[Condo131]

2010 marathon course
Race website
Last years thread including poll results

I heard tonight that entries for the full marathon are on 'special offer' until Nov 25th: €30. There's nothing on the Marathon website, and there's no entry details up, paper or online, but I'll find out. on Friday, what the story is and post an update.

Also.....Expect something 'extra' in forthcoming news.

[RICHIE-RICH]

That is a good idea. early bird entry at a very reduced rate. Fair play to them.

On the extra thing, spotted something on cork running blog about the same.

My guess:
An official half marathon distance event being run at the same time (and possibly a 10k) making a running festival type of a weekend.
However I am at a loss on how they will tie in the half over the same route as the full. if they use the same course, then the start would be the walkway, possibly the narrowist part of the course, and logistically a bit of a nightmare for peopel to get to.

Am I close?????

[Condo131]

I'm saying 'notting'.......

There was discussion, for the 2010 event, about having a 'half & half' in the relay. As you say, that meant starting on the walkway, BEFORE the footbridge - even narrower! Anyway the walkway was 'knocked on the head' as a relay changeover point because of the danger of someone falling into the water (or mud if the tide is out) while they were 'arsing about', as you would, waiting for their relay mate to turn up, along with the other issues.

So.......IF a Half was being introduced, it wouldn't start there.

[RICHIE-RICH]

Originally Posted by Condo131

So.......IF a Half was being introduced, it wouldn't start there.

Ahh right.

A slight alteration to the route, and a half could start at the blackrock carpark of thewalkway. It would be big enough to handle a half starting pen, and could easily accomodate a half relay chage over point.
One of the major flaws with the Cork marathon was that a relay team with two members had different "halves" to do - 12 and 14, or 15 and 11.

It would definitely attract more runners with an official half and half relay option, and an independent half marathon option.

[Rebelrunner]

30 euro for a marathon would be unreal value, if it turned out to be true, lets hope it is and I could start training early :-)

[Condo131]

Originally Posted by RICHIE-RICH

A slight alteration to the route, and a half could start at the blackrock carpark of thewalkway.

Sorry to pour water on your parade! There is no route change whatsoever envisaged for the 2011 Marathon!

...............you'll just have to be patient!

Meantime...I've left a phone message asking for the CCM gurus to get back to me about the 'early bird', if true, and details of how to avail of it.

[Condo131]

There is an 'early bird' €30 Marathon entry available but there's a catch....it's for the unwaged, who get a 50% reduction.

The entry for everyone else is €60, until Nov 25th, when online entry opens for the Marathon. I understand that the form will be available for download from tomorrow - it was available at the DCM Expo recently.

After Nov 25th, you can enter online, at €60 plus a online processing fee, or still pay the €60 for paper entry. Sometime later, the entry fee will 'ramp up', but the 50% reduction for unwaged Marathon runners will still hold.

[RoyMcC]

Well done CCM for that gesture, showing empathy in these hard times. It's difficult to justify forking out the full entry fee if you're out of work.

[Condo131]

That facility was there last year too, but they are going to promote it more this year.

[Gringo78]

I notice on the entry form for 2011 now posted on the website that they mention the possibility of deferring entry to 2012 on production of a valid medical certificate. As far as I know, that was not offered in previous years. Seems like a win-win for going for early entry - if you end up injured, you can then defer!

[Condo131]

Originally Posted by RICHIE-RICH

My guess:
An official half marathon distance event being run at the same time (and possibly a 10k) making a running festival type of a weekend.

Am I close?????

You weren't too far wrong. The 2011 Marathon was launched today and will incorporate an official chip timed half-marathon. While it is mostly over the same course as the second half of Marathon, there are deviations - I'll outline them tomorrow.

The other big change is that the 2011 event will be AIMS approved, so will be a Boston Qualifier, or will be acceptable for Olympic qualifying times, if you're in that league.

One BIG change is that the marathon will now start at 8:30, with the relay later (prob 9:15) and the half at 10:30. The idea behind that is to ensure that the Marathon winner crosses the line first - the relay winners have been first for the past 3 years.

[chinguetti]

That half sounds like a good idea. Have to say the 8.30 start for the marathon is a good idea if they get good weather.

When will the half course be revealed? I'm guessing that it will start away from the full course and join it at say mile 15 on or so? However i just remembered that awful long straight road and started having flashbacks

[RICHIE-RICH]

Originally Posted by Condo131

You weren't too far wrong. The 2011 Marathon was launched today and will incorporate an official chip timed half-marathon. While it is mostly over the same course as the second half of Marathon, there are deviations - I'll outline them tomorrow.

One BIG change is that the marathon will now start at 8:30, with the relay later (prob 9:15) and the half at 10:30. The idea behind that is to ensure that the Marathon winner crosses the line first - the relay winners have been first for the past 3 years.

Yay - got it almost right. A natural progression, and a good move for the continuing success of the marathon.

Good idea also regarding the marathon starting earlier than the relays. It must be tough for the marathon leader to have people pass him and cross the line ahead of him with fresher legs.

One gripe - I checked the CCM webpage, and nothing. I do wish they could get the web site sorted and be more up to date with the news. They announced it yesterday, and the latest news is from June ! How hard is it to publish the press release etc?

[xebec]

Originally Posted by RICHIE-RICH

One gripe - I checked the CCM webpage, and nothing. I do wish they could get the web site sorted and be more up to date with the news. They announced it yesterday, and the latest news is from June ! How hard is it to publish the press release etc?

The update is there now. They had problems with the update last night and the person responsible decided not to travel late in the cold weather and so the update was postponed till today.

[Condo131]

Originally Posted by chinguetti

When will the half course be revealed? I'm guessing that it will start away from the full course and join it at say mile 15 on or so?

You're nearly there. The start of the half will be close to the 2nd relay changeover point, but NOT on the Marathon route - just off it, and will continue on directly up the Marina, similar to the 2007 -2009 route, and will rejoin the Marathon route where it comes off the old railway cutting. The Marathon route is the same as in 2010.

The relay changeover point is moving slightly to ensure that there is no congestion. This will make the 2nd leg about 1/3rd mile shorter - closer to 5 miles - and the 3rd leg 1/3rd mile longer - closer to 7 miles.

Originally Posted by chinguetti

However i just remembered that awful long straight road and started having flashbacks

Don't forget that the Straight Road section was cut to just over 1.25 miles in 2010 - it was previously nearly 3 miles.