Preview of the Cork BHAA 'IPS/Garda' 5 km road race - Thurs 14th Apr (8pm)

The next race on the Cork BHAA calendar sees a return to Ringaskiddy for the 'IPS/Garda' 5 km road race. Last year, they got a turnout of 314 for this race which is good for any evening race. The Pfizers 6 mile race in the same location got 275 runners, an increase of 28% on the previous year. Will the IPS/Garda race get a 28% increase??? If they do, that will mean about 400 runners will take part! It's hard to imagine them getting that many but a lot of the races recently seem to be getting crazy numbers. The one big factor may be the weather as it would seem as if the rain won't be too far away.

Registration...The registration point for this race is the Pfizers Sports Centre which is located near Ringaskiddy. From Cork, take the main road for the Car Ferry and Ringaskiddy. As you go through Shanbally, you will pass through a small roundabout. About 400 metres later, you'll see the first turn off to the left. Take this and there will be stewards there directing you towards the car park. The entry fee is €5 for registered runners and €7 for non-registered.

Course...The start is between the entrance to the sports complex and the village of Shanbally. Just after the start, it's a bit chaotic as everyone takes the left at the roundabout and the field is still bunched. Then the road straightens out and you go up a slight uphill section, nothing serious but enough to put anyone starting too fast into oxygen debt. Then a sharp left, a sharp right, a long straight section with a steep drop at the end to the 1 mile mark near the road junction. The start of the 2nd mile starts with a short uphill section to the entrance of Novartis. Then, the going is pretty flat until there is a sharp drop down to the 2 mile mark near the road junction near Ringaskiddy. The section from the 2 mile mark to the finish is probably the hardest. It's a long section going up a gentle hill all the way. The finish is just outside the Sports complex.

Overall...
It's probably not the fastest of 5km course with the number of climbs along the route. However, none of the hills are that serious so your times won't be out that much.
If you want to have a closer look at the course, I have put it up on the MapMyRun website.