Knockmealdown Mountain Ultra
Knockmealdown Mountain Ultra
The Knockmealdown Mountain Ultra is a long-distance mountain running event held in County Waterford. The course starts and finishes at Mount Melleray Abbey and covers a distance of 66 km. The route includes a total ascent of 2,800 meters and is classified as extreme difficulty due to the elevation gain and the nature of the terrain.
The event takes place on a mix of mountain ground, rough terrain, forest roads, and tracks. It is important to note that the route is not marked. Participants must be capable of navigating the course independently and are permitted to use GPS devices. Live GPS tracking is utilized to monitor runners during the event. Registration is limited to 100 participants.
There is a 12-hour total time limit for the full course. Specific cut-off times are enforced at various points along the route:
- 15.5 km: Top of Vee Car Park
- 38 km: Kilballyboy Woods
- 51 km: Road crossing to Eastern Hills
Aid stations located at these checkpoints provide water and basic snacks such as sweets, chocolate, and soft drinks. Participants must carry a mandatory advanced kit, which includes a waterproof jacket with taped seams, waterproof leg cover, hat, gloves, whistle, mobile phone, foil blanket or bivvy bag, emergency food, map, and compass. Runners must also have the capacity to carry at least 500 mL of water. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.