Beara Way Ultra
| Author | Date | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Michael McSweeney | Feb 27 2024, 8:18pm | Hi all, I have updated the cut-off times to tie-in with the new start time of 9 am Friday. Everything is more-or-less the same, apart from 3 hours off the overall time, which is still allowing a good margin judging by last years results. Micheal. Cut-offs. Cut-off times are exit times from the various aid stations: Castletownbere town center; Start at 09:00 Friday morning. Eyeries village hall (60km); 11 hour cut-off, 20:00 Friday evening. Lauragh Church carpark (90km); 18 hour cut-off, 03:00 Saturday morning. Glengarriff Village Hall (120km); 28 hour cut-off, 13:00 Saturday afternoon. Adrigole National School (135km); 32 hour cut-off, 17:00 Saturday evening. Castletownbere town center - finish line (161km); 37 hour cut-off, 22:00 Saturday night. Sunset 21:30 Friday night (dark 22:00). Sunrise 05:40 Saturday morning (bright 05:10). |
| Martin Stevenson | Mar 18 2024, 10:53am | Hi any map recommendations for the race? |
| Michael McSweeney | Mar 18 2024, 8:55pm | Hi Martin. Nearly all of the race route follows the Beara Way Walking route, which is marked with yellow arrows and yellow Walking person symbol. There are a few spots where we leave the Beara Way and use local walking routes or bridal paths. Where this happens, the route will be clearly marked with IMRA arrows. I will be detailing any diversions from the main Beara Way Marked Way in the pre race briefing email. In addition all the night time sections will have extra hi vis marking. So in theory you shouldn't need a map or any extra navigation aid. In theory..... However we all lose our way on occasion..... Sport Ireland Trails website has a series of maps on their website detailing the Beara Way Marked way. OS Maps 84 & 85 also contain details of the Beara Way Marked way. However all of these maps are slightly out of date , as some sections have changed over the years. The maps are still useful to orientate your self on the Peninsula. The Plot a Route map on the event page contains the full route of the Beara Way Ultra race. It is possible to download a GPX from this map. If you download it now for recees, I'd advise downloading it again shortly before the race incase I need to update it due to local changes. So my advice is follow the markers as they are on the ground during the race, but carry a map or GPS in case you get meascain marì after 20+ hours of running. Hope this helps and the training is going good. If you are down for a reccee give me a shout. I might be free to join you for a few miles. Micheal. |
| Martin Stevenson | Mar 19 2024, 11:59am | Thanks for that |
| Michael McSweeney | Mar 25 2024, 1:21pm | I have posted a new Plot a Route Map on the event page. There are a few slight changes, so it's worth studying before any recces. If you have your recce already done, don't panic, it's nothing major. On the day, any variations from the Way Marked Beara Way will be signed with IMRA arrows. Any variations will also be detailed in the pre-race briefing email. New start time of 0800 Friday morning, with associated changes to cut-off times, are also posted. Finally there are a few small changes to the drop bag details. The same, but different. :-) |
| Kevin Broughton | Mar 25 2024, 8:27pm | Main changes as far I can see: Start / finish at different location we’re slightly shorter at the most southerly point near Dursey, around mile 17ish We’re coming into Eyries from the opposite side, with a little out and back to the aid station so a little extra distance there There’s an extra bit added around mile 73-74 A slight change just before mile 94, doesn’t look like any difference to distance there and a few little kinks ironed out here and there Overall distance a bit longer 8am start is better too, thanks Micheal |
| Michael McSweeney | Apr 29 2024, 10:17pm | For anyone lurking in the long grass, entry for the Ultra will close this Saturday (4th of May) . Free blisters with every entry. :-) |
| Andre Van Barneveld | Apr 29 2024, 10:22pm | Hi Michael Due to a dodgy knee I won't be running the ultra but was wondering if it is possible to change my entry to the challenge? Thanks |
| Michael McSweeney | May 3 2024, 11:14pm | Anyone planning on running some of the Beara Way this weekend, be aware that the Killarney Rally has a few stages on the Ring of Beara tomorrow and possibly Sunday. I was back between Eyeries and Lauragh this evening. Lots of road closure signs up. Just something to be aware of if making plans. |
| Michael McSweeney | May 7 2024, 2:14pm | I'll be sending out a race briefing this coming weekend for runners and volunteers. |
| Andreas Maly | May 10 2024, 9:30am | thank you Michael for the race briefing. Looking forward to next Friday |
| Michael McSweeney | May 15 2024, 11:32pm | https://live.primaltracking.com/bearaway2024/ |
| Michael McSweeney | May 15 2024, 11:45pm | Just a reminder for any of you using a GPS on Friday, the Plotaroute track was updated last weekend. Just before the briefing was emailed. See you all tomorrow evening or Friday morning. We will be in McCarthys Bar in Castletown tomorrow, Thursday evening, for Registration. You'll see the IMRA Munster van out front. Micheal. |
| Richard Nunan | May 19 2024, 10:09am | Morning, thank's to Micheal, Brian, Robbie and all the volunteers who put in a serious shift to let us spend 22-37 hours on the Beara Peninsula... spectacular. From 16km in your left pretty breathless from the views. It's a must do race for any Ultra Runner in Ireland! We had the wet version, but the views and support were spectacular. Thanks all and to Martin and Stephen for some great company, 2 Limerick lads and a Cork lad, I only talked about the Hurling for 20 min.... |
