THE KERRY WAY ULTRA 2017
200km distance, 9 check points, 20,000 feet of climb across mountains, fells, woodland, trail, bog and the occasional bit of road or runnable trail, a Master Class of Trail Running oh and don't forget the crazy weather which hit us 30 hours in.Having done the last 2 years of this course once with Tina for the Kerry way 2015 secret project make sure you check out my blog post for it below and then last year I did the full race going under 38 hours for the Kerry Way in 2016 again blog is below for last year. But I wasn't planning doing this race this year so signed up for the ridge ultra which I was lucky enough to win now that was another crazy race, you can also read about that adventure on this blog and I also did few other small races but in June of this year I turned 45 and as a surprise my wife paid for my entrance to this race as a present(after telling me all year I can't do it again lol) I was so happy and she was going to crew me like she always done so out of nowhere this was going to be one of my highlights for the year and it didn't disappoint, it was through and through the most enjoyable race as always.
This race is self-sufficient or u can have a crew, meaning preparation is key. You have 9 checkpoints along the way each with a drop bag if u want and a few options to snatch some food in the shops during daylight which I took advantage off I kept 10 euro in my backpack pocket I got the nicest of 99 ice cream cone with a big chocolate flake so so good and I ate as I left the town at the 3rd checkpoint sheahans supermarket Glenbeigh .I wouldn't have my super crew till foilmore which was the 4th checkpoint as she was working till late on Friday so the first 3 checkpoints I had drop bags which actually worked out really well for me and by the time I saw her for the first time I was about 10 hours in and was a perfect time to get a good fuel up and change of clothes as I head into the longest section of the race to Waterville but more on that later.
Killarney to Climbers inn Glencar
With
a 6am start on the Friday in killarney, we set off still in darkness. My plan,
for this year was stick to my pace and run to what I felt comfortable at and
leave people go off like crazy as I knew they would, knowing a lot of them
would DNF as the race went on, this race has about a 50 to 60% drop out rate
which goes to show just how challenging this course is, so my plan was run
smart not crazy.so we ran past Muckross House through Parklands and
Forests to Torc Waterfall. From Torc with some ascent through Woodlands
following an old road to Kenmare through Owengarriff River Valley. Descend
through Esknamucky Glen to Galway River, follow signs to Black Valley! Walk
winds through woodlands and grasslands to Lord Brandon's Cottage on Upper Lake
we is the first checkpoint and the only one u have to have a drop bag
at as the crew can't get into this section of the race. I was feeling good
at this stage and had tailwind gels change of socks and a quick few
calories at this first section but didn't stay long and left pretty fast
it was here that john boyle gave me some wise words and said slow down a bit
which i took on board and walk out of the checkpoint eating. So, From
Black Valley walk past Commend Lake at the southern flanks of MacGillycuddy's
Reeks. Follow the green road over a low pass and down along a paved road for
about 1 km before turning right and climbing steeply up to another pass.
Descent to Lough Acoose and follow the small paved road along the shore to the
junction with the main road into Glencar the 2nd checkpoint at this stage the
day was getting very hot but again I felt really good and ran into this
checkpoint strong we had helped a few runners over the black valley as they
kept getting lost and running off in the wrong direction. I spoke to one
of them over the top of a good climb and asked him did he know the route to
which said a little so I gave him advice for the night section to
make sure he can see the yellow man ahead while he stood next to one so he
wouldn't get lost but later found out the 2 lads didn't make it to
the night section the signs are very easy to miss and if ur tired and not alert
easy to go miles in the wrong direction. Anyway, back to my race checkpoint 2
here I had a good size drop bag change of socks loads of Food water and
tailwind and Gels and again with a quick change around and some great help from
a friend who was crewing pat Rodgers but he was 20 mins behind I was out
fast it was also here I met Sean Manson for the first time and most
certainly not the last as the 2 off us would go back and forth for the
next 35 hours and end up finishing the race together. Lot of the runners
had poles also but I decide to hold off with them till I met my wife in
foilmore I was happy with this as I carried my water bottle and made sure I
drank at least 600ml of water over the hour. so, I head into the next section
happy so far felt good not tired yet anyway but a long way to go yet.
