Art O'Neil challenge 2017

Mad Benny

The Art O'Neil challenge 2017 registration is closed and entrants have been notified. I'm very lucky and grateful to have obtained a place. It's limited to 200 and oversubscribed each year.

It's an extremely well organized event. The Dublin & Wicklow Mountain rescue team are managing it this year. It's the best event of the year in my opinion.

Best of luck to all who obtained a place.

Bulmers

Had hoped to get in but no luck unfortunately,700 applicants,big demand event. Not hopeful of the waiting list

Working class heroes

Unsuccessful here too.

ArtieFufkin

Didn't get in either. Fingers crossed for the second selection, although I don't think there will be many more places freed up.

badbeatcentral

Got offered a spot under the Trek option so looking forward to it now. Will be my first AONC.

I've been trying to source a decent quality map online but most of them seem to be out of date or are just route overviews, anyone who has done it previously know when they'll issue an updated route map?

mo_bhicycle

badbeatcentral wrote: »

I've been trying to source a decent quality map online but most of them seem to be out of date or are just route overviews, anyone who has done it previously know when they'll issue an updated route map?

I've ordered this map as it was mentioned on the IMRA forums that it's used by the guides and apparently it has more details (small tracks etc.) on it than the OSI maps
http://www.eastwestmapping.ie/product/wicklow-mountains-west-test-2/

Disclaimer: I haven't seen either maps yet so can't say which is better

The Noble Nudge

Gutted didn't get in this year but what can you do....best of luck to everyone doing it.
Dropped to minus 6 last January so layer up.

911sc

badbeatcentral wrote: »

I've been trying to source a decent quality map online but most of them seem to be out of date or are just route overviews, anyone who has done it previously know when they'll issue an updated route map?

I did AON 2 years ago. It was a clear dry night, so visibility was excellent and navigation was therefore very straight forward.
Start to CP1 is on road/trails, so just follow the markers.
CP1 to Billy Byrne's gap is easy to navigate, just aim high between gap and mullachcleevaun. That would put you in better position to find entrance into the wood once on the other side. ( i went to low, hence had to climb back up to get the wood entrance).
Depending on your pace (from memory, took me 3h to CP1 and 3hours from CP1 to CP2) , dawn should set close to CP2 and you get a second life! But fatigue neverthelss makes decision making a bit more challenging, especially passed AON cross as there is not much to use as ref point.

OSI Discovery Series 1:50000 #56 is all you need, and recee from CP1 to Glenmalure is probably more important than latest and greatest maps.

A superb challenge...

Best of luck.

Djoucer

911sc wrote: »

I did AON 2 years ago. It was a clear dry night, so visibility was excellent and navigation was therefore very straight forward.
Start to CP1 is on road/trails, so just follow the markers.
CP1 to Billy Byrne's gap is easy to navigate, just aim high between gap and mullachcleevaun. That would put you in better position to find entrance into the wood once on the other side. ( i went to low, hence had to climb back up to get the wood entrance).
Depending on your pace (from memory, took me 3h to CP1 and 3hours from CP1 to CP2) , dawn should set close to CP2 and you get a second life! But fatigue neverthelss makes decision making a bit more challenging, especially passed AON cross as there is not much to use as ref point.

OSI Discovery Series 1:50000 #56 is all you need, and recee from CP1 to Glenmalure is probably more important than latest and greatest maps.

A superb challenge...

Best of luck.

Word of caution. CP1 to Billy Byrne Gap can be extremely difficult. If there is no visibility, you won't find it without a map and compass. It's only easy to Nav if you can see it and that's very rare during AON.

Really worth going up during day to see the lay of the land and then again at night to see how challenging it can be.

Experienced people have ended up on wrong side of Mullach or heading to Black hill.

Race starts an hour early too, 1am, so dawn will be break much later in the race.

That said, i think there's a full moon in night of race so will make it easier.

911sc

Djoucer wrote: »

Race starts an hour early too, 1am, so dawn will be break much later in the race.

There were 3 starts in 2014 :
12 for the walkers
1am for hybrid
2am for runners

Is that change?

mloc123

911sc wrote: »

There were 3 starts in 2014 :
12 for the walkers
1am for hybrid
2am for runners

Is that change?

Looks like in 2016 hybrid and runners started at 1am.. no harm. Reg at 11 and hanging around to 2am was a pain

Djoucer

Yeah hybrid and runners now leave at 1am. Walkers at midnight.

Worked well last year with plenty of company on roads and less hanging around.

Meant a lot more people were leaving CP2 still in the dark and vast majority of people were over Billy Byrne without any light.

Gravale

Other small private groups organise themselves and do it in January also. My own walkers group did a 43k training hike yesterday for our own AON. You can still do it also if you organise yourselves too.

AON '16 (1).jpg

mloc123

Up at cp1 this morning with a friend who got a place... I ended up dragging us miles off course, maybe navigating in daylight is harder

Gravale

Use a GPS. Problem solved.

mloc123

Gravale wrote: »

Use a GPS. Problem solved.

