Results Carlow-Kilkenny 26.2 – 25th September 2011
Race report by Matt Doyle (race organiser and competitor)
Shortly after 10am on Sunday 25th September the first annual Carlow to Kilkenny Marathon took place, in aid of the Carlow Kilkenny homecare team, with a field of just 7 runners and nobody really knowing what lay ahead.
Registration opened at 9am in the Greenbank health and leisure centre, in the Seven Oaks hotel in Carlow town. With volunteers from the Carlow Special Olympic ALPS group manning/ womanning the registration area.
Water station operators received their water for the station and any runners personal drop off stash for each station. (Water stations @ miles 6.8, 14.5, 21.7)
By 9.30 with registration complete, water stations operators ready of the off and steward briefed on the positions and jobs for the day; it was the turn of the runners to get their safety brief.
I gave the brief:
The course is a point to point run, from Carlow town through to MuineBheag (as a certain Dublin to Waterford train driver always says “Bagenalstown to the locals”) and on to Kilkenny City to finish in front of the picturesque castle.
Runner safety is paramount and it is up to each individual to keep themselves safe as there are no road closures but there are stewards on major junctions to warn traffic.
The run is just over 26.2 miles, (I was soon to find out once the first and second runner finished, that the course was actually 26.8miles long, and it felt every bit of it).
So brief over, it was time to get the show on the road.
The field consisted of: Keith Heary, Rock Pender,Declan McHugh,ZbigniewBressa (Zibby),Paul Byrne,Gavin Fraser,Matthew Doyle.
With our ALPS group and other volunteers at the start to cheer us on, and the race photo taken, the countdown to the first Carlow to Kilkenny marathon began;
5, 4, 3, 2 ,1 and we were off.
Keith Hearytook off into the lead with Declan McHugh close on his heels. The rest of us set off settling into our own pace, knowing to follow at Keith’s pace would be suicide.
The route from Carlow to MuineBheag is a regional standard road, with lots of bends, twists and hills. With a strong head wind for most of the run it was becoming obvious to myself and I’m sure the rest of the lads that this was going to be a tougher day than expected (not that marathons are any way easy or anything).
6.8miles later the first water station is reached. With fluids on board everything was looking up.
Then the rain came. And boy did it come!!
10miles into the run and you’re into MuineBheag, a lovely town with a canal and river running beside it.
A few left and right turns and 1.5miles later it’s on out to the Royal Oak road and up onto the N9 and heading to Kilkenny.
The N9 is a great surfaced road, with long straights rising on long hills. It’s a busy National road so it’s staying tight in the hard shoulder so as not to get ran over.
It’s an open enough road so there’s no hiding from the weather, prone to cross winds and unforgiving to the best of runners.
Just after the 14mile marker is the second water station in a village called Paulstown.
Then it’s off out the long and hilly N9 where I think there are a lot more up hills than down hills.
After 23 miles you reach the outskirts of Kilkenny City.
Under the railway bridge and you’re up a short climb and down to the Dublin road roundabout.
Straight on around the roundabout and onwards, downhill past the 24mile marker to the McDonagh junction cross roads.
Turn right at the crossroads and out the N77 taking you past James Stephens military barracks.
Turning left at the next roundabout and ¼ of a mile to the 25mile marker.
Turning left at the next roundabout, turning right brings you towards St Luke’s hospital (could have done with it by now)
Following the road around to the right you come to traffic lights and turn left at the lights.
Then it’s a straight run to the Parade junction.
At the parade junction it’s a Right turn up Patrick streetwhich just happens to have a hill on it.
Then Left turn onto Father Hayden Lane.
At the end of Father Hayden Lane it’s a left turn and 0.3 of a mile sprint/fast walk/crawl to the finish.
So how did the run go?
For 26.8miles
Keith Hearylead from start to finish, posting 2hrs 55mins
Paul Byrne posted 3hrs 30mins
Rock Pender posted 3hrs 50mins
Zibby posted3hrs55mins
Gavin Fraser posted 4hrs 10mins
Matthew Doyle posted 5hrs 22mins
Declan McHugh posted DNF
After all the hills and long stretching roads and torrential rain showers what did the runners think?
Well overall they were impressed with the course, but thought I was trying to kill them with the extra 0.6 of a mile added onto it.
The weather came in hard and along with the wind made for a tough day for all.
Will they do it again next year?
A resounding YES.
So in all it was a successful day with much needed money being raised for the Carlow Kilkenny homecare team. Next year I would be hoping for a bigger field and let’s see if this year’s winning time can be beaten.