Art O'Neill challenge 2016

opus

Great to hear it's back on again next Jan, same as last year restricted to 200 places. See the website - http://www.artoneillchallenge.ie/

2015 thread is here.

I'll be entering with a friend of mine but to be 100% honest I'm not sure if I'll be disappointed or relieved if I don't get in

sideswipe

Ummmm.....Midnight on the 15th of Jan......the exact moment I turn 42........decisions, decisions- a nice meal and a few drinks or 50 odd kilometres in the dark across cold sodden open mountain. Where do I sign up!!

How difficult is the navigation for this? Would love to do the ultra but not sure if my nav skills would be up to it.

Endurancer123

Best race I've competed in. Nothing like the buzz of Dublin castle at 2am on a Friday night/Saturday morning. Looking forward to this already.
Regarding the navigation, all on road for the first 30k, follow the person ahead of you. The last section of 23k is fairly straight forward, gps file is attached on the AON website. I'd suggest doing a Recce of the last section though in day light a few weeks before the event.
Don't spend too long at the checkpoints either.

Djoucer

Endurancer123 wrote: »

Best race I've competed in. Nothing like the buzz of Dublin castle at 2am on a Friday night/Saturday morning. Looking forward to this already.
Regarding the navigation, all on road for the first 30k, follow the person ahead of you. The last section of 23k is fairly straight forward, gps file is attached on the AON website. I'd suggest doing a Recce of the last section though in day light a few weeks before the event.
Don't spend too long at the checkpoints either.

The nav is hard enough. Just look back at last year, Dublin Wicklow mountain rescue had to rescue a couple of people who were recceing the route.

Very experienced people have gone wrong on last section. And the second section.

Not a race for those not confident of navigation.

I've done it a few times and when the cloud comes down, you can't see people
10 metres in front of you wearing head torches let alone try and follow anyone.

sideswipe

Djoucer wrote: »

The nav is hard enough. Just look back at last year, Dublin Wicklow mountain rescue had to rescue a couple of people who were recceing the route.

Very experienced people have gone wrong on last section. And the second section.

Not a race for those not confident of navigation.

I've done it a few times and when the cloud comes down, you can't see people
10 metres in front of you wearing head torches let alone try and follow anyone.

Cheers Djoucer. I wouldn't be very confident but have some experience and live close to the route so would be in a good position to acquaint myself.

Application is in the post now anyway!

Cabaal

Djoucer wrote: »

Not a race for those not confident of navigation.

Thats me out so,

Enduro

Cabaal wrote: »

Thats me out so,

It's not that hard to pick up enough skills to safely get through the AON. Whilst it takes a lot of good nav skills to keep yourself on the optimal path in crappy weather, it's actually easy enough to to get to the checkpoints and finish on a route that may be less than optimal but is good enough (usually as simple as "head south" in most of the key decision points). A bit of pre-race recceing will massively help with confidence come race time as well.

opus

Cabaal wrote: »

Thats me out so,

I'd agree with Enduro, my navigation skills are questionable but managed it myself this year. Probably the fact I covered it twice before with a friend helped me a lot. If you were able to get out there for a look during the daylight beforehand I say it would be ok.

Mad Benny

Anybody get an acceptance or rejection yet?

sideswipe

Mad Benny wrote: »

Anybody get an acceptance or rejection yet?

There was a Face Book update on Tuesday saying the draw would happen 'shortly'.

summit2summit

I think entries are being pulled from a hat either tomorrow or Saturday

Mad Benny

Fingers crossed.

sideswipe

Emails being sent out tomorrow it seems!

Mad Benny

Did anybody get an email yet?

Mad Benny

I got the email

mr spuckler

i got the email at 10:42

sideswipe

None for me:(

Mad Benny

sideswipe wrote: »

None for me:(

That's a shame. You mentioned that it's happening on your birthday.:(

martinkemp

i didn't get it either. looks like we need to wait for another year.

do you know if there's a waiting list or additional draw in case of any drop outs? i still believe in a miracle

Sandwell

Balls. None for our group either.

