Solstice Run 2023
| Author | Date | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Brendan Lawlor | Nov 2 2023, 8:45am | Hi Every few years the earth, moon and stars combine to mess up our Solstice Run (normally Dec 21st at 7pm).. this is one such year and my almanac tells me that this years Winter solstice is on Friday Dec 22nd... so heres the thing.. Do we defy the Heavens and hold the Solstice Run as usual on Dec 21st (a Thursday), or go with Friday 22nd Dec instead ? Or go out on both nights and have even more Splitters ? I'm asking for a friend, but will be guided by your replies. And finally as you all know this Non -event is a strictly non-IMRA affair. As the unofficial non organiser of this non event I am looking for a deputy non organiser as I can't make either date this year unfortunately. Contact blawlor7 at gmail dot com if you can help out on whatever night we decide to hold the non event.. clear as a foggy night for you all I hope ! |
| Brendan Lawlor | Nov 2 2023, 8:49am | And remember, if you have to ask a lot of questions, this probably isn't for you ! |
| Kevin O'Riordan | Nov 2 2023, 8:53am | You could argue that 7pm Thursday is closer to 3:20am Friday than 7pm Friday is :) Thursday would probably be better for those of us travelling home for Christmas. |
| Warren Swords | Nov 2 2023, 10:50am | As a splitter I've a question that always puzzled me. Why do the Solstice run at night time rather than sunrise or sunset? Never made any sense to me to start a solstice run 3 hours after the sun has set. (Not that I'm advocating for change, I'll be welcoming the sunrise as usual.) |
| Stuart Scott | Nov 2 2023, 11:17am | Warren isn't it obvious? If you ran in daylight then you wouldn't get the gale force wind, lashings of rain and abject misery that we've come to know and love with the Solstice Run! And if one was being really pedantic, surely the run should be at 3.20am?! |
| Alan Kennedy | Nov 2 2023, 11:27am | Agree with Warren. And having done the Darkness in Light walk/run the last few years to start in dark and then get the Sunrise is brilliant. Sure we may as well head up to Newgrange and just do laps of the tomb ;-) |
| Kevin O'Riordan | Nov 2 2023, 11:33am | There's a splitters group that aims to be at the summit for sunrise. I think the main answer though is that 7pm is a time that works best for most working people and also allows people to convene in the pub for delicious mince pies after the run without needing to worry about rushing into the city for work. From what I can tell, there's generally upwards of a dozen people on the morning splitters run while the post-work run with mince pies and pints back in the coach house attracts the sort of numbers you'd normally see at a Leinster league race. |
| Brendan Lawlor | Nov 2 2023, 11:47am | There are many and varied reasons why the official unofficial not IMRA Solstice run is held at 7pm including - to facilitate people coming from work - to allow a visit to the Pub afterwards -to allow Tommy wear his amazing seen for miles around luminous jacket -because thats just how it is I'm sure Warren 'Splitter-Lets ban Howth' Swords has his own personal vendetta against us and is now attempting to drag this thread into the same controversial territory as he did earlier this year with his much discredited 'Lets ban Howth' campaign . I'm also sure Peter 'Splitter' O Farrell will be on here soon enough with his own tuppence worth about the one true Solstice Run they organise in the mornings , yada yada, started long before ours, yada yada, proper Solstice run yada yada, been going since hill running was invented yada yada.. heard it all before every single year. But haters gonna hate and splitters gonna split.. lets try stay on topic... So 21st or 22nd ? Anyone available to help ? |
| Peter O'Farrell | Nov 2 2023, 1:01pm | Either way it'll still be dark for ye :) |
| Brian Kitson | Nov 2 2023, 1:22pm | Good people of IMRA, both sides have much to learn from the other. Hold the Solstice run at sunrise and go post-haste to the nearest early house. Good day. |
| Andrew Hanney | Nov 2 2023, 2:20pm | Very entrenched views on both sides here so am staying out of that.... Although a new idea could be born.... The great solstice race..... starts at sunrise and the winner is the person who gets the furthest by sunset. That person would be celebrated by both sides of the debate here :) |
| Mikey Fry | Nov 2 2023, 5:06pm | Jakers I just feel asleep there who said there’s going to be French fancies at djouce summit:)) |
