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Ireland > Clare Burren Marathon Challenge - Half Marathon
Ballyvaughan,
Ireland
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Date
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Event
Details
Runners get the chance to trek across paved roads, gravel roads,
natural surface trails and green roads at the annual running of
Ireland's Clare Burren Marathon Challenge, which welcomed nearly 1,000
runners, walkers and wheelchair participants for the event's three
races at its 2008 running, including a full marathon, half marathon and
six-mile "Mini" marathon. Named for the natural limestone deposits of
this part of Ireland -- the country's rugged, untamed western region --
the race takes runners through much of the area known as the Burren,
whose ancient limestone formations contain dozens of caves and ancient
tombs, and where you can find the ruins of forgotten villages and what
locals call "green" roads, where you can walk for miles without ever
seeing a car.
Organized and hosted by the Ballyvaughan Fanore Walking Club, the
event's 13.1-mile half marathon begins at the same starting line as
both the full and the mini marathons, in the village of Ballyvaughan.
From there, runners and walkers follow an out-and-back loop course in a
clockwise direction, out from the village toward Feenagh, Newtown and
Croagh North, all the way toward Glenfort, where participants leave the
paved road and head out onto the green road, after passing by
Rathbourney Church near Poulacapple.
The course keeps runners out on the green roads for the next few miles
as it makes its way through tree-lined trails and along rural farmland
roads, passing by much of the scenery for which Ireland is well-known
the world over, including sheep grazing along the roadways, green
grassland hills and ancient stone fencing throughout the countryside.
Runners make their way through the Gleninagh South region and then
re-join the paved roadways as they near the coastline of Galway Bay
once again, turning right onto R479 (The Burren Way) and heading back
southeast toward Ballyvaughan for the race finish.
The race begins at 9:00 AM local time, and while the full marathon and
half marathons are open to runners and walkers only, the mini marathon
is also open to wheelchair participants and welcome entrants of all
ages (participants must be 16 years of age or older to compete in the
full and half marathons).
Race
Weather & Climate
Perched along the rocky shoreline of Galway Bay, across the water from
the city of the same name and just over an hour's drive from nearby
Limerick, the village of Ballyvaughan in western Ireland typically
experiences warmer, drier and sunnier conditions in the high season of
the spring and summer months than in the winter, though rainfall is
common year-round as well as sometimes chilly temperatures. In May, the
area's average monthly temperatures range between 14°C
(57°F) and 7°C (45°F), while the area averages
about 19 rainy days during the month.
Fees
€30 for the 13.1-mile half marathon
€40 for the 26.2-mile full marathon
€25 for the 6-mile Mini Marathon
Registration
To reserve your spot in the spring 2009 running of the half marathon at
Ireland's
Clare Burren Marathon Challenge, print
out and mail in this downloadable entry form.
Websites
www.clareburrenmarathonchallenge.com
Tour County Clare - Ballyvaughan Tourism Site
Half
Marathon Course Map
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Larger Map
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Your Race Story
Ever run in Ireland's annual Clare Burren Marathon Challenge?
Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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