Trails and mountains in 2017...

...anyone got any plans for the muddier routes in 2017?

Thinking of Wicklow Way Ultra in March, did it 2 or 3 years back. Would give some focus to training in the next couple of months. MMRA have a new run in early February, >50km along the Beara Breifne way through Muskerry, but after 6 weeks out think it's too early for me.

After that it'll be the regular IMRA outings, 2 x Carrauntoohils, Mangerton etc. Will head North for the Mournes 7 7s and Mournes Skyrun. Must look at UK calendar and see if I can finally bag some classic over there, like Snowdon or Borrowdale.

Anyone lining up anything big, like the Kerry Way Ultra, the 3 Peaks etc. etc.?

KJ

I've signed up for the Twin Peaks Challenge. It takes in Camlough and Slieve Gullion. I've done a 10k on Slieve Gullion recently but this will be my first proper challenge.


http://www.active.com/newry-down/running/trail-run-races/twin-peaks-challenge-south-armagh-half-marathon-2017

Annie get your Run

I've just registered with IMRA for the first time, and signed up for the annual membership - looking forward to doing a few mountain runs this year but only the little ones

KJ

KJ wrote: »

I've signed up for the Twin Peaks Challenge. It takes in Camlough and Slieve Gullion. I've done a 10k on Slieve Gullion recently but this will be my first proper challenge.

http://www.active.com/newry-down/running/trail-run-races/twin-peaks-challenge-south-armagh-half-marathon-2017

Haven't seen that before, prob too near Galtee Crossing but as a matter of curiosity what is the overall ascent?

Kinda looking at Stuc a Chroin 5000 in Scotland in early May, 20km and 1500m so not exactly a monster...but part of the UK Championships so a chance to watch Rob Hope, Jasmin Paris and co...for a few minutes anyway before they disappear into the distance!

annapr

Annie get your Run wrote: »

I've just registered with IMRA for the first time, and signed up for the annual membership - looking forward to doing a few mountain runs this year but only the little ones

Are there little ones? Sounds like fun

Annie get your Run

annapr wrote: »

Are there little ones? Sounds like fun

Look at the list here, the first one is practically on your doorstep and *only* 5.7km, when I said 'little' I meant distance wise, not elevation wise, but in the grand scheme of mountain runs, they're all reasonably little

rovers_runner

Couldn't recommend the IMRA Wicklow way trail highly enough. Tougher than a marathon and only 25km so training doesn't have to be excessive to manage to get from A to B.

https://www.imra.ie/events/view/id/1433

Neady83

Will have a go at the Western Way 50 mile and the Kerry Way UltraLite is looking appealing if the Kerry Way Ultra seems too far fetched by the time September rolls around.

Djoucer

First race of the year is Howth. Great intro to IMRA. Not too difficult but gives a good taste of trail and is short enough.

Following week is Hellfire which is also beginner friendly.

If you can do 10km, you can do the vast majority of IMRA races.

Enduro

Deleted User wrote: »

Anyone lining up anything big, like the Kerry Way Ultra, the 3 Peaks etc. etc.?

The countdown to the Spine race is ticking loudly right now. Would love to do the KWU, but it's pretty much directly clashing with another one of my main targets this year : the UTMB. Wish they'd move it a few weeks either way.

dekbhoy

Is there a website with all races from ultras to shorter distances on it or is it a case of word of mouth for a lot of races and the old reliables of run ireland website ,IMRA ETC.

KJ

Deleted User wrote: »

Haven't seen that before, prob too near Galtee Crossing but as a matter of curiosity what is the overall ascent?

Kinda looking at Stuc a Chroin 5000 in Scotland in early May, 20km and 1500m so not exactly a monster...but part of the UK Championships so a chance to watch Rob Hope, Jasmin Paris and co...for a few minutes anyway before they disappear into the distance!

