Great Railway Run 25km

This was run a nice 25km (15.6 miles) run from Cork (Ireland) along the former railway line (now a pathway) next to the coast to Carrigaline. There was a 5km and 10km run but as I had traveled all that way I had to do longer run really after doing a 5km parkrun the previous day.

I thought this would be a nice way of sightseeing and took a camera as I was taking it easy, all I had to do was finish to set a PB.

The start was in the edge of industrial estate with a registration tent on the grass.



After about 1km we were on the footpath next to the river.



It was still a bit cold after a few miles but was of the beaten track for normal sightseeing. God knows why I was running it.



Castle on edge of river.



Then along the path again.



Even the locals were giving us a strange look.



Bridge of the estuary.



They had used a former railway platform as a drinks stand.



You then headed along the road a bit before joining the footpath again.



The weather was ok up to this point, almost tropical for the area. Although there was plenty of places you can go to from here.



Then after about 45 minutes the rain started and did not stop until after I had finished nearly 2 hours and about 100 photos later.



By the time I got to the hillier section at about 10 miles I was soaked through.



The final section there was a few villages that we ran through. Had to stop at depiction of the town were I first started running when an adult.



I was tempted to buy some Irish Tatoes but still had a few miles to run in the rain.




I was counting the miles (km) down to the finish at this point.



The final straight to finish and then in the dry.



I finished it in 2:30:56.



By the time I had finished I would have been drier swimming but I set a PB!!



It took a few cups of tea and sandwiches which they provided in the sports hall to warm up.



It was a good race with not to many hills but with the expected weather in Ireland in October.

parkrun Castle Demense (Ireland)

The parkrun Castle Demense is in Macroom about 10 miles West of Cork (Ireland).

I got the first bus from Cork on a cold but sunny morning to this town for my 151st parkrun and first international parkrun :-)



This gave me 15 minutes to get to the venue if the bus was on schedule,as parkruns in Ireland start at 9.30am.

Luckily it is easy to find a castle entrance in a small town.



They had the use of the sports hall for leaving barcodes and a change of clothes as was just a few degrees above freezing, plus they had tea and biscuits already setup :-)



The other parkrunners, volunteers and event director were friendly it felt a nice community parkrun.



The 100 parkrun kit was a good ice breaker, as I was the first 100 club member at this venue. I even got a mention before the start of the parkrun, which meant I could not take it easy.



The course was a lap around the GAA (Gaelic football) pitch which even the locals were saying it was cold. You then headed out of the pitch gates on to pathway to the start/finish line.



The route then went down a hill before starting a 2 lap section.



This next section was along a footpath.



You had to make sure you did not hit the wall :-)



Then there was a sharp turn on to a hill before and out and back section past a golf course.



You ran than ran back to the footpath and started the 2nd lap which when completed you headed back along the to the finish.



However there was a nice steep hill at the finish which you ran down at about 0.5km. You just got to the top of the hill just about running before turning right and a few steps crossed the finish line.



I completed the parkrun in 22:35 which was a good time for me on a testing course on a cold morning.

I then headed back along the route as a cool down and supporting the other runners, while also taking some photos.

The barcode scanning was in the sports hall which was a bit warmer then a nice cup of tea and biscuits, I think I even saw somebody eat some of the fruit!!

After heading out of the castle gates I found another local cake shop as I was up early this was lunchtime :-)



Along with being one of the friendliest parkruns it has the best entrance to a parkrun being through a castle gate!!!

I think I will be back again when next in the area.