[Domer]

While I applaud the tremendous weight loss of Hannah Nolan featured in this Month's Irish Runner, did it really merit the front cover, and the few pages that it took inside? Was this a paid feature for her new website, or am I being cynical?

Surely with the wealth of young Irish Running talent around at the moment, the front cover of our premiere (only) running magazine should be used to highlight this talent and maybe the promotion will help an up and coming athlete get some sponsorship, or at least, recognition.

[ultrapercy]

Originally Posted by Domer

While I applaud the tremendous weight loss of Hannah Nolan featured in this Month's Irish Runner, did it really merit the front cover, and the few pages that it took inside? Was this a paid feature for her new website, or am I being cynical?

Surely with the wealth of young Irish Running talent around at the moment, the front cover of our premiere (only) running magazine should be used to highlight this talent and maybe the promotion will help an up and coming athlete get some sponsorship, or at least, recognition.

No your right it didnt merit a front page it didnt merit a mention at all in what is supposed to be a running magazine.That magazine is a joke and is getting worse every issue. Surely Britton should have got front page? Not a word about the Fagan drug story,head burried in the sand. This is probably the reason it was 6 weeks late coming out. Its becoming more like Womans Own or Weight Watchers Monthly (quaterly) all the time.

[Getonwithit]

Despite being run out of the AAI office the AAI get very little back I feel.. Is the policy focused on shifting copies though? Should it be? If it is pure athletics youre looking for try Athletics Weekly, theres more in a weekly edition of AW than in 3 months of Irish Runner.

[tang1]

If memory serves me correctly the article about Joe Sweeney was in it sometime last year, or an article very similiar.

[TheRoadRunner]

I actually thought this edition wasn't too bad, but it's all relevant I suppose. There was a decent feature on Britton & Sweeney (even if a bit repetitive from previous interviews). Bit on Bertie Messit was very good. O'Hanlon piece was excellent, very raw and no BS

I think stories like that featured on the cover is aimed at increasing readership by enticing those new to running. I like the OP would have rolled my eyes in the past but it's the route the magazine has gone. As other have said is a bit like women's weekly in places.

[ultraman1]

Originally Posted by TheRoadRunner

. As other have said is a bit like women's weekly in places.

im just waitin for datin classifieds in the back 2 pages....i sent in a link to a report on the donadea 50k and a few fotos and results,,,didnt even get a reply..

[Pisco Sour]

Originally Posted by ultraman1

im just waitin for datin classifieds in the back 2 pages....i sent in a link to a report on the donadea 50k and a few fotos and results,,,didnt even get a reply..

I like the magazine, but only read the stuff about the elites. The training stuff doesn't interest me much as it is very repetitive, and all geared towards people running marathons. No focus on sprints/ jumps/ throws etc. It is geared towards the masses. I don't blame them, and to be honest it is probably a good idea, and maybe it might get a few outsiders into athletics (could be clutching at straws though).

With regards not getting a reply, I wouldn't take it personally. Nice guy, and does a lot of great work, but hopeless at getting back to people. I sent him an email with my Running Review stuff and he got back to me saying he was awfully impressed and that he'd like to give me a call about putting one of the articles in the yearbook. I'm still waiting on that call.

[donothoponpop]

Originally Posted by 04072511

With regards not getting a reply, I wouldn't take it personally. Nice guy, and does a lot of great work, but hopeless at getting back to people. I sent him an email with my Running Review stuff and he got back to me saying he was awfully impressed and that he'd like to give me a call about putting one of the articles in the yearbook. I'm still waiting on that call.

Have to agree with this. I got an email from IR a while back, they wanted to do a piece about the marathon pacers, free subscription for any contributors... so I got a few to do up a report, sent it in... and heard nothing back. Still, FG has his heart in the right place, I'm not knocking him for a second.

On the original topic (since she's a local legend down my way) WOOOT! Well done cover girl Hannah Nolan!

[TheRoadRunner]

Originally Posted by ultraman1

im just waitin for datin classifieds in the back 2 pages....

