Preview of the Liscarroll 10k road race - Fri 2nd Sept 2011

The 8th race in the Ballyhoura Active Series is coming up in the town of Liscarroll on Friday, the 2nd  of September at 7pm. Located in the north of County Cork, it is only 10 kms west of the N20 Cork-Limerick road.

Race details...... Liscarroll AC 'Tom Fitzpatrick Memorial' 10 km Road Race
Date : On Friday September 2nd. Commencing @ 7.00 pm Sharp.
No Walking Section for Safety Reasons due to short evenings
Entries/Changing/Showers @ Community Centre beside G.A.A. Pitch
Entry Fee €10.00
Entries Taken at Community Centre from 5.30 p.m. up to 6.45 p.m. 
Course:- Flat & Fast 10Km............Out & Back Loop.
Only 17m change in elevation over whole course.

If you are coming from the direction of Cork City or Mallow, the easiest spot to turn off is at Buttevant. If you are coming from Limerick, then turn off for Churchtown.

The map below is of the town showing the Community Hall (inset) and the start / finish points. If you are coming from the direction of Buttevant on the R522 road, then you will drive down a long straight section of road as you enter the town. At the end where there is a bend in the road, take the right here and the Community Centre and GAA Hall is just up this road. Please note that the start point is approx 800 metres from the hall so give yourself plenty of time.

The course.......Basically, it is in the shape of a spoon. The race starts and finishes on a long straight flat section of road....

After several hundred metres, the road begins to twist and turn as you go uphill on what is a very slight hill. Just around where the road straightens out again, you pass the 1 mile mark. At the next Y junction at ~1.2 miles, you stay on the main road left....

This next section of road consists of long straight sections again and a slight uphill section. At approx 2.6 miles, you turn right at the next road junction...

Again, the next section is dead straight and flat. As you stay on the right hand side of the road here, you go through the 3 mile mark and turn off right at ~3.3 miles on to a quiet country road....

Now the road is narrower as it begins to climb slightly again until you hit the 4 mile mark...

After this, thie road is mostly straight and soon there is a gentle downhill as you rejoin the road that you were on earlier and head back towards the finish line just before the town.

Overall......Probably as fast a 10k course as you'll get. The hills are very modest and with the long straight sections, you are taking the shortest possible route most of the time. The start time of 7pm may be a little tight for people who have to travel to the race but it should still attract a reasonable crowd.