Irish Runner magazine

thirtyfoot

Hadn't bought it in a while as there was very little that interested me compared to Athletics Weekly or even Runners World. Bought last two issues with the Olympics and all that. Last issue cover was Pauline Curley and not a bad preview of the Games, a small report on the National Track and Field Senior and very little else. The recent issue is even worse. Post-Olympics, the cover is of yet another female marathoner runner (I'd of had the guy who was one place from running in the fastest Olympic 200m ever as a cover) and aside from a good Q&A with our Olympic athletes, an article by Pat Bucther, Sean Singleton and very little else. The actual review of Beijing is more about a lads trip to the Great Wall and some kid not getting an autograph

I train with some younger athletes and asked them what they thought of Irish Runner. They said they buy it every so often but its full of "old guys who nobody knows" or "there is nothing about younger athletes". Very true and I know the old line of Irish Runner needs to sell to a mass market but I'm interested in athletics and running in all apsects - runner, coach, fan - and I find it as engaging as a wet blanket. In fact, when I read it I get into bad form. I would estimate that maybe 85% of the magazine is geared towards the athlete in the 35+ age group. Can anyone remember the Liam Kelleher Marathon, it was great. Loads of pics and kids mopped it up (Sonia mentioned it in her book). Maybe its just me and maybe I'm getting grumpy as I get older in which case I believe I should start enjoying Irish Runner but I think I will stick to Boards.ie, Athletics Weekly, T&FNews and the others for my insight into Irish and world athletics.

To any regular readers of it, is it always this bad and geared towards the masters?

Racing Flat

Definitely seems to be more appropriate to road runners / BHAA type runners, which I suppose may be the right market from a commercial point of view - there's probably more 40-50min 10k runners out there than 30-40, while the 50+ might not be into it enough to buy a magazine.

The schools stuff can be okay, but I think they have too much on it. I hate the Northern Ireland stuff from the last few issues, can't see the point of this (ie I'm intersted in NI athletics, but don't particualrly want to read about their secretary over and above reading about the AI secretary...)

A lot of it is very repetitive, e.g. the diet and exercise bits.

I think they could keep much of the current content on race reviews, the road races bits but then add more on the elite side of things as well as shorter distance and field events - this is something that was requested in a letter to the editor a while back and they said they'd address, but they haven't really.

And I definitely think they should add an international component. They often priofile Irish athletes and put down their training - I love these articles, would like more of them, but would also like to see them on Bekele, Bolt and the like, although understandably this may be out of their budget.

I also agree that while stories about well known Irish athletics supporters can be entertaining, when they are rehashed every time there is an Olympics or World Championships, it gets a bit predictable. We've been told umpteen times that they have been to x number of Olympics, no need to repeat it so much, when they could fill this space with athletics stories. I also wonder whether such stories would get told at all if it wasn't for the fact that they were 'cronies' of some of the powers that be in Irish Runner, i.e. a friend of mine has been to loads of Olympics and writes about it, but they haven't done a feature on his escapades!

While I like the magazine, I loved it when I started running first, I'd frantically search the shops trying to find it asap to get the latest part of the marathon training plan or whatever. But now I am a subscriber and I'm not too bothered when it arrives, and rather than reading it cover to coevr as soon as it comes, like before, I drift in and out of it over a few weeks. So maybe the 'relatively new' runner is also part of their target audience, but you'd think they wouldn't want to lose customers, so they should work to keep it stimulating. While it's still got some great parts, I think it could be improved a lot, maybe a bit of competition would help, but having the local market cornered, maybe they've rested on their laurels.

Edit - the coverage of the Morton Memorial, one of the very few International meetings in the country this year was apalling - 9 people under the 4 minute mile in one race, an Irish runner making a massive breakthrough running 4.00, an Olympic 200m medalist in the 100m. Gave it about half a page with no (or only 1) pictures. And wrote how the highlight of the night was the womens 3000m! While this was a great race for 1st and 2nd, the field was well strung out more or less from the gun, while everyone there seemed to think that the Morton mile or the IMC v BMC mile where a young English runner ran an incredible solo mile going through 1200m in 3.00 and roared emotionally down the final straight by the crowd who knew he was so close (he ran 4.00) were the highlights.

RoyMcC

I get it occasionally, the last time being at Achill when Frank was giving it away It's hardly cutting-edge is it? It has good race reviews/previews, and some great historical stuff. But it reflects the editor's personal interests and not much else. It would benefit from some new writing - more technical stuff aimed at the better runner and more 'lifestyle' articles aimed at the recreational runners, the biggest market.