Avril2010

Just got my place, I haven't done the event before and will have to throw my head into route research now.

If anyone is heading out for a recce and wouldn't mind company i'd love to join.

rachel

Hi,
I got my place too.
Sorry to anyone who didn't this time around.

911sc

Did not get an email, so i guess i am out.
I am obviously dissapointed...but relieved, as I'll be able to fully embrace Christmas Festive Season
As I had the privilege of doing it last year, I simply hope that somebody who did not get picked last year got his/her place instead of me.
Wishing you all the best.

Mad Benny

What sort of shoes do the ultra runners wear? I wore boots last year on the second leg. I was thinking of trail running shoes this year.

Enduro

Trail running shoes. Some wear road shoes until the first aid station and change to trail runners there.

Mad Benny

Enduro wrote: »

Trail running shoes. Some wear road shoes until the first aid station and change to trail runners there.

Thanks Enduro? Any recommendations on type and brand?

summit2summit

Mad Benny wrote: »

Thanks Enduro? Any recommendations on type and brand?

Salamon and inov8 are good

Hatcho

I bought a pair of Adidas Kanadia trail runners a while back and they've been great for both hillwalking and trail running. I wear Sealskinz mid length socks underneath to keep the feet dry and the combination is great. For really rough conditions a pair of gaiters keep the lower legs nice n dry. Much lighter than hiking boots, though you do lose out on some ankle support.

They are a good bit cheaper than the likes of Salamon etc. - so a nice way to try out trail runners for the first time. Only thing to watch is the sizing - I normally wear a size 11 but needed to get the Kanadia's in a 13! Other half fits into a size 4 which is what she wears in normal shoes as well - go figure!

Djoucer

Lots of pros and cons on shoe choice. Some will wear road shoes and change at cp1. Others will wear same shoe for whole race and will go straight through first cp and gain a couple of minutes. They'll go for a shoe that's a good compromise between trail and road.

Others will look at the weather. A frozen course v a very boggy one.

It's one of the good things about art. There's no real correct choice. Would any gains you might make in a road shoe on first section be completely lost changing at cp1?

DubOnHoliday

Hatcho wrote: »

I bought a pair of Adidas Kanadia trail runners a while back and they've been great for both hillwalking and trail running. I wear Sealskinz mid length socks underneath to keep the feet dry and the combination is great. For really rough conditions a pair of gaiters keep the lower legs nice n dry. Much lighter than hiking boots, though you do lose out on some ankle support.

They are a good bit cheaper than the likes of Salamon etc. - so a nice way to try out trail runners for the first time. Only thing to watch is the sizing - I normally wear a size 11 but needed to get the Kanadia's in a 13! Other half fits into a size 4 which is what she wears in normal shoes as well - go figure!

I got Adidas Kanadia 7TR a few weeks back, I wore them in the Glendalough trail race and they wear lethal on wet fireroads, it was like ice skating. Wish I'd worn my inov8s

Hatcho

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

I got Adidas Kanadia 7TR a few weeks back, I wore them in the Glendalough trail race and they wear lethal on wet fireroads, it was like ice skating. Wish I'd worn my inov8s

Wow - that's mad - I have the older Kanadia 6's and I found them great on the Glendalough Trail Run. Perhaps the inov8s and Salamons are much better than the latest Kanadias - I haven't tried either so cant give an honest opinion...

DubOnHoliday

Hatcho wrote: »

Wow - that's mad - I have the older Kanadia 6's and I found them great on the Glendalough Trail Run. Perhaps the inov8s and Salamons are much better than the latest Kanadias - I haven't tried either so cant give an honest opinion...

That makes sense ,cos I then read reviews saying the new shoe had gone backwards compared to the Kanadia 6.

Bugsy2000

For those mere mortals out there who have done this before (ie. those who won't be running the offroad section. ie. Not Enduro - no offense intended:p), what type of leggings have you worn for the off road section.

