Kerry006

Preview of the Dingle Half-Marathon / Marathon...

Location.......Dingle is located in Co.Kerry in the South-West of Ireland

Course map......Both the half and full Marathon start in the town of Dingle. Half-Marathon runners finish in Dunquin and return to Dingle by bus. The full Marathon runners continue on and run back to Dingle.

Course profile.....There are a number of hills to be tackled in the first half. The most difficult part of the full Marathon is the steep climb around the 22 mile mark.

Course description.........Both the half and full Marathon start in the town of Dingle...

 Initially, the going is flat and you cross a causeway as you leave the town...

.......and then you encounter the fist of many small climbs.

The race travels west passing through the village of Ventry before going up a more serious hill as you head out towards Slea Head. Around the 9 mile mark, you cross a small stream which flows across the road......

 ....and then on towards Slea Head. This is the view looking back towards the Iveragh Peninsula to the south...

What really makes this Half and Full Marathon special is the fact the roads are closed. Normally, there is a lot of tourist traffic on this narrow road and it wouldn't be really suitable for running or walking. The road here is high above the sea and you have an incredible view out over Dingle Bay to the mountains of Kerry with the Skelligs in the distance.

Once you pass the grotto around the 10 mile mark, the Blasket Islands come into view...

....and then the twisting coastal road...

At 13 miles in Dunquin, the Half-Marathon runners turn off to the left...

...and on to the finish line. A fleet of buses take the runners back to Dingle.

The full Marathon runners continue on towards Ballyferriter with Brandon Mountain now coming into view. From here, the route is on quiet narrow roads as it heads towards Dingle...

At mile 21, there is an out and back section...

After this, there is just the big hill to tackle at mile 22 before descending down to the finish line back in Dingle.

Overall.........An incredible location for a Marathon and probably the most scenic in Ireland. Not the easiest of courses with several testing hills, especially during the Marathon near mile 22.


This YouTube clip from TG4 in Irish gives a good feel for what it is like...

Cork053

Preview of the Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon...

This Marathon is held in early December every year as part of the Clonakilty Marathon, Half-Marathon and 10k. This is also the

Location....Clonakilty is located some 40 kms to the south-west of Cork City...

Map of the start/finish area...

Map of the course...

Course Profile...

Course description....The race starts in the town of Clonakilty and heads south alongside the bay...

At 2.1 miles, the full marathon course turns inland while the half-marathon runners go left over the causeway...

The course up as far as the 4 mile mark is pretty flat and after that, there is a long but gradual climb of about 1.5 miles in length. The gradient is pretty easy though and at the top, you begin a roughly equal length 1.5 mile gradual descent into the village of Rathbarry at about 7 miles...

The going along here is either slightly downhill or flat. At 7.1 miles, you turn off right into what used to be a private entrance to an old estate but is now a public road.

This wooded section brings you down to the coast at 8.2 miles. Here, you turn left and begin a very steep hill...

It is perhaps no more than 800m long but once you reach the top, there is a spectacular view of the West Cork coastline. From here, you drop down again and run along the flat road by Long Strand.

At 10.4 miles, you come to the end of the flat section...

From here, there are a number of hills with the most significant long hill starting at 12.4 miles. This lasts until about 15 miles when you turn off right towards the village of Ardfield at 15.6 miles where you stay right at the church...

After another short downhill section, you have a steep but short uphill at 15.9 miles...

It soon flattens out though as you make our way through a series of junctions at 16.1 miles...

The next mile or so is pretty easy. While there are some hills, the gradients are pretty gentle and there are some great views out over the West Cork coastline.

At 17.4 miles, you begin the descent towards the coast and there are some steep downhills sections along the way...

Once you reach the coast, there is another short climb as you have to gain some height as you follow the coastline. At around the 19.3 mile mark, you'll see Inchydoney across the bay...

From here, you head back in towards Clonakilty with the bay on your right.

At 19.9 miles, you turn off left on to a narrow road which is the start of a significant climb which lasts for about one mile. The gradient isn't too bad but it's the length of the hill which is more of a factor.

This is the junction at the top of the long climb at 20.9 miles...

Now you have a long run downhill to about the 21.7 mile mark where you turn off left onto a small country road. From here, you rejoin the earlier part of route as you retrace your steps back in towards the finish line in the town of Clonakilty itself.

Video clip of the course...



Overall......Very scenic course looking out over the harbour and the ocean. Not as fast as a dead flat course as there are a number of testing hills. One the most scenic Marathons in Munster.

Clare002

Preview of the Eddie Murphy Memorial Marathon in Sixmilebridge, Co.Clare...

Location...Sixmilebridge is located about 10 miles / 16 kms to the north-west of Limerick City.

Directions....Sixmilebridge is clearly sign posted from the N18 road from Limerick to Galway. The map below shows the approach roads from the directions of Shannon (R471) and Limerick City (R462). Registration is at the finish line as shown in the map.

Coming from Shannon...The race venue is just off the R471 road from Shannon. Just after you cross over a railway bridge, you come to housing estates at the outskirts of the town. Turn left at this junction...

Coming from Limerick....As you enter Sixmilebridge on the R462 from the N18 / Limerick City, you pass a prominent church on the left. Just after that, you come to a crossroads in the middle of the town where you turn left...

...and cross over a small bridge. You then stay left and go straight up the hill...

After 250 metres, you pass a soccer pitch on the left and you then take the next right...

Parking and entries......The is plenty of free parking at the GAA grounds near the finish line...see map below. Entries are taken near the finish line.

Course map...

Course description...The course is a one mile loop with the race going in a counter clockwise direction. There is a small 'in and out' section at the finish line so that the loop is exactly one mile.

A number of races are held on the same day on this course. How it works is as follows...

The Half-Marathon distance is 13.1094 miles. Contestants start at point 'C' on the map which is 0.1094 miles from the finish line. They then run through the timing mat at the finish line and complete 13 laps of the course....i.e. 13 miles + 0.1094 miles.

The Marathon starts at point 'B' on the map, run to the timing mat at the finish line and then run 26 laps.

Those doing the 30 mile Ultra-Marathon start at the finish line and run 30 laps.

Those doing the 52 mile Ultra-Marathon start at point 'A'....run to the finish line and then complete 52 laps.

Key points of the course are (refer to map above and profile below)...
Finish line to point E is essentially flat or slightly downhill.
Point E to Point F is a steep downhill section
Point F to Point A is a 590 metre long gradual climb
Point A to finish is slightly downhill

Profile......

Closer look at the finish line...

The course goes in here around some cones and back out again. The finish line mat is here as well as the water station, gels, sweets, etc.

This multi-race event is organised by BMOH AC and is held in November every year.