Location...The townland of Ballygiblin is located about 3 miles or 5 kms to the east of Mitchelstown in NE Cork.
Getting there is quiet easy as it's only about 2 miles from the M8 motorway.
Directions...Take Exit 12 on the motorway and follow the signposts for Kilbeheny. From the small roundabout near Exit 12, you drive for 960m and you turn off right as you descend downhill. Do not go into Kilbeheny itself. From here, you drive 2.26 kms / 1.4 miles south to the crossroads near the race HQ.
An alternative route is to take the Clonmel road (R665) from the town of Mitchelstown itself. See junction below where you take a right at the crossroads. This is signposted for Ballyporeen and Clogheen. The crossroads near the race HQ is 3.2 miles / 5.1 kms out this road.
In more detail...The map below shows where everything is located.
2) There is also plenty of parking available at Horgan's Delicatessen Supplies which is 380m from the crossroads.
3) There are changing rooms\showers\toilets at the GAA grounds which are 240m from the crossroads.
4) The start line is 660m from the crossroads.
5) The finish line is located near the entrance to the local GAA grounds.
Course Map...It is essentially an out and back 5km course on very flat roads.
Course description...The race starts about 660m from the main crossroads. As you can see from the photo below, it is straight and flat...
Past the GAA grounds where the race will finish coming from the opposite direction.
Through the crossroads for the first time. Note that as the field thins out, you should try to stay on the left hand side of the road going out and coming back.
This is just after the crossroads and is typical of what the rest of the course looks like...a long straight section and dead flat.
One of the few bends on the road on the way out...
At about 2.7 kms / 1.7 miles, you reach the turn around point at Ballygiblin Church...
They will be using the small car park just outside the church so that the runners run in a wide circle before returning rather than stopping and starting as you go around a fixed point.
You then run back to the crossroads staying on the left hand side of the road. All along the return section, there is a fine view of the Galtee Mountains in the distance.
The finish line is near the GAA grounds about 240 metres beyond the crossroads.
Overall....A very flat and fast 5k course in NE Cork. With it's proximity to the M8 motorway, it should attract runners from a wide catchment area. If you are looking for a fast accurate 5k course that has been measured properly with a Jone Counter then this is one to consider.
