This will be the third year of this 10km road race in Dunmanway in West Cork. Last year, they had an entry of 361 runners which was an impressive turnout for a new race
(2010...253). Organised by local club Doheny AC, the 10k course has been accuratedly measured by Jones Counter and has an AAI licence.
The race starts at 11am.
Entries...You can pre-enter for €10 by going to the race website
HERE
They will be taking online entries until mid-day Saturday. You can enter on the day for €12.
Directions......Dunmanway is on the R586 Bandon to Bantry road and about 45 minutes from Cork City.
Once you enter Dunmanway itself, you should look for the relief road to the south of the town. See the map and directions underneath...
Once you get to the town then you have to find the GAA hall which will be used as the race venue....
As you drive through the town, you will pass a Topaz station on your left. Take the next left
(see pic above...left). This relief road will take you to the south side of the town and you will come out at a t-junction
(see pic above...right). Take a left here.
After 300 metres, you'll cross a bridge, you'll see the Parkway Hotel on your left and the road junction ahead. Take the right here and the GAA hall is just up this road. There should be plenty of direction markers out on the day so you'll find it ok.
Prizes.....
-First 5 Male & Female , First 2 Male & Female in the usual veteran categories, First Male & Female Juniors, First wheelchair athlete, First local male & female novice finishers
Male & Female Course Record....Course Records: Alan O'Shea - 32:34, Mary Sweeney - 40:39
One thing to note here is the womens course record of 40:39. There is a bonus prize of €100 given for setting a new course record and I'd reckon it's very likely that the old one will be broken on Sunday.
Course.....
The start is back down on the relief road....a short distance from the GAA hall....
The road here is reasonably wide and you run back into the town. Plenty of space here to pass people and find your correct pace.
As you begin to leave the town, there is a slight pull before the bridge over the Bandon River as it weaves its way towards Bandon and Kinsale. Around here, you hit the 1 mile mark...
On the far side, there is a short climb for about 300 metres until you turn off right onto a narrow road. From here on, you are on nice quiet country roads with the hills of west Cork in the background...
There are a few small pulls but nothing too serious. On past the 2 mile mark and you reach Ballabuidhe Bridge and cross the Bandon River for the 2nd time...the lowest point of the course.
A sharp right after this and you continue on narrow roads. Eventually, you come out at a T-junction and a wider road...
...you take a left here and there is a small pull now for 400 metres of so...
...and then you turn off right, back on to quiet narrow country roads again and on shortly to the 4 mile mark.
The next 1.5 miles or so are pretty flat. There is however just one climb to deal with just before the 6 mile mark. It is about 400 metres long and comes at a stage of the race when you are most tired.
However once you reach the top, there is a very fast downhill section all the way to the finish line by the GAA hall.
Overall......A nice scenic course. Wide roads at the start to allow the field to thin out, quiet country roads after that. While there are a few climbs, there is nothing too long. It's a well organised race that was voted the best 10k road race of 2011 and for good reason. As it's within a 45 min drive of Cork City and there is a large catchment of runners in the West Cork region, it's bound to attract a good crowd again.
