Wexford was jam-packed with events with IMRA having an event both Saturday AND Sunday during the same weekend as the always popular Enniscorthy 10k. We had runners represented in all three as well as abroad, but first to our club races…
WINTER LEAGUE ROUND 12
Our weekend began in Clara Vale where the battle for the win in the annual Winter League came down to the wire. Donna ran closest to her predicted time to overtake Graeme Warren in the overall standings. Torben Dahl had a great run setting a new best time for the ‘Clara Against the Clock’ 9.1 km route in 39:47. The winter league resumes in October….
FORTH MOUNTAIN
Eoin Phelan at Forth Mountain
RESULT
1. Tom McCarthy () 0:48:00
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
15. Alan McCarthy 1:02:40
18. Eoin Phelan 1:06:00
ENNISCORTHY 10 KM
A huge Sli Cualann contingent travelled to Enniscorthy once again. The SC teams always does well in Wexford and this year was no different with the Sli Cualann team winning both the men and women’s competition. Donna was the third scorer for a strong women’s team (Parnell’s Sile O’Byrne was 2nd overall with Catherine O’Connor 3rd) with Parnell’s Caroline Ayton 4th scorer. Gavin Kennedy finished just three seconds behind Donna and set a new PB by nearly 2 minutes in the process.
RESULT
1. Shane Spring (Raheny Shamrocks) 0:32:25
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
68. Donna Quinn 0:41:23
70. Gavin Kennedy 0:41:26 (PB)
SLIABH BUI
The day after Forth Mountain , a separate IMRA event – this time part of the Winter Spring League rather than the South-East League- was held a bit north at Sliabh Bui. A few members were marshalling as the grim Saturday had given way to a beautiful sunny Sunday. Grace Curham was our only running representative – the new-joiner through Wicklow Wolf RC finished 6th woman and 1st in her category (female senior).
RESULT
1. Enda Cloake (Slaney Olympic) 0:42:47
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
32. Grace Curham 0:58:13 (1st FS)
Langsingerland 30k
The weekend racing was not exclusive to Wexford with Richard Costelloe taking on his second 30 km race in two weeks – this time not on sand but on road that was ‘Paved, mucky and puddly bike paths’ according to Richard which yielded a club record and personal best on the rarely run distance. It was a solid run roughly equal to a 37:29 10 km performance.
Twenty-three of our members convened in one of our traditional venues for the annual Xmas Party: the Wicklow Heather in Laragh to celebrate a year of running achievements, celebrate Christmas, and hand out the traditional Club Awards which have been presented since 2015 (with the exception of 2020 where the lack of racing led to a suspension of the awards).
This year saw a remarkable 17 new club records and age category records along with over 30 PBs. Among the records was a new overall club record for the women’s marathon (Donna Quinn) and a new overall 50 km record (John Conway)
Our traditional awards were handed out at the Christmas Party in the Wicklow Heather on Saturday 17th December. All awards were based on nominations received per category which members voted on.
The exception is the Club Championship which was decided based on the results of 12 races over cross, trail, hill, track, and road.
CLUB PERSON OF THE YEAR
The Club Person of the Year Award is about recognising all those things that make a club function: attending training, jumping in to make up teams, crewing and volunteering at races and doing work for the committee and otherwise behind the scenes.
Rachel Wisdom and Colm Kenna were both nominated with Colm Kenna winning the popular vote and an extra prize in the form of a Wicklow Heather voucher. Colm had previously won this award in 2018.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 – RENE/DONNA
This year’s overall winner was club coach Rene Borg (for the 2nd time) with Donna Quinn (for the 4th time) taking the ladies’ laurels. No one has ever retained the Club Championship title.
Many of our runners were very evenly matched this year which was shown by victories in the 12 races going to 7 different runners (Paul Duffy, Graham Bush and Aran Lynham the only runners to win more than 1 race each).
best newcomer – GAVIN KENNEDY
This Award is given to a member who joined in 2022 who other members feel have made the biggest contribution both socially, training-wise and race performances. Members who have attended at least one Glendalough AC session can be considered.
The new member nominees this year were
Gavin Kennedy
Eoin Phelan
Diarmuid Kavanagh
Gavin Kennedy secured the popular vote after becoming a very active member of the weekly training and having an impressive debut season in cross-country.
