Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA)
IMRA Wicklow Way Race
Clonegal → Marlay Park, Dublin
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The IMRA Wicklow Way Race is one of Ireland's most iconic ultramarathons, following the full length of the Wicklow Way from Clonegal in County Carlow all the way to Marlay Park in south Dublin — 127 kilometres of trail, bog, forest track and open mountain with 3,706 m of accumulated climbing. Run under the banner of the Irish Mountain Running Association, it is a true end-to-end challenge that takes runners from the gentle river valleys of the southeast through the heart of the Wicklow Mountains before depositing them on the outskirts of the capital. With a Saturday 18:00 finish cut-off at Marlay Park and seven crew-accessible checkpoints along the route, the race rewards thorough preparation, solid pacing and a realistic plan for the long back half when the legs begin to feel every one of those kilometres.
Course & Terrain
The route traces the official Wicklow Way waymarked trail almost in its entirety, meaning the terrain is enormously varied. Out of Clonegal (87 m) the early kilometres are relatively benign — forest roads, farm tracks and quiet lanes that ease you into the day — but the character of the course shifts markedly once the Wicklow uplands take hold. Expect a sustained mix of open heather moorland, peaty bog paths that punish a heavy foot strike, grassy fire-road climbs and technical rocky descents. The high point sits at 623 m, and while that figure is modest by Alpine standards, the repeated nature of the climbing — 3,706 m of gain spread across 127 km — means no single monster ascent lets you recover; the course simply keeps asking questions. Navigation is generally straightforward on the waymarked trail, but mist and poor visibility on the open ridges above Glenmalure and Glendalough can disorient even experienced mountain runners, so carrying a map and compass is strongly advised.
The Decisive Climbs & Descents
The section from Dying Cow (Stranakelly Crossroads, 32 km, 490 m) into Iron Bridge (43 km, 279 m) involves a meaningful descent from high ground — run it too hard and you will pay on the climb back up to Glenmalure. The Glenmalure checkpoint at 57 km sits at 557 m, making it the highest crew point on the course, and the climb to reach it is typically where the race begins to sort itself out; anyone who has gone out too fast in the first 40 km will start to feel it on this extended pull. The subsequent drop to Glendalough/Laragh (66 km, 320 m) is runnable but technical underfoot and demands focus. The stretch from Oldbridge/Lough Dan (80 km, 374 m) to Crone Wood (105 km, 212 m) covers the bulk of the northern Wicklow plateau and, coming late in the race, represents the section where time is most commonly lost — the terrain is relentless, the legs are heavy and the emotional low of 'still 20-plus kilometres to go' arrives here.
Pacing & Fuelling Strategy
With 127 km and a hard Saturday 18:00 cut-off at Marlay Park, your available window depends entirely on your start time — calculate your target pace from the gun and work backwards from 18:00 with a meaningful buffer. The crew-point structure at Clonegal, Dying Cow (32 km), Iron Bridge (43 km), Glenmalure (57 km), Glendalough (66 km), Oldbridge/Lough Dan (80 km) and Crone Wood (105 km) gives you seven opportunities to resupply; plan drop bags or a crew strategy for at least the key mid-race points at Glenmalure and Oldbridge. Fuel early and often — the bog and heather terrain demands more energy than flat road ultras of equivalent distance, and the temptation to eat light in the first 30 km usually catches up with runners by kilometre 70. Aim to arrive at Glendalough (66 km) having eaten consistently and with energy reserves intact; the 61 km from there to Marlay Park is where races are truly run or lost. Sodium management matters in Irish mountain conditions — carry electrolytes regardless of how cool the weather feels.
Conditions to Expect
The Wicklow Mountains have a well-earned reputation for rapidly changing and unforgiving weather. Even in summer the open ridges above 500 m can be cold, wet and windy with little warning, and the bog paths that feel firm underfoot at the start of the day can become increasingly saturated as the day progresses or if rain arrives. Mist is common on the high sections around Glenmalure and the Wicklow Gap corridor, dropping visibility to a matter of metres. Plan your kit for a worst-case scenario: a waterproof jacket, hat and gloves should be in your pack regardless of the morning forecast. In contrast, the forest road sections lower down can feel humid and sheltered in warm conditions, so layers you can add and remove are more useful than a single heavy jacket. Footing on the peaty sections is rarely reliable — trail shoes with aggressive grip and a degree of waterproofing will serve you far better than lightweight race shoes designed for hard-packed trails.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 87 m · Fri 21:00
21.6 km · 119 m · Sat 00:00
49 km · 156 m · Sat 06:00
73 km · 463 m · Sat 10:00
102 km · 140 m · Sat 14:30
127 km · 52 m · Sat 18:00
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