Looking ahead to what's on over the next few weeks...

This time of year is usually a quiet time of year for races. With that in mind, perhaps it's time to reflect on what is coming up over the next few weeks.

Short races........there are a few short races (3k, 5k, 4m) coming up over the next few weeks. Once we get to the Christmas period, things start to get busy again with several races on offer (5k, 4m, 5m). Once the new year starts, the number of short races drop off again but that's the time of year when the longer races start.

Mallow 10.......The Mallow 10 mile road race is coming up on the 10th of January. This is the 1st race of 4 in the Munster Ten-Mile Spring Classics Series. Back in January, they had 576 finishers and they will probably get somewhere in the region of 600-800 runners for the next event.

If you are new to the local race scene and are more used to the shorter races then you have 6 weeks to up your milage in preperation for this event. Your priority should be just to get around the 10 mile course rather than setting some spectacular time. If you can aim to run 7-8 miles comfortably by the end of the year then you should have no problems doing 10 miles on the day.

The organisers of the race (Mallow AC) are anxious to get as many pre-entries in as early as possible so as to take off some of the pressure on race day. You can find more information about the Mallow 10 here. Note that all you have to do for now is to enter your details on an online form...you can pay on the day of the race.

Ballycotton 10.......and besides the actual races, the next really 'big race' to the one to get into next year's Ballycotton 10!! The forms are coming out next week and I'll look at this here at the end of the week.