Had the route loaded on my watch and everything... but was 'testing' my skills, it was a failed test

dcorcaigh

mloc123 wrote: »

Had the route loaded on my watch and everything... but was 'testing' my skills, it was a failed test

Would you be able tell me where you got the route from? i see on the website the link for the GPX file but it doesn't work when i click on it.

Gravale

If only it were as easy as this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ga2QlFOOp4

Gravale

dcorcaigh wrote: »

Would you be able tell me where you got the route from? i see on the website the link for the GPX file but it doesn't work when i click on it.

Here's the GPX file I use myself:

glasshopper

HI Folks
i'm an AON noob. Yes, I got in :-)
I tried recce a section today and thought it was a good idea to try Ballinagee bridge to Ballynultagh and back with a little daylight to start with - got as far as Billy o Byrnes Gap before the lights had to go on. I was never around there before and missed the forest trail to Ballynultagh. I found a track skirting the side of the forest and popped out on the road near the col at Sorrell / Black hill. on the way back i was surprised how far it was (or how long it took me) to roll over the gap. The bearing is generally south and if you remember the shape or the terrain youll be fine. I was surprised I found the trail and intended not to hit the forest below the road. I stayed high and hit the forest near the top so it was easy to drop down and find it. all in all it was a revalation - tough. hard going swampy knarly stuff. I need motivation to recce the oakwood to Glenmalure section. Any spare motivation anyone?

Gravale

Did you get your motivation, Grasshopper?

Gravale

Walking Ballynultagh to Ballinagee and back at 5am on Saturday.

glasshopper

Not sure about the motivation levels, but the conscience has me thinking of a Ballinagee to Arts cross or lakes recce Saturday eve. kids soccer and rugby taxi duty early Saturday and Sunday cycle ties up the schedule.
If all goes to pot, there's an open slot for the taking ;-)
Anyone else for a Saturday eve trot? hopefully catch the last hour of light?

glasshopper

Great weather today for a recce. great to see a few others out. I was beginning to think I was the only eejit needing to recce the course.

ataraxia

I dont suppose there are any last minute injuries or anyone getting cold feet that are looking to offload a ticket?! :-)

Just dm me and il get back to you asap...

God loves a tryer...lol

mo_bhicycle

Looking like it'll be a cold one :eek:

Turning bitterly cold from Wednesday through to Saturday with northwesterly winds becoming dominant, drawing cold air down from the Arctic with wintry precipitation and strong winds at times.

http://met.ie/forecasts/

ragsod

Have been keeping an eye on the forecast and it’s still moving around a lot. Mountain-forecast (can't post link) is giving an interesting outlook.

I think I can live with rain and snow, it’s the wind that could be a killer unless it its coming anywhere from the north...in which case it will give us an armchair ride all the way to Glenmalure!

Final training run last night, a set of hill reps to get some sharpness in the legs. Years since I did those things and now I remember why

glasshopper

the weather keeps changing every time I look. it will take some of the fun out of it if we get driving sleet in our faces and sloppy mud under foot for sure. but it's still possible that the ground freezes and the skies clear to a light breeze allowing that full moon to shine down. fingers crossed!
either way it looks like it will be a cold one.

Mad Benny

I've been looking here: https://www.yr.no/place/Ireland/Leinster/Wicklow_Mountains/long.html

It looks OK. Some light snow showers

mo_bhicycle

Anybody have any insights into how slippy/icy the roads up to Checkpoint 1 may get?

Djoucer

It can get very icy.

Usually, roads are ok up until Stone Cross. Paths after m50 can be a bit icy/frosty. Climb to stone cross is grand. Road is grippy. From stone cross, the road can get very icy and slippery. You can usually run up the middle or on verge but can be a bit dicey. Some of the downhills can be a bit sketchy.

I expect it to be frosty as soon as you take the turn for stone cross based on previous years. Once you take the short cut through the private lands, roads are Ok.

If it doesn't rain too much tomorrow, it shouldn't be too bad.

ragsod

Djoucer wrote: »

It can get very icy.

Usually, roads are ok up until Stone Cross. Paths after m50 can be a bit icy/frosty. Climb to stone cross is grand. Road is grippy. From stone cross, the road can get very icy and slippery. You can usually run up the middle or on verge but can be a bit dicey. Some of the downhills can be a bit sketchy.

I expect it to be frosty as soon as you take the turn for stone cross based on previous years. Once you take the short cut through the private lands, roads are Ok.

If it doesn't rain too much tomorrow, it shouldn't be too bad.

Same experience from 2015. Climb from cross to the road highpoint was steep and slippy where compressed by cars. So a fair bit of jumping from middle to verge and back. The descent on the road had a few black ice patches but could still run fast with a few hairy moments.

