Half marathons

rdunne · 07-04-2008 12:51pm #1

Hello all

Does any one know any good cheap half marathons this year. I had a look at one or two, but im not paying 50-60 euro for running 13 miles. Madness. Any one do any in the uk or futher a field.
Thanks for any help

Rich

Domer · 07-04-2008 1:23pm

http://adidasdublinmarathon.ie/race_series_halfmara.php

€20 in advance, €25 on the day

September 20th 2008, Phoenix Park

Stupid_Private · 07-04-2008 2:23pm

If you fancy a tough course theres the half marathon from Marvejols to Mende in France. You run between the two towns - its actually 22.4km but they call it a half marathon!

It's a tenner to enter and usually has some top class marathoners from Europe and Africa in it. I took part in it last year and it was a great day out. The atmosphere was brilliant, loads of people cheering you on at various points... especially at the top of the two hills.

The website is probably the worst in the world but I've a link to a section with the course profile and some pictures. All the text is in French though.

rdunne · 07-04-2008 3:20pm

Stupid_Private wrote: »

If you fancy a tough course theres the half marathon from Marvejols to Mende in France. You run between the two towns - its actually 22.4km but they call it a half marathon!

It's a tenner to enter and usually has some top class marathoners from Europe and Africa in it. I took part in it last year and it was a great day out. The atmosphere was brilliant, loads of people cheering you on at various points... especially at the top of the two hills.

The website is probably the worst in the world but I've a link to a section with the course profile and some pictures. All the text is in French though.

I like the sound of this one, and its around my bithday too. AS my french is a little hasy.. where did you fly into. I can figure out how to sign up and all that , Looks like a good laugh

RoyMcC · 07-04-2008 5:12pm

You might look at the Jersey Half Marathon on 18th November? Low-key, friendly race. (OK I'm biased, I organised it for many years

) Race website www.athleticsjersey.com and you can enter online at http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/viewevent.asp?sp=&v=2&EN=43660

caff · 07-04-2008 7:43pm

Just did the connamarathon there over the weekend, was my first try at that distance, only ran 6miles max before it. Handled it okay but my advice would be to research the lie of the route, those hills were a bit of a shock to me.

Stupid_Private · 08-04-2008 8:51am

rdunne wrote: »

I like the sound of this one, and its around my bithday too. AS my french is a little hasy.. where did you fly into. I can figure out how to sign up and all that , Looks like a good laugh

This is a very good question. I was living in the south of France last year and a friend of mine drove me there as it finished in the town she was from. I had the luxury of accomodation and transport already sorted for me. It's rural France so you'd need to fly then get a train. I'll send her an email and see what would be the best way to get there.

The best bet would be to stay in Mende. The race finishes there, so the last thing you want to do is have to bus it back to the start after finishing. There's free buses in the morning taking you to the start line in Marvejols. You then leave your bags there and they transport them to the finish.

A 2.16 marathoner suggested I do this race before leaving France, he described it as the Tour du France of road running.

RacoonQueen · 08-04-2008 10:33am

www.mooathon.com

Think it's 30 euro.

Clum · 08-04-2008 2:23pm

I did a few halfs last year. There was:

The bay run which is in May. It's a point to point type run. Fairly well organised.

Longford which starts out with the Longford marathon and turns back the way it came. It's flat so can be fast but I thought it was boring being on a main road all the time.

Achill which is good fun afterwards but it's a tough course, I found it tougher than the Connemara half.

I ran two others too but I don't think they have websites. One in Westport in August which is where I set my PB and one in Tarmonbarry in October. Both of these are small fields (I'd say under 200 in Westport and about 80 in Tarmonbarry) but good. Westport was from Luisburg to Westport and Tarmonbarry was over a loop. Both cost about 15 euro or so.

run_Forrest_run · 08-04-2008 3:10pm

The OP did say he/she wanted a cheap half marathon and the Bay Run is a rip off at 55 euro!

Krusty_Clown · 08-04-2008 4:08pm

rdunne wrote: »

Hello all

Does any one know any good cheap half marathons this year. I had a look at one or two, but im not paying 50-60 euro for running 13 miles. Madness. Any one do any in the uk or futher a field.
Thanks for any help

Rich

Surely travelling to the UK or France will push the cost of the race to way beyond a 55/60/70 euro race?
I also completed the Connemara half recently, and have to say that I think it is 60 euro (70?) well invested..

Caff: As to the course profile, the link is on the front page of their website. if you were surprised by the hills, then you should really question your training!
http://www.connemarathon.com/course_profile

rdunne · 10-04-2008 2:52pm

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Surely travelling to the UK or France will push the cost of the race to way beyond a 55/60/70 euro race?
I also completed the Connemara half recently, and have to say that I think it is 60 euro (70?) well invested..

Well I don't mind travelling and getting a nice long weekend out of it. Just the idea of paying 60ish Euro in Ireland for the race itself is a bit too much. Its the cost of the race itself which puts me off.
I will be doing some of the run in this post so thanks to all. Im getting hitched a Mayo girl in a few weeks so Westport would be great. Ill add it and the others i dont have to the calender on the bhaa website
Keep them coming too
thanks

Rich

Krusty_Clown · 11-04-2008 8:28am

Fair point.. I guess for me, Connemara (70 euro) is a weekend away.
I'm looking at doing Longford marathon (or half, haven't decided yet!) which is a more reasonable 50 euro/40 euro (full/half). They also have a relay for 100 euro.

Stupid_Private · 11-04-2008 2:29pm

Here's a link with some info on the marvejols mende race. It says the nearest airport is Rodez - a very quick check on the sncf website shows that you can get a train from there to mende in under 3 hours or quicker if you're staying in marvejols.

Ryanair fly to Rodez and the train is less than €20 one way.

Corcaigh abu · 12-04-2008 5:28pm

You can do the cork city marathon in relay so can do as many stages as you want and share the course with a team www.corkcitymarathon.com Mon June 6th. Can't remember price Think its 50 euro for a team or there is the Cork to Cobh run in Sept. - 15miles check out www.corkbhaa.com which is 5 euro for memebrs and 7 for non members!

run_Forrest_run · 15-04-2008 4:38pm

I agree with Corcaigh Abu, the Cork-Cobh is a great race and at slightly over the half marathon it's a nice test.

I was originally against the concept of the relay part of the Cork City Marathon but from being a spectator last year I really witnessed a great buzz on the day, partly due to the increased number of runners and the friends and families they brought with them for support.

hunnymonster · 16-04-2008 8:14am

lkike RFR I also had reservations about the Cork Relay. I did the Belfast marathon in 2005 and the relay was a disaster. The runners coming on duty and those going off duty stood around blocking the course and it was a mess. Cork. I also did Cork last year and the Relay was well organised. The support marathon runners got from the relay runners was great and they changeover points were really well marshalled.

Cork to Cobh is another great race. smallish numbers but great craic.

As a kid I remember a race from Dundalk to Carlingford. That must be about the half marathon mark? Does anyone know if it still runs?

Half marathons

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