| Alan Ayling | Nov 3 2023, 1:23pm | 22nd would suit me better... And seeing as Howth is out of bounds for this conversation, an alternative suggestion - move the solstice run to Ardgillan, quick lap of the park (none of the howling wind on top of Djouce nonsense); negotiating the tide and pools would be epic craic in the dark; back to the best post IMRA race pub of all for de mince pies? |
| Brendan Lawlor | Nov 3 2023, 1:55pm | Thanks Alan and Kevin One vote each for both the 21st and 22nd.. Two or possibly three votes for merging with the morning Splitters (radical idea) Two fence sitters Lets see what next week brings.. have a nice weekend all |
| Brendan Lawlor | Nov 3 2023, 1:56pm | Sorry, to clarify One vote for the 21st One vote for the 22nd |
| Val Jones | Nov 3 2023, 2:19pm | Actually a winter solstice run on howth has its attractions, no problem crossing the golf course. |
| Andrew Hanney | Nov 3 2023, 2:53pm | I'd stick with the 21st one minor detail, for the Djouce group, Would you consider going from the Djouce lakes car park as running on the boardwalk in the night isn't a whole lot of fun. |
| Stuart Scott | Nov 3 2023, 2:59pm | The Ayling Abyss could be interesting...! |
| Mikey Fry | Nov 3 2023, 3:55pm | I’ll go for the 20th please:) |
| Mikey Fry | Nov 3 2023, 3:56pm | And the abyss route please great suggestion Stu:)) |
| Kevin O'Riordan | Nov 15 2023, 12:02pm | So after discussing with Brendan, I have decided in a non-organisational capacity that I will be going for a run to the summit of Djouce mountain starting at Ballinastoe MTB car park at 7pm on Thurs 21st of December where I may or may not bump into other IMRA runners who also happen to be at the same time and same place for a self-organised training run who are welcome to join me on my own self-organised training run if they so choose. Such runners who happen by coincidence to meet that evening may or may not choose to retire to the same nearby establishment after their individual training runs for pints and mince pies. More details to follow. Unfortunately the Coach House in Roundwood is out of action this year, but I'm sure we can find another pub to accommodate us. |
| Peter O'Farrell | Nov 15 2023, 12:20pm | Great non work there Kevin (and Brendan) With even less organising - as the usual day is the Thursday but the actual day this year is the Friday we'll make a call on which* day closer to the event with the aid of Met Eireann. *feel free to run up both mornings in between the evening run! |
| Stuart Scott | Nov 15 2023, 12:23pm | When do the non-entries open Kevin? |
| Brendan Lawlor | Nov 15 2023, 12:31pm | Thank you Kevin.. the evening Solstice Run is saved ! Pub notification to follow... |
| Alan Ayling | Nov 15 2023, 2:31pm | Is anyone thinking of not running at Ballinastoe on the evening of the 22nd, the Friday? I don't have a mountain biking event on the Thursday, which may or may not clash with non-running. Somewhat confusingly, the mountain biking event, which I won't be attending, is on in the same forest as the non-run. But not on the same day. If you follow? Likely you do not. Ah well... |
| Andrew Hanney | Nov 15 2023, 3:51pm | That’s pretty clear Alan thanks. |
| Kevin O'Riordan | Dec 13 2023, 9:49pm | Hi all, A reminder as I've had a few people ask, the "traditional" Solstice run on the Ballinastoe MTB car park to top of Djouce and back route will be Thursday 21st at 7pm. We will retire to Kavanagh's in Roundwood for pints this year. Unfortunately it's "bring your own mince pies" this year. I'm sure there'll be splitters runs going on for people who can't make the official unofficial date and time, I'll let them announce their own arrangements. |
| Mark McInerney | Dec 18 2023, 1:31pm | Tempted to head up for sunrise. Would I be right in thinking that you'd want to be up the top by 8am to not miss the magic. |
| Richard Nunan | Dec 18 2023, 9:07pm | Normally between 8:20 and 8:32am |
| Alan Kennedy | Dec 19 2023, 4:00pm | @Warren - Unofficially of course, if I happen to be Ballinastoe car park on Friday morning, what sort of time might I accidentally bump into some fellow splitters? |
| Brendan Lawlor | Dec 19 2023, 4:13pm | The Splitters have their own mountain I believe.. |
| Peter O'Farrell | Dec 19 2023, 5:27pm | Some people will be on Fairy Castle on Friday morning for 08.38am. |
| Mikey Fry | Dec 19 2023, 7:37pm | I just want to know who’s bringing warm mince pies is there any point of there no pies:))))))))))))))))))) |
