No racing - just training

With no races on offer this weekend some of the club members took the opportunity to head for the hills of Clonmel to check out the world masters mountain route, which IMRA/Munster are hosting in September this year.

Out on the hills were Robert Cunningham, Willie O’Donoghue, Dariusz Gazdowicz, Padraig Wallace, Marie O’Shea, Gerard Griffin, Damien Holian and Gerard Hanley along with fellow IMRA Munster running members.

WORLD MASTERS MOUNTAIN RACE

A year later than expected due to Covid-19 the 21st World Masters Mountain Running Championship will take place in Clonmel, Ireland from the 2nd to the 4th September 2022.

It is a privilege for IMRA/ Munster to host such a prestigious event and IMRA/Munster have endeavoured to provide a challenging and exciting course. The race will start in Clonmel and venture into the Comeragh Mountains in Co Waterford.

The event will held over 3

days Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hillview Sports Club will be the headquarters for the event and ceremonies. Registration will be open Thursday evening and throughout Friday.

Friday: registration, runners will receive a race package which will consist of your number, a T-shirt, participatory medal and other goodies. On the Friday evening there will be a parade of athletes and this will be followed by a ‘Pasta Party’. There will also be the opening ceremony with a display of Irish culture, dance and music some speeches and the official opening of the event.

Saturday: all races will take place on Saturday with ceremonies, banquet and prizegiving at Hillview Sports Club.

Sunday: on the Sunday morn

ing it is intended to hold an open race (for those under 35) offering an opportunity to everyone to give the course a try.

It’s intended to have the event recorded for one of the main terrestrial channels, as well as a live stream through the WMRA site.

COURSE DETAILS

The race starts at Raheen School beside Hillview Sports Club in Clonmel Town. After 30m it turns onto Raheen road heading west. After 500m it turns left up Roaring Spring road. This is the start of a 1.5km steep climb. At the 2km point you turn off for the open mountain. This open mountain trail is flat and goes for 1k and brings you across the hill to Cannon Wood.

At the gate you turn right running downhill on single trail and

into the wood. You then follow a downhill trail which will vary between a single trail and fire road for over 2km. At this point you turn left onto single trail again and begin a 1k climb.

This brings you to the mast, from here you descend for 100m onto fire road. Travelling on this for 200m you turn right and follow this fire road around the hill for 1k where you exit through a gate onto open mountain. This is a mix of trail and meadow and after 1k brings you to the top of Kilmacommon Hill. The shorter course breaks off here and turns left for 200m down into the finish area at the Grotto.

The longer course continues downhill on meadow for 0.5km, then past the old ruin from here you start your final climb for 0.5km to a turning point where you turn left on your last kilometre to the finish. The long course has a distance of 10.5km has an ascent of 635m and a descent of 345m while the short course is 8.4km has an ascent of 509m and a descent 217m.

WORLD MASTERS MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIP RACE AGE CATEGORIES

Following the WMA/WMRA World Masters Mountain Running Championship Regulations, the following age categories apply:- 35-39 male and female long course, 40-44 male and female long course, 45-49 male and female long course, 50-54 male and female long course, 55-59 male and female short course, 60-64 male and female short course, 65-69 male and female short course, 70-74 male and female short course, 75-79 male and female short course.

ADULT TRAINING

Adult training takes place on Tuesday and Thursday nights in the community field Galbally from 7pm to 8pm.

For contact tracing pre booking is essential through our online booking system for current members. Newbies are always welcome, so should you have an interest in joining us at our training sessions please message us via our social media page Mooreabbey Milers AC on social media and we will point your running shoes in the right direction.

JUVENILE TRAINING

Juvenile training takes place each Monday night in the community field in Galbally from 7pm to 8pm. If you have a child interested in joining us please contact us through our social media pages.