Notice: GR8KM race in Mitchelstown, NE Cork - Fri 5th Aug 2022

The GR8KM organised by Galtee Runners AC coming up on Friday, the 5th of August 2022. As the name suggests, it is an 8 km road race on the roads around Mitchelstown and considering its proximity to the several major roads, it is likely to attract runners from North Cork, Limerick and Tipperary.

You can pre-enter HERE or you can enter on the evening of the race.

Notice : GR8KM race in Mitchelstown, NE Cork - Fri 9th Aug 2019

The GR8KM organised by Galtee Runners AC coming up on Friday, the 9th of August 2019. As the name suggests, it is an 8 km road race on the roads around Mitchelstown and considering its proximity to the several major roads, it is likely to attract runners from North Cork, Limerick and Tipperary.

With the M8 motorway, Mitchelstown is only 50 kms or a 35-40 minute drive from Cork City so it's an option for city based runners as well.

They have the same 8km course this year with €200 on offer to anyone breaking the 8km course record (male & female). The race is sponsored by Kerrygold Park. ..

From Galtee Runners AC...  Galtee Runners with Kerrygold Park are proud to present our 10th Annual GR8 8km road run. As it's our 10th year, we will be giving out a special Beanie hat to every runner!

Our new route introduced in 2017 is ideal for getting some PB's and it is also without some of those dreaded hills!

Our HQ for this year's GR8 will once again be the Mitchelstown Leisure Centre and registration will begin here at 5:30pm on Friday 9th August.  

Entry for the run is just €10 with all category prizes on offer and all entrants will be chip timed. The race itself will begin at 7:30pm SHARP! 

All levels of ability are welcome and we hope to see as many numbers out as possible. What better way to run off those cobwebs from the Bank Holiday Weekend!!

**Course Record** :: We are delighted to announce that this year's course record prize has been kept at €200!! Last year 2018 winners were Clonmel AC's Kevin Maunsell and St Finbarrs AC's Martina Kiely and they set new course records with 23:57 & 29:18 respectively... Can these be beaten this year? 

***

The race will start and finish at the the Mitchelstown Leisure Centre which is just behind the Tesco shopping centre.

Preview... A preview of the 2019 course with maps, photos and directions can be seen HERE...

Notice...GR8KM race in Mitchelstown, NE Cork - Fri 10th Aug 2018

The GR8KM organised by Galtee Runners AC coming up on Friday, the 10th of August 2018. As the name suggests, it is an 8 km road race on the roads around Mitchelstown and considering its proximity to the several major roads, it is likely to attract runners from North Cork, Limerick and Tipperary.

With the M8 motorway, Mitchelstown is only 50 kms or a 35-40 minute drive from Cork City so it's an option for city based runners as well.

They have the same 8km course this year with €200 on offer to anyone breaking the 8km course record (male & female). The race is sponsored by Kerrygold Park. ..

From Galtee Runners AC...  Galtee Runners with Kerrygold Park are proud to present our 9th Annual GR8 8km road run! We have retained last year's entirely new and improved route which is ideal for getting some PB's and it is also without some of those dreaded hills! This race is also race 2 of the Avondhu 3x3 series. Our HQ for this year's GR8 will once again be Mitchelstown Leisure Centre and registration will begin here at 5:30pm on Friday 10th August. Entry for the run is just €10 with all category prizes on offer and all entrants will be chip timed. The race itself will begin at 7:30pm SHARP! All levels of ability are welcome and we hope to see as many numbers out as possible. What better way to run off those cobwebs from the Bank Holiday Weekend!!

**Course Record** :: We are delighted to announce that this year's course record prize has been increased to €200!! The latest course records were set in 2017 on our new and improved route. The records are held by David Mansfield of Clonliffe Harriers (24:54) and Orla Touhy of Fermoy (30:19)... Can these be beaten this year?

The race will start and finish at the the Mitchelstown Leisure Centre which is just behind the Tesco shopping centre.