The road section is fine, that's just going to be like any other road race. But I have reccied from Checkpoint 1 to Checkpoint 2 previously I know that I won't be running a lot of it come race day & I'm assuming Checkpoint 2 to Finish will be similar (Hope to get up there soon). I'm looking at something like the Gore Windstopper running tights but I'm wondering will these be warm enough for the off road sections as I'm not likely to be moving too fast. Would I be as well off with just the windstopper shell pants with additional baselayers under for some extra warmth (Being someone who really feels the cold).

Cheers.

Mad Benny

I wore running leggings from ALDI last year and they were fine. I didn't feel cold. I did the hybrid.

Djoucer

Normal leggings should be fine. Basically, whatever you're wearing for training will do.

I've done in all weathers and normal leggings are fine. I think waterproof bottoms are part of the mandatory kit so there's an extra layer there to stick on if you get cold.

Bugsy2000

Cheers lads, for some reason I had it in my head that we needed waterproof & windproof bottoms as part of the mandatory kit. I see now its just waterproof required.

Mad Benny

Enduro wrote: »

Trail running shoes. Some wear road shoes until the first aid station and change to trail runners there.

Thanks Enduro. Do you wear merino wool socks?

Enduro

Mad Benny wrote: »

Thanks Enduro. Do you wear merino wool socks?

If the weather is crap enough I do. Full thickness mountaineering socks at that.

ThisRegard

Do the heavier mountaineering socks just not get weighed down when they get wet? I've a couple of pairs of Seal Skinz but only every wore them on the bike, the way I look at it is if I go in deep water, the membrane that tries to keep water out, will keep it in?

Hatcho

ThisRegard wrote: »

Do the heavier mountaineering socks just not get weighed down when they get wet? I've a couple of pairs of Seal Skinz but only every wore them on the bike, the way I look at it is if I go in deep water, the membrane that tries to keep water out, will keep it in?

Yep the Sealskinz are just as good at holding water in as they are at keeping it out. I've heard of some folks putting tape across the top of them to create a seal to prevent water ingress.

Bear in mind that I'm hoping to do the hybrid - (unlike you guys who'll be flat out from start to finish), my plan is to jog/walk the road section (30kms or so) in road runners and normal socks. At CP1 I'll change into Sealskinz and put on trail runners and gaiters. I find full on hiking boots too heavy and the trail runners are way more comfy over distance.

Enduro

ThisRegard wrote: »

Do the heavier mountaineering socks just not get weighed down when they get wet? I've a couple of pairs of Seal Skinz but only every wore them on the bike, the way I look at it is if I go in deep water, the membrane that tries to keep water out, will keep it in?

They get wet for sure, but I don't notice anything weight wise. That's not to say it doesn't happen though, just that I don't notice! The extra thickness of mountaineering socks is very good for protection, as well as the obvious warmth benifits.

Seal skinz over longer distances I decided long ago are a disaster (And I tested them out to multiday distance, as well as 24 hour (rogaine)). Never again. They are excellent for biking though, I'll give them that. I also had the ones with the seal around the top... They were even worse! Caused abrasion issues in the seal area. Taped Seal Skinz sound like a bad idea to me.

Hence my reversion to normal socks, with Merino mountaineering socks for more extreme conditions.

opus

Didn't get in this year, not sure if I'm relieved or disappointed

Best of luck to everyone taking part, hope the weather gods are kind on the night...

Bugsy2000

Anyone get to recce the off-road sections lately? I've been hoping to get up from Galway over the holidays but every time I look at the forecast there's either a rain or wind warning (or both) in place.

I'm happy with the route from Checkpoint 1 to Checkpoint 2 but still need to recce the last section. I'm assuming it's complete bog after the recent weather.

I know we'll have to deal with whatever the weather throws at us on the day (night) but we'll have others in the course plus the checkpoints as fallback, it's a bit different me heading up on my lonesome in bad weather.

