What does mountain racing need?
| Author | Date | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Rea | Jan 5 2007, 12:19pm | Besides a mountain, of course! The Dublin Mountains Initiative (DMI) committee have asked us to prepare a 'wish list' of requirements from IMRA to be put forward as input to the strategic planning for the area. The following are some initial thoughts, please feel free to comment, question or augment. 1. The Pub (Moire put this as #1 priority ;-), conveniently located with pre-race requirement as a car-pooling pickup point. 2. Car Parking. At (or near) race start. Either Public or Private area for <100 cars. 3. Start/Finish location. Open space for 200+ runners to congregate. 4. Water. A local source would avoid filling and transporting large amounts to venue. 5. Toilets. When you gotta go . . . 6. Path. In a state that minimises damage from runners. 7. Pub (same as 1). For prize-giving. Food. Space for 100+ people. As a part of this exercise, we have also been asked to identify particular locations as places where we hold races. This would obviously include the Leinster League venues. The Championship races may have less specialised requirements. Any other favourites in the Dublin Mountains could be included (e.g. for night racing). Any feedback on this topic much appreciated. Anything posted here will be taken as input to a submission to the DMI after review by the IMRA committee. Although this is a 'wish list' I wouldn't get to fanciful! |
| Gerry Brady | Jan 5 2007, 11:40pm | Justin I have listed four brief points below. Where possible, you should quote specific examples (i.e. name the forest) to give Coillte more practical information. There are many issues that I have not addressed such as controlling off-path undergrowth, repairing forest roads damaged by extraction machinery, better notice of felling plans etc. but some of these are for other sports to raise. 1. A good-sized car park convenient to the major forest entrances and a small car park at other main entrances are essential for general road safety, to avoid inconvenience to locals, and to facilitate forest users especially families and the less-abled. An example of a forest where there is almost no parking available is the Glenealy entrance to Carrick. 2. There are many forests with long paths that finish in a dead end. If these could be connected with other paths above or below them, it would add greatly to amenity use for walking, running and orienteering. The connecting paths need not be wide roads. The forests in Drumgoff and Aughavannagh are examples. Similarly more connecting paths in Crone Wood below Maulin would give users more options not to walk out and back along the Wicklow Way. 3. In some forests, some of the existing smaller path networks are reclaimed by gorse etc. If such paths could be kept open that would help usage. 4. Sometimes there is limited access from the forest paths to adjacent open mountain. For example, the western/north-western end of Glendalough. Such access would increase route options and provide quicker rescue access in case of injuries etc. on the open mountain. Gerry |
| Alan Ayling | Jan 8 2007, 1:00pm | I agree with Gerry on all his points, but particularly the car parking issue. As pointed out, no parking at Glenealy; but consider the number of places there used to be a carpark, which has now been closed. Examples: The carpark in off the road at Ballinastoe, Glasnamullan Wood, 2 of the 3 carparks at Djouce Woods, Pine Forest, Saggart Woods (aka Slade Valley Woods). There are other cases where the carpark is open, but only for a very limited time, meaning anyone who wishes to use the forest outside these times (or may be back late) is forced to find alternative parking (e.g. on the road) - examples include Carrickgollogan, Barnaslingan, Crone, Cruagh, Kilmashogue, Hellfire Wood. Now most of this may be inconsequential to formal organised mountain races, which often exceed the capacity of such carparks, but these issues have a great effect on those wishing to train in the woods. A lot of hillrunners are also partial to the occasional spot of walking or mountainbiking as well. I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that access to forests for recreational purposes is what we're talking about here, and limited (or withdrawn) parking is a significant barrier (pardon the pun) to access for the general public. Not all the forests concerned are in the areas convered by the DMI, I have just given them for example. Obviously there have been issues with "anti-social behaviour" at carparks and the closures have been influenced by this. So I would suggest that the roadside parking afforded at Ballinastoe seems to provide a pretty good solution - it's user-friendly, reasonably big, high visibility (to deter thieves from breaking into cars as much as might be hoped) and it's crap from a joy-riding perspective. The open area at the front of (what is left of) Curtlestown Wood is another example of such a carpark. Could DMI suggest to Coillte that provision of open-fronted roadside parking at other forests would be seen as a positive step by forest users including hillrunners? |
| Justin Rea | Jan 8 2007, 3:53pm | Good feedback Gerry and Alan. Thanks. Parking is one of the main issues IMRA faces as well. We may be able to negotiate access to private land to assist at major events, but better access to forests will benefit all recreational users. Any other ideas on the parking issue? |
