Irish Mountain
Running Association

Colleges Champs Camaderry

Forum Messages

AuthorDateMessage
Eoin KeithMar 11 2010, 9:58pmA new map of the colleges course has been uploaded. This one has been generated using the OSI Geolives software, and is much clearer than the previous map. It looks like a classic course. Descending that route will be great fun. Enjoy!
Gerry BradyMar 17 2010, 11:04pmCourse is dry apart from last 500m to the summit and runnability is very good.

Could do with 2-3 more volunteers: a summit marshall; a marshall on the course; and 1-2 for registration and results. Do your volunteering early in the season in a race where the temptation to run does not exist unless you are in college.
Zoran SkrbaMar 18 2010, 2:29pmIs the car parking free or the usual €4?
Kevin O'RiordanMar 18 2010, 2:54pmHey Zoran,

It's €4 to park in the Upper lake car park (nearest the start) but it's free to park in the visitor centre car park.

You're running as a registered student I take it? (Just want to make sure no-one turns up by mistake hoping to run in an open event).

Regards,
Kevin.
Colm HillMar 20 2010, 5:36pmWell Gerry you wanted opinion on the course so he it is.

Your a sick sick man. It was an epic course where the best mountain runner on the day clearly won out.
The fire trail at the start gave people a taster of what was to come. As it kicked up, you knew it was going to hurt the entire way to the top.
The grassy slope just kept on going. It required a large set of lungs and strong legs to keep up a good pace as the track snaked up the edge of the mountain.
The flat section half way up gave you a false sense of security before the murderous kick up to the summit via the boggy rocky trail.

On the descent, it gave the mountain specialists a chance to show what really mountain running is as they could open gaps on the muddy, slippery, rocky drops. Further down the mountain the short grass trail gave those who suffered on the technical a chance to regain some speed before short sharp turns were inflected on the runners.

The kick in the teeth was the small tiny rise at the end - I'm pretty sure everyone cursed it on the way down.

A great course. Physically tough and mentally demanding coming off the summit.
Hats off to Gerard Butler and Niamh O'Boyle - both climbed extremely well to take the honours.

I'd be happy to race another championship on that course.
Niamh O'BoyleMar 21 2010, 9:02pmHi Gerry,

As requested, my thoughts on the champs... Many thanks to everyone who was there helping out. It was extremely well organised and the course was well marked. The course itself was tough but a great challenge. I felt it was a good race for a university championships. Underfoot it was very runnable and I think in the future that might entice even more people to take part. It was brilliant to see a great turn out. It was the first year that the intervarsity hill-running was held as a separate event and I think this format worked well.

Thanks again to everyone for hosting this event,

Niamh
Gerry BradyMar 21 2010, 10:59pmThanks for comments Colm and Niamh and well done on your own performances. It is good that two top orienteers found a challenge in the route. If any first time mountain runners see this thread, it would also be useful to get their feedback.
Colm HillMar 21 2010, 11:23pmI assume you mean top 6 orienteers! ;)

All 6 individual medal winners are orienteers!

Gerard Butler - 3Rock
Diarmuid Collins - DFO
Colm Hill - CNOC
Niamh O'Boyle - CNOC
Ciara Largey - FermO
Rosalind Hussey - FermO
Gerard ButlerMar 22 2010, 12:00amI have to agree, it was great race with with a good mixture of technical difficulty and the downhill i felt was the best part. Good work to the organisers for hosting the event and a big thanks and well done to all that competed.
Stuart ScottMar 24 2010, 10:31pmAlthough I didn't run, it did seem like a great course. Would be a welcome addition to the 2011 summer league and a worthwhile alternative to the Hellfire race!
Colm HillMar 24 2010, 10:37pmAfter finally mastering the ability to walk since Saturday afternoon, I'd agree with Stuart. It would be an epic summer league race
Ruairi ShortMar 24 2010, 10:40pmyes, yes, yes. I agree!
Kevin O'RiordanMar 24 2010, 10:40pmAs far as I know, there are issues with holding races with large numbers of people in the national park unfortunately. It was on the summer league calendar alright when the numbers were fewer.
Rosalind HusseyApr 12 2010, 8:42pmSorry about the delay of my post. Should always do these things immediately or they easily become forgotten.
I feel that this course was a suitable mixture of being tough enough for the big boys, and gentle enough to ecourage newbies to give it a go. Personaly I don't see the point in getting the girls to run a shorter distance than the boys. Gives us more people to test ourselves against.
I feel the setting was beautiful, the lake provided suitable washing facilities and the format worked without having a mass-participation race combined.

Think thats about it. Thanks for putting on such a great race!