Quick reviews of Inov-8 X-CLAW 275 trail runners and Leki Voyager poles
I've finally bought myself some things to deal with muddy boggy Irish hills
One thing I’ve learned as I’ve dipped my toe into off-road running in Ireland is that we don’t really do trails. Apart from forest paths, the bulk of what I’ve found is wet muddy bog. This causes me two problems - it’s difficult to run in it and American-style trail runners are useless in this environment. My poor Altra Lone Peak 3.0 may as well be slick tyres coming down from Mullaghmesha Mountain.
Posted by Conor O'Neill on Sunday, June 11, 2017
Rosscarbery Surf Turf n Tar - An instant classic Half Marathon
The most fun I've had in a race since I started running
This is going to be a post full of superlatives.
When I first heard about Surf Turf n Tar, I was instantly excited. I’d done most of the course in chunks already and it’s currently my favourite place to run. You have every sort of terrain and views, all in a compact area.
The race started just opposite the Celtic Ross Hotel and headed down a little road. You hear of elite ultra runners “blowing-up” at 50 miles.
Posted by Conor O'Neill on Sunday, May 21, 2017
Conor's Roundup of Recent Runs
Everything from local little trails to the Brighton Marathon
I’m not a great one for detailed mile-by-mile race reports so I’ve bundled a bunch of them together.
MCI Marathon Ballina We joined the Marathon Club of Ireland last year and I’ve been very impressed by the number of events they organise. They have so many amazing athletes who have done 25, 50, 100 and even 200+ marathons.
On the 25th of February, they arranged 3 Marathons in 2 days in Mayo.
Posted by Conor O'Neill on Monday, May 1, 2017
All my current running technology
What running tech do you need? None, zip, nada, nothing. But if you're interested, here's my gear.
The only thing you need to run is a pair of running shoes. And some people even get by without those. This is regularly driven home to me by the guy in his GAA top/shorts and knackered shoes who laps me in parkRun.
But if you read this blog you’re probably a geek like me and of course I’m riddled with tech when I go for a lot of my runs.
Posted by Conor O'Neill on Saturday, April 15, 2017
On joining nearForm as Chief Product Officer
This might surprise you, but the most exciting tech company in Ireland is based in Tramore.
On April 3rd I joined nearForm as Chief Product Officer. I genuinely believe nearForm is destined for all-time greatness and I want to contribute to that.
One of my career highlights so far was playing a part in the acquisition of FeedHenry by Red Hat. The day I found out that they were a potential buyer will always stay with me. I have had 2.5 amazing years with them and my opinion has only gone up as time progressed.
Posted by Conor O'Neill on Thursday, April 6, 2017
Carrigfadda Hill and Warrenscourt Forest are two brilliant running spots in West Cork
Warrenscourt is great for a fast semi-trail run. Carrigfadda will test your lungs and is slippy as hell at the moment but the view from the top makes it totally worthwhile.
A few months back I was browsing the Coillte Outdoors site for forests in West Cork that looked good for running in. The two most promising ones I found were Warrenscourt Forest and Carrigfadda Hill.
Warrenscourt I’ve done Warrenscourt Forest twice and I highly recommend it. You can access it from either the Warrenscourt end or Kilmurry end and both are very short drives off the N22 near Lissarda. Whilst it’s quite steep in places, it’s very runnable with some beautiful views along by the stream.
Posted by Conor O'Neill on Wednesday, March 22, 2017
My first ever IMRA/MMRA trail run in Castlefreke - impressive turnout and tons of kids!
I finally signed up for IMRA and did the Castlefreke trail run today. Tough but very enjoyable. Delighted to see so many kids doing it.
I only learned of the Irish Mountain Running Assocation (and Munster Mountain Running Association branch) last year. They have an extensive line-up of events all year from hard-core 127km Ultras to family friendly events like today’s run in Castlefreke Woods and Long Strand.
And unlike a lot of running related things in recent years, it’s an absolute bargain to take part. €10 annual membership and €5 for today’s race.
Posted by Conor O'Neill on Sunday, February 5, 2017
Go to a parkrun this Saturday in West Cork
A wonderful weekly event to get you fit. Currently in Clonakilty, Castlehaven, Macroom, Ballincollig, Bere Island and Glengarriff. Maybe in Bandon at some point too?
I talked about parkrun in my monster post last year on the future of Ireland’s health. It was started in the UK in 2010 and has spread around the world. In parkrun Ireland there are over 50 events every week. You may have heard it mentioned on Operation Transformation too.
The idea is incredibly simple. Every Saturday at 9.30am, you turn up to your local parkrun and do 5km. You can sprint, run, jog, walk or amble.
Posted by Conor O'Neill on Thursday, January 26, 2017
Acknowledging the achievement of Carol Morgan in The Spine Race
Not only did Carol win the women's Spine Race, she smashed the record by 43 hours and came 6th overall
I first learned of the Montane Spine Race last year when there were some mentions online of an Irish guy winning some insanely long race and breaking the record. This turned out to be Eoin Keith who is an amazing ultra runner. He had to pull out this year in third position after breaking a rib near the start. He waited 170 miles to do so :-)
(Image Source The Guardian) Yup, the Spine Race is 268 miles along the Pennines in the UK.
Posted by Conor O'Neill on Sunday, January 22, 2017
Bringing the carnage to the Dublin Marathon 2016
Yup, I did it. 4 years after a disastrous first marathon, I did my version of nailing the Dublin Marathon.
Four years ago I ran my first marathon, in Dublin, and it was a disaster. Everything seized up at the top of my right calf around mile 10, followed a few miles later by my left calf. I hobbled the remaining 16 miles in pain. It had never happened before and it hasn’t happened since.
I thought that was the end of my marathon “career” and reverted to Halves and 10k’s until last year.
Posted by Conor O'Neill on Sunday, November 20, 2016