Longford marathon, any build up races?

Woddle

Just hoping people could suggest some races for late July or very early August as a build up for the Longford marathon. The best I've come up with so far is a 10K in Mayo on the 26/6, but I was hoping for a longer race 10 miles plus would be ideal. Cheers

Racing Flat

Check in the back of the Irish Runner. I'm away now so can't.

911sc

There is a race calendar here

Woddle

I've already checked out both, no races that I can find in the 10 mile plus bracket, was just checking if any others where about that where not in the IR or run Ireland

SUNGOD

10 mile road race in ballynonty tipperary on the 27th of july

brutes

Ten miler on 16/08 in Phoenix park, very close to LOngford, anyone aware of any other 10 miler to half marathon down here or up north pre Longford ?? Any details on the Tipperary 10 milers - time starts, etc

SUNGOD

i saw the ballynonty race on tipperary athletics website the organiser is a sean healy i had a number written down somewhere i will try find it later

Jason_77

Contact organisers of Ballynonty road races at ballynontyac@gmail.com

SUNGOD

thanks jason

Bobby04

Try the Breffni Challenge, a tough half marathon on 2-Aug starting from Cavan town, as mentioned here;http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=56210930

Nialloooo

HI all
Im thinking about doing longford this year, i did belfast and dublin last year but have had a injuuy so cant do cork as planned, but have enjoyed some 10k and halfs in the last while.

Can one one give me some info on longford, is it flat? out in the country side etc??

thank you

ZiggyStardust

What about the Achill half marathon at the beginning of July, or in June there is the Mourne Way Half marathon.

http://mournewaymarathon.com/

Woddle

Nialloooo wrote: »

HI all
Im thinking about doing longford this year, i did belfast and dublin last year but have had a injuuy so cant do cork as planned, but have enjoyed some 10k and halfs in the last while.

Can one one give me some info on longford, is it flat? out in the country side etc??

thank you

I've done Longford twice now and it is a flat course. There is a great athmosphere around the town and a great vibe of the locals with their own home made refreshment stands but it is a small field and you could be running on your own for a while and it is done around some nice scenic views but your also running the last few miles on a busy road. . I'll probably do the half this year

Bobby04

The Breifne Challenge 2009 is on 4 weeks prior to Longford on 1-Aug - a nice hilly half marathon in aid of St. Lukes
http://www.mycharity.ie/event_details.php?eventID=475

Nialloooo

How many in the field roughly?? did wexford half and only 900 but enjoyed it as i do all my training alone so not use to the hussel and bussel on race days, perfer me and my ipod (i dont even lisen to music, chat shows or comdey )

RoyMcC

Nialloooo wrote: »

How many in the field roughly?? did wexford half and only 900 but enjoyed it as i do all my training alone so not use to the hussel and bussel on race days, perfer me and my ipod (i dont even lisen to music, chat shows or comdey )

270 finishers in the full last year. Like Mr Woddle says it's a great little run if you don't mind your own company. You'll end up fat as a pig if you accept all the goodies on offer from the locals as you go through the lanes. (Jammie Dodgers at Mile 22 last year which took some swallowing). Only downside is having to run on the hard shoulder of the main drags after the start and towards the finish.

Longford is the best for a recovery bar crawl afterwards

Bobby04

RoyMcC wrote: »

You'll end up fat as a pig if you accept all the goodies on offer from the locals as you go through the lanes. (Jammie Dodgers at Mile 22 last year which took some swallowing).

Are there any sports/isotonic type drinks at any of the stations along the way? Or would it be feasible for the wife to drive part of the course in order to hand out stuff during the second half of the race??
I like the sound of the local support mentioned above

Woddle

Your wife would def be able to drive and meet you at spots, I had my uncle do it for me last year. A few of the locals had stands with gatorade and lucozade but I wouldn't be depending on them as you have no guarantee where you will come across them.

RoyMcC

Bobby04 wrote: »

Are there any sports/isotonic type drinks at any of the stations along the way? Or would it be feasible for the wife to drive part of the course in order to hand out stuff during the second half of the race??
I like the sound of the local support mentioned above

Certainly some stations were offering 'energy drinks' though I'm not sure now (it all became a bit of a blur) how official those stations were. Suffice to say you'd not go short of stuff, unless you were being choosy.

Yes, off the main roads there would be no problem with anyone parking along the route.

boomdocker

i did this a few years ago. as the previous posters said, be used to running on your own.

the half (which sets off at the same time) goes out to 6.5 miles and then turns and goes back. i remember this being very weird cos the majority of the field were doing the half so one minute i was running with a sizeable group, next thing i was looking at the road ahead with no-one in sight! luckily i hade done all of my training on my own so was used to it.

from what i remember there were no drinks stations as such - just kindly locals handing out water at intermittent points. i had a mate of mine come to me on his bike every 6 miles to give me gels/energy drinks. i wouldn't be depending on the 'drinks stations'

the one plus point is that the course is as flat as a pancake..