Glacier Lakes relay unveiled
Lough Dan
The Irish Mountain Running Association is to hold a new four-stage relay race in 2012. Named the Wicklow Glacier Lakes the event will take place on Sunday 15th April and will take in some of the most challenging – and beautiful – terrain in Wicklow….
IMRA’s Gerry Brady explains:
There are time bonuses for women (10 minutes per leg), runners aged over 50 (5 minutes), and runners over 60 (10 minutes) with these applied through a chasing start system with the first team past the post being champions.
The relay takes in the highest glacier lakes in Wicklow. Leg one has an initial steep climb before a descent to Lough Ouler. A steep climb and descent (or contour if you wish) brings runners to the handover at the Wicklow Gap. Leg 2 starts with a climb and continues through a rugged, heathery, often misty, classic Wicklow landscape to the three Lakes before descending to the hostel in Glenmalure.
Leg 3 is maybe the toughest with a very steep climb to Art’s Lough, rough contouring to Kelly’s Lough, and a route choice challenge to the handover at Ballinafunshoge car park. Leg 4 starts with a steep climb, a difficult route choice in the middle, and a steep descent into Glendalough.
There are good accommodation options there in the Glendalough International hostel, bed and breakfasts, and the local hotel. Entry €15 euro per person are rock-bottom and solo runner teams get to run all four legs for €15! The super fit could make it a double weekend as there is a Wicklow Adventure Race (WAR) being held on the Saturday.
