Uphill Races
| Author | Date | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Clare Sullivan | Sep 18 2024, 10:04pm | Having thoroughly enjoyed running / hiking / crawling up a mountain in Spain recently for an uphill only race, might there be scope for a few more uphill only races on the IMRA calendar? On the continent they seem to vary in distance from a mile to about 6km. I'm sure there's logistical challenges to such events (thankfully no ski lifts in Ireland!!) but just thought I'd start the conversation in case there are others who love the uphill! |
| Joan Ryan | Sep 19 2024, 10:45am | I agree would be really good for a few uphill's. Especially for people who are really bad at descending like me! Well done in Spain Clare |
| Caroline Reid | Sep 19 2024, 11:19am | Thanks Clare, Joan, Think this is a great idea - I did the Reeks uphill race and was paddy last by a long shot, but it was such a great epic event! I would love to try an uphill again, but during the day where there is less stress that you are keeping volunteers waiting at the top! The numbers were low for the reeks uphill but that could be as it was on a Friday evening and most were saving themselves for the other great races that weekend. Everyone that did the race was buzzing afterwards! PS a late thanks to Barry, Robbie and all the volunteers who put on that race - it was one of the highlights of my year :) |
| Warren Swords | Sep 19 2024, 12:45pm | The Powerscourt Uphill was a great race in the Leinster League. Last run in 2019, might be time for a comeback. It was absolutely merciless, by the time you got to the fences on Djouce, it was like a slow bicycle race to the summit. https://imra.ie/events/report/id/1799/ |
| Brendan Lawlor | Sep 19 2024, 12:51pm | Hi Clare I think if you wanted to organize an uphill only race next year you would definitely get a few takers.In Leinster Djouce from Crone Wood or from Ballinastoe would be options. Logistics is the issue as very few mountains in Ireland have any infrastructure at the top. Kippure might be another option given the masts and road access to the top. I’d be happy to help you organize one next year if you suggest it to the committee |
| Peter McEvoy | Sep 20 2024, 5:21pm | Slieve Binnian in Co.Down is a 2mile uphill race held as part of the H&D series every year |
| Robbie Williams | Sep 21 2024, 1:56pm | Not sure it warrants a race For 2 years I put in the best vertical race In the country V800 at Reeks skyline Only had a handful of takers each year, more hassle than is worth in organizing terms |
| Brian Mullins | Sep 21 2024, 2:35pm | The Reeks VK is a brilliant energy sapping outing and a great event originated by Robbie. As a general point there are plenty races already on the calendar where there is nothing stopping anyone “stopping” at the first summit so it would be easy to combine a “normal” Imra race with an uphill only race at the same time, the runners in the uphill race would easily be identifiable by being utterly destroyed at the first summit and shouting uphill only!!! Just a thought. |
| Rene Borg | Sep 21 2024, 3:10pm | The Powerscourt Uphill was indeed a great race and generally got 150-200 runners in the 5 or 6 years it was run. It does come with some challenges - mainly that Djouce summit can be a hostile place for marshals even in summer... |
| Peter O'Farrell | Sep 21 2024, 6:29pm | The reeks 800 looks an amazing race but much like the mountain it climbs it suffers from proximity to it's bigger badder relatives. A stand alone race might be more attractive there? |
| Turlough Conway | Sep 21 2024, 7:55pm | When we ran the Djouce uphill it had to be relatively close to.midsummers due to distance runners had to jog back and light issues. I would recommend marshalls could use an app like webscorer for taking times with phone to largely avoid paper. We used it in West League but it needs description now. Our backup of using the splits option on phone timers worked pretty well but untested with bigger numbers. |