MOST IMPROVED – catherine devitt
The most improved prize is given to the athlete showing the most season-on-season (not necessarily life-time) improvement. The three nominations where:
Blaise Kinsella (5 road PBs from 3k to half-marathon and improving his best level by 15%)
Catherine Devitt (biggest improvement on previous season along with winning the Wicklow Off-Road Champs and setting a new club half-marathon record for women along with podiums at the Wassenar 15k and Lakers 10k)
Diarmuid Kavanagh (for a great debut season racing 16 times from 5k to 25k on trails, cross and hill, improving his performances by 25%,
The popular vote went to Laragh local Catherine Devitt who has been resurgent this year – showing why she was once not only an Irish mountain running international but also holds a silver medal from the National Novice Cross-Country and a gold medal from the Dublin Intermediate XC championship.
ROAD/TRACK PERFORMER OF THE YEAR – DONNA QUINN
This award’s nominations are based either on a singular performance on road or track that stands out or overall performance level in the discipline over the year. The nominees were:
Donna Quinn (six PBs – 3k, 2x 10k, 5k, half-marathon and marathon including new club record for the marathon and club F40 records for 3k and 5k along with gold medal in the F40 category at the Wicklow Road Champs and Silver in the F40 at the Leinster 10 mile championship)
Blaise Kinsella (5 road PBs – 3k, 5k, 2x 10k, and half-marathon along with Team Bronze at Wicklow Road Champs and victory at the Bawnogue 10k. M40 Club record and County Bronze in the 3000m)
Catherine Devitt (new half-marathon PB and club record for women of 1:31)
Donna Quinn secured her 13th award with the club and her third win in this category in three years to tie with Angus Tyner who has also won this award three times.
OFF-ROAD PERFORMER OF THE YEAR – Graham BUSH
Like the road award this award can be given for a singular or multiple performances in cross-country or in hill, trail, and mountain running. New member Graham Bush took this award in his first season! No one has won this award more than once.
Brian Lydon (for a fantastic first ultra season: completing the Ballyhoura, Seven Sisters, Glendalough Tucker Trail and culminating with UTMB CCC)
Graham Bush (won every head to head with other club members on trail, ran for 3rd placed WWR team, had 4 IMRA category wins plus 4 podiums and secured M50 Gold at the Wicklow Off-Road Champs and was our highest placed runner at the World Masters Mountain Running Championship)
Catherine Devitt (winner of the Wicklow Off-Road Championship)
Loraine Creane (winner of the Wicklow Intermediate cross-country for the second time)
TEAM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR – WICKLOW WAY RELAY TEAM
Traditionally, cross-country teams, teams in the Wicklow Road Championship and in the various trail relays (especially the Wicklow Way Relay) are nominated for this prize. This year was no exception with the WW Relay team winning the award for the 2nd time.
Wicklow way Relay 1st Team – Torben Dahl, Rene Borg, Rachel Wisdom, Blaise Kinsella, Anthony Breen (4th place out of 35 teams – club’s highest finish yet)
Wicklow Road Championship – Aran Lynham, Blaise Kinsella, Brian Lydon, Marcus Murphy (Men’s Team bronze – 1 point ahead of Bray Runners)
Wicklow Off-Road M50 team – Graham B., Angus T. and Anthony B. (beating Parnell to Gold with 45 to 81 pts)
SPECIAL PRIZE – MOST PROLIFIC: angus tyner
The most prolific is a minor prize given out every year to the runner with the most races (not including club races). Angus Tyner won this prize for the third season (having also won it in 2015 and 2017).
Angus remains our most prolific in history with 120 races from 2015 to 2022 followed by Torben Dahl with 110. the most prolific woman is Donna Quinn with 78 races.
If club races are counted the most prolific racer is Colm Kenna with 180 and Donna Quinn with 167. Angus Tyner sits in 3rd in this tally with 164.
Our annual Winter League returns. Anyone who is a member of an AAI club can attend this training session. If you are not a member you are welcome to ‘come along’ for a few runs before signing up.
What is the Glendalough AC Winter League?
It’s like ParkRun but over different courses (mainly trail) in and around the Glendalough area and with final results based on a handicap system – so anyone can win regardless of ability and how hard you choose to run on the day.
When and where?
Selected Saturday’s during the winter period at 9:30 am. Sometimes an early start is organised at 8:30 am. You need to keep updated in the WhatsApp group on this.
Locations vary, the provisional schedule is below. WhatsApp group provides details.
What do I need to do to run?
You simply turn up on the day and sign-in on the sheet by:
Picking your course (short or long)
Stating the effort you will run at (‘very easy’ ,’easy’, ‘steady’, ‘comfortably-hard’, hard’ all-out!’)