To be honest I'm not sure. There isn't a whole lot of info on it and the Facebook event page is down.

dekbhoy

dekbhoy wrote: »

Is there a website with all races from ultras to shorter distances on it or is it a case of word of mouth for a lot of races and the old reliables of run ireland website ,IMRA ETC.

Get all my info from the IMRA and NIMRA sites, but they're really just for races run by those organisations. A few trail running groups have Facebook pages, know of Kerry and Waterford, and see non IMRA races pop up on them. Also use the Running in Munster site a bit. Not sure of any site with all the other off road races.

Neady83

dekbhoy wrote: »

Is there a website with all races from ultras to shorter distances on it or is it a case of word of mouth for a lot of races and the old reliables of run ireland website ,IMRA ETC.

Details for the Sligo Way Ultra can be got on their FB page and registration is here: [URL] http://www.active.com/sligo-sligo/running/distance-running-races/the-sligo-way-ultra-2017-28951448 [/URL]

Raw Ultra have a few longer ultra races here: [URL] http://www.rawultra.com/ [/URL]

bobwilliams

Annie get your Run wrote:

I've just registered with IMRA for the first time, and signed up for the annual membership - looking forward to doing a few mountain runs this year but only the little ones

Hi...i see 2 options..50 euro and 10 euro...im guessing I just need to buy 10.
Also...im looking at a few races but I dont see any prices.
Thanks

Annie get your Run

bobwilliams wrote: »

Hi...i see 2 options..50 euro and 10 euro...im guessing I just need to buy 10.
Also...im looking at a few races but I dont see any prices.
Thanks

Annual membership is 10 euro, you need to do that first. You can purchase a bundle of race vouchers for €50 - other than that I'm not entirely sure how it works! Someone more knowledgeable might have an answer. I don't see a sign up option online for individual races.

Djoucer

€10 membership for the year.

To enter races, you have two choices. Buy a bundle for €50 and it works out at €5 per race.

Else you can pre-enter a race for €7. Entries usually close evening before the race.

ThisRegard

Just to add, with your voucher you can rock up the evening of the race, unlike with pre-entry. The voucher card gives that bit more flexibility.

Annie get your Run

ThisRegard wrote: »

Just to add, with your voucher you can rock up the evening of the race, unlike with pre-entry. The voucher card gives that bit more flexibility.

What happens with pre-entry? Don't you have to pick up a race number somewhere even with the vouchers? Sorry I thought I'd seen info on this on the website but can't find it now

ThisRegard

When you register for IMRA for the year you'll pick up your race number at your first race, that's yours to hold on to for the year, you don't return it so you'll have it yourself already for every race you do.

Then for each race you want to do you have until the evening before to enter online. If you do, you turn up to the race, get your name ticked off the pre-register entry list and just wait for the race.

If you plan on doing a few races, the vouchers are much handier.

Sacksian

Despite being injured all the time, and having an effective racing distance of about 1610m, I'd love to have a pop at a couple of IMRA races this summer. I also made a vague, and instantly regretted, noise of commitment to a friend who lives in Valais about doing Sierre-Zinal this year, which would be madness for someone made of crepe paper.

However, I am seriously considering running the Mont Blanc vertical km in June! What's the closest you could get to a vertical KM in Ireland?

The Zig Zags up Carrauntoohil are a km or more of solid climb without any descent, and all runnable...or maybe more "joggable". Mangerton and Galtymore are 2 others on the Munster calendar that would contain a long uphill sections totalling well in excess of 1km but more broken up, 1km or more of continuous steep climb on a trail might be trickier to find. The Granite Trail Race on the eve of the Mournes Skyrun is a 2km uphill only challenge on Donard.

DubOnHoliday

you cannot beat the vouchers for flexibility and value. You just rock up on race day, sign your name, get your card punched and off you go. Great way also to get club mates a taste of trail running as vouchers can be shared amongst a group of people. If you go the pre reg route, and you can't make the race, you lose the money. Vouchers all the way.

ocnoc

Vertical Km is 1,000m of climb in as short a distance as possible.

