Kerry012

Preview of the Kenmare 5km road race

This is one of the few road races in the South Kerry region.

The headquarters for this race is at the local community centre shown on the map below...

Course......

The 5k race starts outside the Sheen Falls Lodge which is approx. 1.4 miles from the Community Centre. Transport is provided but it's likely that most runners would use this as part of the warm up routine for the race.....

Start of the 5k race

The start area of the race is shown above with the first bridge of the course just beyond. This is the view to the right as you go up and over the bridge....a really quiet tranquil area...

...with a picture postcard view to the left of the falls...

From here, you are running on a narrow section of road that is often covered by trees and occasionally opens up to reveal views of the mountains in the distance...

It's all pretty flat so should be pretty fast. At about the one mile mark, you come to a junction where you join the 10k course....

From here, it's flat until you go over another humpback bridge at roughly 1.2 miles...

From here, the road rises slightly to join the main road around the 1.5 mile mark. The main road into Kenmare is reasonably flat and is slightly downhill as you enter the town. The finish line is about 200 metres beyond the Lansdowne Arms Hotel...

Overall....It's a stunning location for a race and it's a pretty fast 5k course.

Kerry001

Kenmare 10 km road race

This is one of the few road races in the South Kerry region.

The headquarters for this race is at the local community centre shown on the map below...

Course......

The 10 k race starts outside the local Garda station and heads past the community hall and then downhill and south to the first bridge.....

Kenmare's iconic bridge

Runners crossing the first bridge in the 2012 race

 From here, there is a gentle rise until you turn off left around the 1.6 mile mark...

From here, you are on a narrow quiet country road. Right at the next junction and then over the seconds bridge around the 1.9 mile mark...

 ...and almost immediately, you turn right onto another narrow quiet road.

As you pass the 2 mile mark, the road twists and turns and climbs gradually. At about 2.3 miles, things get a little tougher until it eases off again around 2.6 miles. From here, the climbing is gentle as the road becomes more remote and then it's left at the next crossroads...

 Now there is a long straight section with some fantastic views around 3.5 miles...

From here, it's payback time for the next 800 metres as you run downhill to the 4 mile mark. Just after this, you rejoin a slightly wider road and then it's flat until you go over the humpback bridge at roughly 4.3 miles...

From here, the road rises slightly to join the main road around the 4.5 mile mark. The main road into Kenmare is reasonably flat and is slightly downhill as you enter the town. The finish line is about 200 metres beyond the Lansdowne Arms Hotel...

Overall....Probably not the fastest of courses yet it's a stunning location for a race. Starting right in the town, the course takes in roads which are really remote and offer a great view of the mountains in the south Kerry region.