Log na Coille (via Ballineddan)
| Author | Date | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Mick Hanney | Mar 5 2025, 3:59pm | The first Irish Champs race of the season will be in May. Lugnacoille is the mountain but this time via Ballineddan and Slievemaan. See event details. |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 23 2025, 6:11pm | O’Keeffes in Knockananna will be the location for post race refreshments |
| Mick Hanney | Mar 30 2025, 1:05pm | I did a route recce this morning and its pretty boggy at the moment. I added a photo showing the parking location on the fire-road beside registration/start. This fire road loops around to the route, so makes an easy walk to/from start. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 17 2025, 12:29pm | With Lug (via Ballineddan) a few weeks away, prospective runners have time to get a recce in. I need some more volunteers on this one. Importantly I'll need a first aider and a few people willing to marshal on the route including the summit itself. A laptop operator and a few non-running volunteers to help direct cars beforehand would be appreciated. |
| Jenni Miley | Apr 17 2025, 1:23pm | Hi Mick, Added my name to the volunteer list, happy to marshal anywhere on the route & car park. Thanks, Jenni |
| Elva Donnelly | Apr 17 2025, 1:34pm | Hi Mick will try add myself to your list over next few days tbc Anyone thinking of volunteering, I wholeheartedly recommend Summit marshal on this one, lovely route to have a nice jog up to the top then some social time up there where in my experience last year I spent most of it answering walker, hiker questions such as... Why aren't they wearing more clothes? Where did they come from? How long will it take them? Why are these people RUNNING this? Why wouldn't they says I? ;-) |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 26 2025, 5:20pm | Next Sat I hope to do a recce of the route. Starting 9.30 from the start location at the bottom of Ballineddan hill. Easy pace, to familiarise oneself with the route. If interested let me know in advance. oh 86. 853 nine 55 4. |
| Mick Hanney | Apr 27 2025, 10:11pm | Thanks to those who have volunteered so far. Some running volunteers who can help pre-race with car parking particularly would be helpful. A laptop operator too please. Else, we'll go old-school on timing. This is the first Irish Champs race of the season. These races are open mountain. On a good day there is a clear track practically all the way to Lug. The main navigation point is finding the right 'entry' back down towards Slievemaan (and not towards Fentons). A lovely flowing descent follows. The section to and from Ballineddan will have marking to support a short course race suitable for juniors. |
| Mick Hanney | May 1 2025, 12:53pm | I have booked the sunshine for this race, so I hope its delivered. O'Keeffes pub / beer garden a few k up the road in Knockananna will host us after the race for chats, spot prizes, sambos/tea/coffee and maybe stronger refreshments. I'll say it again. Look at the details of the event so you arrive at the right location for parking & registration. This is not from Fentons. |
| Mick Hanney | May 2 2025, 12:42pm | Entries will open on Monday. This is a Championship race, open mountain. It is not recommended if you are a novice on the hills. The short-course option suitable for juniors is marked. This is circa 4k. |
| Lillian Deegan | May 2 2025, 1:55pm | When Mick H asks, it’s super hard to say nope. Mick is looking for a few more helper hands for this gig guys. Anyone think they could answer his ask pls and thx. |
| Jason Kehoe | May 2 2025, 10:37pm | Looking forward to it Mick! On a point of website organisation. It looks like this race event is a clone of the Original 'Log Na Coille' race event and so the results will likely skew the history of race times on that original event. Would it be possible to set this event up as it's own original event to keep the results separate as it's a totally different race. Might be a webmaster job at that! Thanks, Jason |
| Andrew Hanney | May 3 2025, 3:15pm | Great to recce the course this morning with Mick and Arthur. Any route up Lug is of course tough but the reward is that mostly soft grassy downhill. If you’ve done mostly marked races this is a good unmarked race to consider as the route is straightforward enough. Get signed up and give it a crack! |