Not really any in Ireland

Peterx

Trails and Mountains in 2017.....

It's not just IMRA, there's NIMRA and Newcastle AC up north in cash for ash land who put on loads of races with less marking and more mandatory kit then IMRA.

http://www.nimra.org.uk/
http://www.newcastleac.org/

And facebook has plenty of trail running groups only too eager to show you the great outdoors, sometimes also at a price.

For vertical climbing you have to go to Europe, any of the big ski resorts will have a vertical km or more on hardpack or single track with a cable car back down so you don't even get the doms descending.

Anyone tried that South Leinster Challenge? 50km across the Blackstairs in March...

SpitItOut

Thinking of doing Carrauntoohil. Never did one before, but it seems a pity you've to bring a rain proof jacket, hat and gloves. Does this mean you'd need a backpack? And does anyone know anything about the root they take?

Doesn't seem to expensive in comparison to the triathlons though - €10 for membership & €7 per race from there after.

ThisRegard

Are you saying you never done Carrauntoohil before, or never done a mountain race? Sounds like the latter based on your comments about having to bring certain gear. Carrauntoohil wouldn't be a great place to start really unless you're very familiar with the route or experienced in the mountains already.

It's not a pity that you're required to carry what could be essential safety gear. If you get an injury in bad weather it can take you a long time getting off it and you'll be glad of it then.

You don't necessarily need a back pack to carry​ your gear, you can fit it in waist bags or pockets, but Carrauntoohil may require additional gear such as long sleeved tops, leggings, a decision on the day will be made if it's to be carried.

jfh

where would you get a really light packable jacket that will be used for these races?
i have an OMM jacket, great jacket but used only in the wintery weather.

looking for something that will be used just for the odd imra race & will probably stay in the pack so don't want something expensive

DubOnHoliday

jfh wrote: »

where would you get a really light packable jacket that will be used for these races?
i have an OMM jacket, great jacket but used only in the wintery weather.

looking for something that will be used just for the odd imra race & will probably stay in the pack so don't want something expensive

ALDI or Lidl, mine fits in a money belt, don't even notice it.

Jakey Rolling

jfh wrote: »

where would you get a really light packable jacket that will be used for these races?

I use this jacket from Decathlon. Its a cycle jacket, but suits me fine and I wear it for 3hr+ runs. I think they do a running equivalent. Packs away to nothing. Windproof rather than waterproof.

jfh

Jakey Rolling wrote: »

I use this jacket from Decathlon. Its a cycle jacket, but suits me fine and I wear it for 3hr+ runs. I think they do a running equivalent. Packs away to nothing. Windproof rather than waterproof.

that link didn't open but i can see a jacket on that site, that will do the trick, cheap & cheerful & will meet the criteria.
thanks

I got a jacket with taped seams in TK Maxx for €20 that fits into it's own pocket.

Carrauntoohil not the ideal place for a first race, even experienced runners have become lost when the mist comes down, which is frequent. It was my first race...but I had been on the mountain dozens of times and was confident I'd know my way around. But have seen runners take the wrong route off Caher a few times and stay on the trail along the ridge, whereas the IMRA route requires runners to leave it and head for Curraghmore.

KJ

Deleted User wrote: »

Haven't seen that before, prob too near Galtee Crossing but as a matter of curiosity what is the overall ascent?

Kinda looking at Stuc a Chroin 5000 in Scotland in early May, 20km and 1500m so not exactly a monster...but part of the UK Championships so a chance to watch Rob Hope, Jasmin Paris and co...for a few minutes anyway before they disappear into the distance!

So the race was yesterday. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Here is the course route in case you are interested in the future.
Twin Peaks Route

Neady83

I did the IMRA Wicklow Way Solo two weeks ago. My first time on the Wicklow Way and my first IMRA race. IMRA really know how to put on a race and all the runners were incredibly kind and supportive. I enjoyed it though it was a tough race with very tight cut-offs. Would highly recommend.