RUN COURSE OVERVIEW

Leaving Transition

After exiting transition, competitors head north onto the lakeside path that handrails the lake for the first kilometer affording an excellent view of the swim at various points.

The Deer Park

At the end of the lakeside path, competitors emerge through a set of wrought iron gates into, what was, the estate’s deer park. Now the reserve of a local farmer’s cattle, a well made road planeings path leads runners uphill through the park across open land with a good view of Lough Cutra Castle. The end of the deer park is signified by another large wall and set of wrought iron gates.

The Black Drive

After running down theside of a fir tree plantation on a newly made road planeings track runners arrive at an estate road called the Black Drive. A kilometre along here sees runners arrive at the estate main drive, crossing over the cycle route, and then heading on tarmac back towards the Castle and surrounding courtyards.

The Courtyards

Carrowcarriff

The next section is through beautifully kept national forestry paths and fire breks in a wooded area called Carrowcarriff. Passing the feed station at 3km in the middle of the woods, runners will emerge onto a local minor road before running a further 600m on tarmac and reentering the estate via a gate entry.

Arrival at the double courtyard signifies 1 kilometre to go to complete the first loop of the 7km course. Having passed through these historic buildings and after a tantalising glimpse of the Finish LIne and the Castle itself, runners descend downhill on a road planeings track before emerging on the plateau below the Castle that houses transition and swim exit. 500m to go and competitors will arrive at transition to being their second lap.