Connemarathon 2010 - All welcome

[El Gordo]

Maybe I'm being premature, but I'd like to start talking about arrangements for this event.

Three main reasons --

1. I'm going to Ireland in a couple of weeks, and thought it would be a good opportunity to do some reconnaisance.
2. Accommodation opportunities are limited, so we don't want to leave it too late. It's already difficult finding any decent hotels for a reason able price.
3. The race sells out well in advance usually

I probably know this area better than most people here, but does anyone want to throw in any thoughts/preferences?

The big question is where we should stay.

In order to answer this, you really need to either go to the race website (connemarathon.com) and try to make sense of the options -- or you agree to being led by the nose by me. I don't mind doing some nose-leading, but only if you agree not to complain about where you are led. If you think you might object, please do some research and tell me what your thoughts/preferences are. As mentioned, quite a lot of accommodation seems to be already unavailable. Not surprising perhaps. This is a rural area and there are 3,200 race entrants -- so you can work it out for yourselves.

If Katy is reading this -- can you offer any thoughts/advice?

The official advice is to stay in Galway City, Oughterard or Clifden. The complication is the idea to climb Croagh Patrick (near Westport) on the Monday. If we want to do this, we need to decide whether to drive up there and back on the Monday (approx 60-80 mins each way, depending on where you start), or to split the accommodation between Galway etc and Westport, or even to stay the whole time in Westport, commuting to the race. Galway is a good place for the craic though no doubt there is a fair bit available in Westport -- I've not explored the nightlife much there, but can check it out when I'm there shortly.

Hotels in Ireland are pricey so we may well have to settle for B and B. Ireland is full of them, usually reasonably priced and always with major breakfast experiences thrown in.

Finally, regarding travel arrangements, despite the earlier suggestion about flying to Galway, it might be best for us all to meet in Dublin on Friday or Saturday, then drive up together in a hired minibus to Connemara on the Saturday (about 3 hours). If we met on the Friday, we could manage a mild 'social' with a full day to recover before the race. It's also an easier place to get to.

Anyway, please do a bit of research into flights, and into the race, and either give up in despair, or throw your tuppence in as I'd like to start booking.

EG