Then listen carefully to the race briefing and you are ready to go!
What do I need?
You need a recent race time that you supply in advance to our Competition Secretary (via the Whatsapp or email rene.borg@outlook.ie)
(if you don’t have a recent race result, simply run the first run ‘all-out’. You won’t get a score for this first run – but that will set your predictions for the remainder of the WL)
You should also join the WhatsApp group for latest updates, questions etc.:
Finally, you need a functioning watch as you take your own time. No watch = no time. Send your time post-run to the WhatsApp group or write it on the sheet before leaving.
Is there a fee?
No. But there will be a box where you can donate one or two euro to the Winter League. This money will go towards the sprint and overall prizes.
What’s the purpose of the Winter League?
Exploring new trails, enjoying a run with a group and using it as an interesting easy, steady or hard run. Since you pick your own intensity and have two distance options, it’s easy to fit in with your training demands and priorities.
These run is good for building winter strength and learning how to pace yourself at different intensities.
How is the winner determined?
Based on your recent race time, an estimated time is calculated for each run based on the difficulty of the course and the effort you have stated you will run at. The closer you get to this estimate, the higher you score.
You don’t know this estimate ahead of time so are ‘running blind’. Your estimate is continuously updated based on your performances, so if you are honest with your effort and learn to read it well, then you will do well. If you constantly run too hard or too easy compared to your stated intent, you will do less well!
There are four rounds of three races. You get to keep the best score from each round and you get to count the three best scores from the four rounds. To win the overall series, you have to have run at least once in three of the four rounds.
Glendalough AC are excited to welcome a competitive field for the first Wicklow Athletics Off-Road Championship at Laragh GFC tomorrow morning at 9:45 am. Full details of the route can be see at www.runtheridge.ie.
The event will be held as part of the Derrybawn Woods 10k (itself held as part of the longer Run the Ridge 20 km event) – a fund-raiser for Laragh GFC and our club and is sanctioned by Wicklow Athletics Board.
Six of the county’s twelve clubs will compete in this inaugural event with over 50 runners battling for individual and team medals.
Background
The idea for the championship was first discussed back in 2016 internally in the club before being brought as a proposal to Wicklow Athletics this June.
Most casual followers of athletics are aware of the traditional running disciplines (cross-country, track, and road running) but may not be aware that World Athletics today recognises ultra, trail, and mountain running as official disciplines of athletics. To grow this segment of the sport these ‘off-road’ variations had their European and World Championships merged into one event (under the ‘off-road’ label).
The choice by Wicklow Athletics to host this championship likewise brings these disciplines ‘on par’ with the traditional cross-country, road, and track and field county championships.
Off-road running is the fastest growing discipline within athletics and it seems fitting that a county with as wonderful trails as Wicklow has chosen to add such a fixture to it’s calendar.
Spectators can support the runners from 9:30 on the Laragh GFC pitches. We also highly recommend walking up the ‘Bronze route’ zig-zags and give our runners a warm welcome as they make their way up the toughest part of the course. Parking for spectators is located in the public Laragh car park near the Woollen Mills.
Partners and supporters
We are glad to be supported by:
Wicklow Athletics
EcoTrail Wicklow for use of marking equipment and sponsorship of prices
Laragh GFC for venue, parking and crew
MyRunResults for timing services and finish line
National Parks and Wildlife Service and Coillte for use of keys and permit
Derrybawn House, The Woollen Mills, and Coillte for permission to pass through / past their lands
And finally a thank you to our suppliers: Soundhire.ie, Kelly’s Fruit and Vegetables, The Red Cross, Lindie Naughton Photography, and Mocha Joe’s Cafe.
It continues to be one of our busiest and craziest racing season with our runners participating in everything from the Wicklow Way Relay to the tough and rugged Glacier Lakes and Seven Sisters Skyline races to our very own Lap of the Gap Marathon and Glen to Glen Half – and that’s before we celebrate Aran Lynham’s first win in the Tralee 10 km road race!
WICKLOW WAY RELAY
Sarah and Rachel waiting to spring into action on leg 3
Our club had 14 runners competing as part of three different teams in the Wicklow Way Relay on 14th of May. Like in many previous years we had teamed up with runners from Parnell and the team ‘Parnelldalough’ finished 4th out of 35 (our highest finish yet) and continued our streak of ‘never being out of the top-10’.
