Photograph by John Shiels

Annacurra

New route taking in a loop of the unnamed hill West of Annacurra
Wicklow
Saturday 14 February, 2009
11:00 AM
355
8.90
5 (1,2,2) - Easy Terrain, 200M - 500M ascent, 6Km - 10Km
Route fully marked - Route fully marked
Men - 36:45 (Eoin Keith, Boards AC) Women - 41:54 (Marie Synnott-Wells, Ranelagh Harriers)
Winter League
Annacurra is just beyond Aughrim, so anyone who ran the Cushbawn race in Aughrim in 07 will be familiar with getting there. Or if you ran the Carrick race in Glenealy last year its not far from there. Drive south on the N11 and take the exit for Rathnew. Turn right at the roundabout in Rathnew and drive towards Rathdrum (R752), via Glenealy. From Rathdrum follow the signs for Aughrim (R753). Continue through Aughrim veering left on the main street to pass Lawless�s hotel. Turn right at T junction on the (R747) heading in the direction of Tinahely. Drive this direction for less than 5 mins � Annacurra is the first turn on the right. Prizegiving Location: The Saltee pub in Annacurra, adjacent to start. The pub serves food at weekends so runners can avail of post-race grub. REGISTRATION: In Anncurra Community Centre opposite The Saltee pub. PARKING: Beside Annacurra church. Race Director: Mick Hanney, 086 8539554
A race within a race... Part of the race route will be staked out to allow people self-time themselves on a fast very runnable downhill mile. Simply start your stopwatch when you run through the 1st stake as you start your downhill and stop it when you reach the 2nd stake. The race director will collate any times he receives for inclusion in the race report.
The Saltee pub in Annacurra, adjacent to start. The pub serves food at weekends so runners can avail of post-race grub.
Course photos � Annacurra is a good 45 min drive from Loughlinstown so leave yourself good time to get there. If you need to register try to get there early.
 

Volunteering

Current Volunteers

 

Please login to myIMRA to volunteer to help at this event. You should aim to volunteer at least once for every 10 events that you run.
 

Carpool

Driver NameLocationPassing ThroughDepartureSeats AvailableSeats Accepted 
Justin Keatinge Portobello Ranelagh, Goatstown 08:45 3 1 Book
Damien Kelly kimmage tempelogue 00:00 3 1 Book
Kevin O'Riordan Glasnevin Drumcondra, N11 08:30 4 3 Book
 

Forum Messages


AuthorDateMessage
Mick Hanney Dec 27, 10:11PM Hi,

An idea proposed to me today for the Annacurra winter league run is this...

As the downhill section is quite fast and very runnable and a stretch of it is over the 1 mile distance, the intention is to mark out a mile distance thus giving people the opportunity to self-time themselves on a good fast downhill mile stretch - from a start stake to an end stake. A race within a race almost. Obviously people with gps watches doing splits in miles could do something similar but staking out a mile would present the same consistent stretch for people to self-time. It could be the opportunity you wanted to break a particular mile barrier - 5 mins, 6 mins, whatever.

This is but a bit of fun, but it'd be interesting if we can collate those mile splits at the end of the race. Be honest now...

Regards,

Mick
Mick Hanney Dec 28, 4:12PM Staked out a mile starting from the main downhill on the proposed route.
Garmin thread with elevation change etc.
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7340655
Mick Hanney Dec 29, 7:16PM Photos showing most of the proposed route. Can't promise conditions as nice on the day!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mickhanney/sets/72157611381852989/
Francis Cosgrave Dec 30, 1:48PM Great idea Mike,

Look forward to reading the race report. How steep is the hill?
Mick Hanney Dec 30, 1:57PM Cheers. Hill isn't very high. The route has a total of 358 metres of ascent in total. The elevation change on the mile section in question is 129 metres.
Mick Hanney Dec 31, 4:26PM I did a training run on the route today and I tried out the mile section. Ran it in 4:53.17 A marker thats set to be beaten.
Has Been Jan 12, 10:38AM The downhill mile record was lowered to 4:44 on Saturday last.
Who'll reduce it next?
Mick Hanney Jan 18, 8:24PM Hi,
After the success of today's 1st winter league race in Howth we're all under pressure to reproduce a smooth event. These things cannot happen without the valuable support of volunteers. I'm looking for additional volunteers for Annacurra. Contact me please at mick dot hanney at ireland dot com or on the phone no. listed for this event. Please state if you intend running or not. Non running volunteers would be welcome. A laptop proficient person too would be a good addition to the team.

In addition, if anyone was interested in a recce of the course that could be easily arranged. Its a bit drier underfoot than Howth by the way.

