Top of Coom Race Wraps Up the Fog in the Bog League

On Sunday, September 8th, the ever anticipated Top of Coom race took place, serving as the conclusion of the IMRA Munster Fog in the Bog league. Known for its challenging course, the 11km race, with an elevation gain of 350m, delivered exactly what the league's name promises: plenty of fog and bog.

As one of the favourite courses in the calendar, Top of Coom didn’t disappoint the eager participants. Barry Murray, a seasoned runner who completed his 100th IMRA race that day, humorously remarked, "If you wanted to show American tourists a real example of Irish bog, this place would be it."

The race saw stellar performances from both the male and female competitors. In the women’s category, Carol Finn clinched the top spot with a time of 1:05:00, followed by Siobhan Dineen in second, and Miriam Beasley in third. On the men's side, Patrick O'Driscoll took the victory with an impressive time of 56:47, with Marcus Bishop and Henry Browne finishing in second and third place respectively.

Special thanks go to Race Director Micheal McSweeney and his dedicated team of volunteers, who ensured the event ran smoothly, providing a fitting finale to the league.

The overall Fog in the Bog league winners were Siobhan Dineen and Henry Browne, who were celebrated for their quality and hard work throughout the series. Congratulations to both athletes!

Looking ahead, the next races on the IMRA Munster calendar include the Glen of Aherlow Marathon, Half-Marathon, and Ultra Marathon on Saturday, September 21st. Additionally, this coming weekend, over 60 runners will be representing Ireland in the World Masters Mountain Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain. Best of luck to all competitors!

Featured Image: by JP Treacy