Blazing Yellow – featuring 8 Glendalough AC runners – finished 11th and Graham Bushe competed for Mountain Swifts who finished 3rd. It was a day of high drama with 11 teams made non-competitive due to deviations from the Wicklow Way including unfortunately our ‘mother club’ Sli Cualann who were set to take 3rd (as TT Racers – occupying the final podium position midway through) were made non-competitive early in the race.
Paul Duffy takes on water on leg 4
The other Glendalough AC runners in action where: Brian Lydon, Torben Dahl, Rene Borg, Aran Lynham, Rachel Wisdom, Sarah Foster, Paul Duffy, Blaise Kinsella, Diarmuid Kavanagh, Graham Bushe, Johnny Conway, Anthony Breen, Duncan Barrett and Aoife Joyce.
GLACIER LAKES
The previous week Graham Bushe had finished 8th in the long and rough Wicklow Glacier Lakes Race.
RESULT
1. Andrew Tees () 4:39:30
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
8. Graham Bushe 5:46:40
LAP OF THE GAP MARATHON / GLEN TO GLEN HALF-MARATHON
Blaise Kinsella (left) after the Glen to Glen Half
In our annual club fund-raiser Duncan Barrett and Graeme Warren finished neck on neck in 22nd and 23rd position with Blaise Kinsella our only representative in the half-marathon. Blaise ran very well and nearly got himself under the 90-minute barrier.
RESULT – full
1. Darren Foley () 3:07:08
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
22. Duncan Barrett 3:46:20
23. Graeme Warren 3:46:44
RESULTS – HALF
RESULT 1. Tudor Mircea (Clonliffe Harriers) 1:10:39 (CR)
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
14. Blaise Kinsella 1:30:44
SEVEN SISTERS SKYLINE
Brian’s view in Seven Sisters
On the same day in County Donegal Brian Lydon took part in the first round of the WMRA World Cup in Ireland’s toughest mountain race: the 55 km Seven Sisters Skyline and over the unrelenting course he took nearly 40 minutes off his time from last year to finish 60th.
RESULT
1. Ricky Wynne () 7:07:47 (CR)
——GLENDALOUGH AC RUNNERS————-
60. Brian Lydon 10:47:53
BORN TO RUN TRALEE 10K
Aran get’s top spot
Continuing our tour of the country, Aran Lynham secured the first men’s road race victory for our club in his maiden outing over the 10 km distance in Tralee and set a first mark of 40:03. He said he took advantage of many local top runners being at a half-marathon in Castleisland – but a win is a win!
RESULT
1. Aran Lynham (Glendalough AC) 0:40:03 (PB)
CAPE WRATH 400K
Johnny’s ‘mug shot’ for Cape Wrath
As we speak club member John Conway has completed day 3 of the gruelling 8-day expedition race ‘Cape Wrath’ in Scotland – taking runners the 400 km from Fort William to Cape Wrath. Johnny currently sits solidly in 15th position and can be tracked below:
We had a lot of racing over the weekend (reported separately) but the main event was our annual club fund-raiser – the Glendalough Lap of the Gap Marathon and Glen to Glen Half-marathon (Glendalough to Glenmacnass).
From humble beginnings this event has grown into an iconic fixture on the Irish racing calendar and this year we had record numbers with nearly 600 tickets sold and nearly 400 people participating on the day along with the nearly 60 strong crew and the numerous spectators.
Lap of the Gap 2022 – the largest yet
Many took the opportunity to stay locally with at least 20 guests in Lynhams Hotel, 2 in the Youth Hostel and many more of which we are unaware. This meets one of the stated three goals Glendalough AC have for this event:
Raise funds for Glendalough AC and the development of athletics in Laragh
Create revenue for the local area through running tourism
Setup an event that offers both a unique experience for the average participant and a unique athletic feat for competitive and elite athletes
This year more than met our expectations with top runner Tudor Moldovan setting an incredible new record for the Glen to Glen (70:35) which left all on-lookers leaving inspired along with universally positive feedback from all participants.
Tudor Moldovan treated the spectators to a truly world class performance
The services and supplies needed to run the event generates nearly €25,000 for the local and Irish economy in addition to the positive impacts of runners staying in local accommodation and eating and dining in local cafes and restaurants. In addition, 9% of this year’s starters had flown in from abroad for our event.
The club wants to extend it’s gratitude to the many participants, all our suppliers and partners, and to the local community. Here’s to many more happy Lap of the Gaps!
