Slieve Bloom Way Ultra
| Author | Date | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Declan Gorman | Feb 25 2025, 11:51am | Great to see this event back on the Calander. |
| Michelle Carey | Jun 24 2025, 8:15pm | Hi, Just wondering if there will be a half and marathon event on the day too? All the best, Michelle |
| Michelle Carey | Jun 24 2025, 8:15pm | Hi, Just wondering if there will be a half and marathon event on the day too? Thanks Michelle |
| Liam Vines | Jun 25 2025, 8:22pm | Hi Michell No Half Marathon or Marathon I am afraid. Its a very restricted place for events because of the wildlife that is present. |
| Liam Vines | Jun 30 2025, 10:07pm | The end of August and all of September is a very busy time for ultra runners. UTMB last week of August. The Kerry Way is on the 5th September. Art O’Neill is the 26th and Eco is the 27th. Is there a need for IMRA to be throwing in two Ultra events into that mix? Munster are holding the Kilworth Backyard Ultra on the 13th September and the Slieve Bloom Way is due to be on the same day. Both very different events, but both using out of an already small pool of runners. The Slieve Bloom Way is a 12+ hour day for a Race Director and their volunteers, and it is the same amount of work to organise for one person running than if there was one hundred people running. There must be a worthwhile number of people interest in taking part to keep this race on the calendar. So, my question is. Who plans on doing the Slieve Bloom Way? Please let me know below or email me races at IMRA dot ie Thank you |
| Brian Eastwood | Jun 30 2025, 10:16pm | Hi Liam. I plan to run it, all being well.. *The word run is used loosely. Cheers Brian |
| Eric Kelleher | Jun 30 2025, 10:46pm | Just my thoughts on the timing of this one. I would say the August bank holiday weekend or the weekend before would have been perfect for this as a “tune up” race for the likes of the Kerryway as I think most people would have their last big days out around this time. Would be ideal for people practising with full kit, nutrition testing etc. But I’m sure you’ll still have plenty of people wanting to do this race it is a beautiful part of the country. All the best with it. |
| Noel Donohoe | Jun 30 2025, 11:49pm | I’m interested. Holidays late September have cancelled Ecotrail & 7Sisters. But I hear what you’re saying. Thought the same when I reviewed the calendar. Tbh my next thought was hmmm might get a top 10 with all the good runners elsewhere |
| Liam Vines | Jul 1 2025, 5:43am | Access to the Slieve Blooms is very limited because of ground nesting birds in the summer months and then further into the Autumn the risk of wet weather. So this event is bound by a small time window.. keep the expressions of interest coming in. Just know that we can’t change the date unfortunately.. |
| Robert Nakoneczny | Jul 1 2025, 5:51am | Definitely doing this run. Would be nice to see this event happening August bank holiday weekend and I hope it stays on calendar each year. |
| Avril Challoner | Jul 1 2025, 8:21am | I'd hoped to trot around this one, would be a pity to see it drop off but understand the conflicts. |
| Raymond Cummins | Jul 1 2025, 8:23am | I plan to do it as well Liam. |
| Kevin Boyd | Jul 1 2025, 8:59am | I was planning on doing the Ultra, But i am also tempted by the The Backyard Ultra in Kilworth. I have a tough decision to make |
| Sarah Kearns | Jul 1 2025, 9:26am | Hi Liam - planning to do it too but completely understand where you are coming from and respect any decision you have to make |
| Sean Forsyth | Jul 1 2025, 9:30am | Yeah, I'm in for this one |
| Walsh Rowan | Jul 1 2025, 10:27am | I also hope to do this race in Sept. I think it is important to have alternatives in Sep to some of the more expensive races. Also we shouldn't think of IMRA races as being stepping stones or training races towards other non-IMRA events and be scheduling them as such. This is a race which takes in Ireland's biggest state owned nature reserve, and should have prominence in the calendar. |
| Enda Cloake | Jul 1 2025, 12:30pm | I’ll be doing it as part of the Irish Ultra Champs to get my 3 races of 5. |
| Raghnall O'Donoghue | Jul 1 2025, 1:55pm | Hey Liam, I'm aiming to run this. Looking forward to it after the justified cancellation last year. Important to have it for the Ultra Championships to allow the speedsters get their 3 races in. Although....is there anything to be said for calling the IUC right now? :) |
| Fabio Baltieri | Jul 1 2025, 2:03pm | Hi, I was also planning to run this. |
| Alan Stretton | Jul 1 2025, 3:16pm | I had planned to enter this one as well. It is an extremely busy time in the calendar surely, but I don't see why IMRA can't stake their claim to it and grow that weekend for future years, with adding in additional, affordable, short course options (think there was a 25k before?) It also pulls an event towards a new part of the country, when there's so much already in Wicklow, Cork, Kerry, Donegal & Down - by existing, it adds a bit more variety. Hopefully it can go ahead, and if I don't crock myself entirely before then, I'll enter it when it goes live. |