I hope for your sake they don't require a profile photo

[tHE vAGGABOND]

The first issue in ages where I read all the articles, so liked this issue.

re: weight loss lady - news flash, some people [including my good self] are indeed interested in stories like that and want to read them. If folks want a magazine with nothing but stories you personally want to read, then get off your arse and start one and stop moaning tbh.

Also the first issue in 23 years not pushing Chi Runniner

[G-Money]

Originally Posted by tHE vAGGABOND

The first issue in ages where I read all the articles, so liked this issue.

re: weight loss lady - news flash, some people [including my good self] are indeed interested in stories like that and want to read them. If folks want a magazine with nothing but stories you personally want to read, then get off your arse and start one and stop moaning tbh.

I agree with this. I recently subscribed to Irish Runner and while I like it when elites get the coverage they deserve, I had no problem with this being the main cover of the magazine. Part of it is that I'm in the middle of a weight loss effort myself so I always like to read other people's success stories, especially when it's combined with running.

[Pisco Sour]

Originally Posted by G-Money

I agree with this. I recently subscribed to Irish Runner and while I like it when elites get the coverage they deserve, I had no problem with this being the main cover of the magazine. Part of it is that I'm in the middle of a weight loss effort myself so I always like to read other people's success stories, especially when it's combined with running.

The problem that some people might see with her getting on the front of the magazine could be that it devalues the sport of athletics a bit. There are many people who see running as nothing more than a weight loss activity or something that you do to warm up or get fit for another sport. Putting people like this (or Ray D'Arcy) on the cover could potentially reinforce this opinion of our sport.

That's one side of the coin. The other, as I have mentioned, is that it could help sell more copies and give our best athletes more exposure. I'm not particularly bothered. We have bigger things to worry about.

But what would inspire a kid more to take up athletics: Watching Derval O'Rourke win major championship medals, or watching somebody make up for years of abuse of one's body, or watching a radio presenter run a marathon in 4 hours?

[tHE vAGGABOND]

But what would inspire a kid more to take up athletics: Watching Derval O'Rourke win major championship medals, or watching somebody make up for years of abuse of one's body, or watching a radio presenter run a marathon in 4 hours?

TBH alas the answer has to be 3; as its closer to home and linked to the "fame at all costs" way society has gone.

I had a stupid number of comments post DCM for all manner of people about how proud I must have been to beat Ray Darcy - just the way some people are...

Personally, in terms of normal adult involvement in the sport, folks like us turning up to races, buying magazines and going training with clubs I would say 2 is the most important - as 90% of people out there are unhappy with their appearance and want to get involved in something.

For kids, seeing someone win a medal of any kind is great - but we would need someone high profile, amazing and charismatic to give a real boost to numbers [All very much IMHO clearly] - and I dont know of anyone like that?

[Jnealon]

She caught my attention in the december issue after running a very impressive3.30 ish marathon. She was part of the "marathon spartans/virgins" group iirc.
Sure she deserves the front cover, might encourage more mums etc to sign up to their local fit 4 life

[Pisco Sour]

Originally Posted by tHE vAGGABOND

Personally, in terms of normal adult involvement in the sport, folks like us turning up to races, buying magazines and going training with clubs I would say 2 is the most important - as 90% of people out there are unhappy with their appearance and want to get involved in something.

Sure, for many Joe Soap or Mary Public of the adult population that could be what inspires them to run. But for kids no chance. Sure when I was a kid I ran around cluelessly pretending to be Eric Cantona on the crappy grass pitch at the top of my estate. During the Olympics I would race the other kids thinking I was Michael Johnson. I liked to be Tiger Tim Henman come Wimbledon time, and I recall a few of us likeing to think we were Jonah Lomu the odd time we threw a rugby ball around. Not once did I think I was Uncle Johnny or Auntie Maggie who had recently achieved a weight loss of 10kg.

Kids looks up to the best. Simple as. The likes of Derval are what get kids into the sport. Not people plodding around the streets. In fact that would probably push kids away from the sport. Hardly something that would sell the sport to kids in the field game dominated market in Ireland.