| Mick Hanney | May 3 2025, 3:53pm | Thanks Jason for the reminder. Email sent to webmaster. A few of us did a recce of the route today and we were fortunate to get good visibility but also a reminder that weather changes quickly - from cold, to warm, to cold and warm again. It was fab. Turf.dry and springy underfoot. Runnable soft trail for most of it. In a way the route is like a compressed version of the Galtees. Tough 2k climb up to Ballineddan. Slight descent but next (easier) climb to Slievemaan. Descent again before last hard climb of the day to the saucer like top of Lug. On approach to the summit make a mental note of the little cairns and 'poles' that will act as a guide on your return journey. Around the cairn and back the way you came (importantly taking the appropriate left track so one doesn't descend towards Fentons. If sky is clear the view to Slievemaan will show the track you'll take. On the return journey there is slight climbs on Slievemaan and Ballineddan but for the most part its a great descenders downhill. And no fireroad. Map and compass will be part of the required kit. A map on a phone will not suffice / nor following a gpx track on a phone. If you are lucky, like today, the trail will be pretty clear; Just keep your concentration. |
| Mick Hanney | May 3 2025, 3:55pm | We had our first race on this route last year. Results here so you have an idea of times. https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2513/category/O/ |
| Mick Hanney | May 4 2025, 12:35pm | 2 more running volunteers please to assist pre-race. You'll have ample time to get a warm up in. I am good for non-running volunteers, with the exception of laptop person. If we don't have laptop we will default to watch, pen and paper. For those intending taking part in the race, please read the event details. Bring everything for mandatory kit and we'll advise on the day what needs to be carried, but at a minimum this will include jacket, phone, map and compass. One note on navigation, when you reach the top, you will go around the summit cairn. The next 500m or so 'share' the same direction/track that one would take towards Fentons. Then, you are veering left down towards the saddle towards Slievemaan. Consult your map in advance so you are clear. |
| Clare Keeley | May 4 2025, 2:29pm | Hi Mick, I can run-volunteer, added my name. Clare |
| Mick Hanney | May 6 2025, 5:38pm | Entries are ticking over nicely. Thanks for those who have volunteered to help. I'll send an email to volunteers later in the week. Car parking will be offroad, provided our key works on the barrier! While there should be plenty of room on the fire road, it would help if people could use the car pool, if at all possible. |
| Mick Hanney | May 6 2025, 7:01pm | The EastWest map for Lugnaquilla & Glendalough (see photo) is the recommended map. No diigital maps. |
| Mick Hanney | May 7 2025, 10:53am | Strava link of recent route recce. https://www.strava.com/activities/14362802684 |
| Mick Hanney | May 7 2025, 4:43pm | A reminder that there is an early start available if required. If you are usually >= 160% of winning time in IMRA races the early start is there. |
| Mick Hanney | May 8 2025, 11:56am | If you are on the fence on entering this one I'd encourage you to give it a go. The nav is straightforward and we'll have marshals out on the route to guide. There is a 4k short course that will be marked suitable for juniors, or anyone in fact. The weather forecast is favourable so far. Mandatory kit (for full route) will at least contain: jacket, phone, a map of the route and compass. After the race, refreshments will be in O'Keeffes pub in Knockananna which is about 5k directly east. |
| Mick Hanney | May 8 2025, 7:00pm | I sent an email out to volunteers earlier. Looking forward to seeing you Saturday morning. |
| Jessie Shaw | May 8 2025, 11:24pm | Hello! Sorry, might be a very silly question but just wanted to be certain :) will we be needing the whole eastwest map for lugnaquilla & glendalough, or will a printed copy of the race route provided be acceptable? Thanks so much! |
| Andrew Hanney | May 9 2025, 12:08am | Hi Jessie, a photocopy of the section that you need from your map is fine. |
| Mick Hanney | May 9 2025, 7:12am | Last day for entries. Shop closes at 6 today. |
| Laura Flynn | May 9 2025, 8:18am | Hi Jessie, if you are doing a copy of the section of the map could I ask that you do a copy for me too please? I’ve ordered the map online but it hasn’t arrived yet and we’ve had problems with our post in this area so I’m not too hopeful it’ll arrive today. Many thanks in advance. |