| Shane O'Neill | Jul 1 2025, 4:13pm | I was hoping to do both. Both races would be new for me, but Kilworth is 10 miles from home, so Kilworth it is. Hopefully next year for slieve Bloom. |
| Siobhán Kennedy | Jul 1 2025, 5:04pm | I’m planning to run this one |
| Craig Zambra | Jul 1 2025, 7:19pm | I plan on doing this one. Last hoping to do it last year but it was cancelled due to the nesting |
| Ciaran McAleenan | Jul 1 2025, 8:33pm | Really looking forward to this one. Great run two years ago and this year I need it to complete the IUC. Don’t want to miss out. |
| Jason Dowling | Jul 1 2025, 9:41pm | Hi Liam, I'm planning on doing this. Cheers, Jason. |
| Peter Kehoe | Jul 1 2025, 10:06pm | Hope to do it |
| Gaelan Elliffe | Jul 1 2025, 10:50pm | I would love to do this race. However i intend to volunteer as a Marshall or first aid if another first aider is required. I intend to put my name on the volunteer list(website) much closer to the event. |
| Andrew Coghlan | Jul 2 2025, 7:58am | It is my plan to run this race too |
| Eoghan Hughes | Jul 2 2025, 8:20am | I'm planning to run this one too. |
| Ronan O'Grady | Jul 2 2025, 8:44am | I plan on running too, hope it goes ahead |
| Niamh Kelly | Jul 2 2025, 10:39am | Great to see the interest in keeping the Slieve Blooms Ultra on the calendar! I was planning to RD again for this event and would love to see it go ahead Keep the interest coming |
| Ross Smith | Jul 2 2025, 11:01am | Hi, I plan to to run this also - looks a great event |
| Alexander Muhlwald | Jul 2 2025, 11:02am | I am planning on running this race |
| Stephen Brennan | Jul 2 2025, 11:51am | There's so much choice! I'm probably going to wind up doing the Eco Trail this year, finally. |
| Eoin Phelan | Jul 2 2025, 1:27pm | i am interested in attempting this. |
| Martin Cullen | Jul 3 2025, 6:05pm | I would be interested in this. I |
| Martin Cullen | Jul 3 2025, 6:06pm | I would be interested in this. |
| Peter O'Farrell | Jul 3 2025, 7:15pm | Maybe the ultra events could have race entry open 2 months before the event? Presumably the ultra runners plan the season months in advance. |
| Ciaran McAleenan | Jul 3 2025, 8:13pm | @Peter. You are right although we plan the year once the calendar appears. Many of us are already planning 2026. |
| Liam Vines | Jul 4 2025, 4:19pm | Thank you all for your comments and for your interest in this event. The people have spoken, and The Slieve Bloom Way ultra will take place on the 13th of September as it is on the IMRA calendar. Thanks to Niamh who has taken on the RD role. I will see you all at the start line. And if I don’t!! As a much more famous and better-looking Liam once said “I will find You” Enjoy your weekend |
| Jenny Mullarkey | Jul 6 2025, 8:16am | Delighted this is going ahead, I was looking forward to it but just saw the post on Facebook about it maybe not going ahead now. See you in September! |
| Ciaran McAleenan | Jul 17 2025, 10:46am | Great news Liam. I’m looking forward to this one. Ciarán |
| Niamh Kelly | Jul 18 2025, 11:56am | Although we are 9 weeks out the planning starts now, we had a very successful event in 2023 and would like to see the same this year. Event page updates: No qualifying race requirement New cut off Kinnitty at approx. 46km @ 3:30pm and a course finish time of 12 hours We’ll need a few volunteers to help at aid stations on the day. If you're available, we would really appreciate it |
| Niamh Kelly | Jul 22 2025, 11:00am | As RD of this year’s Slieve Blooms Ultra, I’m really hoping to increase the number of female runners taking part. I know there are many women in IMRA who are capable of running an ultra, but who might be unsure if they can cover the distance or feel confident lining up at the start. I’d love to help change that and see more women out on the course this September. In 2023, we had just 5 women run the ultra, with only 1 DNF , a strong showing despite the small numbers. This year, I’d really love to see more women not only at the start line, but crossing the finish line too. So to help make this happen, I am going to set up a Training support group, and in the group offer a training plan, strength and mobility and nutrient guidance on fueling and nutrient timing. So if you are interested or know someone whom might be please share and you can email me coachniamhrkelly at gmail dot com Niamh |
| Fanny Gardyn | Jul 22 2025, 4:34pm | Hi. Also looking at doing this one if it takes place :) Thanks. |
| Sean Forsyth | Jul 26 2025, 8:41am | Hey Niamh, is there any chance of t-shirts being made available for purchase for this one again? My last one is starting to wear from overuse and needs to be retired but it's a great one and would love to get another. Thanks Sean |