Today’ result and final tally. 16 runners competed and 9 got the minimum 6 to score. The final round saw a three way battle between Aoife, Flora and Rene for the win and the Sportsroom voucher!
The final round of the Winter League took part on the Brockagh Woods course with runners trying to best their handicaps against the 5k and 9.1 km courses.
The situation
Aoife Joyce only had to better her current results by 21 seconds in order to make it impossible for either Flora McKnight or Rene Borg to catch her. It proved neck on neck as both Rene and Aoife had recorded the maximum score for the last 4 races in a row and would do so again at the fifth asking.
Having run 29:41 and thus running off a 30 minute handicap, Aoife obliterated her time with 25:28. This made Rene’s time academical but he got some consolation by lowering Barry O’Neill’s course record of 42:55 to 42:07 and taking the win on the day. Flora could not improve her handicap and dropped from 2nd to 3rd in the overall with Rene taking second. It all came down to 21 seconds after 12 races!
Position
Name
Start time
Finish time
Actual time
Average Pace
Avg / lap
Behind winner
Course run
1
René Borg
9:43 am
10:25:07 am
42:07
4:35 min/km
10:32
Long
2
Aoife Joyce
10:00 am
10:25:28 am
25:28
5:06 min/km
12:44
0:21
Short
3
Marcus Murphy
10:03 am
10:29:08 am
26:08
5:14 min/km
13:04
4:01
Short
4
Colm Kenna
10:03 am
10:29:09 am
26:09
5:14 min/km
13:04
4:02
Short
5
Derek Cullen
10:07 am
10:30:46 am
23:46
4:45 min/km
11:53
5:39
Short
6
Barry O’Neill
9:47 am
10:30:58 am
43:58
4:47 min/km
11:00
5:51
Long
7
Flora McKnight
10:03 am
10:33:15 am
30:15
6:03 min/km
15:07
8:08
Short
Round 12 – Brockagh Woods – standings
League summary
The league was evenly contested for much of it with several winners: Barry O’Neill and Bruce Phillips won one race each, Aoife, Flora and Colm took two each and Rene won 4.
#
Name
Wins
\Races
TOP 6
AVG
Behind
1
Aoife Joyce
2
6
5:48:03
0:58:01
0:00:00
2
René Borg
4
6
5:48:24
0:58:04
0:00:21
3
Flora McKnight
2
6
5:49:10
0:58:12
0:01:07
4
Derek Cullen
0
6
5:52:43
0:58:47
0:04:40
5
Colm Kenna
2
6
5:55:49
0:59:18
0:07:46
6
Donna Quinn
0
6
5:56:05
0:59:21
0:08:02
7
Marcus Murphy
0
6
5:56:58
0:59:30
0:08:55
8
Bruce Phillips
1
6
5:57:04
0:59:31
0:09:01
9
Yvonne Brennan
0
6
6:01:39
1:00:17
0:13:36
10
Richard Kieran
0
5
4:56:05
0:59:13
11
Barry O’Neill
1
4
3:58:10
0:59:33
12
Catherine Devitt
0
4
4:07:19
1:01:50
13
Aisling Kirwan
0
2
2:02:04
1:01:02
14
Anne Marah
0
1
1:00:28
1:00:28
15
Rachel Wisdom
0
1
1:01:46
1:01:46
16
Michael Heatly
0
1
1:01:49
1:01:49
League 2019/20 – final standings
Notable achievements
This year’s league had four new course records: Donna Quinn and Aoife Joyce lowered the Roundwood 10k and 5k courses to 46:49 and 23:24 while Rene Borg lowered the long course times for Clara Vale and Brockagh Woods to 39:44 and 42:07.
People where adept at cracking their handicap breaking their times in 69 out of 106 attempts. Most of the 43 ‘failures’ – 15 – happened in the first two rounds as people were adjusting to their 2020 fitness levels!
League 2020/21
The league will return November 2020 but we will have other Saturday activities coming up for the rest of the year.
Next year’s league will feature and even tighter handicap system which should help keep the maximum number of people in contention for the longest period of time. We will also revisit bringing back the Pink Poulanass and Lower Lake Round courses to create a 16 round league.
Last week’s National Masters cross-country marked the end of the cross-country season for most of our runners. But the action continues…
Parkrun
Our weekend running began at 9 am in Avondale where Angus Tyner finished 6th in the ParkRun in 22:12. Not long after the smallest crowd yet assembled for our penultimate Winter League race (perhaps the weather deterred?) on the crown jewel of the six courses in the league: Clara Vale.