Preview... A preview of the 2018 course with maps, photos and directions can be seen HERE...

Photos of the CBS Primary 5k run in Mitchelstown...Thurs 28th Sept 2017

The annual CBS Primary 5k in Mitchelstown was held in really wet conditions on Thursday the 28th of September 2017.

Gerard O'Sullivan was an hand to take some photos and they can be seen HERE

Results of the GR8KM in Mitchelstown...Fri 11th Aug 2017

There was an extra 26 runners this year for the GR8KM race which brings it more or less back in line with the 2015 figure.

1 David Mansfield     Clonliffe Harriers     SM         24:54
2 Eric Curran     Leevale     SM         25:08
3 Eoin Sugrue     Banteer     SM         26:36
21 Orla Tuohy     Fermoy     SW         30:19
34 Grainne O Callaghan     North Cork AC     SW         31:47 
36 Joan Ennis    Grange Fermoy Ac    W50        31:57 

The full results can be seen HERE

Photos...
1) Gerard Sullivan has two galleries HERE and HERE

Photos of the Mitchelstown Colour Run...Sat 8th July 2017

This Colour Run was held in Mitchelstown on Saturday the 8th of July and Gerald O'Sullivan was on hand to capture the atmosphere.  Album 1 ... Album 2

Results of the GR8KM race in Mitchelstown...Fri 5th Aug 2016

A total of 225 runners turned out for this years GR8KM race in Mitchelstown, a drop of 10% on the number for 2015. As can be seen from the chart below, they are almost back to where they started off back in 2010.

1 Declan Moore Bilboa AC SM     25:57 62
2 Kenneth Rogers St Johns A C SM     26:20 1
3 Danny Smith Ballynonty AC SM     27:10 26
9 Emma Murphy St Finbarrs SF     28:20 116
25 Linda Grogan Dundrum AC SF     32:09 171
32 Sharon Rynne Kilmurray Ibrickane SF     32:37 63 

The full results can be seen HERE

Results of the GR8KM race in Mitchelstown...Fri 7th Aug 2015

The annual GR8KM race organised by Galtee Runners AC was held on Friday the 7th of August and attracted a field of 249 runners.

1    JOHN MEADE       26:06    ST FINBARRS AC    SM    161
2    TIM O CONNOR       26:26    RIOCHT    SM    222
3    DECLAN MOORE       26:47    BILBOA AC    SM    174
24    SHARON RYNNE       31:46    KILBEHENNY    SW    171
28    JOAN ENNIS       32:03    GRANGE FERMOY    W50    194
30    AINE ROCHE       32:09    CLONMEL AC    SW    172

The full results can be seen HERE

Photos....
1) Gallery of photos HERE

Start...

Notice...GR8KM race in Mitchelstown, NE Cork - Fri 7th Aug 2015

The GR8KM organised by Galtee Runners AC coming up on Friday, the 7th of August. As the name suggests, it is an 8 km road race on the roads around Mitchelstown in North-East Cork. Considering it's proximity to the several major roads, it is likely to attract runners from North Cork, Limerick and Tipperary.

With the M8 motorway, Mitchelstown is now only 50 kms or a 35-40 minute drive from Cork City so it's an option for city based runners as well.

The race will start and finish at the new Mitchelstown Leisure Centre.
A preview of the course with maps, photos and directions can be seen HERE

Results of the Galtee Runners GR8KM race in Mitchelstown...Fri 8th Aug 2014

A record 287 runners took part in this years GR8KM road race in Mitchelstown in NE Cork. Organised by Galtee Runners, this was the 5th race of 6 in the ongoing Ballyhoura Cork Series.

1 Sergiu Ciobanu        Clonliffe Harriers     MS     25:15
2 Tim O Donoghue        East Cork     MS     25:29
3 Aogan Mac Domhnaill        Donroe Harriers     MS     25:41
16 Martina Keily        St Finbarrs     FS     29:22
22 Angela McCann        Clonmel     F40     30:59
23 Niamh O Sullivan        Riocht AC     F50     31:16

The full results can be seen HERE

Check out the race video...it is really excellent. Well done Galtee Runners!


