So many trails and forests around Wicklow/Dublin it's a pity that we don't have a marathon race here. I know I'm Enduro but I do love long distance stuff, i would hate it if a marathon race had laps though, would totally turn me off, I need a change of scenery to keep me going! Here's my idea, start in Carrick EWS field, then a route around the mountain, out the back, boreen to next forest, over to clara nature reserve (access problem?), over to clara beg (some lovely trails), boots to trooperstown, trails in forest , then back the other side of Trooperstown and back roughly the same way using different trails!
Anyway, get talking people....
Yeah it's a perfect loop and already there, did it many times. The biggest issue is road crossings / closures. Perhaps it could be sorted between now and next year.
Is there a max/min distance and amount of climbing needed? Defo think I could get a good loop in, a lot of the road crossing are on minor roads too.The logistics of the whole thing are tricky and scare me. Anyway, a shorter recce spin over and back with some knowledgeable people would be good, gimme a few weeks!
The distance needs to be about 70-75kms with about 2000-2500mts of climbing. Should all be rideable on a 100mm travel bike!
I think it's a fantastic idea but realistically more than one or two public road crossings would be very difficult to manage - Road closure notices, traffic management etc!
From a financial point of view it would also make sense to be able to incorporate a smaller loop for people who would like to enter but who won't do a full 75km race.
If you do plan on running it across such an open course like that.. Then it would be good if people stepped up and formed a committee specifically for the organisation of the 2017 XCM champs now, bring on board local councils, land owners, sponsors to pay costs of running the event etc. etc.....