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Preview of the Curraheen 5k......

Location......This is located in the South-West of Cork City and access is via Exit 2 on the N40.

Course Map.......The race starts and finishes next to the Cork City FC Training Grounds in Curraheen.

Profile......The 5k course is mostly flat with just one real climb near the start....

Description.....The race starts on the Curraheen Road and there is a gentle climb from the start. Coming so early in the race and with the field still packed, it shouldn't feel too difficult.

On the other side of the roundabout, it drops down again before climbing again at around the 0.6km mark.

The climb lasts for about 300m and almost straight away starts going downhill for another 300m. At about 1.5km, you turn left onto Melbourne Road.

There is a slight rise along this stretch but nothing too serious. It is followed by a drop and then it's left at the next junction at 2.3km and down Rossa Avenue...

After running through a residential area, you leave the roads behind at 2.9km...

From here, you are onto quiet walkways and probably the nicest part of the course. All of it is flat as it runs alongside the small river. The following sequence of photos shows the course on the walkway...

At about 4.2kms, you leave the walkway and head through a housing estate...

There is a small hill as you climb out of the estate and out onto the Curraheen Road.

From there, it's right and up the last small climb to the roundabout by the main road. From here, it's downhill all the way to the finish line by the Cork City FC grounds.

Overall.......A fast 5k course. The hills are pretty short and shouldn't have too much of an impact, especially as there are some downhill sections to compensate. Very conveniently situated just off the N40 and the Ballincollig Bypass so access is very good.

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Venue for Cross Country races at CIT Sports grounds...

Every year, cross country race are held on the GAA pitches to the rear of the Cork Institute of Technology in Bishopstown in the western side of Cork City...

The main entrance to CIT is at the roundabout outside. Drive in and at the next roundabout, drive straight ahead for the car parks and the GAA pitches...

There are two sets of cars parks here....left for the upper one and straight ahead for the lower one...

The main GAA pitch is down on the right. Note that there is limited parking there..

The image below shows the location of the GAA pitch relative to the main buildings in CIT and the track...

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Preview of the Rebel Run 10k race in Bishopstown...

Updated 20th Oct 2017

The Rebel Run 10 km road race takes place in Bishopstown at the western edge of Cork City...

 The race starts and finishes in the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and takes in a loop to the west.

Course profile...

 
Course description...The race starts on next to the athletics track in CIT and the first few hundred metres are pretty flat.

At about 800m, you turn left at the road junction by the Motor Tax office and then head west. Initially, the road remains level...

At about 1.2 kms or 0.75 miles, the road begins to drop rapidly as you pass the location for the Tennis Village...

The low point is at Inchigaggin Lane which is very close to the 1 mile mark which is just ahead on the sharp pull ahead as can be seen in the photo below...

Although the steep part is pretty short, the road does however continue to climb making for a tough start to the second mile. At about 1.5 miles, you turn off left and the road keeps rising...

Eventually the road levels off around 1.8 miles...a long uphill stretch and easily the hardest part of the course. The only good thing though is that at least it comes early in the race when legs are less tired.

At about the 2 mile mark, you begin a rapid descent downhill. Note the change in land ise as well. Having started in a residential area, you are now in the countryside albeit on the edge of the city. The built up area of Ballincollig can be seen in the distance.

At 2.2 miles, you turn off left onto a quieter road as the road continues to fall gently before leveling off.

The road then climbs slightly before leveling off again. The photo below shows what the road is like...narrow and mostly rural.

At 3 miles, you reach the bridge over the Ballincollig Bypass and you have a short climb as you reach it...

View east from the bridge....and a short but rapid descent on the other side.

From here, the road is pretty flat and at 3.4 miles, you turn left at the next T-junction and then head east on the Curraheen Road. The road continues to be mostly flat along this section...

It's only when you get to the next major junction near 4.2 miles that you have a short climb...

...then it's left over the Ballincollig Bypass again...

....and then right as you head back into the city's suburbs again.

Just after this point, the race goes onto a public walkway and heads back towards CIT....all pretty level and flat.

Overall.......A reasonable course on the western edge of the city with some modest hills in it. The hardest section is between miles 1 and 2. One of the main attractions of this race is the central location and ease of access for anyone living in or near Cork City.