Irish Mountain
Running Association

Circuit of Glenmacnass

Forum Messages

AuthorDateMessage
Des O'NeillJun 6 2009, 6:35amWhen an event is unmarked and over open mountain how much map reading or orienteering skill is involved?

I have only ever run the Wednesday night races which are fully marked (and more to the point always just following the person in front of me).

What should i do in preparation for Glenmacnass?

Des
Mick HanneyJun 6 2009, 8:22amDo a recce of the route in advance (even partially to and from Tonelegee), to get the lie of the land.
Practice some basics with a map of the route and a compass. There is a track followed for much of the way until it hits the face of Tonelegee.
Be prepared for the level of difficulty of the climb and the distance as its a cut above the Weds runs.
Don't let the unmarked bit of it put you off. Its a great race.
Niamh O CeallaighJun 6 2009, 8:35pmHi Des,

I am race director for this race. It is a very challenging race that requires open mountain navigation.

In order to enter this race you need to fulfill one of the following criteria:

a) Have completed a full recce of the route
b) Have previously competed in this race
c) Be a proven competent navigator
d) Run with a buddy who fulfills one of the above criteria. This needs to be agreed with the other person and you must stick together.


In poor weather, navigation of this route is very challening and it should only be attempted by experienced navigators.

A recce of the route will be organised in the coming weeks and will be advertised on this forum. All are welcome. Very basic navigation advice will be given on the recce.


This is a fantastic race and you will really enjoy it if you are properly prepared.

Niamh



Anthony MaloneJun 19 2009, 12:13amHi there, I am very interested in running this event for the craic, but I have never used a compass in my life so am looking forward to any navigational courses being organised or recce runs being planned. Cheers.
Paul MahonJun 19 2009, 9:14amNiamh will no doubt be advising in due course of a route recee which is well recommended as many of us that have gone wrong on the route in the past even in good weather can testify to :-)

Check out this previous thread Anthony if interested in a local and very affordable navigation course

http://www.imra.ie/forum/topic/id/1546/

Next one on July 18th I believe which is a little late for the Glenmacnass race for this year but at least does not clash directly with any IMRA races.
Niamh O CeallaighJun 19 2009, 9:17amRecce of Glenmacnass:

Sorry for the late notice, but I will be recceing this route tomorrow at 8.30am.
Recce will take around 3.5 hours.
Meet at Lynhams pub in Laragh at 8.30am.


If this doesn't suit, I will also be doing a recce of each half of the route as follows:

Thursday 25th June: Recce of Start to Glenmacnass waterfall carpark. Meet at Glenmacnass waterfall carpark at 7.00pm to drive back to the start.

Thursday 2nd July: Recce Glenmacnass waterfall carpark to finish. Meet at 7.00pm at Lynhams in Laragh to drive up to the glenmacnass carpark.

Please let me know if you will be coming to any of these recces.
niamh dot oceallaigh at arup dot com
Phone 085 1445209

Please bring a compass if you have one and usual gear for being out in the mountains.

Niamh
Shane EnrightJun 20 2009, 5:11pmMyself, Fergal Buckley and Fergal Reid are planning to walk the route tomorrow (Sunday 21st) at the slightly more leisurely hour of 1130. If anyone is interested give me a shout on 0ate6329tree736. There's room for two more in the car from Dublin as well.
Colm HillJul 2 2009, 10:00amHi,

Looking at the map the route is a bit wavy in places. Do we follow the route or do we have to hit a few grid's with the route been our own choosing?

Colm
(orienteer!)
niamh o ceallaighJul 2 2009, 10:05amColm,

There are 3 required summits:
Brockagh West, Tonelegee, Scarr.
Glenmacnass Waterfall Carpark is also obligatory. How you get between them is up to you.

Niamh
Rene BorgJul 2 2009, 10:06amHi Colm, the Race Director can confirm this but I think the same rule goes for this as for all Leinster Champs races: You've got a free route choice between the major checkpoints (many like to visit a few extra hills on tour as well and it would be far from the organiser's mind to deny them such pleasures ;-)).

Race Director will have to confirm what the mandatory checkpoints are but Tonelagee summit, Glenmacnass River and Scarr would be givens.

Colm HillJul 2 2009, 10:18amThanks.

One other thing i forgot to ask. Do we need to run with certain kit?
Be it map, compass, cag, space blanket like at stone cross to lug?
niamh o ceallaighJul 2 2009, 10:20amRequired kit will be (at least):
Map
Compass
Whistle
Rain proof jacket

More on this over the next few days.

Niamh

(race director)
Rene BorgJul 6 2009, 8:40amPlease note the Race Director for this race has posted new instructions.

