Welcome to the Running in Cork blog, home of the Cork running community. This is the largest website in Cork & Munster for news on road races and general running news. Included are a current race calendar, race previews, photos, results as well as some local, national and international news items.
The Gneeveguilla AC 1-mile Summer Series kicks off on Wednesday the 26th of June 2019 with the first event in Barraduff, Co.Kerry. There are five races in total and most are close to the Cork-Kerry border.
Each race costs €5 to enter or €20 for all five.
Please note that the start time is 7:30pm as opposed to 8pm in previous years. Reg opens at 6:30pm.
One of the biggest races in Kerry is the annual Killarney Half-Marathon & 10k and it's coming up on Saturday the 20th of July 2019.
The half marathon starts at Moll's Gap at 8:00am and follows one of the most scenic roads in the country to the finish line at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney. Participants in the half marathon will be taken by bus from Killarney to the start line at Moll's Gap.
What makes this half-marathon unique is that the road is closed and this is the only time of the year that a race is held on this road. Normally, you can't run on this road as it's way too busy with traffic going from Killarney to Kenmare.
The 10k starts at 9:30am and finishes at the Gleneagle Hotel and takes in a loop inside the national park near Muckross House.
Entry for each race includes...Customised finisher medal...Dry fit T-shirt...Chip timing... Prizes... Massage at finish line... Hot tubs... Post-race party... Officially measured course
Note that the road from Molls Gap to Killarney will be closed to traffic and it's the only time of the year that you can run on this busy road.
The video clip below gives a feel for what the course looks like...
The annual Cork BHAA Gas Networks Ireland 5k road race is coming up on Wednesday the 10th of July 2019 at 8pm in Cork City.
The Cork Boat Club which is located in Blackrock village will be the race HQ. The race starts near Pairc Uí Chaoimh and takes in the Centre Park Road, Monghan Road and the Marina. As courses go, there are no hills and it's flat and fast.
The one issue however is parking. It is very limited near the Cork Boat Club but there is plenty at the other end of Marina near Pairc Uí Chaoimh.
Here is some information from the organisers.....The Gas Networks Ireland race takes place at a Marina 5k route this year. Registration is from 6.30pm at Cork Boat Club in Blackrock village with the race starting at 8pm up near Lee Rowing Club. Registration will close at 7.45pm to allow runners get to the start which is approximately 1 mile from Cork Boat Club.
Parking...The following areas are where you are likely to find parking but these will fill up early so it would be worth getting to registration as early as possible.
a) Car parks on far side of Blackrock Castle. These will fill up with early morning walkers if we have a fine morning b) Parking near Shandon Boat Club where traditionally a lot of people would have parked for Marina 5k races. If you’ve car-pooled, the driver can drop off others who can register for them at Cork Boat Club and meet them at the start. c) City side of Blackrock church. Meadow Grove Estate which is between Blackrock Village and Skehard Rd.
As always, the entry fee is €5 for registered runners and €10 for non-registered. I suggest you park your car and jog to the race HQ with the exact entry fee. From there, go to the start line.
A free travel mug will also be given out to the first 500 runners to register...
154 turned out for this 4 mile race in North Cork on Friday 21st June 2019.
1 Shane Simcox Mallow AC 21:29 M40 452 2 Jeremiah Sheehan Lismire 21:56 SM 838 3 Karl Lenihan West Limerick AC 22:26 M40 445 10 Niamh Moore Leevale AC 23:55 SF 423 15 Sorcha Kearney St. Finbarrs AC 24:15 F40 433 29 Sinead Buckley North Cork AC 26:10 SF 486
370 runners turned out for this weeks 5k parkrun in Ballincollig Regional Park.
1 Nick HOGAN 17:51 VM35-39 M1
2 Kevin FULIGNATI 17:56 SM25-29 M2
3 Joe BOSONNET 18:17 JM15-17 M3 Sanctuary Runners 9 Carol FINN 19:28 SW30-34 F1 40 Mairead PEREZ 21:43 VW45-49 F2 41 Mary SWEENEY 21:51 VW55-59 F3 St Finbarrs AC
Former Cork hurler Paul Tierney has just set a new record for completing all of the Wainwright's 214 Lake District peaks.
In total, he ran an incredible 318 miles (511 km) ascending a total of 36,000m (118,000ft) in a record time of six days and six hours. This is the equivalent of four ascents of Everest!
