It's a rainy day here in Connecticut, with the steady sort of rain that reminds me of Ireland. They say in Achill Island, every season is rain, rain, rain. Summer: rain. Winter: rain. And so on. However, it is absolutely gorgeous, and the rain often clears in the early evening.
My husband and I planned a trip to Ireland in July 2017, and signed up for the Achill Island Half Marathon. Had it not been for that race, we wouldn't have discovered this beautiful, unspoiled destination where the cliffside mountains meet the sea.
After spending a day and night in Dublin, we journeyed northwest to Achill Island--a typical scenic Irish drive. We picked up our race packet, had an early dinner at our bed and breakfast's restaurant, and hit the hay. Our B&B, the Achill Cliff House Hotel, was no frills, charming, and a short walk to the start line. Which was a good thing considering the (predictable) forecast--rain! It was about 50 degrees with a light, but steady, drizzle and we spent minimal time hanging out at the start.
The start was incredibly organized, as was the packet pickup, and even included an organized warm up and stretching routine if you chose to join in. The half marathon started before the 10k, and our bibs were different colors. I encountered a few walking 10k participants towards the end as I passed them, but otherwise, the races were completely separate.
The course was quite scenic (when you could see beyond the drizzle and fog) and quite hilly...it falls into my top three hilliest races ever (the other two are the Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon and the Norwalk Lightfoot Summer Series 11-miler).
The race volunteers were great, and there were some amazing spectators who braved the rain to cheer us on. Runners were mostly from different parts of Ireland, and were shocked that these two Americans from Connecticut had come across this race. (In that moment, I felt very proud of my research skills. ;))
Our one big mistake was...we forgot our Gu gels! (There weren't any Gu/similar gels available for purchase at packet pickup the night before, either.) Our other mistake was assuming that races in other countries supply a Gatorade-like beverage along with water for a half marathon distance. So, basically, we ran the half with water only. All I can say is thank goodness it wasn't a hot and sunny day! Not providing nutrition on the course other than water was truly the only race organizer mistake, though.
The race finish was fantastic, and we were given the most food *ever* after finishing. Races in the U.S. should seriously take note! We had delicious mini-sandwiches, pizza, milk, beer, and an option to buy the most satisfying chowder ever (exactly what I wanted after 13.1 miles of rain)! Also, the Achill Cliff House Hotel had a sauna--man did that feel good.
After we'd gotten our food and sauna fix, I checked the calendar on my phone as I remembered signing up for the post-race party that afternoon. Well, what I thought was an afternoon party that began at 4pm was actually a nighttime pub party that started at 10pm. (Yup, I forgot to account for the time change!) With that discovery, we took a necessary nap to rally for the post-race party...and good thing we did. In true Irish fashion, we made fast pub friends. Along with our new pals, we started a dance party, and the previously empty dance floor quickly filled up with celebrating runners.
And, here's the best part of this race story. I--the ever-organized person--occasionally slip up, especially when I'm rushing. On our final morning at the Achill Island Cliff House Hotel, I left my brand new Irish rain jacket on the back of my chair at breakfast, since I was so focused on the upcoming drive to our next destination (Galway). Of course, I didn't realize my mistake until we were already hours away. I called Teresa, the remarkably kind woman who runs Achill Island Cliff House Hotel, who not only offered to send it to us at our next hotel right away, but also let us know that our finishing photo was featured in the local paper!
The Achill Island Half Marathon is a race neither my husband nor I will ever forget.
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| A beautiful evening in Achill, Ireland. |
My husband and I planned a trip to Ireland in July 2017, and signed up for the Achill Island Half Marathon. Had it not been for that race, we wouldn't have discovered this beautiful, unspoiled destination where the cliffside mountains meet the sea.
After spending a day and night in Dublin, we journeyed northwest to Achill Island--a typical scenic Irish drive. We picked up our race packet, had an early dinner at our bed and breakfast's restaurant, and hit the hay. Our B&B, the Achill Cliff House Hotel, was no frills, charming, and a short walk to the start line. Which was a good thing considering the (predictable) forecast--rain! It was about 50 degrees with a light, but steady, drizzle and we spent minimal time hanging out at the start.
The start was incredibly organized, as was the packet pickup, and even included an organized warm up and stretching routine if you chose to join in. The half marathon started before the 10k, and our bibs were different colors. I encountered a few walking 10k participants towards the end as I passed them, but otherwise, the races were completely separate.
The course was quite scenic (when you could see beyond the drizzle and fog) and quite hilly...it falls into my top three hilliest races ever (the other two are the Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon and the Norwalk Lightfoot Summer Series 11-miler).
The race volunteers were great, and there were some amazing spectators who braved the rain to cheer us on. Runners were mostly from different parts of Ireland, and were shocked that these two Americans from Connecticut had come across this race. (In that moment, I felt very proud of my research skills. ;))
Our one big mistake was...we forgot our Gu gels! (There weren't any Gu/similar gels available for purchase at packet pickup the night before, either.) Our other mistake was assuming that races in other countries supply a Gatorade-like beverage along with water for a half marathon distance. So, basically, we ran the half with water only. All I can say is thank goodness it wasn't a hot and sunny day! Not providing nutrition on the course other than water was truly the only race organizer mistake, though.
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| At the beach finish of the Achill Half Marathon. |
The race finish was fantastic, and we were given the most food *ever* after finishing. Races in the U.S. should seriously take note! We had delicious mini-sandwiches, pizza, milk, beer, and an option to buy the most satisfying chowder ever (exactly what I wanted after 13.1 miles of rain)! Also, the Achill Cliff House Hotel had a sauna--man did that feel good.
After we'd gotten our food and sauna fix, I checked the calendar on my phone as I remembered signing up for the post-race party that afternoon. Well, what I thought was an afternoon party that began at 4pm was actually a nighttime pub party that started at 10pm. (Yup, I forgot to account for the time change!) With that discovery, we took a necessary nap to rally for the post-race party...and good thing we did. In true Irish fashion, we made fast pub friends. Along with our new pals, we started a dance party, and the previously empty dance floor quickly filled up with celebrating runners.
And, here's the best part of this race story. I--the ever-organized person--occasionally slip up, especially when I'm rushing. On our final morning at the Achill Island Cliff House Hotel, I left my brand new Irish rain jacket on the back of my chair at breakfast, since I was so focused on the upcoming drive to our next destination (Galway). Of course, I didn't realize my mistake until we were already hours away. I called Teresa, the remarkably kind woman who runs Achill Island Cliff House Hotel, who not only offered to send it to us at our next hotel right away, but also let us know that our finishing photo was featured in the local paper!
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| We made the Mayo News! |
The Achill Island Half Marathon is a race neither my husband nor I will ever forget.
The Run Down
- Type: Race Course
- Distance: Half Marathon
- Location: Achill Island, Ireland
- Terrain: Hilly
- Hydration/nutrition: I'd recommend packing Gu gels and/or dissolving tablets you can pop into water for a Gatorade-like beverage
- Bathrooms: Yes
- Other conditions to consider: If you're coming from across the pond, as I was, I would recommend giving yourself at least one day and night to adjust; i.e. you should have spent at least one night in Ireland before the night before the race.
- Recommended? Absolutely--you will discover a beautiful part of the world that is not swarming with tourists, make new friends, and have an unforgettable overall experience.
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