The 6th and final race in the Ballyhoura Cork Series is the Charleville Half-Marathon on the 21st of September.

Notice...Mitchelstown GM8KM road race - Fri 8th Aug 2014

The 5th race of 6 in the Ballyhoura Cork Series is coming up on Friday, the 8th of August with the GR8KM. As the name suggests, it is an 8 km road race on the roads around Mitchelstown in North-East Cork. Considering it's proximity to the several major roads, it is likely to attract runners from North Cork, Limerick and Tipperary.

With the M8 motorway, Mitchelstown is now only 50 kms or a 35-40 minute drive from Cork City so it's an option for city based runners as well.


The race is organised by the local athletics club...Galtee Runners AC.

Please note that there is a new race HQ and new course this year. The race will start and finish at the new Mitchelstown Leisure Centre.

A map of the course can be seen HERE

More details to follow.

Results of the Ballygiblin 5 km road race...Sun 23rd Feb 2014

The inaugural Ballygiblin 5 km road race held near Mitchelstown in NE Cork on Sunday the 23rd of February 2014. Organised by Galtee Runners AC, it attracted an impressive field of 195 runners.

1 16:36 HANRAHAN, Peter Togher AC M 05:20.5
2 16:44 RYAN, David Clonmel AC M40 05:23.0
3 16:53 COLLINS, John Skibbereen AC M 05:25.9
12 18:45 MORAN, Aisling Leevale AC F 06:02.0
21 19:37 O'CALLAGHAN, Grainne unatt/Glenroe F 06:18.7
23 19:53 MORAN, Aine Leevale AC F 06:23.9 

The full results can be found HERE

Event notice...Ballygiblin 5km road race - Sun 23rd Feb 2014

The Ballygiblin 5 km road race is a brand new event on the calendar for 2014. Located about 5 kms to the east of Mitchelstown in NE Cork, it promises to be a very flat and fast course.

The town land of Ballygiblin is close to the M8 motorway so this race should be within reach of a lot of runners. The course has also been accurately measured by Jones Counter and is being organised by Galtee Runners AC.

Preview....A full course preview with directions, maps, photos, etc can be seen HERE

Results of the GR8KM Road Race, Michelstown...Fri 9th Aug 2013

A record 280 runners took part in this years GR8KM road race in Mitchelstown in NE Cork. Organised by Galtee Runners, this was up 15% on last years figure of 244. It was also the 5th race of 7 in the ongoing Ballyhoura Cork Series.

1 26:37    FOGARTY, Tony    Thurles Crokes AC    M 05:21.2
2 26:51    RYAN, David    Clonmel AC    M40 05:24.0
3 27:02    MOORE, Declan    Bilboa AC    M 05:26.2
17 30:58    MCCANN, Angela    Clonmel AC    F40 06:13.6
23 31:43    O'CALLAGHAN, Grainne    Riocht AC F 06:22.7
25 32:06    ROCHE, Aine    Clonmel AC    F 06:27.3


The full results can be seen HERE

Race notice...GR8KM road race, Mitchelstown - Fri 9th Aug 2013

The 5th race of 7 in the Ballyhoura Cork Series is coming up on Friday, the 9th of August with the GR8KM. As the name suggests, it is an 8 km road race on the roads around Mitchelstown in North-East Cork. Considering it's proximity to the several major roads, it is likely to attract runners from North Cork, Limerick and Tipperary. 

With the M8 motorway, Mitchelstown is now only 50 kms or a 35-40 minute drive from Cork City so it's an option for city based runners as well.


The race is organised by Galtee Runners AC.

Prizes........1st 6 in ladies and men, ranging from €100 for 1st to €40 for 6th, 1st 2 in each of the usual categories and 1st wheelchair. There is also a bonus of €100 for setting a new course record. The current record is 25:06 for men while the current womens record is 29:29.

