THE COURSE

The Inis "Iron" Meáin is cleverly designed, affording participants a choice of 2 courses. Both courses follow the same route for the most part. The NOVICE or ‘CRUA’ course covers 10k of island roadway. The SENIOR or ‘FÍOR CHRUA’ course is the same, but at roughly the mid-way point, there is a turn-off which takes in a sand dune and beach run. This route then joins up again with the road route after 2 kilometres.

The course is very well marked and takes in a large part of the island, with spectacular views and variation in terrain. At each kilometre point there are signs indicating the remaining distance to go.

 

 

DETAILS OF THE COURSE

THE  START The start is at the Halla Naomh Eoin, where you register. When you start you will have a steep incline for about 0.5km.
TOP ROAD At the top of this hill you turn left and follow the top road of the island which gradually descends 2kms to sea level where you will arrive at the old pier, Cora Point.
LOWER ROAD You turn left just before the old pier and continue on the flat winding road past the graveyard for about 2kms. At this point, there is a right-hand turning point (water station here) for those wishing to do the ‘Fíor Chrua’ challenge which takes in the beach. For all other participants you continue onwards for another 1km until you reach the airstrip junction.
AIRSTRIP ROAD At the airstrip you turn left. (It is also at the airstrip point that the fíor chrua challengers meet up with the main course once again). There is a gradual climb for about 0.5 km (water station here), until you reach level ground once again and continue for another 1km. At the top of this road you turn right and continue (past the knitwear factory) for another 0.5km. This is roughly the half-way point.
CALADH MÓR PIER ROAD At the end of the middle road you turn right and gradually descend 1km once again to sea level. There is another water station here along the way beside the holiday homes. When you reach the bottom of this road you turn left.
THE STEADY CLIMB Follow the road for about 2kms which climbs to the top of the island. At first there is a gradual climb which then levels out. The last 300 metres to the top is very steep (think Everest!), where there is another water station. Here, you turn left for the last 1km on level ground. After the church you take the turn left.
THE FINISH The last section of 300m is all downhill.  Even if you haven’t run an inch, you can still look the part crossing the finish line at great speed!

 

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