| Alexander Muhlwald | May 19 2024, 8:16pm | A big THANK YOU to Michael and everyone involved making this beautiful event happen. The fantastic volunteers were looking after us so well. All we had left to do was a bit of running. |
| Brian Flannelly | May 19 2024, 8:21pm | Results are now up for this event - any questions/queries on them, please email: brian <dot> flannelly <at> imra <dot> ie |
| Eoin Mac Mahon | May 19 2024, 8:40pm | Thank you Michael and volunteers. I'm really enjoying my Leinster hoodie |
| Brian hutchinson | May 19 2024, 8:46pm | I'd like to echo the comments of Richard and Alexander above and say a massive thank you to all the organisers and volunteers for an awesome Beara Way Ultra 2024 - it was a genuine privilege to to soak up the warm welcome and spectacular scenery. That's not all I soaked up as the course put on a good challenge for us in a few spots :) and that's what we came for! Epic event, a heartfelt thanks. |
| Conor Murphy | May 19 2024, 10:22pm | The Munster Trail Runners started as a group of 4 of us at a parkrun in Beara wondering if any others wanted to run the trails and mountains around us. So it's wonderful to see 2,700 in our group and 5 races in Beara this year, including this ultra and another ultra slated for the Sheep's Head (although it was foiled by a storm). And to see just how many volunteering in those races started in meet ups we organised. The 2 ultras are particularly significant as when the committee for those trails tried to stop running, it was members of our group who kept them open. It was also lovely to see 2 IMRA National Committee members travel down and participate. I'm sure they got a whole new appreciation for the running community here and the importance of all that we do. |
| Mags Hassett | May 20 2024, 11:45am | Link to Video created by Richie Hodges: https://youtu.be/8KDJeUoAz_4?si=e_lvaG3NgIWNoasC Starring Role: Micheal McSweeney - RD. Well worth the watch. A great insight into some of the work and volunteering that goes into this event. Thank you Richie. |
| Robbie Williams | May 20 2024, 1:49pm | This was a memorable weekend in so many ways.. The day and night ultra marshalling, the craic at the aid stations, the breakfast rolls, the sleeping in the car while sheep used to towbar to scratch their heads on at 4am , the finish line, the awesome challenge route , the town square finish with creamy pints from Mc Carthys bar, and the night out afterwards with weary runners and helpers, I think the star of the weekend was Deirdre O Gorman who made an epic 100mile effort on a tough tough course , and this finish line video shows the emotion that she and we all felt… Even Micheal said he nearly teared up ! We will be back in 2025 ! Huge congratulations to Micheal for what was literally 3 months of work , including him Recceing the entire course twice !!! What a weekend, if you weren’t there, you missed a weekend which showed what IMRA was all about … So much thanks to everyone that showed up both running and helping… |
| Stephen Mangan | May 20 2024, 2:04pm | Fantastic event, brilliantly organised thanks to Micheal, Robbie, and all the volunteers. Will be back next year fitter to get around the course again. It's a great race. |
| John Williams | May 21 2024, 9:42am | Just getting over what was a epic weekend on the Beara. The level of organisation and support for the runners made it possible to keep going when conditions tested us fully. Huge encouragement, great sambos, running reapairs, many sock change pit stops and a piece of rocky road for the road! Many thanks to Micheal and all the crews that were out there making one of the great trail race weekends in Ireland. The welcome from the locals and the craic in McCarthys Bar was the cherry on top. Slainte! |
| Deirdre O Gorman | May 23 2024, 8:53am | A massive thank you to Michael, Robbie and all the volunteers for an absolutely epic weekend; ye went above and beyond to get us all round that beast of a course! I'm sure I don't just speak for myself when I say that the thought of seeing a friendly face (even more so than food!) at the next checkpoint was what really kept me going. Everyone was so supportive and encouraging, even when very sleep deprived and being eaten by midges! That finish line was also the best I have EVER experienced- I did manage to squeeze out a tear (the last bit of moisture left in my body) and I'll remember it for a long time to come. |
| Deirdre O Gorman | May 24 2024, 2:08pm | Report added- it's long but I was out there a long time... : ) |
| Deirdre Galvin | May 24 2024, 3:24pm | It makes such interesting and inspiring reading Dee. I would have been flagging down the local taxi or finding a deep boghole to disappear into. You are a warrior. I know it is such a cliché, but this is going to stand to you so much for future racing endeavours. Lots of rest and doggy cuddles for the next wee while. Well done. You're a right topper! |
| Jenni Miley | May 24 2024, 3:54pm | So inspirational Deirdre, absolutely amazing. What an unbelievable achievement, hope you're getting the rest well deserved while basking in the glory of having the Ultra completed. Well Done !! |
| Denis Mc glynn | May 24 2024, 4:14pm | It's truly amazing to complete such an event. Fantastic report that gives such a great insight. I couldn't imagine doing 160km. It's unthinkable really. Its So special to have your dad at the finish line. Something to cherish as the years pass by. Well done. |
| Deirdre O Gorman | May 25 2024, 2:50pm | Thanks lads! |
