FAQ

Your supporters will be able to track your progress along a number of intermediary checkpoints here: https://wicklow-ecotrail-live-tracking.webflow.io

The checkpoints are as follows:

•    10 km: start / finish only (1 split of 10 km)
•    19 km: at 0, 9 and 19.8 km (2 splits 9 km and 10.8 km split)
•    30 km: at 0, 9, 14.8, 23.2 and 30.9 km (4 splits of 9 km, 5.8 km, 9.4 km and 7.7 km)
•    46 km: 0, 9, 14.8, 20.7, 31.5, 39.9 and 46.5 (splits of 9, 5.8, 5.9, 10.8, 8.4, and 7.6 km)
•    80 km: 0, 9, 14.8, 20.7, 33.8, 43.4, 63.8, 72 and 80 (8 splits of 9, 5.8, 5.9, 13.1, 9.6, 20.4, 8.2 and 8 km)

Our timing team can see which runners pass which checkpoints although there can be a delay from the time a runner registers at a mat until the Race HQ can see their split time. If a runner does not show up in our system at a certain time it does not mean the runner is not there as timing chips may not register for several reasons the most common of which is a timing chip covered by clothing or a bag.

If during the race you need to provide priority updates to your supporters or emergency contact, your primary means of communication should be your mobile phone which needs to be carried at all times by all participants.

results from previous years

Once results are sent to ITRA they take ownership of all amendments. Please email them directly on contact@itra.run for changes to your ITRA results.

Note from 2022 onwards, we will only be affiliated as a UTMB qualifier and the race may not show up on the ITRA.RUN website.

For details on transport and parking please refer to our transport page.

East West Mapping have provided official maps for our four races:

MAPS ARE BEING UPDATED FOR 2024 AND WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON

• 19 km: download here
• 30 km: download here
• 47 km: download here
• 80 km: download here 

The best printed map that may be used for reference is that for "Wicklow East" as supplied by East West Mapping

Please do not attempt to run the sections passing through private lands at any time unless they are on agreed public access routes  as this could lead to our race losing access to these sections.

Specifically, you must follow only the waymarked path through Belmont outside of race day and you must enter the Powerscourt Waterfall park only through the gate lodge (where you must pay admission fee). 

When in doubt, please stay out thanks!

We do not have any mandatory qualifying event for the 80km course.

However, we strongly recommend that you should have successfully completed at least one 50+km off road running event in preparation for this significantly challenging event.

Please Do Not Enter This 80km Event unless you are adequately trained and experienced to safely complete the full course comfortably within the allowed time limits

Our Race HQ is close to the Bandstand and in front of The Martello Hotel on Bray seafront.

This is 5 mins walk from the DART / Train Station

All participants must have registered online prior to entry closing - No On Day / Late Entry will be possible

All participants must sign on in order to collect their race bibs and timing chips on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Participant Sign-on and collection of Race Bibs & Timing chips will be at the following times:

Friday (pre-race day) - From 16:00 -> 21:00

Saturday (race day) - From 06:30 -> 16:40

Race sign on for each event will close 20 mins before race start time

Most of the route is on national waymarked trails and can be run by the public any time you should wish to do so.

A few sections cross private land only opened specifically for EcoTrail Wicklow.

Please do not attempt to run these sections at any time as this could lead to our race losing access to these sections.

Specifically, you must follow only the waymarked path through Kilruddery Estate / Belmont outside of race day and you must enter the Powerscourt Waterfall park only through the gate lodge (where you must pay admission fee). 

When in doubt, please stay out thanks!

Please contact us directly if you wish to make a large group booking - Email Us

Groups can of course register individually at our registration link currently

Please email us if you need further asistance.

The general rule in Irish trail and mountain races is that descending runners always have right of way as they are more at risk when changing direction or braking whilst descending. 

If you encounter runners ahead of you on a single-track section, it is considered courteous to make way. 

In practice there will be very little overlap of runners meeting on narrow trails but giving way is advised .

If faster runners from a longer event approach you from behind please also move to one side where possible and allow them to overtake safely.

Please do not attempt to overtake anyone on a narrow section of trail unless there is space to do so and / or the slower runner has indicated that you should pass.

For details on all cut-offs read our 'Top-4 things to know: Cut-offs' article

The current estimated percentage of the routes on tarred roads. With course improvements we have reduced the amount of tarred road in the race every year.

• 10km:  30%      (3km)
• 19 km: 13.6% (2.7 km - longest stretch 900m)
• 30 km: 19.9% (6.2 km - longest stretch 1.5 km)
• 46 km: 20.2% (9.7 km - longest stretch 1.5 km)
• 80 km: 18.6% (14.7 km - longest stretch 2.2 km)

Much of these sections are parkland paths rather than actual roads and road sections are generally scenic country roads.