Entries....The entry fee is €10 at St.Fanahans College.

Parking.......From the organisers......Parking can  got at the school car park, church car park  or a few minutes away at the square in the centre of town and at the local Tesco store.

A full preview of the course with maps, directions, photos, etc can be seen HERE

Results of the Mitchelstown GR8KM road race - Fri 10th Aug 2012

A total of 244 runners turned out for this 8 km road race in Mitchelstown in NE Cork, just slightly up on last years figure. This was the 9th race in the ongoing Ballyhoura Active Series.

The mens race was won by Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers AC in a time of 25:06, breaking the old course record of 29:40 by 34 seconds. The first woman was Maria McCarthy of Farranfore-Maine Valley AC in Kerry in 31:39.

The  Galtee Runners GR8KM '8K' Friday 10 August 2012. 7:30pm

Place    Time    Name    Team    Race Age Category    min/mile       
1    0:25:06    CIOBANU, Sergiu    Clonliffe Harriers    M    05:02.8
2    0:27:26    RYAN, David    Clonmel AC    M35    05:31.0
3    0:27:47    MOORE, Declan    Bilboa AC    MJ    05:35.2
1    0:31:39    MCCCARTHY, Maria    Farranfore-Maine Valley AC    F35    06:21.9

2    0:33:32    ROCHE, Aine    Clonmel AC    F    06:44.6
3    0:34:00    DEMPSEY, Siobhan    unatt/Ballincollig    F40    06:50.3

The full results can be seen HERE

Preview of the GR8KM road race - Fri 10th Aug 2012

This unique 8 km road race is coming up at 7:30pm on Friday, the 10th of August in Mitchelstown in NE Cork. With the new motorway network now in place, Mitchelstown is a lot easier to reach than in previous years. It is now a 35 minute drive from Cork City which is much the same as any of the Ballycotton races.

It is also well within reach of runners in S Tipperary and E Limerick  so it promises to attract a large turnout. Last year, this race was a great success so no doubt a lot of people will be returning again this year
.
The race is organised by Galtee Runners which is a relatively new club. Not so long ago, there were no races in north-east Cork so this is a welcome addition to the calendar.

This will the 9th race in the Ballyhoura Active race series. Race entries which cost €10 will be taken at St.Fanahans College which is a local Secondary school next to the parish church.

Prizes........1st 6 in ladies and men, ranging from €100 for 1st to €40 for 6th, 1st 2 in each of the usual categories and 1st wheelchair.
There is also a bonus of €100 for setting a new course record. The current record is 25:40 for men while the current womens record is 29:29.

Directions........If you are coming from the direction of Cork City, leave the motorway and head into the town on the old Dublin road.

St.Fanahans school is located in the eastern side of the town. The letters A, B and C above refer to the pictures below.....
A....Just after entering the town, you turn right at this junction and up the hill. Note that this is part of the race route and you will be running up this later.
B...You go over the crest of a hill and down the other side to pt.B.....you turn left here.
C....Along a straight residential road and take the next left at C and the school is there on the left.

Parking.......From the organisers......Parking can  got at the school car park, church car park  or a few minutes away at the square in the centre of town and at the local Tesco store.

Course......The start and finish point for the race is a short distance from the school.

The start is outside Hartnetts shop...as seen on the right of the photo above. As you can see, the road is wide, flat and straight for about 600 metres. Just up the road about 200 metres, you will pass the finish line just outside the entrance to the Co-Op stores.

After 600 metres at the first road junction, you turn left and run up through the main steet of the town. This is the start of the toughest part of the race as you will be climbing from here to roughly the 1 mile mark.

By the way, if you are coming to the race from the Limerick or Tipperary direction, you may end up coming into the town from the north. This is the first crossroads you will come to after you pass some petrol stations. Take the left here.......look for Hartnetts shop...and then turn right...and right again for the school.

After running through most of the town, you take a left and up the steepest section of the climb to the 1 mile mark. Probably not the fastest of miles but at least it comes early in the race.

