With
trail running and mountain running taking the world by storm the Gaelforce
Mountain Run lived up the promise of a tailored race to fit a wide audience
from novice mountain runner to experts with many competitors coming over from Europe
and America.
The
Gaelforce Mountain Run proved an amazing event for runners of many levels,
offering three difficulties – 12km Introductory, 13km Intermediate, 22km
Expert.
The
22km Expert route follows another ascent and a steep descent to keep it
interesting. This distance is an UTMB qualifying race – The UTMB is Europe’s
most prestigious trail running event through the Alps. Big congratulations to
Ricki Wynne who claimed first price in the male category with a time of 2 hour
24 minutes. Rachel Nolan and Elizabeth Wheeler who finished the race together
with a stunning time of 3 hours and 7 minutes. Both women decided to donate the
prize money of 250 Euro to the Galway Rape Crisis Centre in honour of
International Women’s day.
The
13km Intermediate offered stunning views from various peeks varying from 320 to
562 meters in elevation. Bernadette O’Neill was the first female over the
finish line at 1 hour 54 mins and Aidan Buckley came first in the male category
at 1hour 44 mins.
The
12km Introductory Mountain/Trail Run saw Vernon Walsh take first place in the
male with a time of 1 hour and 3 minutes and Emer O’Connell being the fasted
woman on the route with 1 hour and 13 mins.
As
well as taking part in the event, participants, especially from overseas, had a
great time exploring the West of Ireland and took in some of the famous sights
between Clifden and Westport such as Kylemore and the Connemara National Park
during this spring weekend.
You
can find out more on www.gaelforceevents.com/en/gaelforce-mountain-run-info
