Wicklow Round facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wicklow Round
Lugnaquilla, highest peak on the Round at 925 metres (3,035 ft); highest mountain in Leinster.
Length	100 kilometres (62 mi) depending on actual route
Location	Wicklow Mountains, Ireland
Established	2008
Trailheads	Fetherbed Track Junction
Use	Hiking, Fell running
Elevation change	circa 6,000 metres (19,685 ft) depending on actual route
Highest point	Lugnaquilla at 925 metres (3,035 ft)
Lowest point	Drumgroff at 50 metres (164 ft)
Season	All year round
Hazards	sinkholes amongst heather
Surface	bogland, moorland, sheep paths, roads

The Wicklow Round is a long-distance hill running challenge in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. The route follows a proscribed 100-kilometre circuit of 26 mountains, which must be completed in a fixed order, that total over 6,000 metres (20,000 ft) of elevation; there is some flexibility on route-choices between peaks. Rounds completed outside of a cut-off time of 24-hours are not generally recorded. Irish ultra-runner Joe Lalor is credited with the creation of the Round.

The first person to complete the Round was Moire O’Sullivan, in a time of 22:58:30 on 29 May 2008; O'Sullivan went on to write a book about her experience on the Round called Mud, Sweat, and Tears. Eoin Keith set a new record of 17:53:45 on 30 May 2009, which stood for nine years until it was beaten by U.S. runner, and Appalachian Trail record holder, Joe McConaughy, in a time of 17:09:44 on 6 May 2018. Several other runners have set records for the fastest Round. Between April and May 2019, the men's record was broken across three consecutive attempts, by Paddy O'Leary, Shane Lynch and Gavin Byrne. These attempts were featured in the short documentary film, "Coming Home - Ag Teacht Abhaile".

As of July 2019^[update], the record is 15:04:30, set by Irish IAU Trail World Championships contestant, Gavin Byrne on 18 May 2019.

Route

Mullaghcleevaun, 2nd-highest peak on the Round at 849 metres (2,785 ft); second highest mountain in Wicklow.

The 26 mountains of the Wicklow Round must be completed in the order as outlined below, as well as the check-point in the forest of Drumgoff.

Completions

Summit of Luggala above Lough Tay; neighbouring summit of Knocknacloghoge is behind (left)

The Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA) record the following sub-24 hour completions of the Wicklow Round:

     Men's record holder (most recent record is the current record holder)      Women's record holder (most recent record is the current record holder)

Books & Films

• Dooster Film (July 2019). Coming Home - Ag Teacht Abhaile. Award-winning documentary film.