New National xc course

youngrun

The new national Cross country course in Abbottstown made its debut yesterday. Very good and demanding course, ran the mens race, very enjoyable despite being also ran, and both senior races had a pretty good standard. Some really testing muddy/sandy hilly sections but a lot of good running.

But lack of indoor/changing facilities beside course etc wasnt great , we saw signs on way out which werent much use .

ThisRegard

There's some nice running around there alright, I've popped in and ran around it when passing as part of a long run.

Where's the start/finish area? There's plenty of facilities around the area, might just be a matter of sorting one out that doesn't clash with its use by other events at the time.

RayCun

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.3923109,-6.3576582,288m/data=!3m1!1e3

Don't know what that building is beside it, it wasn't open

youngrun

RayCun wrote: »

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.3923109,-6.3576582,288m/data=!3m1!1e3

Don't know what that building is beside it, it wasn't open

Abbottstown house i think

Finish is just in front of it , long straight, and the start is over to the right if you were looking out from the house.
only certain sections viewable by spectators . Fine and testing course, could cut up an awful lot i reckon though ? Not sure if the sanded sections were deliberately put in or done just to make some sections runnable.

HelenAnne

I ran it yesterday too (or slogged it -- I didn't have a good run!) -- it was a lovely course, good bit of variety, grass and mud and sandy mud and forest. However, despite what RayCun said beforehand, it wasn't pancake flat!! (Or it didn't feel like it to my poor legs anyway! The hills were all short, but one of them was quite mucky and came straight after a sandy stretch, so it was quite sapping).
The men's race was great to watch. Can't wait to go and watch the inter-clubs there!
Thanks to BungyGirl for the cheers, sorry you had to wait to long for me to crawl by!

RayCun

That's what I was told!
In fairness, it is pretty flat, but there are a few drags, and it was pretty mucky yesterday which doesn't help

pconn062

I couldn't make it up yesterday but will get up for the Interclubs. A few people were commenting that it's not the most spectator friendly course, would you say that's the case?

youngrun

pconn062 wrote: »

I couldn't make it up yesterday but will get up for the Interclubs. A few people were commenting that it's not the most spectator friendly course, would you say that's the case?

Yes . One section is good, at start of 2k lap, and across from that as they come out of woods. But very long grass. Rest of lap is very hard to access without going on the course so youd miss half the lap if not more , including the good bits up the hills, they are kind of walled in in parts or with trees close to sides.
Pretty energy sapping to run in , wouldnt take long to find you out if not fit or if low on miles coming into it, but most of the top lads found it grand that i spoke to.

Wottle

It's a good course, the rain from the previous night definitely made it a testing one. The sand was tough going and just when you thought you were done with sand you then had a 60/70m steep hill. There was also sections of soft muck where your feet would sink a couple of inches.
If the rain didn't come it would be a very fast course.
The finish is up a drag and yesterday into the wind.

Course is divided in 2, start and finish in one half which is very spectator friendly.
The other half which is the bulk of the 2k loop is not spectator friendly and could be a very lonely place, sections separated by a forest.

They had to take down a giant screen yesterday due to the wind, would be great if that was for viewing the non spectator friendly section but I'd imagine it was more for the finish but could be an idea, as I'd imagine this section is where a lot of moves will be made.

Mostly positive

Sacksian

Is the course open to the public during the week? Can I just go and do a session on it? Would love to have a run on it at some stage!

pconn062

Sacksian wrote: »

Is the course open to the public during the week? Can I just go and do a session on it? Would love to have a run on it at some stage!

Wondering this too, was thinking of heading up for a run around it.

youngrun

I would imagine you could run in and around it . There was a lot of security around the place yesterday though so couldnt be sure if they allow cars access all the time but on foot should be no issue, or park where you are let maybe. , its a good way in the back the course

ThisRegard

Yeah, you can take a run around it. It's on one of my running routes and during the summer I would pop in and take a run around the perimeter of the grounds. You might be better off just parking down by the aquatic centre in the larger car park and working from there if you were to drive. There are car parks closer to where the start/finish is highlighted above but you need to go through a barrier to get there.

I'm not sure how the barrier operates though, it usually just opens automatically for me but not sure if that's because I'm driving through at a time when there's events scheduled in some of the buildings the other side of the barrier.

Sacksian

Excellent - might make it a monthly trip!

Ceekay

Some footage from the men's race. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfjjKbAUX_o

youngrun

Ceekay wrote: »

Some footage from the men's race. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfjjKbAUX_o

Looks great thanks ,any of the ladies race

Murph_D

RayCun wrote: »

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.3923109,-6.3576582,288m/data=!3m1!1e3

Don't know what that building is beside it, it wasn't open

Bertie Bowl? :pac:

Ceekay

youngrun wrote: »

Looks great thanks ,any of the ladies race

Some clips now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md1zd6RCmqE

Ross Runner

Super course.... Proper XC.... a little bit of everything really! Hope they host many nationals there....