The following sections of our course are tarred:

ALL RACES

• Bray seafront promenade: 900m (out and back - 1.8 km total)
• Windgates estate: 300m (out and back - 600m total)
• Kilfenora Lane to Belmont Way: 300m

30 KM TO 80 KM

• Kilfenora Lane into Kilmac to Sugarloaf Way start: 1.5 km (out and back - 3 km total)
• Glencap Road: 500m

47 km and 80 km

• Red Lane (Great Sugarloaf): 700m (out and back - 1.4 km total)
• Ballyremon Commons: 700m (out and back - 1.4 km total)
• Powerscourt Laneway: 1 km

80 km only

• L1036 (Wicklow Wolf Brewery to Vartry Trails): 2.2 km (out and back 4.4 km total)
• Ford Bridge (Vartry): 400m
• Water's Bridge (Vartry): 200m

The longest single stretch of road is the 2.2 km leading from Wicklow Wolf Brewery to Vartry Trails Aid station.

For the shorter distances tarred sections are only 400m to 1 km in length.

We aim to provide accurate distances for all event but being a trail event with significant off road and elevation gain and loss means that these distances cannot be guaranteed accurate to the nearest few meters.

Distance and elevation is first measured in a mapping software and then confirmed on the ground by a Stryd foot-pod - currently the gold standard in measuring trail races and significantly more accurate than GPS. 

In general most GPS watches will come close to the official measurements but it depends on your GPS software, the satelitte coverage in your area, the recording mode you have selected on your watch or phone, and how well you run the 'optimal line' on the trail. Our official course measurers put great care to run the optimal lines while measuring the routes with the foot-pod. 

The foot-pod contains an accelerometer which measures exactly how far the pod moves across space in three dimensions (forwards/backwards, side to side, and up and down) providing nearly 100% accurate readings even where there is poor satellite coverage. So should you find that your GPS recording is slightly different than official course distance and elevation it is likely a combination of GPS inaccuracy and not having run the optimal line on the trails (such as when you run the outside of bends instead of taking the straight line from the middle of each curve in the bend - not always an option when you are racing or tired).

The courses are marked with a mixture a flags, reusable reflective ribbons, and arrow and information signs.

As a general rule the course will be marked at every junction or other area where you could be in doubt where to go.

Navigational skills are not necessary but it is vital that you remain aware of the need to follow the route marking and not assume that everyone that is ahead of you has done so.

If you reach a junction that has no race marking then you should retrace your steps until you find a junction with route marking and follow route from there 

Whilst we will have some marshals out on the course at critical points like road crossings points, most trail junction will not be marshaled so you are responsible for following  the marked route.

Please note that no amount of race marking is fool-proof: marking can be tampered with, blown away, or your line of sight to it can be blocked by other users of the trails (hikers, etc.) so we highly recommend downloading the GPX of each route as an additional backup confirmation if you arrive in a junction where you are uncertain how to interpret what you see.

Unfortunately transfer to future years is not possible nor are refunds offered but you can transfer your entry to another person for free up to 13th September only

After this date no changes are possible

 Please click here for Entry Prices* for our 2024 EcoTrail Wicklow Event on 28th September 2024:-

 *All Entry Prices are subject to €4 charge to cover booking system and transaction charges

*All prices include the vat (Value Added Tax) that is applicable to your entry fee

* Entries will close whenever allocated spaces for each distance are filled

You can transfer your bib to another competitor up until 13th September 2024.

You can do this name change by sending us an e-mail request with the name of the person getting your entry, their DOB & Email

The new entrant will then need to complete ALL REMAINING information including emergency contact name and number by 13th September 2024.

After this date no name changes or distance changes are permitted!

After this time, no name transfers are permitted as we will have ordered personalised race bibs with timing chips.

Anyone that allows their race bib to be used by another person without formal transfer will be banned from future events.

Anyone that uses another person's bib without it's re-allocation being formally done will be marked as DNF and banned from future events 

Name changes are subject to a €10 admin charge.

Once our maximum entry limits are reached and registration has closed, it is no longer possible to get a bib as maximum capacity has been reached.

We do not intend having a waiting list for the next event

No - All participants must collect their own race bib an timing chip in person and must provide proof of identity (copy or original)

You are not permitted to use another person's bib in the event without an official transfer being completed by the Saturday the 13th September.

No.

All bibs must be collected in person either the day before the race (Between 16:00 and 21:00) or on race morning up to 30 mins before the start of your event.

This is the same place you will deposit these bags prior to the event.

Please note there is limited (uncovered) facility for this and we encourage everyone to store your baggage in your vehicle.

Your race bib with timing chip, finisher’s memento, t-shirt (Or Tree Planted instead of Tee), and water at the aid stations and the finish line.

For all competitors the after-race "Hot Dish" can be purchased as a registration add-on.

 All entry fees quoted are inclusive of VAT

 We have several Aid stations (providing water and snacks like flapjacks, bananas, water melon, and fruit cake to complement the food you carry on your person) for the longer distances and a Water Station on the 19 km.

To learn where on the route they are and what you can provision yourself with at them, please read our detailed introduction ‘Meet our Aid stations’ with latest updates.

We recommend that all participants should plan to carry the food they will need for the duration of their event and treat additional Aid stations food (For 80, 46 and 30k events)  as "treats" rather than rely solely on them!

No

Verbal support only at designated points (Spectator viewing areas) is permitted but the EcoTrail® Wicklow rules requires runners to be semi-autonomous.

Assistance by the race organisers is only allowed at designated Aid Stations.

No external assistance at any point on the course or assistance at aid stations with food, drink, gear, pacing, etc is permitted.

Penalties will be imposed for breaches of these rules in order to have a fair competition for all.