Wicklow heats-up for trail/ultra races
That's my type of race - ed.
A total of 86 runners were tempted out by the glorious weather to tackle the Wicklow Way Trail. This annual 22.2km race is run along one of Ireland’s most famous paths through the Wicklow Mountains, from Lough Tay to Johnny Fox’s Pub in Glencullen.
The Wicklow Way Trail - stunning....
The dry conditions saw fast times all round with Kevin Keane taking the crown in 93 minutes 40 seconds. It was a clear sign that Kevin is now back on the mountain running scene after being miserably plagued with injury for the last few years. In the women’s race, Jackie O’Hagan ran a good race to take the overall title.
Jackie O'Hagan
Not content to run just 22km, 21 hardy souls decided instead to double the distance and take on the Wicklow Way Ultra. Starting two hours before the WW Trail, these ultra runners do an out and back to Lough Tay from Glencullen to clock up 44.4km and 1780 metres of climb.
For the fifth year running, Eoin Keith won the men’s Ultra in 3 hours 37 minutes. In the ladies Ultra, yours truly battled it out with the current ladies course record holder, Mary Jennings. I eventually managed to hold on to take the women’s ultra title in a time of 4 hours 32 minutes.
(Moire’s personal version of events makes for great reading too – ed.)
A welcome drink for Moire...
