Irish Mountain Running Association

Black Mountain

Description: Race in Louth starting on good forest trail before moving onto boggy open mountain
County: Louth
Date: Sunday 5 April, 2009
Time: 12:00 PM
Climb (m): 787
Distance (km): 14.80
Event Difficulty: 8 (2,3,3) - Moderate Terrain, >500M ascent, >10Km
Race Marking:

- Route fully marked
Course Record: Men - 66:34 (Brian Furey, Rathfarnham) Women - 82:40 (Mags Greenan, Clonliffe Harriers)
Leagues: Leinster Championship
Race Director's Phone Number: 087 617 4021
Route Description: Short race is 9.7 km with around 500m climb. Junior men do short route. Junior women and athletes born in 1992 or later turn back at forest stile onto the open mountain.
Getting There: Leave the motorway at the Ballymascanlon roundabout. Take the road towards Carlingford. Pass the Ballymascanlon hotel and turn a sharp left at a white painted wall (see photos). Turn right at a t-junction at the end of this road and the pub is on your left after around 1200m.
Organisers Instructions: Course photos Registration opens at 11:00, closes at 11:45 sharp.
Prizegiving Location: Lumper's Pub
Notes: Start at the forest entrance near Lumpers and follow the Tain Way for around 2.5km. Leave the forest at a stile and head for the middle reentrant onto the ridge. Short course turns back at a large cairn. Long course goes to summit near mast.

Volunteering

Current Volunteers

Role	Volunteers	Run
Race Director	Gerry Brady	No
First Aid Officer	Dermot Murphy	No
Laptop Operator	Sinead Roche	No

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 Name	Location	Passing Through	Departure	Seats Available	Seats Accepted
James Higgins	Knocklyon	Flexible but mainly M50	09:45	4		Book
Jason Kehoe	Belgard Luas Stop, Tallaght	Along M50, M1.	09:50	3	3

Forum Messages

Author	Date	Message
Niamh O'Ceallaigh	Jan 29, 8:07AM	Hi, I know it's a bit cheeky to ask, ...but, any chance the date of this race might be changed to the Sunday? It's just that every year Northern Ireland host one of the British Champ races. This year they are hosting a 4 mile race on Slieve Bearnagh on Saturday 4th April. These races are great to take part in as there is usually a big contingent over from the UK and a hot meal afterwards. I was thinking that we could make a great weekend out of it if Black Mountain was moved to Sunday. We might get more NIMRA runners taking part also. I see that there isn't a date set for the NIMRA's home race for the North/South challenge. Maybe the whole challenge could take place over one weekend? Slieve Bearnagh and Black Mountain? Thanks Niamh
Paul O'Connell	Mar 29, 1:03PM	Hey, From looking at the map, is this an out-and-back on the same route race? Looking forwards to next sunday, P
Gerry Brady	Mar 29, 4:50PM	The race is out and back the same route. Half the route is on forest road and half on open mountain, the latter is mostly fast and runnable with spectacular views of the Mourne mountains, Carlingford Lough and Dundalk bay. The route along the ridge is marked by yellow-painted stones used for the annual puc fada. The route is long and challenging but still ideal as an introduction for the Irish championship races or as a workout before the Wicklow Way Trail race. The route will be marked.
Charlie O'Connell	Mar 31, 11:34PM	Google Earth maps are not the best for navigation on open mountain. Would it not be possible to use our sponsor's maps instead?
gerry brady	Mar 31, 11:50PM	Course will be marked :) The google map has been changed, hopefully new one is more amenable for route finding.
Declan O'Dwyer	Apr 1, 4:46PM	Looking at the pictures from last year, the course appears to be quite wet. Any idea what condition it is in now?
Ben Crane	Apr 1, 6:12PM	We did a recce last Saturday and the course is in good condition. On the open mountain there are small boggy areas but most of the running is on good tracks - soft but fast. The first couple of miles are on forest track, as Gerry said.
Jason Kehoe	Apr 2, 11:06AM	Hi Ben, What type of shoe would you recommend if the weather holds off? Trail or Trainer? There is supposed to be heavy rain on Friday but I think it will clear Sat and be sunny on Sunday. Cheers, Jason
Ben Crane	Apr 2, 11:39AM	Hi Jason, If the weather holds off I think you'll get away with trainers, especially on the forest track. Personally i'll prob go with me trailers cause i like the extra grip. If it rains and is wet then extra grip will come in handy as there are a few steep grassy slopes. As i say, if dry then very runable in trainers. Ben
Jason Kehoe	Apr 3, 10:48AM	RE: Carpooling I am giving lifts from Belgard Luas stop in Tallaght at 9:50am. The car is full but I have not got confirmation by email because I didn't have my email address in my IMRA profile. Shay Foody who is taking a lift has been in contact by phone but could the two other people make themselves know to me to confirm? Sorry for the mess! Ph:0851414141 Thanks, Jason
Gerry Brady	Apr 4, 1:40PM	Registration opens at 11:00 and closes at 11:45 sharp. We only have two volunteers for registration so please arrive in good time (more volunteers welcome)! If you are a confident descender then training shoes are fine, otherwise wear trail shoes if you prefer more grip. The descent from the ridge on the way back to the forest is the most technical descent. The turnaround point for the full distance is a small hill directly opposite the mast. Eamonn McMahon will be marshalling the course at that point.
Paul Mitchell	Apr 5, 7:51PM	Thanks for a really enjoyable race today. The photos are fantastic - thanks again.
cormac o ceallaigh	Apr 6, 7:43AM	Fantastic race yesterday.Super route,brillant variety. Excellent job Gerry in organising it to perfection.Big thanks to volunteers, Sinead, Dermot, Eamon.What a beautiful part of the country!
MAGS GREENAN	Apr 6, 12:48PM	A fantastic day had by all on the Black Mountain and great work done by a small but very efficient team of Gerry Eamon, Sinead and Dermot. Wel done fokes. Great photos Gerry as usual and a very Happy Birthday to that bare chested runner Tony Kiernan the big 40 today. Mags
Paul O'Grady	Apr 6, 12:58PM	Just to add my Thanks to Gerry and Co for a fabulous race - very well organised - and very well marked - and what an absolute beast of a race!!!
Dermot Murphy	Apr 6, 4:42PM	There was a navy blue light fleece left behind at the finish line yesterday. Contact me at dermot.murphy at imra.ie in order to get in back.