Cork069

Preview of the Bay Run Half-Marathon...

The Bay Run Half-Marathon takes place in Bantry at the start of May every year.

The race starts in Glengariff and finishes in the town of Bantry. A fleet of buses take the runners from Bantry to Glengariff before the race.

 Between the mountains and the sea, it's a stunning location for a race...

Course profile...

Course map...

Course preview....

The race starts in the heart of Glengarriff , a stunning spot with views out over the Bay. Before you head towards Bantry, you first need to do a loop to the west.

At the western end of Glengarriff, you take a right at the junction...

Here is road is covered in Rhododendron as it turns and twists slowly uphill. Just after the 1 mile mark, you turn off left into the forest to do a short loop....

At first it's flat but you then climb steadily. At the end of this small loop, you rejoin the main road again and then it's a fast mile or so downhill and back into Glengarriff.

After you pass the start line again, you begin the next stage of the race. From the town, the road climbs for about a mile until near the 4 mile mark and the local golf club where is eases off. After a while, the road begins to climb again until around the 5 mile mark where you have extensive views out over Bantry Bay...

Now you begin the downhill section until you approach sea level again around the 8 mile mark...

The next 1.5 miles are very pleasant as the road twists and turns as it follows the rugged coastline. There are a few minor pulls but nothing serious. At about 9.5 miles, you approach Ballylicky and the Ouvane Falls Hotel...

The third and final part of the course begins now as you head south towards Bantry. There are a few minor climbs but nothing major. You still get the occasional view of Bantry Bay as you move away from the coast...

As you progress towards the town of Bantry itself, the course slowly changes from rural to urban.

As you descend into the town, the course takes a right...

 You now follow a narrow road which runs behind the houses shown above on the right. The narrow boreen exits onto a slightly wider road where you turn right into a short but steep climb...

 This road then passes a small housing estate before dropping down towards the waters edge...

 

 You now follow the Béicín Walk which follows the waters edge with great views out over Bantry Bay....

 Eventually the path loops around to the back of Bantry where you finish just a short distance from the main square...

Overall....probably not a course for setting personal best times but once the weather is nice, it's a stunning location for a race.