| Joe Lalor | May 9 2025, 9:44am | I have a few spare copies of map from nav challenge of a few years back I'll bring along. |
| Laura Flynn | May 9 2025, 11:26am | It just arrived in the post Joe but thanks for your kind offer all the same! |
| Mick Hanney | May 9 2025, 11:53am | I will have some copies of a map to hand, but people would want to have a plastic bag or cover to protect it. |
| Mick Hanney | May 9 2025, 2:20pm | Forecast is looking good. Sunny and warm. Consider carrying water. There won't be any water sources out on the route. |
| Mick Hanney | May 9 2025, 5:40pm | I was out on the mountain and its bone dry. The going will be good. If its as warm tomorrow as it was when I was out, you will need a) water and b) head cover (peaked cap ideally). |
| Mick Hanney | May 9 2025, 8:43pm | One last thing, if you have ran an IMRA race this year you should have a race no. Bring it with you for this race. If tomorrow is your first IMRA race of the year you can collect your race no. at registration. |
| Jessie Shaw | May 9 2025, 11:55pm | Hey Laura! Sorry for the slow reply but we've printed some spare copies also! :) |
| Brian Mullins | May 10 2025, 6:23pm | Thanks to Mick and all the volunteers for a brilliant day out on the lesser known side of Lug. A real contrast to the route from Fentons but equally as testing, more so really as if you don’t pace it right you’ll be a dribbling mess by the time you start your reascent of Slievemaan. The legs seemed surprisingly ok at the start after last weekend in the Knockmealdowns but big thanks to Nick and Sean for pulling me up the ascents as clearly they weren’t! The descent is a real runnable one with little chance of broken bones if going all out is the order of the day but that wasn’t the order for me today as I could only manage about 80% effort to ensure the legs are intact for the many other races abroad this season that I must stay injury free for!!! Congrats to the winners and onwards to Donard. |
| Jeff Swords | May 10 2025, 7:57pm | Results published, mail IMRAResults at gmail dot com for any queries or corrections. |
| Laura Flynn | May 10 2025, 8:28pm | Everything about that race was superb. The route, the weather, the pub, the beer garden, the sandwiches, the beautiful village of Knockananna and the chats with all the lovely IMRA people before and after. What a day!! Hats off to Mick Hanney and his team for the flawless organising. Well done to the winners, Caroline up and down in 1 hour 11 mins and Matthew in under and hour!!! |
| Mick Hanney | May 10 2025, 10:23pm | A great start to the IC series of races. We had a brilliant turn out to a quite remote part of Wicklow for, in my opinion, the best route up and down Lug. And we got the weather for it too. Judging from the feedback from runners today it seemed to go well. I couldn't have got a better volunteer crew. Marshals Elizabeth, Jennie and Francis. Reg and finish team of Ger, Anne-Claire and Sandra. Parking/Pre-Reg stuff: Clare, Connie, Arthur and Niall. Thanks to Lillian in the background for helping with event logistics.. O'Keeffe's pub in Knockananna were very welcoming and put on a great spread of sandwiches. The pint went down well too. Looking forward to seeing some reports. |
| Michael McSweeney | May 11 2025, 9:54am | Thanks to Mick and crew for treating us to a great days Irish Championship running on the Wickla hills. A bit of a trek from the wilds of West Cork but well worth it, and I get to break the journey home with an Irish Championship race on Slievenamon. |
| Michael McSweeney | May 11 2025, 9:56am | Obviously a Munster Championship race on Slievenamon. :-) |
| Ben Conroy | May 11 2025, 11:08am | Thanks to Mick and team for really enjoyable run up Lug -really like that route up- and for not sending me packing when I screeched up to the startline minutes after the actual start....am certainly feeling it today after I dared to challenge Brian Farren for M55 mid-table supremacy which backfired badly! Put up some photos last night mostly from summit marshall Frank |
| Cormac O'Ceallaigh | May 11 2025, 3:52pm | Well done Mick and team .Really enjoyed this route up lug ( and did not miss the gravel section we have on the Fenton's side when we race it) conditions superb.Hopefully this will be an annual fixture in the calendar! |
| Mick Hanney | May 11 2025, 7:18pm | The photos really capture the great day had. If you spot a photo and can tag it please work away. Thanks to Tony Murray for providing on some photos taken on or near the finish line (that I uploaded). |
