Preview of the Great Railway Run...Sun 11th Nov 2012

This is a new race in Cork and is somewhat unique in that it is point to point rather than the usual looped version. There are basically three options....

1. 25k race from Cork City to Carrigaline following roughly the route of the old Cork to Crosshaven railway........cost €45.
2. 10k race from Monkstown to Carrigaline......entry fee €15.
3. 25k relay with a team of two covering the 25 kms........cost €45.

All proceeds from the race go towards the Carrigaline Lions Club for various charitable projects.

To enter.......You can enter on the day at the following points.....

25k Run....Starts at 12:30pm.....You can register at Kennedy Park which is about 300 metres from the start line. Allow plenty of time as pre-registered runners will be collecting their Goody Bags. Registration opens 90 minutes before the start of the race.

10k Run.....Starts at 1pm.......Main car park in Monkstown.

The full course is shown below.....

As you can see, about 18 kms are alongside the waters edge making it a nice run. The full course is pretty flat with probably five small hills at most.

25k.......The race starts on the Centre Park Road and heads towards Pairc Ui Chaoimh...

Before you reach the one mile mark, you turn onto the Marina as you follow the River Lee on your left...

At the end of the Marina, you pass the 2 mile mark and the first hill. It's a pretty small affair and is only about 200 metres long. Then you drop down again and approach Blackrock Castle....

On the far side, you turn off left onto a public walkway and stay by the waters edge...

 For the next two miles, you stay on this pathway until you re-join another pathway which is actually the old railway line itself. You then cross over the Douglas Estuary and hit the 5 mile mark near the apartment complex at Harty's Quay.

This is the end of the walkway for a few hundrd metres as you come out onto the Rochestown Road....

The old railway platform and station building can be clearly seen in the photo above. The footpath here is very wide so there is probably no need to run on the road. At 5.6 miles, you rejoin the walkway at Hop Island...

 For the next 1.4 miles, the course is dead straight and the 10k mark is clearly marked on the path. At 7 miles, the path turns to the south-east and Great Island on the far side comes into view. At about 7.5 miles, you approach the centre of the town of Passage West and some of the old railway infrastructure is still evident...

The limestone building on the left was a support for a large water tank which was used to supply the steam engine. The station was located just behind. The course now continues through the town and there is a small hill just after the 8 mile mark. In fact, the course has been more or less dead flat since just before Blackrock Castle back near the 2 mile mark.

The road drops down again on the other side to Glenbook....

Past the cross harbour ferry, then the 9 mile mark and onto to the start of the 10k race in Monkstown itself....roughly 9.3 miles or 15 kms.

10k Course........The start of the 10k race and the changeover for the relay in the 25k is at the car park in Monkstown....

This used to be the old railway station and still includes some of the old infrastructure. The wall next to the footpath is part of the old platform while the small limestone building on the left was a support for a water tank.

Old station in Monkstown

The course here continues to be dead flat and soon you pass the new marina in Monkstown. This is a really nice stretch with extensive views of the outer harbour. Here the route twists and turns a bit and eventually narrows around the 10.5 mile mark......around the 1 mile mark for the 10k......as you run alongside Raffeen Creek...

This is the one section of the course where traffic may become an issue so follow the race stewards instructions. The narrow section lasts for about one mile and includes one or two very small inclines.

At about 11.6 miles, you join the main road from Cork to Ringaskiddy....

From here, you run alongside the main road as it rises up to Shanbally at about 12.4 miles.....

The course along here is basically the same as the Carrigaline 5 mile road race every February except that it's in reverse.

After an easy climb at first out of Shanbally, the road soon levels off and then drops down to the next road junction at 13.2 miles...

After turning right, you are now on the direct road between Ringaskiddy and Carrigaline.This section has a number of small pulls but nothing too serious.

At the 15.2 mile mark, you pass the Community Hall in Carrigaline and arrive at the next major junction...

The old railway embankment can be clearly seen at the opposite side of the road while the actual railway station was up a little on the right. For the race however, you turn left here.

After a short section next to a small park, it's left again and you are now into the home straight of the race....

The railway crossed the Owenabue River here on a raised viaduct. The old concrete supports can still be seen.

 From here, it's flat to the finish line at the local GAA club...

The entry fee includes transport if required for runners from Carrigaline to Cork before and after the race. The first 500 entrants will receive a technical T-shirt and a medal on completion of the race.

Both courses have been measured by Jones Counter.

More details on the event website.

Bus.........If anyone hasn't preregistered and would like a seat on the bus they should send an email to conortphelan@gmail.com to reserve a seat.

Water Stations.......Water stations are at 4 ,8 ,11 ,15 and 20kms.

Prize Categories...Prizes will consist of vouchers and running gear. Prizes will be given in the following categories:

25K
Men 1st,2nd,3rd Overall
Men 1st,2nd,3rd in age groups O40, O50, O60, O70
Women 1st,2nd,3rd Overall
Women 1st,2nd,3rd in age groups O40, O50, O60, O70

10K
Men 1st,2nd,3rd Overall
Women 1st,2nd,3rd Overall

Relay
1st, 2nd Overall
Best husband/wife relay team

Some of the prizes for the womens race

Overall.....
25k race......At €45, some may well feel that it's a bit expensive for a race. It is however in aid of a local charity and the fee includes bus transfers and a dri-fit top. It really is up to each individual to decide for themselves if they would like to take part or not.
10k race......This is the more normal distance for a local race and with the entry fee of €15 including a dri-fit top, it's reasonable value.

Whatever about prices, these are two new races on the calendar and if nothing else, they are certainly unique. While they don't exactly follow the old railway route in parts, this has been done I feel to make the course a bit more varied and interesting. Considering that it's the first year of these events, no doubt a lot will be learned from the experience of this year and it should become a regular feature on the race calendar.