Glencar to Glenbeigh
So,
u run the main road until reaching the area of Glencar. From the Climbers
Inn follow signs in a south-westerly direction before crossing the River Caragh
and following the course of the river on a small track through grassland and a
mixed forest. Join the road near Blackstone Bridge. Stay on the road out of the
forestry and up onto the lower slopes of See fin. The trail gradually gets
stepper as it goes uphill until reaching a fork on the path. A short-cut takes
the walker up through Windy Gap before winding back down to Glenbeigh via a
quiet road. The scenic longer route skirts around Seefin, giving spectacular
views over Lough Caragh and then out onto the Atlantic and Rosbeigh Strand. also in
September you can enjoy the Blackberries all along the Way. The day was getting
very hot and the sun was high so made sure I drank plenty of water but I was
moving nice and felt great through this stage of the race I was with a friend
who I had met called Terrence he was surfing already and felt very tired so I
was helping keeping him motivated which also helped me but he would later DNF
heading up a big climb into sneem but he fought so hard just wasn't his
day and he will be back again next year I’m sure and on I side note
himself and his wife and kids stayed at the finish line to cheer me in
which was so so nice of them and just shows how great all ultra-runners
are to each other in this community. Anyway back to the race so landed in the
3rd checkpoint found my drop back and did the change of socks liquids food etc.
again felt great didn't stay long about 5 mins but I knew across the
way was a supermarket so ran in got the biggest ice cream they had and walked
out of that checkpoint eating it and how good it was this also was my last
checkpoint on my own and I was now running towards my wife and would have her
for the rest of the race and all the night sections which for me is
very important
Foilmore the waterville
On
arrival to Foilmore my stunning wife was there waiting for me with plenty of
food and motivation, i was in great spirits still and this also was where I
picked my trekking poles for the first time and my plan to not use them on the
first section worked out great and I kept a water hand held bottle instead to
keep drinking at least 600ml of tailwind every hour I had got my calories and
fluid spot on all day and pretty much the whole race. So, had a big feed here a
big bowl of noodles and drank lots of coke got as much calories as I could and
also the GAA hall was open so was able to get the most amazing toilet break out
of the way lol and fresh rub down of Vaseline to help with the rubbing but
again this race I didn't get any blisters or chaffing or cramping in the belly
so like I said the nutrition side of it was spot on. So, after 30 mins or so
myself Sean and Terrence headed out in great spirits so what can I tell u about
the next section It’s A two-part journey into purgatory. Banding together
with a few lads, the first section was a long trek across a fell where
false ridges where ever present. After a dozen climbs and 2.5hours on the fell
we realized we had only covered 8 km and had another monster of a fell to
cross. With the second climb came nightfall so without a second set of eyes you
could easily lose track on the fell and go miles off course which we nearly did
once taking a left as we were on the wrong side of the fence and we miss the
stile to climb over. This for me is the longest section of the race as between
checkpoints and u have to make u have left foil more with plenty of water and
food and all your gear as u will be anything from 5 to 6 hours on this long
straight section over some good climbs. But we powered through this section and
made great time into Waterville I will forewarn u of the Charlie Chaplin
Statue it's an odd sight to see.
Waterville
to Caherdaniel
This
route rejoins the Kerry Way at Coomduff and leads on small country roads and
through wild mountaineous terrain toward Caherdaniel. The first part of
the route leading to the eastern edge of Lough Currane can be rough at times,
until you meet a small country lane near Cloghvoola. From then on, the route
follows country roads for some kilometers past Lough Isknagahiny before it
turns off again toward Eagles Hill. On Windy Gap you reach the highest point on
the Kerry Way at just over 450 meters above sea-level. The final leg for the
stage brings you downwards towards the village of Caherdaniel.This section is
all in the dark so u have to have your wits about u make sure u keep an eye on
the little yellow man and u can see the next one before u move on I pretty much
powered through this section so good climbs and downhills. So again my wife was
waiting for me at this checkpoint plenty of food, clothes etc. also this year
we had use of the hall which is great again last year I nearly quit here and a
lot of people who DNF this race it's usually here or heading into
sneem.Last year I slept here for 15 mins and was the best think I could have
done this year I was feeling so good and high spirits I just ate food and
chatted to my wife and Eddie who is a top top lad, he was looking after
that checkpoint he saw me last year and thought I was done in 2016 but somehow I
got out of that checkpoint last year but this year I changed my
training and race plan and it's crazy how a year later I was a
different runner even Eddie comment on my spirits and freshness .It
was here Terrence was in trouble but after talking to him I got him up and
out but later on I wish I hadn't as he was suffering big time and he quit
when he mate john half ways to sneem up a climb this is where a lot of people
will def. so be aware of that. So full of food, fluids and high spirits we
head towards sneem.
Caherdaniel
to Sneem
They
have done a lot of work on this section since last year and the climb up is
great even john boyle who I talking to next day about it thought he had gone
wrong because last year it was dug up but this year was lovely straight road up
and amazing run down into sneem,I ran most of this section and felt great past a
few people, but just a heads-up u will meet the legend John Linehan
if u don’t know who he is google him. He is about half ways up the
last climb into sneem this year with a tent and has his truck on the other side
to help runners if they need it.This is where Terrence Dnf and my good friend
Pat Rodgers as well which even now is still a shock to me but in his defense he
did finish the spine and had done and iron man and another adventure
race pretty much few weeks before Kerry way so he was tired going into it but
will always be legend and inspiration to me .So I ran strong
onto sneem where i had planned on my first and only sleep the sun came up as i
ran in and felt great also Sean mason wasn't far behind and going strong. So,
I slept about 15 mins and got good calories and fluid into me again a
great toilet breaks lol and as I was leaving their ultra-lite runners, were getting
ready to head out as they were doing the sneem to killarney section of the
race. The good think about this is you get a great cheer as you leave the bad
think is the trail gets crazy busy with them passing u and u have to stand to
the side to leave them pass as they are moving way faster than u. But on a
positive note every one of them cheers u on as they pass u.
