Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Outdoor Activities => Northern Ireland Hiking, Walking, Running, Orienteering and Geocaching => Topic started by: twentyclicks on January 01, 2011
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http://mournewaymarathon.com/ (http://mournewaymarathon.com/)
June 11th. There are five different events:
- 52 mile ultra
- 26 mile marathon
- 13 mile half-marathon
- 10K run
- 26 mile challenge walk
I was filling my new wall-planner today, and when on their site checking the date I ended up entering the ultra - it was only £5 more so I'll give it a go. 9.5 hrs will be the target. I'll probably walk-run the route in the next few months to get some beta.
Ulsterwalker has a great writeup on the marathon last year: http://ulsterwalker.blogspot.com/2010/06/mourne-way-marathon-2010.html (http://ulsterwalker.blogspot.com/2010/06/mourne-way-marathon-2010.html)
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funnily enough i've been marking the new calendar today and that event got put on mine too, i'm planning to do the 7 7s and the MMM this year so i reckon i'll be ready for the half marathon by June
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I was thinking of doing the 26 mile walk.
The Mourne way was on my to do list this year anyway.
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aha, a walk, i missed that one and thought they were all runners, i'll assess my fitness level, saneness and desire for pain nearer the time and pick which one suits best. Are there usually places left at at closing date or should i be booking sooner rather than later?
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I was thinking of doing the 26 mile walk.
The Mourne way was on my to do list this year anyway.
this one id love to do.
have not done a walk like this for over 15 yrs.
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aha, a walk, i missed that one and thought they were all runners, i'll assess my fitness level, saneness and desire for pain nearer the time and pick which one suits best. Are there usually places left at at closing date or should i be booking sooner rather than later?
Not sure. Last year entries were:
Ultra - 52
Marathon - 121
Half - 142
10K - 70
Walk - 38
Entries close on the 6th June - by the looks of it you'll be ok getting a place nearer the time.
Last year's results are available online which give an idea for anyone thinking of taking part.
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Hmm... half sounds tempting. Really need a goal to get me running again!
Respect for tackling the Ultra, that's some challenge!
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Granted, I'm a mentalist, or maybe a masochist. It'll be race nutrition and race psychology on the day.... I truely believe that if you can do a 10K you can run pretty much anything - the technique and sustained cardio state are already reached, it's just a matter of repeating until the fuel or will run-out.
There are factors like posture fatigue or repetitive strain that can come into play (the sore bit that always surprises me after a longer run is my bicep tendons - holding your arm bent in the same position). Posture fatigue is when the smaller control muscles tire and your technique suffers. I'll try to combat these with general strength training, variation on the day, and awareness on the day of when I'm letting it all slip. Hopefully, being on a trail will add to the variation.
Part of me wants to try the WHW race someday, but who knows ::)
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I was looking take on one of the races last year but didn't bother. I might put myself down for the half marathon.
Craig why don't you go all out and give this a blast
http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/ (http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/)
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im sure ill do one of them.
not sure which though.
are u fit enough G. ;D
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No where near mate but i'll give it ago :'(
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Craig why don't you go all out and give this a blast
http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/ (http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/)
Yeah, I've known about that one for years: it just doesn't appeal to me in any way. I'm really not one for the heat, or running any distance for more than one day.
Climbing a Karakoram peak, cycling to Mongolia, skiing Antarctica... way more fun ;D
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No where near mate but i'll give it ago :'(
perhaps we should go running together mate.
build our fitness levels up.
im serious mate.
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anyone entered any of these yet? closing date is very soon, i'm tempted but its pricey
Entry Fees:
Mourne Way Ultra Marathon - 52 miles: £50.00
Mourne Way Marathon - 26 miles: £45.00
Mourne Way Half Marathon - 13 miles: £35.00
Mourne Way - 10K: £20.00:
Mourne Way Challenge Walk - 26 miles: £45.00
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It's very soon, and I'm writing this up late and somewhat under the influence. Training was going so well, but I seem to have a bad concept of 'taper'....
as my mate Dave says, "it is what it is", or to use Paul Crik's full triumvirate mantra, "This is it, F**k it, it is what it is"... bring it on! I'm more worried about the training run in 6.5 hrs ;D
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I'm up for the marathon section, but i have a sore ankle at the moment (stood on in football), if it clears by Monday, then I'll be signing up.