| Andy Keeling | Jul 29 2025, 9:29pm | Does anyone have a gpx for the route? |
| Niamh Kelly | Jul 29 2025, 11:10pm | Hi Andy Here is a link to the route https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2189666?units=km Hi Sean, Hopefully we can |
| Andy Keeling | Jul 30 2025, 5:41am | Thanks Niamh! |
| brian cleary | Aug 1 2025, 2:26pm | Hi, Will there be an option to drop of the bags for the bag drops the evening before? Also, when will registration open for this event? |
| Alan Stretton | Aug 13 2025, 10:44am | For anyone waiting to sign up, entries appear to have opened last night. |
| Ross Smith | Aug 13 2025, 11:00am | Eagle eyed Alan - let’s do it we in |
| Jeff Swords | Aug 13 2025, 11:07am | As entry being open was spotted, the race fee is €35. If you want a t-shirt there's a store entry, "Slieve Bloom Way Ultra t-shirt **entrants only** ", which as the title suggests, is for those that have entered the race and want to pay an additional €5 for the t-shirt. The t-shirt store entry is available for a limited time only so if you want one get in there early. |
| Niamh Kelly | Aug 13 2025, 11:09am | Brian no option to drop off drop bags the night before, they can be brough to registration the morning of the race well spotted Alan yep entries are open |
| Robert Nakoneczny | Aug 13 2025, 11:41am | Thanks Alan |
| brian cleary | Aug 13 2025, 7:22pm | Thanks Niamh |
| Kevin Boyd | Aug 14 2025, 10:58am | I was wondering if there was somewhere for camping the night before the race. Thanks |
| Colin Callanan | Aug 14 2025, 3:25pm | This looks like a great event, might consider doing it instead of the Kerry Way Ultra lite (a bit more time for training!). Glad to see it back on the calendar and hope it gets lots of entrants. Is there any cap on entrants likely? |
| Niamh Kelly | Aug 14 2025, 5:13pm | Kevin there some section on the Slieve bloom dictated to camping check out Coillte https://www.coillte.ie/activity/camping/ for a little more information Colin no currently no cap on entrants , although if you want a t-shirt grab one sooner rather than later |
| Colin Callanan | Aug 15 2025, 10:01am | Thanks Niamh, Is there an email address to contact yourself or drd? |
| Eoin Phelan | Aug 15 2025, 11:24am | A few questions: Are we allowed to have a drop bag at every checkpoint or is it just specific ones? Will all drop bags be returned to the finish area? As a map and compass is part of the required kit, what is the best map to get as east/west mapping does not have one for the slieve bloom mountains. Do we need a physical map or is the gpx route on our phone sufficient? Thanks, Eoin |
| Niamh Kelly | Aug 15 2025, 4:56pm | Colin yes, you can email slievebloomwayultra at gmai dot com Eoin we will have more updates in the coming days on drop bags on the point of maps leave that with us as well ,we are also double checking the requirements but GPX is allowed For more details on the route, Tough Soles offers excellent information, including maps and a video from when they walked it a few years ago: https://toughsoles.ie/blog/2019/slieve-bloom-way Thanks Niamh |
| Niamh Kelly | Aug 19 2025, 3:46pm | Update on Drop Bags & Aid stations Drop Bags & Aid Stations Update Moniknew (33 km) – Drop bag returned to finish. Cademstown (60 km) – Disposable drop bag only. Aid Stations (water & food): Glenbarrow, Moniknew, Kinnitty, Cademstown, Glenkeen |
| Niamh Kelly | Aug 19 2025, 3:47pm | Drop Bags & Aid Stations Update Moniknew (33 km) – Drop bag returned to finish. Cademstown (60 km) – Disposable drop bag only. Aid Stations (water & food): Glenbarrow, Moniknew, Kinnitty, Cademstown, Glenkeen |
| Brian Hourigan | Yesterday, 6:29pm | Hi Niamh I am thinking of doing this race but would like some information about the route/elevation gain. It's listed as 2,000m but in the description it says 1,275m gain. Also I have tried finding some info online but it varies wildly depending on the site. Is it closer to the 2,000m gain or the 1,275m gain? Brian |
| Eoin Kelly | Yesterday, 6:39pm | Hi Brian My Strava record from two years ago says 1789metres. |
| Niamh Kelly | Yesterday, 7:05pm | Hi Brian, I would say in the middle of the two On Sport Ireland it is listed as 1275m of ascent https://www.sportireland.ie/ga/node/7573 On the GPX file , we mapped of the route , it is closer to 1748 meters but looking at the elevation gain from the ultra event in 2023 it varied a lot, some less and some a little more. Different mapping apps showed the elevation much higher All trails and Hiker are over the 2000m It’s worth remembering that both distance and elevation can vary depending on your watch, GPS satellites, and even the mapping software used. Also, the route itself can change slightly as trails are updated or repaired for maintenance works on the route |
| Colin Callanan | Yesterday, 8:33pm | Thanks for the update on drop bags Niamh. So we don't need to pack water in our drop bags, as there'll be a supply available at all aid stations? |