Sneem
to Templenoe to Kenmare
This
stage firstly there is a checkpoint at templenoe but again just be aware it’s a
little confusing getting there as it’s a section were a lot of work is being
down so the trail winds all over the place and it’s easy to get turned around
so u start by crossing the Sneem River and follows quiet backroads and paths
across bogland area to the slopes of Knockanamadane mountain. After this the
Kerry Way goes downhill to a small road section and lovely wooded tracks and
onto the abandoned 19th century village of Tahilla which in the past was a busy
fishing village. From Tahilla the route follows an old road track, wooded paths
through Derrenamacken Wood and onto Blackwater Bridge views back across Coongar
Harbour and Drongawn Lough.From here the route again follows wooded paths and
the Blackwater River and goes inland passing Dromore Castle built in the 1830's
and Cappanacush Castle from the 13th century. The route now follows the main
Ring of Kerry road to Templenoe.Myself and Sean were pretty much working
together now as we were pacing the same. So at this checkpoint I met Karen
who had come especially to help crew as she want to get a taste for this
event and my wife who made a bacon roll for me which I ate as I left the
checkpoint it was about this time the weather started to change and it was
getting very stormy which would be crazy bad from Kenmare to the finish in
killarney but more about that later.So From Templenoe the route ascends to the
spur of Lack Hill crossing the Reen River and again the Kerry Way route climbs
Gortamullin Hill with great views of the Caha Mountains on the Beara Peninsula.
From here the route goes back downhill to picturesque town of Kenmare.This
section is so demoralizing as u can see Kenmare in the distance pretty much all
the time, but the trail winds all over the place it now was pouring down with
rain and the trail was just pure mud and u would sink into time go through a
lot of fields in this section of the trail and there were few parts where we
were above our knees and had no choice but to power your way through it was so
much fun. I led us into Kenmare and when myself and Sean finally get down off
the mountain and into to Kenmare road he said I was a legend for leading us
through that section I felt great sense pride when he said it to me as he
is another runner I have admiration for, also there is a cut off of 4 o'clock
in Kenmare so we pushed hard to make it there and we did with an hour to spare.
It’s also become a tradition for me to have a big bag of chips there which I
did while sitting in the car Karen got a great kick out of this. I Spent about
30 mins here as I was soaked through so change of clothes nutrition was top of
my list Sean left a few mins ahead of me but I caught him on the other side of
the big climb out of Kenmare.
Kenmare
to killarney
The route, a monster of a climb up a road hill,
from there just a long technical run back off the hills towards Killarney. It
is probably one of the most popular stages of the Kerry Way. Starting from
Kenmare is follows a well-worn path between Peakeen and Knockanaguish Mountains
into the Windy Gap with superb views of the MacGillicuddy Reeks Mountains. From
there it passes Mangerton Mountain, Torc Mountain and Waterfall and finally
Muckross House, Gardens and Traditional Farm to the finish line. So, with Sean
and myself working together the weather was biblical the wind the rain it
definitely slowed us down and cost us time. The crossings over river
sections were now flooded and very strong current. You had to wade through it
as u could not use the rocks that were there to cross over as they were
covered that's how high the water was and there was a good few sections to
do this at, but again added to the adventure. The biggest problem was we
were both getting very cold and wet right through so we had no choice but
to run to stay warm. I won’t lie Sean was much stronger then me in this section
but he stayed with me like the legend he is and we knock those miles off one by
one again there is a horrible long stretch of road slash trail
to torc waterfall never seems to end and getting out of muckross house is
crazy confusing so make sure u have this sorted before u get there as u leave
the park then it’s a dead straight path all the ways to the finish, it was here
Sean’s crew who were in a Jeep on the road next to us were
going crazy screaming out the window what had we done u are legends you
are going to finish this epic ultra under the 40 hours made me smile and
was amazing of them , so before we knew it we were back in
killarney and passing the finish line with an hour to spare. What an adventure.
Also, great bonus the following day was a lunch buffet in Killarney, where you
could catch up with all the other runners, share war stories and get some food
back in you. It made for a much friendlier feel as you all felt as one team. In
short, I highly recommend the Kerry Way Ultra, and so so so well run by Eileen and
all her volunteers and checkpoint crews.
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