Please read and review these in detail if you plan on running the race.
aidan roeJul 8 2009, 8:46amHi.
hoping to do this race on sat. Its my first long race and just want to know will there be a cutoff time for the car-park in Glenmacnass or is it possible for slower runners to start race earlier.
Niamh O Ceallaigh (race directorJul 8 2009, 9:34amAidan,

There is no cut off point at Glenmacnass. However, if you would be more comfortable starting a little early (say 11.30), this can be accommodated. Just talk to me at registration.
I presume you meet one of the criteria mentioned in the event information in relation to your suitability to take part. If you have any queries on this, please give me a call on 085 1445209 or email
niamh dot oceallaigh at arup dot com


Niamh
Alan CollinsJul 9 2009, 3:04pmHi Amidow,

This is the race I was talking about. I'll be running with Aidan (since I don't make any of the other criteria) so it will be a relaxed pace! If you want me to give you a lift my number is 087 6440216.

Good result by the way - 113% is right up there!

Alan
Kevin O'RiordanJul 11 2009, 6:32pmThanks for a great race, one of the best. Hope no-one got too badly lost in the mist up there.
Mick HanneyJul 11 2009, 7:01pmThanks to Niamh, Cormac, Caroline and other helpers today in challenging conditions. Well done to all who took part and heeded to the directors instructions are regards kit etc. The compass and map was used quite a lot today. Congrats to Bernard, 1st runner home who also served as a satnav for Leo the 2nd runner home :-)
aidan roeJul 12 2009, 9:20pmNiamh, Caroline and all the other volunteers. Thanks for all the time and effort you all put in to making a hard day out so much fun. Its good to see I wasn't the only one to make an amphibious crossing of river at Glenmacnass.

Aidan
Niamh O CeallaighJul 12 2009, 10:08pmProvisional Results are below

1 301 Bernard Fortune 1'55'50
2 424 Leo Murray 1'56'30
3 206 Adrian Tucker 2'07'45
4 845 Ray Morrissey 2'28'30
5 111 Mick Hanney 2'30'05
6 397 Padraig Muldoon 2'34'26
7 634 Brian O Meara 2'35'43
8 293 Eoin Syron 2'36'05
9 282 Kevin O Riordan 2'37'22
10 399 Jason Shevlin 2'38'10
11 127 Niamh O Ceallaigh 2'43'40
12 39 Joe Lalor 2'46'01
13 327 Fergal Buckley 2'46'05
14 316 Paul Smyth 2'46'33
15 5 Gary Moralee 2'47'24
16 447 Eileen Walsh 2'53'31
17 840 Eddie Reid 2'53'50
18 23 Derek Charles 2'55'25
19 108 Shane Enright 3'00'10
20 549 Ercus Stewart 3'09'05
21 264 Brendan Lawlor 3'10'22
22 636 Eoin Browne 3'15'15
23 87 David Brady 3'15'25
24 104 John Fitzgerald 3'15'40
25 98 Derek Livingstone 3'21'02
26 552 Alan Collins 3'31'00
27 475 Adrian Roe 3'31'00
28 1273 Don McKinon 3'45'00
29 313 Gordon Douglas 3'46'30
30 1231 Mick Kellett 3'53'16
31 351 Hugh Cashel 1'49'41 Short Course
32 182 Dessie Shorten 1'29'45 Short Course
33 31 Brendan Doherty 2'15'00 Short Course
34 132 Henny Brandsma 1'56'50 Short Course
35 228 Brendan Buck DNF
36 112 Paul Joyce DNF
Shane EnrightJul 13 2009, 4:09pmI didn't get to thank afterwards the runner who gave me the remains of his water about 3k from the end as he bounced past me. It was badly needed, and thanks very much for it.
Brían O'MearaJul 15 2009, 10:22amA really enjoyable race. Great fun. An excellent report from Kevin O'Riordan too.
Mick HanneyJul 15 2009, 12:03pmNice report Kevin. The fact that many of us went astray, in our own small ways, even between the Brockaghs gives an indication of what lack of visibility can do in such an event, and the need for the mandatory kit. Great fun though (once you could get over the tiredness). Nice photos too of many of us taking a dip in the Glenmacnass river, particularly Eoin who pretty much submerged himself completely.
Bruce ShenkerJul 15 2009, 12:07pmIn the few years I did that course, it was the year that is was clear that I got in the most trouble because you figure you can see where you are going and just head off the top of Tonalagee and then soon find yourself on the wrong side of the lake. When the mist is down you have no clue which way to go so you are forced to use the compass and head down on a bearing and end up going the correct way.