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Adrienne Murphy’s favourite fitness destinations around Ireland
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As a performance-led runner and member of Ireland’s elite racing community, Adrienne Murphy knows what it takes to train regularly and strive for peak performance. Using the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 to help improve her fitness and strength, she trains smarter, goes further, and feels stronger. Here, she shares her favourite running routes, tracks, gyms and wellness destinations around Ireland.
After living abroad for four years and moving home last year, I still very much feel like I am becoming reacquainted with Ireland. Now living in Wicklow, I’m taking full advantage of everything that’s on my doorstep; the mix of both mountains and sea really offers so much from a training and running perspective.
My week of training always includes strength and conditioning, zone two/cardio, and getting outside in nature for a run with plenty of doggo walks. While wellness and moving my body are still a number one priority, now that I have two kids, I tend to lean into quick, effective workouts, with convenience playing a key factor. Those days of swanning around the gym are well and truly gone, and actually, as a result, I’ve become far more consistent and productive with my time.
So if you’re a busy mum or perhaps looking to add a new trail or training spot to your list, here are some of my regulars.
Running routes
My daily go-to trail: Kindlestown woods
Smack bang on my doorstep, this is where I walk or run most days with our kids and dogs. When we moved to Wicklow, I felt like we had discovered a hidden gem. It’s the perfect mix of hills, woodland trails and sea views throughout. It ticks the box for so many reasons; you can reach the highest point within 15 minutes (perfect for little legs joining the hike) and enjoy those epic sea views stretching from Bray to Greystones. It gives big wow factor feels for little effort. Equally, those looking to challenge themselves can take a longer loop. You will meet lots of friendly dogs off the lead, something I love to see!
A morning walk here and nipping to the Fire House Bakery or Pigeon House in Delgany for breakfast afterwards is my perfect morning.
Scenic run: Vartry lakes in Roundwood
My husband John introduced me to Vartry Lakes 10 years ago and it’s become a firm favourite of mine. You have the option to run a nice 3km loop around the lakes or push on even further, reaching up to 21km (I tend to choose the shorter option). On a day with blue skies, the view of the lakes is pretty breathtaking. This view definitely takes my mind off how far I’m running and really allows me to soak in my surroundings.
It would be hard not to mention the Roundwood Stores and The Coach House because let’s be honest, meeting for a run with pals is great, but the coffee afterwards might just be the best part. The porridge here is 10/10.
Run and family fun: Belmont Demesne
Since becoming a mum, I’m often trying to think of ways that we can combine family activities while sneaking in a quick training session… multitasking!
Belmont Demise in Wicklow has both mountain-biking and walking trails. They even have a little bike track for smaller kids. So, if you have an extra set of hands who can help entertain the kids with bike tracks or see the farm animals, you can very easily enjoy a 30-minute trail run and all meet up in Café 28, which is on the grounds. Plus, it’s dog-friendly!
Run track sessions
I’m currently training for a Tryka and Hyrox, which has really motivated me to hit the track. It provides an excellent opportunity to gauge my times and monitor my progress on a consistent surface. I love to incorporate interval work, sprints, and tempo runs into my training, especially when I’m working towards a running goal, and the track is perfect for these workouts.
There is a really nice run track in Greystones and the beauty of this, it only costs €3.50 to use.
The training destination: The Stables
I don’t think I could write this article without including The Stables in Gorey. Honestly, it’s like a playground for adults! Built on a gorgeous farm, the stables have an incredible outdoor training space (something we don’t see very often in Ireland), offering a variety of strength and conditioning classes. They have a beautiful reformer Pilates and yoga studio on site and an obstacle course! It’s definitely a training destination with a difference. I love training in groups, so for me this is the perfect place to escape to on a Saturday morning; try a Hyrox class followed by Pilates.
My go-to gym: No.17 Personal Training, Dublin City Centre
This is the reason I fell in love with strength training, so of course, No.17 Personal Training is on my list of destinations. Operating out of the very cool Vaults on Upper Hatch Street and the gorgeous Leinster Hotel Merrion Square, No.17 PT has some of the best coaches in Ireland (in my opinion). I was 25 at the time when I tried my first class here and I remember thinking, “Oh, this is it; this is what people talk about when they say good endorphins”.
I loved the style of training, learning new movements while gaining confidence with my technique. So much so, this spurred me on to study Personal Training. If you want to learn to move better, meet your training goals with a coach who truly cares – this is the place to put at the top of your list.
Group training: Ignite Fitness Delgany
I’ve always found that if I have a training partner or train in a group, I ultimately push myself so much more. As I returned to the training after having my baby boy, I really wanted to find somewhere that was close to home but somewhere that I loved to train.
From the playlists to the style of classes and coaching, Ignite Fitness has become one of my favourite places to train, offering a lot of variety when it comes to their classes. If you have an upcoming Hyrox or simply enjoy training alongside others, check out Ignite Fitness. Oh, and The Fat Fox coffee drive-through is conveniently on route for a caffeine hit pre-training.
Wellness getaway: Glasson Lakehouse
When I’m booking a trip away, I always check if the hotel has a gym! We all have different ways to unwind, and when I’m on a break away, I have more time to dedicate towards my health and wellness. Glasson Lakehouse is the perfect wellness getaway; the hotel has a heated outdoor pool overlooking the lake, which is really beautiful. Just think… a run around the grounds or maybe a quick visit to the gym, a dip in the pool and finishing it all off with the outdoor hot tubs with the incredible views – my idea of heaven.
The hike: Croagh Patrick, Mayo
I could name so many incredible hikes because this is where we are spoiled for choice in Ireland. But the hike that stands out in my mind the most is Croagh Patrick. We climbed this two years ago with my husband’s family and our daughter. We were blessed with the weather; I really didn’t expect the view we were met with: looking out at Clew Bay and the 365 islands. This is the type of view that makes you realise how truly spectacular Ireland is. The hike is approximately seven kilometres, taking us about four hours. This view, paired with our packed lunch, is pretty hard to beat!!
Beach runs
I love running by the sea, it’s simply good for the soul. One of my favourite things to do is a beach workout, incorporating running on the sand, some bodyweight exercises, and finishing with a sea swim (when the weather allows, of course). I’ll be very honest, I’m more of a summer sea swimmer in Ireland. Here are my three favourite spots.
Lahinch Beach, Co Clare The perfect sandy beach for running with a backdrop of the Cliffs of Moher. Also, a brilliant spot for surfing if you have this on your list to try.
Strandhill, Co Sligo A really nice mix of terrain for those looking to challenge themselves, with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Knocknarea mountain. Option to run on the beach for approximately two kilometres or create a longer looped run. To finish this off, pop to Shells Café at the beachfront for breakfast and coffee.
Greystones, Co Wicklow Running along Greystones beach to the Marina and a small loop around the village to finish. This run is definitely more about the sauna and swim finisher for me. You can book in ahead of time at Fad Saoil Saunas, have a quick dip in the sea, followed by coffee at Rise at the Cove. The perfect Saturday morning plans.
With the Samsung Galaxy Watch8, your everyday movements go much further. Using the power of Galaxy AI, the watch becomes your personal run coach, vascular health monitor, and recovery guide, so you can track, train and improve your overall performance. Over the coming months, Adrienne will be trialling the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 and sharing her fitness and training journey on IMAGE.ie.
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