The previous record of six days and 13 hours was set in 2014 by Steve Birkinshaw.
Paul also raised £18,000 for a mental health charity in the process.
You can enter on the evening for €10...registration desk open from 5:30PM. The event will be chip timed. Race HQ is at the Macroom Sports Complex which is just inside the Macroom castle gates on the left.
Please note that there is limited parking there. Follow the race stewards instructions on the night on where to park.
Course Preview.........A full preview with maps, directions, photos, etc can be seen HERE
From the organisers.....The race starts at the beginning of the town from the Cork side by Macroom Motors. The 5 km route takes you through the town and looping through the countryside and back to town with the finish in the town centre. This is the 8th year of the race which has grown from strength to strength in the last few years. Register on the evening of the event at Macroom Sports Complex (€10).
Loads of prizes across a range of age categories. All surplus funds are donated to Cork ARC Cancer support house. Plenty of refreshments also.
Support this great event and the excellent work by Cork Arc Cancer Support
This 4 mile road race near Midleton is coming up on Thursday the 25th of July 2019...
Located just to the south-east of Midleton, this 4 mile race is on nice quiet country roads and should be within easy reach for a lot of people. The entry fee is €10 for runners.
The race is being organised by the Ballinacurra Villagers Running Club in association with Ballinacurra GAA.
Preview......A preview of the course with photos can be seen HERE
There were 275 finishers in this 5k in Upper Glanmire near Cork City on Monday the 17th of June 2019.
1 420 Mark Walsh Leevale Male M 15:38.121 -
2 453 John Meade St Finbarrs Male M 15:48.647
3 442 Gavin O Rourke Leevale Male M 16:07.464 13 848 Kealey Tideswell Clonmel AC Female F 19:10.532 21 824 Irene Eighan St Finbarrs Female F 20:59.986 22 921 Ellie Twomey Carrig Na Bhfear U16 F 21:18.013
This 5k in Ballyclough in NW Cork was held on Saturday the 15th of June 2019 and had a field of 68 runners.
Ballyclough 5K 2019
Name Bib Club CAT Time
Timmy Hennessy 563 N/A M 18.36
Patrick O'Keefe 510 Mt Hillary M40 18.55
Tom Sheehan 559 N/a M 19.11 Mary Ann Murphy 536 Mt Hillary F 21.56 Deirdre Cotter 539 Mallow AC F40 22.50
The very first 5k parkrun in Ballincollig Regional Park was held on the 18th of June 2016 and has now been going for three years.
As can be seen from the chart above, it has been held every week with the exception of a few. Just looking, I can spot the gaps due to Ophelia and the Beast from the East!
The chart also shows that it has been doing very well in 2019 getting roughly 300 per week.
Here are the results and photos for this week...
1 Nick HOGAN 18:04 VM35-39 M1 2 Tom SHEEHAN 19:05 VM55-59 M2 3 James CALLANAN 19:27 VM50-54 M3 4 Carol FINN 19:41 SW30-34 F1 38 Gillian COTTER 23:02 VW45-49 F2 St Finbarrs AC 52 Carrie DESMOND 23:38 VW35-39 F3
There was a record turnout for this years Inniscarra 4 mile race with 202 finishers. If the 21 walkers are taken out then there are 181 runners, a new record as can be seen from the chart above.
It's been a busy two days for races in Cork with a see-saw pattern to the numbers. The Belle of Ballincollig was up 7%, Coolagown was down 9% and Inniscarra was up 17%.
1 0:20:56 SWEENEY, Gavin Togher AC M 05:13.9 833 1
2 0:21:17 SMYTH, Mark Eagle AC M40 05:19.2 824 2
3 0:22:44 DOYLE, Adam Unattached M 05:40.9 825 3 19 0:26:12 CRONIN, Niamh St. Finbarrs AC F40 06:32.9 867 19 29 0:27:12 O'CONNOR, Linda Unattached F40 06:47.9 930 29 30 0:27:25 BEVAN, Karen Eagle AC F40 06:51.1 876 30
This 4 mile road race in Inniscarra is coming up on Friday, the 14th of June 2019...
The race HQ is the GAA grounds in Ballyanly which is to the north-west of Cork City...
It may not be the easiest of courses but it's on nice quiet country roads. On a nice sunny summer evening, it's a lovely spot for a race. The ease of access and proximity to Cork City is another major plus.
Preview...More information on the course can be seen HERE
