parkrun 283 - Avondale Forest, County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland
https://www.parkrun.ie/avondaleforest/results/110/
Back in Ireland for the second time in three weeks for my 283rd parkrun. This time back in the south. No away day this time so this time a choice of three on my agenda. First choice was Avondale Forest, located in County Wicklow. I’ve driven through Wicklow many times, although not usually the more rural parts. A couple of summer drives through the Sally Gap after visiting Glendalough, one in the summer sun, another in the Irish rain, both equally stunning, with parts of the drive through the Sally Gap a little hair raising if you’re not keen looking over the edge at a sharp drop.
My journey from County Laois was expected to be around 100Km and estimated at 1 hour 50 minutes. With storm Eunice having clipped the south east of Ireland the day before, I couldn’t be 100% sure that a parkrun in a forest in the south east would go ahead so time to look at alternatives. Mallow Castle near Cork was one option briefly on the agenda until I factored in the possible storm damage. The other options were in Dublin and completing a Bushy parkrun double. Dublin also made sense because half of my journey to Avondale Park meant I could check half way for any cancellation and the change plans. I set off at just after 07:00 and still in the dark. An uneventful journey followed towards Dublin on the M7 motorway, followed by a stretch of countryside main roads after turning off near Newbridge, County Kildare. As I headed south, the Wicklow Hills came into view, snow capped following yesterday’s wintry weather. I hadn’t looked properly at the exact location of Avondale Park, being lazy on my reliance on satnav, and hadn’t expected to end up driving through the Sally Gap. I stopped to take the occasional photo of the hills before eventually realising I was heading straight through them.
As I approached, the snow began to gradually appear on the road, not thick, but enough to make the road a little slippery. Parts of the roads through the Sally Gap are like ledges and are not for those of a nervous disposition. Add in the snow and they become more interesting. Luckily it wasn’t a proper covering. I’d planned for the odd fallen tree but not the snow. I made one stop around midway through the slippery section to take photos, thinking I was alone and parking up on the side of a country road but not in a cut out designed for parking. Then without warning, and while I was out admiring the scenery, five cars appeared out of nowhere. It was just like the sudden appearance of parkrunners on a cold Saturday morning, when none could be seen five minutes before the start time. Luckily nothing coming the other way so they were all able to pass without problem.
I could see my spare time beginning to run out so now it was time to get to the start. It was obvious by now that I was heading to the middle of nowhere, at least compared to the convenience of London.
Despite the photo stops, I still arrived in good time. On entering the Avondale estate, I immediately saw construction work taking place. A car park sign became visible which I followed. I briefly stopped again to check the course route against my location. I had no idea if the parking was nearby or maybe half a mile or so through the estate. Another car appeared from behind and proceeded past me. As I watched it past, I saw a hi-vis jacket in the distance and I thought I must be near. I followed the car and the car park soon appeared. It’s never a bad idea to check if a random stranger or two is here for the parkrun. Today the two people I asked were also first time visitors. We headed up towards where the hi-vis hero had disappeared to and chatted along the way. My two fellow first timers were visiting from Waterford, another county on my list for a parkrun visit. We reached the meeting area fairly quickly. The volunteers were very welcoming and chatted to me while we waited for the clock to tick around to 09:30. Their friendly nature was very typical of the countryside parkruns I have visited in Ireland. Today’s marshal explained to me that the current course was temporary while the construction work I’d noticed was completed. He also suggested that the course is probably 60-90 seconds slower for a 20 minute runner on a flat course. I wondered what that would equate to for someone currently struggling to get close to breaking 30 minutes again on a flat course. The Run Director then explained that the course was roughly a figure of nine, with two laps of the loop to be completed before returning to the start/finish. She also explained what to do if I should get lost - “just keep heading up the hill”. We walked the short distance to the start point where the RD gave her briefing. She reminded us all of what to do in the event of getting lost.
Off we went, immediately heading downhill, and downhill, and even more downhill. All very nice, except the more downhill, the more uphill there is to follow. Still, I wasn’t here for a time but more to enjoy somewhere new. It didn’t disappoint.
As we approached the junction of the loop we would later appear from, the marshal could be seen taking photos. A very kind gesture to capture us all looking fresh and showing our best form.
Eventually we reached the bottom and we began the climb back to the top. At least I thought we had. After a short climb, there was a further descent but this time it was to the bottom, and everything which followed was an incline until we reached the end of lap one. As I approached this milestone, the marshal was again taking photos although I was no longer fresh but very much beginning to tire.
I turned left to start the second of two loops. The incline had taken its toll on me and now the downhill felt hard work. I slowly made my way around the loop, needing to pause for some recovery with a short walk here and there. My third and last meeting with the marshal finally came along and this time I was to turn right back towards the finish. This meant another photo, surely now looking my worst, and of course another uphill. By this point, my legs were pretty much finished and so it was again run a little, walk a little. It reminded me of the hill at the end of the Weald St. George 10K. I made the top of the hill and then turned right again for a short descent to the finish line where I was greeted with kind words from the timekeepers and other volunteers nearby.
This is a tough course for any level of fitness but the stunning scenery makes it well worth a visit for anyone who happens to be visiting the east of Ireland. The volunteers were so welcoming and chatty, making me feel like I could almost be a local. They were as much a part of making the journey worthwhile as the scenery. The surrounding area in County Wicklow is equally stunning whether it be the Sally Gap or the nearby Glendalough. You can even visit Hollywood while you here!
Finish time: 35:30
Event number: 97
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ABOUT MEHaving completed 5 marathons between 1999 and 2016, I decided this year, I would try to do it properly and plan my training! Alongside, I wanted to keep a blog as it went along, partly to look back on, and partly to help anyone else who may benefit from my own experiences. Archives
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