WAR - Wicklow Adventure Race April 2010

It wouldn't hurt too much to throw in a few km at the end. It might give me a chance of catching a few tri athletes after they whup me on the 25km bike stage.

Hmmm....

Then one of them will more than likely clash with the IMRA Wicklow Ultra (which has been around that date for at least 10 years now), which is a bit crazy. If they clash it with the Wicklow Ultra then the two races will interfere with each other, as there is an overlap between the 2 courses. There is loads of space in the calendar for endurance events not to clash.

It would be nice if something calling itself an adventure race could make a bit more of an effort to be one. It passes right by the most accessable mountain bike trails in Wicklow, and still all the cycling is on road. What a waste. "Wicklow slightly off road race" would be more accurate I think. Also very unfortunate to see such a very very short kayaking distance, and yet again without the option for good kayakers to bring their own kayaks (yet good cyclists get to bring their own bikes).

First point... most adventure races have both on and off road cycling sections. The on-road sections are generally there because it isn't possible to find a suitable equivalent off-road section. I've yet to see anyone bring a road bike to these races as the logistics of it are pretty much impossible (and its less benificial to have a road bike than a mountain bike (ususally!)).

2nd point... its easy to limit people to one bike by explicitly making it a rule that each person can only use one bike for the race duration. It can then be your choice which bike you want to use.

Yeah I know what you are saying. I guess seeing as its a triathlon club organising it they are going with the road cycles as thats what they know and they will probably get a lot more interest if they keep it relatively simple.

Enduro wants the race to suit him, Gohard wants the race to suit him and I want the race to suit me. The format is set, either do or don't enter.

Its more that I'd like something that calls itself an adventure race to at least make some effort to be one. To make it suit me I'd simply like all the distances trebled...that would be fine

The format is set,

I thought the whole point of this thread is that it isn't.

I disagree with the calendar point, it is already easy to see there many sporting options most weekends of the summer. 100% of entrants to "AR" events in this country play other games and therefore have many clashes.
You have to choose.

It's not a summer race Peter, its a spring race. There are lots of free weekends in the spring. Especially if you just narrow it down to endurance events (which this, and the 2 ultra runs all are, but with very little else at that time of year). Personally, I already make choices at that time of the year. Last year I didn't do the Conn ultra.

AR - navigation, sleep deprivation, kayaking, foot maintenance, et cetera..

Err yeah... If it was called "The Wicklow Challenge" or something like that then I wouldn't bother making the points. But if it wants to be the "Wicklow Adventure Race" then it should really try and be something of an adventure race.

AR lite - my niche

Methinks you'd be a fookin' brilliant "Heavy" AR racer too, if you ever decide to try one.

The Lakes district operate a fantastic system of access that has managed in the main to keep all stakeholders not unhappy and it would be amazing to get a similar set-up here.

Is that a side point on access, or does it relate to calendaring? WRT access, anything would be better than here! Scottish system FTW though.

Peterx wrote: »

Kind of a side point on access and also kind of a general point that tarmac roads in this country are public land open to all and therefore easy to use for race organisers whereas all private land that might be useful for biking stages is harder to use and therefore it is just easier to organise a race using public roads.
I agree with you that in that part of Wicklow there is a ready made MTB bike track and it should be possible for someone* to organise a race involving Ballinastoe, Lough Tay and the WW.

They're managing to do it for the running and kayaking, so it shouldn't be such a big step to apply it to the cycling, particularly with the laid on facilities in the area. You did a rather excellent job of managing to do it yourself back in the day. Absolutely agreed that its easier to use roads for everything (Except kayaking ), but that leaves you back running a triathalon with kayaking, not an adventure race. Again, there's nothing wrong with that in itself, except that the event is calling itself an adventure race.

Peterx wrote: »

* else

Are you part of the organising team for this one?

Im doing it.
Just emailed them to see when registration when will be open and what the cost is.

Ill post their response when i get it.

Just got the early bird x 2.

The last link that someone posted worked for me.