Knockmealdown Half

Description:

Knockmealdowns Half Marathon

County:

Waterford

Date:

Saturday 19th September, 2020

Time:

11:00

Climb (m):

1050

Distance (km):

24.00

Event Difficulty:

10 (Extreme) - Extreme, >1,000M ascent or > 30Km

Race Marking:

- Only major junctions marked

GPS Allowed:

Yes

Leagues:

 

Route Description:

Registration at the Bay Lough Car Park from 9:30am – 10:30am

Link to route plot is here: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/754907. Note: Irish National Grid Reference data is shown in the event of an emergency.

Race start is at 11:00am (***UPDATE- start will be from the Bay Lough Car Park where registration occurs****).

Route map for IMRA MHM Knockmealdowns Half by IMRA Munster on plotaroute.com

All runners will head off down toward the Lough and onto the waymarked trail at the road crossing. The new start will be clearly marked. Follow waymarked route and fire road heading East toward the Liam Lynch Monument. A gradual, but steady climb over 4km will eventually result in you hitting the Monument just shy of the 10km mark (CUTOFF 12:45pm). We hope to have a marshal there to direct you into the woods and up the first of a series of open mountain climbs. The terrain from here is all single track and will be soft underfoot, so come prepared with aggressive trail shoes. The section from Crohan West to the start of the Knockmealdown climb is undulating but fast in sections; and with forgiving ground around you, you can really open the throttle if you’re brave.

At about 15km you will hit a saddle and the start of the Tipp/Waterford boundary wall (CUTOFF 1:45pm). We hope to have an additional marshal and/or medic here to keep an eye on weather conditions each runner’s reserves of energy. If anyone needs medical attention or is unable to continue, a vehicle will be on standby a short walk from this point. From here you follow the boundary wall almost to the Finish. All runners MUST follow the route to the corner of the wall. This will be clearly marked. When you hit the Knockmealdown climb, you will know it, but get to the top and you will have hit the highest point of the course. Now, put the burners on - it’s almost 3.5km down to the Finish and you can really fly it down this section. Watch out for the course markings angling you left off the main route toward Sugarloaf. A marshal will be stationed here to make sure you do NOT head on toward Sugarloaf, but instead will be directed down to the Lough in a NW direction before hitting it. It’s a more gradual (and safer) route.

Relive Video of Route

Getting There:

From Tipperary, head for Clogheen and look for the R668 heading south toward “The VEE”. 4km down this road you’ll cross a bridge just before the climb up to the Vee. They have a stop/go system in place there now as they repair the bridge from flood damage. After the sharp switchback a further km or two you’’ notice the Grubb’s Monument to your left 50m at the bottom of Sugarloaf. This is the start point of the race, However registration is a further 2.5km up the road on your right at a large carpark above the Bay Lough. From the Cork and Waterford side, head for Lismore and pass through town heading North past the castle. After crossing the Blackwater, take the R668 left and stay on this road for almost 13km. You’ll notice the carpark on the left hand side as you get to the highest point of the road, crossing the Knockmealdowns.

Organisers Instructions:

Entry Open from 13th Jan - Login and go to Purchase Products

REVISED MANDATORY KIT LIST: Rain Jacket, Phones

Experience with OPEN MOUNTAIN running is strongly advised for this race. Adverse weather conditions can make this race more challenging than expected. Cut-offs at midway will be strictly enforced this year. Expect to be able to complete this race in under four and a half hours. Under IMRA rules for competitor's safety, it is mandatory to bring and carry a jacket that is shower and wind proof for the entire race. Any competitor seen not carrying or wearing their jacket at any stage in the race will be disqualified. There are no exceptions to this rule!

IMRA MEMBERSHIP PROCEDURE FOR 2020!

All competitors must be IMRA members. IMRA membership costs €10 for a calendar year. It is unrelated to membership of other athletic clubs. IMRA membership cannot be purchased at the race, you must follow these steps beforehand:

1. Login to your "myimra" account on www.imra.ie. If you don't have an account, create one using the REGISTER FOR MYIMRA link, and follow the instructions carefully.
2. Go to the PURCHASE IMRA PRODUCTS page and purchase 2020 membership using a credit/debit card.
3. Bring the membership confirmation email containing your race number for the year with you to your first race
4. Get a bib number at your first race, and hold on to it, as it's valid for the full year.

Note: If you are not a 2020 IMRA member or don't know your race number, it will not be possible to enter the race

**UPDATE** Sandwiches and drinks will be provided at the finishing line. We will NO LONGER relocate to Clogheen GAA after the race.

Volunteers (Non-Running)

You need to have done 2 non-running volunteer roles in a calendar year to qualify for end of year prize

Current Volunteers

Role	Volunteers	Accepted	Run
Race Director		Matthew Branch	No
First Aid Officer		Aoife Fitzgerald	No
First Aid Officer		Gabhain O Donnabhain	No
First Aid Officer		denis Ryan	No
Race Marker		Danny O'Connell	No
Helper		Eoghan O'Neill	No
Helper		John Oflynn	No
Helper		Ted Feehan	No
Helper		derek walsh	No
Helper		Jason Collins	No
Helper		Maurice McCartan	No
Helper	Mark Beer		No
Helper		Gerard Griffin	No
Helper		Jane Griffin	No

Volunteers (Running)

Check with race director if they have a need for people volunteering and running. Race directors need a minimum number of people available throughout the race to make the race work so non-running volunteers are preferable. While it can be helpful, volunteering in a volunteer and race capacity does not count towards qualifying for end of year prize

Current Volunteers

Role	Volunteers	Accepted	Run
Helper		Pat Murphy	Yes

Carpool