After two previous attempts thwarted by injury and holiday plans, I finally conquered the stunning Kilkee Half Marathon on County Clare's rugged west coast last Saturday. Previously, I had been foiled by an Achilles tendonitis injury. Last summer, after entering the race for a second time, I decided to go on holiday. However, this year I was determined to complete the 13.1-mile course on the rugged and beautiful west coast of Clare.
I arrived in the town about 45 minutes before the race was due to begin and already there was a carnival atmosphere building up around the beach of Kilkee. Music was blaring, participants were chatting and laughing, and the sun shone brightly, highlighting the towering cliffs on one side and the mural of Che Guevara on the other.
At 9:00 AM sharp, the race began, and roughly 2,000 participants surged through the town, turning left just before the Pollock Holes and heading uphill along the Dunlicky Road and out towards the Loop Head Peninsula.
Immediately upon turning left, the laughter and conversation quietened as we faced our first uphill climb. Despite the challenging ascent, the stunning landscapes, with the Atlantic Ocean crashing against the cliffs, provided a breathtaking backdrop. At this point we could not see the coast however the scenery was still beautiful as we looked across to our left and saw the rolling rugged landscape so heavily influenced by the Atlantic weather and coastline. It was not long after that we came across the spectacular cliffs to our right and saw the full force of the Atlantic Ocean as it crashed against the base of the cliffs, sea stacks and the weather-beaten Bishop’s Island creating countless white sea horses and a thundering sound as the ocean colours ranged from turquoise green to azure blue.
We passed by a field bordered on one side by the road and on the other by the cliffs with bemused horses mystified by the army of runners along the road and they decided to lend their support by galloping around the field creating a picturesque view of Ireland more fitting from a time long gone.
It wasn't long before we reached our first and much-needed water stop. Cheerful volunteers handed out refreshments to the parched runners, their smiles and encouragement lifting our spirits.
In 1995 legendary Clare hurling captain, Anthony Daly, in his captain’s speech made reference to the fact that Clare was known for its traditional music and this stereotype was reinforced by highly gifted traditional musicians who kept the spirits of the runners up with skillful playing of Irish music and tunes.
We continued passed St. Kee’s Well and the undulating hills continued however our tired legs and minds were kept distracted by the amazing scenery to our right that has made this the most beautiful half marathon I have ever run. This record previously belonged to the Dingle half marathon however I can now say that the Kilkee half marathon is the most spectacular and scenic run I have ever completed.
This was an out and back course and as I reached the halfway mark, I looked at my Garmin and thought that I was on for breaking the two-hour mark however, somehow it seemed that the organisers had added extra uphills on the return route home! Obviously, this was not the case but one particular hill at around mile ten sapped the energy from me and so I knew I wasn't going to achieve a personal best. Despite this, I felt immense pride crossing the finish line in two hours and four minutes. While it is a hilly course this should not deter anyone from entering. The scenery, the atmosphere and the support from volunteers and well-wishers along the route made this a half marathon that should be on everyone's bucket list.
As I jogged along the lyrics to the ballad, made famous by Planxty, the Cliffs of Dooneen, regularly entered my thoughts as I saw “the high rocky mountains on the west coast of Clare” and as we later returned the town of Kilkee came into view welcoming us back home to the start line like a mirage in the desert.
The final few kilometers were exceptionally fast as they were mostly downhill and as we entered the town and turned right along the beachfront the energetic music kept us going to the finish line where we were presented with fantastic medals and a wonderful finishers top. For many runners the finishers medal and training top are not that important but for me they colour my view of the organisers and the event itself. For people completing their first half marathon, the medal is extremely important and with the organizers putting so much effort into the design of the bespoke medal it makes this race one that is well-worth entering. There were also an array of sandwiches chocolate bars and water for the runners at the finish line which again emphasise for me what a well-organised event this was.
The Kilkee half marathon is a professionally organised event, along a challenging but beautiful course that creates a sense of achievement in the athlete once they've completed the race. I can't recommend this event enough if you haven't done it you should keep an eye out for entries next year as it always sells out. It is without doubt a half marathon that should be on everyone's to do list.