As in 2015 I have a bit of a footwear dilemma due to the road conditions. In that year I opted to wear my trail shoes for the road section. Grip was nice to have but I was hobbled by CP1: knees, hips, ITB all cramping. I don't think I could live with that again so wearing road shoes with a bit more cushioning. However, they have poor grip at the best of times. Thankfully I discovered something called razor-siping and spent last night customizing the soles of my runners with a stanley knife. Will see how that one works out for me :rolleyes:

glasshopper

That's interesting Ragsod - razor-siping. i'm the same when it comes to long runs on the trail shoes. Mine are Merrell all out rush and are minimal - almost free runs. hips and knees at risk there. I think i'll stick the Adidas boost on for more cushion and pray the continental rubber sole keeps a grip.

Big question for me now is what to do tomorrow night before the start. i might register first, then go drop off the car at sandyford luas. otherwise there's a lot of hanging around. is there somewhere in the castle to stay warm and relax between 11 and 1am?
what do people do? register earlier and go to the cinema or?

ragsod

glasshopper wrote: »

Big question for me now is what to do tomorrow night before the start. i might register first, then go drop off the car at sandyford luas. otherwise there's a lot of hanging around. is there somewhere in the castle to stay warm and relax between 11 and 1am?
what do people do? register earlier and go to the cinema or?

That worked for me previously when I lived close to town. Register and bag drop at 8. Home to sleep for a few hours and then back in at 12:30 for a 2am start.

Am living out of town now so will head in at 10:30 to register and wait around. You will find plenty of floor space - a little chilly in there IIRC, but no problems.

Djoucer

You can wait in the castle. Plenty of chairs and space to relax. It's warm too so you can take off your layers.

Van outside hot drinks.

opus

Best of luck to everyone tonight!

I'm both disappointed & relieved (if that's possible!) not to be taking part

DogSlySmile

AON 17 won by Andrew Tuckey (who has some top runs at UTMB and WS100 under his belt)

Djoucer with a fantastic 2nd place

badbeatcentral

Congrats Djoucer, I'm amazed at the times of the top 5, I completed it in a guided group for Leg 2 and 3 and found it very heavy underfoot particularly coming down to the finish from Art's Cross.

Unbelievably well organised event, looking forward to next year if I'm lucky enough to get a spot again.

Gravale

Two walking clubs did the Art O'Neill walk today. Ground conditions very wet, making for heavy going throughout the mountain section.

thespeed03

I was a newbie doing AON this year. It's probably the best event i've ever taken part in. Had no navigation experience at all so spent a few hours online in the weeks leading up to the event learning how to use a map and compass.
The roads after Stone Cross were pretty icey alright but you could run without too much bother on the very edge of the road on either side.
Up on the mountains it was all snow, one of my toes is still a bit numb from the freezing even 2 weeks later!! I lost my map shortly after the start of the last section but luckily had recce'd the route a few weeks previous and had taken a mental note of a few compass bearings (the actual bearings were wrote on my lost map) so eventually found my way.
Great great great event, can't say enough good words about it.
I Snapchat storied (Few pics but mainly videos) the event and uploaded it to YouTube to give a few friends of mine an idea of whats involved. YEP...most of them think anyone who does it is completely barmy after watching it :-) haha!!!

Gravale

No navigation experience at all, a few hours learning online how to use a compass, lost your map, mental notes of a few bearings, frozen big toe...... Well done! You were lucky that the weather wasn't as dreadful as it might have been.

So, have you a Youtube link to share with us? We'd like to see a real barmy runner in action.

Is this you? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31Lt25kefkw

thespeed03

Yep that's me. I couldn't post the link up. Some journey. An amazing experience!!

thespeed03

Here we go again, it's finger crossing time, many trying again??? 
Price has gone up a bit but in fairness it goes to a good cause so i'm not too bitter about it. What's peoples thoughts?

Working class heroes

thespeed03 wrote: »

Here we go again, it's finger crossing time, many trying again???
Price has gone up a bit but in fairness it goes to a good cause so i'm not too bitter about it. What's peoples thoughts?

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thespeed03

Heard rumours of over 1000 applications :O

The Noble Nudge

1000!! so far up 300 from last year...was hoping to take part....

opus

Friend of mine is keen but as always with this event I'm on the fence. Will decide over the w/end as have 'til the 18th.

thespeed03

The timeline for getting prepared is tight this year so was a bit on the fence myself but have managed to book some time off over Christmas in the hope of doing recces if getting a spot, gonna be an intense 7 weeks if I do!!

The Noble Nudge

Has anyone a gps or strava file for it to have a look...

Gravale

The full GPS route from Dublin Castle to the finish in Glenmalure. Mind you, it's my own recorded track.

thespeed03

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Has anyone a gps or strava file for it to have a look...

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/831759930 The last 5km is missing as my watch dies but you are on the way to table track (the home stretch) there so nav is not needed for it, you're pretty much home :-)