Preview of the Bride 10k...Sun 22nd Apr 2012

This 10k road race on Sunday the 22nd of April 2012 in Rathcormac is a brand new event on the calendar. Organised in conjunction with Grange Fermoy AC, the race course has been accurately measured by Jones Counter. The race entry fee is €10. The race starts at 12 noon.

Rathcormac is just off the M8 Cork to Dublin road in NE Cork and is very easy to get to. If you are coming from Cork City, then just turn off at Watergrasshill and follow the signposts. As you enter Rathcormac from the south, take the first left at the crossroads just after the small garage.

The entrance to the local GAA grounds is a narrow roadway in the middle of a row of bungalows on the left. Follow the stewards directions for parking.

One feature of this race is that the race headquarters, start and finish lines are all very close to each other. You can register for the race at the GAA grounds between 10am and 11:45am. Runners will have use of the shower facilities there after the race.

Course......As you can seen from the map above, the start point is just up the road. You run down past the GAA grounds and then left through the town itself. This part of the course is dead flat and the field should start to thin out as it goes Rathcormac itself. On the other side of the town, you take a left onto a quieter road which is the route north-west to Ballyhooly.

Pretty soon, you reach the one mile mark and the road begins to climb. That first hill marks the end of what is a fast first mile and the start of a climb for the next two miles as you go from 50 metres to 150 metres in altitude. Sometimes the gradient changes but it is for the most part a long gradual climb. At about 1.7 miles, you cross over the M8 motorway for the first time...

After that, the course continues to climb as the country road twists and turn and eases a bit near the two mile mark...

After this, the gradient increases again until you go through a crossroads at about 2.3 miles...

All along this section, there is a fine view to the north-east as you look across at Corrin Hill near Fermoy. The road now continues past the 3 mile mark until you reach a wooded section where you turn off left...

Now the road is very narrow with trees on both sides of the road. Just around here, you hit the highest point of the race course and the second half of the route is a lot easier. Initially, the fall is slight but as you approach the 3.7 mile mark, you get a good idea of how high above the valley floor you are...

You pass the 4 mile mark on a long straight downhill section. At the end of the hill, you turn left at the T-junction...

Now the road continues to drop at a more gentle rate until you reach the hump-backed Ballybrowney Bridge...

After this, there is a very gradual uphill section as you run past the 5 mile mark. After that, the road drops again until you reach the next T-junction. This is the end of the narrow country roads as you are now on the R614 road. Soon, you cross over the M8 motorway again for the second and last time...

From here, you continue on in towards Rathcormac as the road twists and turn on what should be a fast section of the course. After you pass the 6 mile mark, the finish is just ahead...

Overall......Basically, a 10k road race with two halves. The first mile is flat and is then followed by two miles of uphill running. The first two miles of the second half are mostly downhill on narrow quiet country roads followed by a flattish last mile. Probably not the fastest of courses but the ease of access and relative proximity of Cork City might make it an attractive option for many.

Info from the organisers...All runners and walkers are welcome to Rathcormac Cork for the first Annual Bride 10K Run/Walk. If you are a budding Olympian or just want to try and shed a few pounds  the Bride run is for you. The course has a climb for the first 4km after that it is mainly down hill or flat. The cost of the event is €10 per runner, entries will be also taken on the day from 10am -11.30am at Bride Rovers GAA club house. The race will start at 12.00 from Bride Rovers GAA grounds and will also finish there.  Prizes will be offered to the first three men and women. There will also be prizes offered to the first two men and women in the following categories, U19's, 40+, 50+ and 60+. Refreshments will be provided at the GAA club house after the race.