Certainly Runners' World is halfway lifestyle (you need only judge by the model 'runners' on the front cover) and it therefore has a steady market.

It would be great to have an Irish track & field magazine, but the market wouldn't support it. AW is still essential reading but without the Irish perspective.

gerard65

I agree with alot of what you say Tingle. Its almost becoming a lifestyle mag. I remember Marathon mag and it was much more interesting. Another annoying aspect to the IR is its always out of date. Coming out every 2 months the events are history. Its now owned by Athletics Ireland so its hardly an independent voice which is badly needed. In my humble opinion Running and Fitness has become number 1 over the last few months, seems to get a good balance between elites and the 'slogger' like me.

Racing Flat

RoyMcC wrote: »

It would benefit from some new writing - more technical stuff aimed at the better runner and more 'lifestyle' articles aimed at the recreational runners, the biggest market.

I think the addition of Feidhlim Kelly has been great for the magazine - some good stuff on our current elite athletes now.

The problem for me with the 'lifestyle' stuff is it gets very repetitive (there are only so many ways to train, lose weight, stretch etc. etc. so these tend to get rehashed in slightly disguised form every issue) - for that reason I find every issue of Runners World is practically idential, so haven't got this since my first year of running, maybe that's just me.

Racing Flat

gerard65 wrote: »

Another annoying aspect to the IR is its always out of date.

QFT

I think every 2 months is fine, but if it's out on Sep 1st, they should have results and news stories up to say August 25th in it.

cfitz

Tingle wrote: »

In fact, when I read it I get into bad form.

Ha! Yeah that sounds about right. I don't read it at all, used to read it when I was younger but it's just the same old thing again and again and also some of the product/footwear/clothing articles seem to be closer to advertisements than expert reviews.

I couldn't read Runners World either though, too many people talking nonsense. When I was a teenager I used to read all this training advice thinking that these people knew what they were talking about.

Woddle

I still buy every issue but I do admit my interest is dipping in it, the most recent issue took me all of 30 mins to read as very little interested me. A change is needed, I enjoy running times an awful lot and read it from cover to cover, maybe this is the model they need to follow.

Racing Flat

A regular feature on our scholarship runners in America would be good - keep us and them in touch.

Slogger Jogger

I agree with pretty much all of the above. I buy IR regularly and too find I've read what has caught my attention in all of about 20 mins. Running is becoming so popular now again (as attested by the record Dublin marathon numbers), so the mag should freshen up and look to benefit from that level of interest.

I pick up Runnersworld every month too and find this has a lot more going for it. If I'm running with a training mate I'm more likely to be mentioning an article I've read in Runnersworld than something I've read in IR thats for sure.

Pherekydes

I have to say I agree with all of the above. I still buy it, I think, out of habit at this stage. There's too much of the road running scene, hill running scene and not enough featuring our young up and coming athletes, who are, after all, the new blood in the sport. I'd speculate that 90% of kids get involved in Athletics via track and field and cross country, and gravitate towards road running, mountain running and orienteering much later on. The magazine is squarely aimed at the older, fun running brigade. There is very little for the young athlete in it.

I fondly remember Marathon too. Despite its name, it was aimed at the younger athlete, the track and field aspect and the schools' market.

I wonder has our new supremo, Mary Coghlan, got any ideas for it now that it has changed ownership?

violator13

The problem I feel, is that Its all about Pauline Curley and Annete Kealy etc every ussue. There is only so much you can read about them, and yes both great vet athletes but come on-what about all the new running talent out there. Its like Frank Greally's mates every issue!
Maybe if the womens standards were a little higher in Ireland it would be a bit better, but look at the mini marathon,maybe 20 decent runners out of 40,000.Either way the mag needs a total overhall and lets scrap the "nutrition bit" which is very repetative at this stage.

Common Sense

I still buy it every month and will continue to do so as Irish athletics needs a magazine covering our sport. However, I agree with most of the above and think more coverage should be given to track and field and less to recipes etc. On the question of covers, while I have absolutely nothing whatsoever against Annette Kealy, I thought there was only one candidate for this issue's cover - our double gold medal winner and double world record breaker at the paralympics - Jason Smyth. (Actually, it appears the only reason Annette featured was to advertise new gear.)

shels4ever

Racing Flat wrote: »

A regular feature on our scholarship runners in America would be good - keep us and them in touch.

