Preview of the Emer Casey 10k - Sun 20th May 2012

This popular 10k road race in Youghal is coming up on Sunday, the 20th of May at 1:30pm. As you can see from the poster above, the entry fee is €20 and it's likely to attract a large turnout like in previous years.

Entries.......Online registration is now closed. Registration will take place on Saturday May 19th from 12-2 pm or on Sunday May 20th from 11am at Pobalscoil na Trionoide, Youghal. Numbers will also be collected at this time.

Pobalscoil na Trionoide

Directions......It's very easy to find the registration point and start for this race. Just take the by-pass around Youghal and at the top of the hill, take the slip road that takes you into Youghal. After a few hundred metres, you'll see the school shown above on your left hand side. Parking is available at the school and on grounds adjacent to the school. Please do not park on the road outside the school as this is part of the race route

Course...The start of the race is just up the road by the water tower....

 The first 1.3 miles of this race are very fast indeed. From the start near the tower, you run back towards the school. The road here is pretty straight and is slightly downhill until it turns off left...

Then it's a long downhill section to the 1 mile mark and a very fast first mile. The course now continues downhill until you reach the bottom of the hill around the 1.5 mile mark...

After turning left, the road here is flat as you head back in towards the town again and the 2 mile mark....another fast mile. After this, the road begins to climb...

...but it's pretty gradual. You hit the top of this small hill around 2.6 miles where the lighthouse looks out over Youghal harbour....

You will have to tackle this hill again but from the other side on the way back. For now, you continue around the corner and begin the long downhill.

At the end where the road passes the park with the grandstand and at around 3 miles, the road splits to begin a loop around the old part of the town....

The road now is narrow as it goes between tall buildings on either side of the road. Just up ahead, you run under the iconic Clock Gate Tower (Built in 1777, the town's Clock Gate was built on the site of Trinity Castle, part of the town's fortifications. The Clock Gate served the town as gaol and public gallows until 1837; prisoners were executed by being hanged from the windows).

Probably best not to dwell too much on the 'gallows' part ;o) . From here, the road continues past all of the small shops until you hit the roundabout at the far side of the town just beyond the 4 mile mark...

From here, you turn for home and head back into the town again....

Around the 5.2 mile mark, you complete the loop as you re-join the road you were on earlier. From here, it's a gentle climb back up to where the lighthouse is before turning off left at the next junction...

From here, it's downhill and then flat to the finish line...

Overall.....It's a fast course that starts high above the town and finishes near sea level. The only real hill to speak of is near the lighthouse which you'll have to tackle twice. Compared to other courses, that climb is really a minor affair and you can expect a fast time.

Post race.........Courtesy buses for transport back to the school will be parked at Tides car park located 100 metres approx. from the finish line. The bus will make several transfers. You may therefore need to wait a short time for a returning bus. For anyone who want to run back up to the school, it's about 1.5 miles.

A free draw with numerous spot prizes will take place in the school after the race. Just write your name on the back of your race number and place it into the entry box which will be located in the gym hall in the school where registration took place. Refreshments and showers are available in the school after the race together with a free T-shirt for all finishers

All proceeds from the race go to Ovarian/Uterine/Endometrial Cancer Research. More information on the Emer Casey Foundation website

Video of the 2011 race to give you an idea of what it's like...