At the top of the hill just after the 1 mile mark, you get your reward with a half mile stretch of downhill running....very fast. You cross a small bridge at the low point before a slight climb again as you cross over the motorway for the first time...

After the bridge, you turn left and you are on to quiet country roads for a while as you pass the 2 mile mark. The roads aren't exactly flat but any pulls are pretty modest and short.

At the next junction, the roads splits into 3 directions and you take the first left. Along this straight fast section, you go through the 3 mile mark and carry on for another 600 metres or so to the next road junction and turn right. This part of the course is especially fast and a good chance to make up for lost time on some of the earlier sections.

You hit the 4 mile mark just before you cross over the motorway for the 2nd and final time. Up the road, cross the bridge, back down the other side and continue towards Mitchelstown.

As you approach the town, the sign might say 2 kms but in reality, you have only about 1km to go to the finish from this point. From here, the course is pretty fast and soon, you are back at the start line...

...and the finish line is only 200 metres beyond this point.

Overall.......certainly not a dead flat course but at least the hardest part comes early on in the race. It has a mix of town and country running and is unique in that it is the only 8 km road race on the calendar. With ease of access due to the motorway, it is sure to attract a large crowd from a wide catchment area.

Walk........There is also a walk in conjuction with this event. Runners and Walkers go off together at 7:30 but then walkers turn off left [walkers only, marshalled] [optional] about say 300m approx after the 2nd mile to rejoin course slightly after the 3rd mile.  This in turn will bring walkers home to finish that bit earlier to savour atmosphere at finish line. Wakers will also wear different race numbers to runners and can avail of a water bottle station on the slip road. This will be well signed out in the course and explained during registration.

Race Flyer.......

Race notice - GR8KM in Mitchelstown...Fri 10th Aug 2012

This is a notice for a race coming up on Friday, the 10th of August at 7:30pm. The GR8KM as the name suggests is an 8 km road race on the roads around Mitchelstown in North-East Cork. As the 9th race in the Ballyhoura Active Series, it is likely to attract runners from North Cork, Limerick and Tipperary. 

With the M8 motorway, Mitchelstown is now only 50 kms or a 35-40 minute drive from Cork City so it's an option for city based runners as well.

I'll have a full preview of the course just before the race.

Results of the Mitchelstown GR8KM race - Fri 5th Aug 2011

A total of 234 runners turned out for this 8km road race in Mitchelstown in NE Cork for the 5th race in the Ballyhoura Active Series. The mens race was won by Michael Herlihy of North Cork AC in a time of 25:40, taking 10 seconds off his old record set in 2010. That works out as an average 5:10 per mile pace on a hilly course so it will take some beating. In 2nd place, John Downes of Donore Harriers finished in 26:50 (5:24 per mile) while Cathal O'Connell of St.Finbarrs AC race 27:02 (5:26 per mile) to finish 3rd.

Michael Herlihy of North Cork AC finishing first and setting a new course record

In the womens race, Tracey Roche of Dooneen AC won in a time of 29:29 (5:55 per mile), demolishing the old record of 34:16 by almost 5 minutes. The 2011 Cork City Marathon winner Angela McCann of Clonmel AC finished 2nd this time in 30:02 (6:02 per mile) with Sinead O'Connor of Leevale AC finishing 3rd in 31:20 (6:18 per mile).

Tracey Roche of Dooneen AC opening up an early lead just after the 1 mile mark

The full results can be seen HERE

A small gallery of photos by Eagle AC can be seen in this slideshow

A very large gallery by Ballyhoura Active can be seen HERE
The 6th race in the Ballyhoura Active Series is the Kilteely 5 Mile coming up on Saturday, the 13th of August. This is just off the N24 Limerick to Tipperary road and is approx 20 kms from Limerick City.

Preview of the Mitchelstown GR8KM race...Fri 5th Aug 2011

This unique 8 km road race is coming up at 7:30pm on Friday, the 5th of August in Mitchelstown in NE Cork. With the new motorway network now in place, Mitchelstown is a lot easier to reach than in previous years. It is now a 35 minute drive from Cork City which is much the same as any of the Ballycotton races.