I think this used to happen, well in the late 90's it did when i used to read it, Picked up a copy or 2 this year and have to say the quality wasnt great at all.

TheRoadRunner

agree with just about everything mentioned above. I get quite annoyed reading it also.

And the lifestyle $hite is very very repetitive. I actually looked at the diet tips etc over 10 issues and they were all very similar.

To be honest it's an extremely lazy mag and I no longer go out of m way to try and buy it.

ecoli

"A regular feature on our scholarship runners in America would be good - keep us and them in touch."


i Agree would be good to see a bit more on our scholarship athletes it seems that while they are competing in america they are forgotten bout untill they race back home or for ireland i mean what better way to promote the interest than by giving a little more interest to some of our sports best potentias for the next generation.
i mean look at the fact that unless you follow college racing you will see a result mentioned the odd time on the AAI website ( only from recently) that it with the likes of McCarthy, Ledwith, Yeates, Huet, Twohig and so many more produceing solid runs in top quality fields seems a shame they not getting more coverage from their home country

Woddle

I think an ask the coach slot or something wouldn't go a miss either. I quite like the slot they do with an athlete and what training they do, The IR could even do an article on Boards AC 'Running going Virtual'
An article in each issue highliting a youngster who may if steered in the right direction be in contention for London 2012.

gerard65

OK so lets give some positive feedback on what people would like to see:

More features on younger athletes.
A regular update on the American based scholarship athletes.
More coaching clinic type features.
More indept features on new training gear.
A bit less roadrunning bias.
A bit less 'older runner' bias.
Results -more up to date.
Less of the 'lifestyle' (only so many ways to cook pasta)
More indept articles on elite athletes.

Any other positive ideas?

who007

Yep!
I contacted them a number of times about Donadea Running Club events and they never covered them. I spoke in person to the editor and I have e-mailed and sent editorials and pics from various things including the 10k event which almost 400 people ran, Pauline Curley inc. and started off by the mayor of Kildare - yet not a single thing was printed or included anywhere in the magazine. Yet the Mooathon got a half page article with less people having ran it. Do they have something against up and coming clubs or new events? Or do they just not like people "telling them how to do their job" ?
How much other new/interesting stuff out there in modern Ireland's running niche is there that might be of interest but gets ignored?
Runners World is/was a good magazine because when you have read the 3 or 4 issues it takes to learn all you can from them, you can go onto the magazine forum and interact directly with them. The editor can also see what's hot or not in the forumites minds and tailor their magazine accordingly if need be. Why don't the staff at Irish Runner take the leap into the 21st century and start giving us what we want to read...

thirtyfoot

who007 wrote: »

Yep!
I contacted them a number of times about Donadea Running Club events and they never covered them. I spoke in person to the editor and I have e-mailed and sent editorials and pics from various things including the 10k event which almost 400 people ran, Pauline Curley inc. and started off by the mayor of Kildare - yet not a single thing was printed or included anywhere in the magazine.

In fairness there are events like this week in week out in the country and if they covered every 10k it would be a huge issue. I think the general consensus is that there is already enough coverage of such events and that a piece on yet another race like this would put many to sleep (well me anyway). However, the Mooathathon you mentioned is something different and even due to its name its something I would be interested in reading about. We need to be getting reports on for example the Leinster/Munster/Connacht Track and Field champs, National League, Schools instead of 10 a penny 10k races. Now if your article is in relation to getting a running scene going in the area then that in my opinion would be newsworthy.

gerard65 summed it up pretty well and I'd add maybe that more of a focus on domestic track and field and while covering the 10-15 elite athletes we have, also give some coverage to the 100-150 very good club athletes on the tier just below the elites. Maybe re-structure the release times also to concide with the big events - DCM, Inter-Clubs Cross Country, Irish Schools, National Seniors (maybe this is done already).

daveyrovers

It would be great to see some more information about our gifted ones in the States. I think the articles that sell these types of magazines in the UK generally have headings on them like "10 tips to your fastest 10k" and while seasoned runners may find it all very similar it's what sells the magazine to new audiences.

who007- I know the guy who runs the Mooathon has written articles in the Irish runner before so he's well in with the editor. Think there was only 200 odd at the race which does seem incredibly small numbers to deserve half a page article.

who007

Tingle wrote: »

