Ballycotton 10 - Car Parks...
As you can see from the map above, they will be using 6 car parks for this year's event. Click on the map to enlarge it. Just one small note...the numbers used for the car parks above are ones that I just picked. They may well have different numbers on the day! The distances shown are from the car park to the start line. Subtract half a mile for the distance to the race HQ.

Most of the car parks are in fields. Last year, the ground was so wet that some (..if not all?) of the fields could not be used. For the last few weeks, the rainfall has actually been very light so there is a good chance that they will be ok for next weekend.

Some basic facts and info....
1) They will have shuttle buses taking runners from the car parks to a road block near the old church, about 300 metres from the school and Race HQ. After the race, the shuttle buses will take the runners back to the car parks.

2) Note for Ballycotton 10 first timers!! You really need to turn up early for the race. I'd recommend about 11am to 11:30am and earlier if you want to get one of the closer car parks. If you expect to arrive there at 12:30, you're really asking for trouble! You are not going to get near the place without being stopped by a steward and be directed to the nearest car park. If you miss the last shuttle bus, you're out of the race :o(
I remember 2 years ago, I went down early and I still got stuck in a half mile tailback going into Cloyne and that was 8 miles from Ballycotton!! I think if I had been later, I'd have missed the race. You have been warned...Get there early

3) Just in case you arrive really early and you did not read the FAQ section..." There will be no parking within one mile of the village and a tow-away truck will be in operation from 10am onwards. " So, use the designated car parks.

4) There will be a one way system in operation in the general area again this year. Last year, we could not use the fields and we ended up parking on the side of the road. Some people tried to drive back out the same way that they had come in only to be stopped and turned around by the Gardai.
So don't try anything fancy and just follow the stewards instructions.

5) If you are one of those people availing of the new bike parking areas, then you probably have the best options. You don't have to arrive so early and as you'll be one of the first back to the outer car parks, you can beat all the traffic out of the area.

So, if there is one thing that I tried to impress on you here is that getting there early really pays off. You'll be able to park within walking distance of the Race HQ /Start and you don't have to worry about, or queue for, the buses. Believe me, when you see the long queue of cold shivering runners waiting for the next bus, you'll be glad you did.

Tomorrow, I'll look at the course and do a preview of it.
Until then...