Thanks.
Mick
Paul O'Connell Feb 12, 9:01AM Hi,

Has anybody been at the race location this week. I'm just wondering about the amount of snow/ice that is still there - i'm assuming alot. I assume the race goes on regardless of conditions?

P
Rene Borg Feb 12, 9:14AM It's up to the Race Director to make a call as close to the time of the race as he can, on calling off the race if conditions are deemed too dangerous. Race Directors, of course, would often consult the Committee if they are in doubt.

Obviously, this doesn't look likely at all at this time, but the factors that would be looked at would be whether or not it would be possible for anyone to make the journey, and, more importantly, if going ahead would mean IMRA could be judged as having acted irresponsibly should an insurance case arise related to an incident caused by the weather conditions.

Weather conditions like last weekend would probably have caused the race to be called off. But I managed to drive home yesterday, and although all the upper lying tracks are still covered in snow in most of Wicklow, driving is safe enough and even the minor low-lying roads are cleared of snow and most ice around the Rathdrum/Aughrim/Ashford/Roundwood area. Keep checking back on the website though, just in case.
Mick Hanney Feb 12, 9:25AM I'll recce the route this evening and report back but you can assume its going ahead. On Monday last while there was still some snow on the trails they were still runnable.
Gareth Little Feb 13, 10:20AM Hi all,

Just want to confirm that this race will still be going ahead even though there is a chance that the mountain could have a lot of snow on it?

Many Thx,

Gareth
Gareth Little Feb 13, 10:23AM Sorry I read the forum form the top! I have my answer now,

Thx,

Gareth
Audrey Power Feb 13, 1:11PM Hi All,

So is the race confirmed for the go ahead?

Thanks,

Audrey
Rene Borg Feb 13, 1:40PM Hi Audrey, for the moment conditions are fine and the race will go ahead.

However, the Race Director can cancel at the last minute if conditions should suddenly warrant this. We cannot provide 100% confirmation that the race will go ahead, although at this stage, looking at the present status and weather forecast, it's probably around 99% likely.

In other words, unless a blizzard strikes tomorrow you should be safe to drive down, but conditions worsen when you arrive to an extent that will force the Race Director to cancel, please show him every support in his decision.

-Rene
Mick Hanney Feb 13, 2:18PM Everything is in place for a good race tomorrow. Lots of parking in Annacurra village beside church. Please park in the demarked car parking spaces provided.

We'll welcome a small contribution each to the local school development fund for use of their facilities for registration and parking. A collection box will be at registration.

With luck we'll have a competitive team event too with club runners expected from Wexford and Wicklow to add to the usual suspects. Cheers.
Mick Hanney Feb 13, 4:07PM Diarmuid has done a fine job on the marking for tomorrow's race. I ventured over some of the route on the MTB and sadly (or happily depending on your viewpoint) there wasn't snow to be seen. I only recce'd about 60% of the route however. The downhill trail is completely clear so there is a clear mile section where if you have your stopwatch, you can time possibly your fastest ever mile!
Ian McGrath Feb 14, 2:01PM Mick,
Just wanted to say a very big well done to you and everybody who supported you in making today's race a fantastic event. Really enjoyable route and conditions were fab too. You have set the bar high for future events!
Gary Condon (KC) Feb 14, 3:12PM Just to echo Ian's post, great organization and a great race. Lovely snow-capped views from the top. Missed the mile markers, but that was probably my own fault, as I had my head down following in others footsteps. Congrats and thanks!
Gareth Little Feb 14, 5:27PM Great race today, very well organised and great conditions too!

Many thx to all!!
Keith Lacey Feb 14, 9:46PM Well done Mick, well organized and fully appreciate the effort in getting the trail up to scratch.

As my running mate Gary Condon said to me after the race, some parts where we had to go through or around xmas trees and then suddenly in the snow felt like something from "The Chronicles of Narnia" :)
Rene Borg Feb 15, 7:02PM Team results for this event is now up.
Eamonn Hodge Feb 15, 8:36PM Really enjoyed the race. Can anybody tell me at what distance did the "self-timed mile" start.

E.g. 5.832 km.

That way I can look through my Garmin records and see how fast I ran the following mile.
Shay Foody Feb 15, 9:40PM Eamonn - I hit the lap button at 5.86km, which would imply a finish distance at 7.47km.
cormac o ceallaigh Feb 16, 7:48AM
Well done Mick and all the volunteers , in organising a super race.Great example of what can be achieved when a runner takes on the task to pioneer a new race route and organise the set up etc.It was a part of Wicklow i had never run before.
Eamonn Hodge Feb 16, 2:18PM Thanks for that Shay!
Valid XHTML 1.0 Markup Valid CSS2 Stylesheets
  Forgot Password? | What is myIMRA?
myIMRA