Into the West for the Connemarathon
The masses are still smiling - at the start!
All legs are heading west this weekend for Ireland’s Connemarathon. This year, a total of 3,600 runners and walkers from 30 countries have entered for the half, full and ultra marathons.
For the second year running, the race has sold out – a highly unusual happening for any event on this tiny little island of ours. Renowned for its scenic setting deep in the West of Ireland, the Connemarathon course is what primarily attracts runners from far and wide.
The Connemarathon site states:
The popular sport of long-distance running is transformed for runners and walkers in the dramatic setting of mountains, glacier lakes, rugged green-brown landscape which winds in and around the challenging mountain wilderness of Galway in the west of Ireland.
Connemarathon's scenery is breathtaking...
The course itself leads runners through remote lands and past breathtaking views of the Twelve Pin and Maam Turk Mountains, along the shores of Killarey Harbour and through the sleepy towns of Leenane and Maam Cross.
The course also offers what most marathon runners fear: hills. Nothing that would frighten the many mountain runners who will attend the event mind ye, but definitely enough to frighten the bejesus outta runners well used to the flat.
Last years 1/2m winner, Lezan Kimutai from Kenya
Racewise, the ultra-marathon could be the one to watch on Sunday. What with the Celtic 100k at the end of March pulling many of the top contenders, newcomers to the event stand a chance of walking away with the illustrious spoils. And with the Irish still on a high from St. Paddy’s day a mere two days ago, the West of Ireland and the Connemarathon look like the place to be this coming weekend.
(Make sure you check out the fantastic video section too!. Ed)