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If anyone is not doing this event and would like to be part of it please see here http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2103.0.
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Quick update on this... it was hard!
To elaborate slightly, the 1st half was great. Some boggy bits and the road section pained my knee a bit but we all loped along at a fair lick to Tollymore. After crossing the stepping stones it more or less was 4 miles of climbing right up past the quarry in Donard (lots of walking at this point), then up a bit more over some rough ground before a long, steep descent to a tree in Donard Pk marking the half-way. I came in about 5:15 and was feeling pretty upbeat. I chatted with Simon for 10 mins getting some food and water in me then started back up the steep hill. Over the top, started running again in that slow ultra-runner way working through Tollymore where the 1st of the marathon runners blazed past us uphill!! I was 1hr40 from where they had come in 40mins!
A lot of marathoners were passing us by the time we reached the water stop at the bottom of Trassey. I was going down-hill (metaphorically) rather quickly at this point which was upsetting, although MikeD caught me at this point and raised my spirits as we chatted up the path. The track section between Trassey and Fofanny was my favourite part of the course but I couldn't get the same mojo going as the 1st time across. My body was shutting down - it didn't want to eat, and my heart rate wouldn't stay up - it just kept dropping from the 150s until it was barely over 100. By the time I hit the road again most people were past and us stragglers were walking or running at the speed of a slow walk. Pushing past the half-way (3/4) mark and down the road to the Spelga feed station where I should have stopped. We had more or less missed the cut off, but unspoken, a few continued on and I tagged on the back. Unfortunately, they just gradually pulled away and I realised I was the last on the course as the back-marker picking up the signs managed to be walking quicker than me. A long time later I made it to Leitrim Lodge and knew there was only 10K to go. It was taking too long though, so at Batt's wall (I think) I called it a day.
48/9 miles, 12hr40.
I really should have stopped earlier. It was a bit of a pointless exercise continuing, but an experience none-the-less. I got a major dose of food poisoning the next day to boot so was on my back most of last week!!!
The legs were only sore for 2 days so I'm happy that my training was good enough for the most part and helped with the recovery. The Merrell Trail Gloves were fine also. It's an amazing event, and the weather was perfect on the day. Wouldn't hesitate to enter the marathon again, but will think twice next time an Ultra tries to entice me :D
Thanks to Mike and Simon for the good spirits and looking out for me in terms of lifts home, tent packing, etc.
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Great effort mate. I don't know any one who would even have give it ago. Fair play to you.
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That was an amazing effort Craig, hats off to you! Sounds like you learnt a lot, I can't even begin to imagine the physical and mental resolve required. The marathon alone brings me out in sweats just thinking about it ;)
Didn't realise Mike was running as well, did you do the marathon Mike? How did you get on?
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I had a great day! First two hours out of Donard Wood got the sweats up, but then chilled with Craig for a while, and then, its quite a pleasant run through the rest of the course. Its a really really nice course, great wee day.
Its much better then the belfast marathon, where people behave like animals at the aid stations.... in the mourne marathon, people stop for a chat, have some fruit cake and a banana, then ease off again....
Got lucky with the weather. I'm seriously considering the causeway marathon in early october, also ran by extreme 26, its going to be cracking scenery too....
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Well done Mike, what time did you manage it in? I like the sound of the relaxed atmosphere, definitely sounds like a contrast to the Belfast Marathon.
I'm seriously considering the causeway marathon in early october, also ran by extreme 26, its going to be cracking scenery too....
I took the event photographs for the inaugural Causeway Coast Marathon. The course was stunning, such a great location. Kat has been talking about entering another marathon... maybe I should steer her towards the Causeway ;)
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Yes, I'm feeling the need to get out and train for something again! Causeway Marathon a definite possibility..however it took me near a year to get up to standard for the last marathon so perhaps it's too soon! Loch Ness marathon next year sounds like a nice one! :) Well done you guys btw on your recent runs!
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Well, my time was pretty shabby, at 5:40, but, most people were just taking their time, and so was I ;D
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And big respect for Craig, there is no way, I could have turned around at the end and ran it all over again. To get so close to the finish line too - around 49 miles - you're a legend !
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Good job Mike.
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Cheers all - sure it makes for a bit of entertainment trying these things, and you always achieve more than you imagine.