Killarney Spring 5k Series...26th Jan to 23rd Feb 2013

The largest athletics club in Kerry, Gneeveguilla AC are holding their annual 5k series of races in Killarney in January and February. The first race starts on Saturday, the 23rd of January while the remaining three are on Saturday, the 2nd, 16th and 23rd of February 2013.

Each 5k race is on the same route and has been accurately measured by Jones Counter. The series also has an athletics Ireland permit.

Each race starts at 11am sharp and costs just €5 to enter.

Prizes...To qualify for a prize, you must complete at least three out of the four races. After the 4th and final race, there will be refreshments and the series prizes will be given out.

There are a substantial number of prizes which take the form of vouchers for local retail outlets in Killarney. The prize structure is as follows...
Top 10 men and women....prizes ranging from €20 to €100 in value.
First 2 men and women in the following categories...O35, O40, O45, O50, O55 and O60....prizes are €30 and €20 in value.
First 2 Junior Boys and Girls...U15, U17 and U19....again, the prizes are €20 and €30 in value.
Fit4Life...First 5 ladies and first 2 men.

One prize per person. In the event that someone wins a top 10 prize and a category prize then they will win the prize of greater value.

Directions...Each race in held in the Demesne at the western side of Killarney...

If you're not sure of the exact location then the easiest way to get there is from the Bypass which runs to the north of the town itself. The most westerly junction on the Bypass is the Ballydowney Roundabout. Take the 2nd left here and head south...

After 600 metres on the Port Road, the Old Monastery is on the left just after the next junction...

If you are coming from the other direction i.e. the South...then the Old Monastery is about 200m after the Cathedral. See course map below for a clearer view.

Registration at the Old Monastery

The start / finish line is about 800m from the Old Monastery. The entrance to the Demesne / National Park is just across the road from the Cathedral...

You'll pass Deenagh Lodge on the way to the start line and also during the race...

The course....Essentially it's an out and back course. The start has an uphill pull but this also means that the finish is downhill and fast. The section parallel to the Port Road is flat while there are very modest inclines around the 1 mile mark on the way out and the 2 mile mark on the way back. It could be considered as a fast course.

The start and finish line is near this junction

Past Deenagh Lodge and then left

New pathway through the woods

Overall........A stunning location for a race series. Nice fast accurate 5 km course in a park that most towns in Ireland would love to have. It costs just €5 to enter each race and is suitable for runners of all abilities...from serious to joggers. People come from all over the world to visit this location. If it's on your doorstep then make the most of it.