The League has come down to a three-way battle between Aoife Joyce, Flora McKnight and coahc René Borg. All would have to better their handicap by 2 minutes or more to have a chance to stay in contention. Flora duly lowered her 29 minute handicap to 27 min and Aoife took her 30 minute mark down to 26 min. René had to improve his handicap of 42 minutes for the longer course to 40 minutes to stay within reach and just about scraped it with 39:44 – lowering Barry O’Neill’s course-record by 10 seconds in the process. All now comes down to Brockagh Woods next weekend where Aoife starts the day as the heavy favourite – her fate is in her own hands.
Aoife at the Enniscorthy 10k. Photo: John Busher
Enniscorthy 10 km
Aoife returned to Enniscorthy for the first time in 12 years looking to improve on her 46 minute mark set in Inch in July. Storm Dennis meant this task was a bit more onerous than expected but she still came home in a chip time of 44:48. Mission accomplished.
It was an eventful opening to the Winter League as usual. We
missed the rain and could complete the whole event in gorgeous sunshine and be
home for coffee and grub before the rain hit.
Some were playing it tactical, taking it relatively easy to reset their handicaps to an easier level for the new season whereas others took no prisoners including Barry O’Neill who lowered Derek Cullen’s time to 45:06 on the 10k course. Two of our runners went ‘cani-cross’ (Flora and Marcus) whereas Torben Dahl decided to add in a few extra mini-loops and had to forfeit finishing!
Aoife Joyce won the overall handicap race despite cashing in 41 penalty seconds for breaking her handicap by too much.
Overall standings – time penalties included
The series – and the hunt for The Sportsroom vouchers – continues on the Green Gapways course next Saturday from 9:30 am at the Glendalough Green.
Sean Hehir – Irish international and fresh off his 2:17 marathon in London – took the time to answer three questions for us after participating, and breaking the record of, our half-marathon fund-raiser ‘Glen to Glen’ (run in conjunction with the Lap of the Gap Marathon). Congratulations to Sean on the new mark of 72:21 – the quest for sub-70 has begun!
Sean Hehir on the descent from Glenmacnass Waterfall
How did you hear about the Lap of the Gap Marathon and Glen to Glen Half and what attracted you to doing the event?
I
love to race regularly. The weeks immediately after the target marathon in the
spring and autumn provide a great opportunity for competing in races I haven’t
done before in new and different places, enabling maintaining fitness and
conditioning before recommencing full training. In the last 2 weeks I entered
the IMRA Leinster League Bray Head run and the Wicklow Way Relay with my
Rathfarnham WSAF AC teammates. I saw the Glen to Glen Half and The Lap of the
Gap Marathon listed on the Athletics Ireland accredited fixture list and on the
MyRunResults website. When I saw the race profile featuring the climb from The
Upper Lake in Glendalough up to Glenmacnass waterfall and back I decided to
give the half marathon a go. I’m very glad I signed up and would love to come
back to try better my time or try my hand at The Lap of the Gap Marathon. The
marathon race winner’s stone trophy is beautiful and I would love to try earn
one in the future.
Your personal best for the half-marathon is 65:12 and your new record is 72:21 – do you feel the course is about 6-7 minutes slower than a regular city half-marathon or would sub-70 be achievable for yourself or a runner of similar ability in the right circumstances?
A sub 70min clocking is definitely achievable in The Glen to Glen Half. Conditions
during the early mile in Glendalough
this year were ideal (light wind and mild) which definitely helped. The first 5km are fast and flat, with a fast pace still achievable on the gradual slopes from 5km-10km. Mile splits take a hit from 10km to the turnaround point at Glenmacnass waterfall and it’s very difficult to get lost time back on the steep descents. However coming down the hill at speed in the second half of the race is a fantastic feeling and your momentum definitely carries you over the line in the closing miles. The road surface on the route is excellent and there is great support from race officials at the water stations. It would be great to see the 70 minute barrier broken in the not-so-distant future.
Which
part of the course did you enjoy most and what part did you feel played best to
your personal strengths?
My
favourite part of the route was the last uphill mile climbing towards the
turnaround point at Glenmacnass
waterfall. The scenery is stunning and although your legs are screaming as the
climb hits 20% in places, it is a strangely enjoyable experience. The opening
miles in Glendalough are also beautiful (and flat).
Glendalough AC 