It is also well within reach of runners in S Tipperary and E Limerick  so it promises to attract a large turnout. Looking at the comments for the race last year, it was a great success so no doubt a lot of people will be returning this year again.
The race is organised by Galtee Runners which is a relatively new club. Not so long ago, there were no races in north-east Cork so this is a welcome addition to the calendar.

This will the 5th race in the Ballyhoura Active race series. Race entries which cost €10 will be taken at St.Fanahans College which is a local Secondary school next to the parish church.

Prizes........1st 6 in ladies and men, ranging from €100 for 1st to €40 for 6th, 1st 2 in each of the usual categories and 1st wheelchair.
There is also a bonus of €100 for setting a new course record. The current record is 25:50 for men while the current womens record is 34:16.

Directions........If you are coming from the direction of Cork City, leave the motorway and head into the town on the old Dublin road.

St.Fanahans school is located in the eastern side of the town. The letters A, B and C above refer to the pictures below.....
A....Just after entering the town, you turn right at this junction and up the hill. Note that this is part of the race route and you will be running up this later.
B...You go over the crest of a hill and down the other side to pt.B.....you turn left here.
C....Along a straight residential road and take the next left at C and the school is there on the left.

Parking.......From the organisers......Parking can  got at the school car park, church car park  or a few minutes away at the square in the centre of town and at the local Tesco store.

Course......The start and finish point for the race is a short distance from the school.

The start is outside Hartnetts shop...as seen on the right of the photo above. As you can see, the road is wide, flat and straight for about 600 metres. Just up the road about 200 metres, you will pass the finish line just outside the entrance to the Co-Op stores.

After 600 metres at the first road junction, you turn left and run up through the main steet of the town. This is the start of the toughest part of the race as you will be climbing from here to roughly the 1 mile mark.

By the way, if you are coming to the race from the Limerick or Tipperary direction, you may end up coming into the town from the north. This is the first crossroads you will come to after you pass some petrol stations. Take the left here.......look for Hartnetts shop...and then turn right...and right again for the school.

After running through most of the town, you take a left and up the steepest section of the climb to the 1 mile mark. Probably not the fastest of miles but at least it comes early in the race.

At the top of the hill just after the 1 mile mark, you get your reward with a half mile stretch of downhill running....very fast. You cross a small bridge at the low point before a slight climb again as you cross over the motorway for the first time...

After the bridge, you turn left and you are on to quiet country roads for a while as you pass the 2 mile mark. The roads aren't exactly flat but any pulls are pretty modest and short.

At the next junction, the roads splits into 3 directions and you take the first left. Along this straight fast section, you go through the 3 mile mark and carry on for another 600 metres or so to the next road junction and turn right. This part of the course is especially fast and a good chance to make up for lost time on some of the earlier sections.

You hit the 4 mile mark just before you cross over the motorway for the 2nd and final time. Up the road, cross the bridge, back down the other side and continue towards Mitchelstown.

As you approach the town, the sign might say 2 kms but in reality, you have only about 1km to go to the finish from this point. From here, the course is pretty fast and soon, you are back at the start line...

...and the finish line is only 200 metres beyond this point.

Overall.......certainly not a dead flat course but at least the hardest part comes early on in the race. It has a mix of town and country running and is unique in that it is the only 8 km road race on the calendar. With ease of access due to the motorway, it is sure to attract a large crowd from a wide catchment area.

Walk........There is also a walk in conjuction with this event. Runners and Walkers go off together at 7:30 but then walkers turn off left [walkers only, marshalled] [optional] about say 300m approx after the 2nd mile to rejoin course slightly after the 3rd mile.  This in turn will bring walkers home to finish that bit earlier to savour atmosphere at finish line. Wakers will also wear different race numbers to runners and can avail of a water bottle station on the slip road. This will be well signed out in the course and explained during registration.