mr.wiggle wrote: »

Has a definite date been decided yet as the weekend is approaching soon?

How about Sat 3rd, 11:00 start in Killarney, approx 12:00 start at Blackwater bridge and we will go with option 2?
And that's only because Wiggle mentioned cake.

But, if those (the ) travelling from up the country would prefer an alternative we can go with that.

career_move

b.harte wrote: »

How about Sat 3rd, 11:00 start in Killarney, approx 12:00 start at Blackwater bridge and we will go with option 2?
And that's only because Wiggle mentioned cake.

But, if those (the ) travelling from up the country would prefer an alternative we can go with that.

11:00 is good for me .... I'm willing to risk sunstroke in lieu of a couple of extra hours in bed

b.harte

Okay,
Good enough for me.
Time to drop in the table and watch it fill.....
Taxi option if required
SAT 03 Aug, Meet in Killarney at 11:00 start the slog back at 12:00
Route 2:
Blackwater Bridge - Kenmare
Kenmare - Killarney
Name|Definite|Maybe|Taxi|Cake in Kenmare
b.harte|Definite||Yes|:o

RAL3

Just back from a week's holidays in Kerry and I was able to get a couple of runs on the Kerry Way in and they were stunning.

First run was from Parknasilla to Caherdaniel (and on to beach) - roughly 16 miles.
Second run was Sneem to Templenoe, plan was to go to Kenmare but got a bit dehydrated and called it a day after about 14 miles at Pat Spillanes pub.

Ye will thoroughly enjoy the runs in August. The stretch after Blackwater Bridge towards Kenmare through the forest alongside the bay is terriffic - make sure you pause to enjoy the scenery.

I can safely say they were the most enjoyable runs I ever did even though the temp was 28 - 30 deg's.

Enjoy.

b.harte

RAL3 wrote: »

Just back from a week's holidays in Kerry

Sure, you'll have to head back there to collect the few bits you left behind

RAL3 wrote: »

make sure you pause to enjoy the scenery.

Shouldn't be a problem, some of us roll slow.

career_move

SAT 03 Aug, Meet in Killarney at 11:00 start the slog back at 12:00
Route 2:
Blackwater Bridge - Kenmare
Kenmare - Killarney
Name|Definite|Maybe|Taxi|Cake in Kenmare
b.harte|Definite||Yes|:o
c_m|Definite||Yes|

mr.wiggle

SAT 03 Aug, Meet in Killarney at 11:00 start the slog back at 12:00
Route 2:
Blackwater Bridge - Kenmare
Kenmare - Killarney
Name|Definite|Maybe|Taxi|Cake in Kenmare
b.harte|Definite||Yes|:o
c_m|Definite||Yes|
Mr.Wiggle||Maybe|Yes|Bringing my own

Just gotta get the pass signed off ...think I've been a good boy lately??
:rolleyes:

For those of you who haven't been on the trail, you're in for a treat. Just don't forget to look behind you and down the Bay as you near Kenmare at the top of Gortamullen Hill, great scenery. Keep a bit in the tank for the road leaving Kenmare north, first mile or so is fairly steep. And then there is another bit of a pull as one turns off from the road to the old church/Galway's bridge and heads towards Torc. But again wonderful scenery.

Will have to miss out, would love to do it as Galtees the following weekend and need a lsr but at a wedding Saturday.

b.harte

mr.wiggle wrote: »

Just gotta get the pass signed off ...think I've been a good boy lately??
:rolleyes:

Yes, yes you have......
apart from trying to put a picture in the table :rolleyes:
I'm sure she'll leave you.
So, about the cake?

mr.wiggle

Sorted..cake is a go!:D

career_move

mr.wiggle wrote: »

Sorted..cake is a go!:D

Are you bringing cake for us too or just for yourself

mr.wiggle

career_move wrote: »

Are you bringing cake for us too or just for yourself

If it was just the both of us, I'd say no problem...but one slice is never enough for Mr.b.Harte!!

b.harte

mr.wiggle wrote: »

If it was just the both of us, I'd say no problem...but one slice is never enough for Mr.b.Harte!!

Hey!
Half a cake is still considered 1 slice in my house....only considered a taster in the in-laws house

sideswipe

Won't be able to make it down for this:(
Was down in Dingle for a few days last week and got in some nice runs. Bit too far of a spin for me 2 weeks in a row. Enjoy folks.

ps I'll be doing a Wicklow Way run again (about 30 miles this time) sometime in early August if anyone is interested, I'll post a date and time shortly.

b.harte

sideswipe wrote: »

Bit too far of a spin

Yeah, it's looking that way.
Looking like only 3 takes so a revised out for cake and back for more cake might be the order of the day.
Saturday forecast looking okay, if a little "overcast".

mr.wiggle

b.harte wrote: »

Yeah, it's looking that way.
Looking like only 3 takes so a revised out for cake and back for more cake might be the order of the day.
Saturday forecast looking okay, if a little "overcast".

*cough*
sore knee excuse
*cough*
won't be making Sat.run soree big time !
Was really looking forward to it.
( although i seem to remember the knee issue
starting on a hill run with a certain ultra-shuffler!! )

career_move

b.harte

belcarra

Hope you enjoy the trail run folks and hope to be able to join up for another over the coming months.

b.harte

Ah, what a day.
Ye don't know what ye missed....
It was epic, conditions were supposed to be perfect and even though everyone else dropped out I didn't waste the day.
But I did stay local.
Instead, I had a lie in, ate a nutritious breakfast of assorted cured animal products lightly fried in molten dairy fats followed by a leisurely trek around the hills of North cork,
Whereupon I got fcukin pissed on, torrential rain followed by rivers of manky muddy water cascading down the track bathing my feet in their mineral rich slop.
So after a very wet 20km I soaked myself in the bath picking sand and small stones from my feet, ruminating on what could have been.

I should have gone to Kerry.....

Next time...next time.