In fairness there are events like this week in week out in the country and if they covered every 10k it would be a huge issue. I think the general consensus is that there is already enough coverage of such events and that a piece on yet another race like this would put many to sleep (well me anyway). However, the Mooathathon you mentioned is something different and even due to its name its something I would be interested in reading about. We need to be getting reports on for example the Leinster/Munster/Connacht Track and Field champs, National League, Schools instead of 10 a penny 10k races. Now if your article is in relation to getting a running scene going in the area then that in my opinion would be newsworthy.

gerard65 summed it up pretty well and I'd add maybe that more of a focus on domestic track and field and while covering the 10-15 elite athletes we have, also give some coverage to the 100-150 very good club athletes on the tier just below the elites. Maybe re-structure the release times also to concide with the big events - DCM, Inter-Clubs Cross Country, Irish Schools, National Seniors (maybe this is done already).

Well, it was actually.. the first event of a club only established a year. The Establishment of the club and request to be added to their list of clubs fell on deaf ears also.

thirtyfoot

who007 wrote: »

Well, it was actually.. the first event of a club only established a year

Fair enough, obviously an editorial decision then as the piece may not have fitted the bill for what they wanted on those issues.

who007 wrote: »

The Establishment of the club and request to be added to their list of clubs fell on deaf ears also.

Do you mean the athletics ireland website regarding the listing of clubs? Are you an affiliated AAI club?

Slogger Jogger

Further to other postings I'll try to be a bit more proactive... Here are my likes / dislikes / suggestions for IR:

Likes:

• Young athlete profile
• Top athlete focus
• Junior focus
• All sorts and Running Shorts columns
• Masters stuff

Dislikes:

• Every 2nd page is an ad.
• Health and fitness stuff
• Food & recipe stuff
• Pages and pages of results and listings of events

Suggestions:

• New to running - try this?
• Focus on distances other than marathon e.g. 5K, 10K, half marathon, cross country
• Training hints and tips e.g. Boosting your speed, Breaking particular barriers, depending on level of runner - 4, 5, 6 min miles. 35, 40 min 10K etc..
• Racing tips / advice
• Ultra running / hill running / running as part of adventure racing / duathlons
• Injury clinic
• Favourite runs / races
• Run / race reviews
• Weblinks to useful running stuff
• Gear updates

who007

Yes Tingle, we are affiliated..
Also, why feign interest and ask for more details and photos and then not print them, or even allocate a few sentences to any of the events/news?
Well anyway, i didn't mean this to become all about our club - I just think in general IR ignores a lot of stuff that people could be interested in. There's space in it for a good few more pages to include more for everyone - the extra readership would pay for it!

who007

I'd agree with everything there Slogger Jogger except - recipes can be useful when you need to keep an eye on your nutrition and are bored with what you normally eat, and the listings of events is great when you want to find a race nearby in the coming weeks.

Yamo2004

The following e-zine is coming out next month, if you're interested. If you go to www.rundirectireland.com, you can sign up there.

New monthly e-zine for runners of all shapes and sizes

A new monthly athletics e-zine will provide runners all over Ireland with information about the sport they love – and it will be absolutely free of charge.
The new e-zine is being launched by two Mayo men – Mark Scanlon and Liam Horan – in mid-April. Mark and Liam are both keen runners, with Mark something of an endurance man – last year he ran seven marathons in seven different continents over seven months.
“But just in case that achievement scares people into thinking our new e-zine is solely targeted at people who can run forever,” interjects Liam, “I am at the other end of the scale.
“Mark has a body fat count that barely registers on the scale. I have a much fuller figure, which brings it own, er, challenges when running. So, between the two of us, we feel we can bring out an e-zine that will appeal to all shapes and sizes.
“I recently completed two 8ks, my first races in over 20 years, and my aim is to break 40 minutes this year for that distance. Modest stuff!”
Runners – speedsters and the more leisurely-paced – can sign up for the e-zine by logging onto www.rundirectireland.com, where they can enter their name and email address. Each month, the e-zine will be emailed to subscribers in medium resolution, so it won’t clog up their inboxes.
They can then read it on their personal computer, or print off and peruse by more traditional means.
“There is no catch here. The e-zine is free. It will have reports, features, photographs, and many other items relating to running in Ireland. We want people to subscribe now by emailing us, and to tell their athlete friends about it,” added Mark.
“The e-zine will carry coaching tips and invite readers to share their experiences. Athletes should sign up now and look forward to the first edition mid-April.”