W.B. Yeats

Myself and 2 of the lads did 1-2 on Sunday. To the uninitiated (me) it was very wet. Muddy and boggy in places but mainly surface water. The terrain is very bumpy but it's that regardless of weather. Hoping to do 2 to the end on Friday. Im not sure what I was expecting but on reflection it wasn't as tough as I expected - after 30 odd km running and in the dark it will be another story though I know. Getting a sense of the route in daylight was v helpful though. Particularly as there are a number of options to take on how to descend and make it to the fire road.

Djoucer

Route after cp2 is normally boggy
after Art's Cross and around the 3 lakes. Even in the summer.

It's like a boggy lunar landscape. Can be draining dragging your arse over peat hags.

Cp2 to open mountain is usually ok. Couple of kms of fireroad. Gets a bit wet once you leave fireroad and as you approach the bottom of the climb.

Cp1 to 2 can be very wet and cold. Terrain is more solid, not particularly boggy as it's covered in heather.

A lot can change till the race. Sub zero temps make it easier to run.

Once over Arts cross and onto table track is mainly stoney. It's fast if a awkward to run on. It's like a river after heavy rain but runnable.

Avril2010

I got out on all but the section from Art's cross to 3 lakes, both times my friends who joined were tired so I didn't get to go as far as I'd liked. Would like to try a final stab at it (or any other open mountain section) on Sunday if anyone is heading out and would like company.

The storms lately have not made for easy training at all!

gavkm27

Anyone else tried to download and upload the GPS file to gps? It was sent in an email as the one on the site isn't working,but put it on my gps and nothing

gavkm27

Enduro wrote: »

They get wet for sure, but I don't notice anything weight wise. That's not to say it doesn't happen though, just that I don't notice! The extra thickness of mountaineering socks is very good for protection, as well as the obvious warmth benifits.

Seal skinz over longer distances I decided long ago are a disaster (And I tested them out to multiday distance, as well as 24 hour (rogaine)). Never again. They are excellent for biking though, I'll give them that. I also had the ones with the seal around the top... They were even worse! Caused abrasion issues in the seal area. Taped Seal Skinz sound like a bad idea to me.

Hence my reversion to normal socks, with Merino mountaineering socks for more extreme conditions.

Couldn't agree more! Sealskinz are terrible,make my feet bake and blister.
give up the idea of dry feet,it's Ireland,find the nearest puddle and get wet.I wear Injinji liner sock and a normal trail sock,don't have gore tex trail runners as they hold water too easily,i want them to wash through.First time in AON,coming up for a recce next week from Galway

Bugsy2000

Cheers lads. Gonna head up from Galway myself tomorrow morn to recce CP2 to finish. At this stage I think we're going to have boggy ground no matter what.

I'll park up at CP2 & do an out & back. Depending on time I'll do as much as I can of CP2 back to CP1. May spot a few of ye up there?

Bugsy2000

Well that was an experience.

I'm glad I went up now. I wouldn't fancy experiencing that maze of peat hags around 3 lakes for the first time in the race at around 6 - 7 in the morning. I'm officially renaming that area the 'Jedi Mindf!ck Fields'. I reckon the reason Art's Cross is where it is is because Art saw what lay ahead of him & said 'Feck it, I've had enough, I'm staying here!'

I'm glad too we're not tackling the climb to Art's Cross in reverse, I was coming back from Barravore & the descent from Art's Cross was lethal. It was dry when i was climbing it earlier but even with a light mist later on it was like descending through a river. I was like Bambi on ice coming down, took a few nasty tumbles, was sure i snapped my knee at one stage.

Enduro

Yeah, it's as tricky a place as anywhere to be looking for a small target. Great nav practice. But remember you're not looking for a small target. You just have to traverse accross it keeping a general southern bearing and hit the rather large target of Glenmalure valley. So while you can easily go off the ideal course, it should also be trivial enough to get to the end point despite that.