| Warren Swords | Dec 19 2023, 8:22pm | Some ppl will be leaving Djouce Lake car park around 7.50am on Friday to be on top of Djouce for around 8.30am. If Djouce is covered in cloud by time we get to ww stile, they usually head to Maulin. |
| Brendan Lawlor | Dec 20 2023, 8:51am | A split amongst the Splitters.. how very Irish ! Best of luck and a happy Solstice to you all where ever you do your run. Joe is expecting the one true evening Solsticers after the run in Kavanaghs Pub.. I'll be leaving a mince pie behind the bar for my very old (he's well over 50!) pal Mikey...I'm sure Joe will microwave it for you if you ask nicely |
| Mikey Fry | Dec 20 2023, 12:10pm | Thanks Brendan don’t forget the ice cream please:)))))) |
| Alan Kennedy | Dec 20 2023, 12:42pm | Can't wait to see what treats Warren has for us at Fairy Castle?? |
| Miriam Maher | Dec 20 2023, 9:01pm | It just so happens that a few of us are making a plan to take a non official early start at 6 pm for the non official gathering of similarly minded Solstice souls. After all, and as we know, cos Alan Ayling assured us so, early starters are real people too. So if anyone else feels like being real…in this non official early start at 6pm - see you there with bells or at least head torches on… |
| Mikey Fry | Dec 20 2023, 9:11pm | So you will have mince pies then??????? |
| Stuart Scott | Dec 20 2023, 9:13pm | I'd recommend more than just bells considering the Force 9/10 that's forecast. Maybe Mandatory Ballast for the boardwalk... thankfully I've been working on mine all year. |
| Miriam Maher | Dec 20 2023, 9:20pm | Mikey, the likelihood of mince pies is up there with the French fancies. Stuart, I have been doing my own training in that regard too so I’d say I’ll be grand ;-). |
| Mikey Fry | Dec 20 2023, 9:25pm | Well it’s worth a shot:)))) |
| Kevin O'Riordan | Dec 20 2023, 9:30pm | Yes, bear in mind there is a weather warning in place for tomorrow evening. I'll be still be there but I have no idea how bad the conditions will be on Djouce so please apply judgement and do turn around if it seems too risky. All jokes about non organisation aside, this and the various splitter runs are not IMRA endorsed runs, just a bunch of people meeting up for informal social runs to celebrate the Solstice completely at their own risk. |
| Alice Clancy | Dec 21 2023, 10:13am | You make it sound so inviting Kevin!!! If we use the mince pies as ballast, it’ll be grand ;-) |
| Stuart Scott | Dec 21 2023, 11:18am | For those wanting to avoid the Flight of the French Fancies, could I suggest an alternative route from Ballinastoe? Follow the fireroad north, through the gate, along the forest and then turn west up the Glasnamullan river. It's pretty much the same distance and avoids the boardwalk and most of the (westerly) wind. Though the forecast has abated significantly... |
| Rachel Harney | Dec 21 2023, 11:35am | That sounds better :-D |
| Brendan Lawlor | Dec 21 2023, 12:30pm | ‘ There’s no cars big as bars There’s no rivers of gold But the wind blows right through you It’s no place for the old When you first took my hand On that cold Solstice Eve You promised the summit Was waiting for me’ RIP Shane MacGowan and enjoy a windy and epic Solstice adventure everyone . Stay safe and get back down ! |
| David Rouse | Dec 21 2023, 1:32pm | Car pool option: dep Ashtown / Navan Road at 18:00. Via Castleknock. |
| Kevin O'Riordan | Dec 21 2023, 2:23pm | I will be departing from close to Central park Luas around 6pm. 3 seats available. |
| Rory O'Toole | Dec 21 2023, 3:46pm | Thanks for the suggestion, Stuart. I'm only familiar with the Maurice Mullins HM section towards Djouce. I don't know if you can access this link to Komoot (https://www.komoot.com/tour/1396288310?ref=wtd&share_token=a3JH4qq58EDjAK2npLjS8UCKBDA8FmnHsyIVq1eXSz8oxHvhHl), but I'm wondering if this is the route you suggest. |
| Graham K. Bushe | Dec 21 2023, 4:38pm | Hi Rory, that looks good. I reckon that turning right when you reach the Wicklow Way and climbing Djouce summit from the East might be more sheltered. |
| Rory O'Toole | Dec 21 2023, 4:56pm | Thanks, Graham. |
| Alice Clancy | Dec 21 2023, 4:56pm | Early starters are sticking with the original plan and original route! Hopefully see ye on the mountain and if not in the pub! |
| Alan Kennedy | Dec 22 2023, 2:01pm | What a pleasant surprise to bump in so many fellow runners up at Fairy Castle at 0838 this morning, who'd have thought it?? And we even got a tiny bit of sun for our efforts. |
