Galway 5k Series 28 Apr to 2 Jun

spurscormac

This starts next Tuesday night, couldn't find a specific thread on it, even though I know it was discussed previously.

So who else from here is doing it, and whats your goal - pb or just to claim the training top ?

Personally, I'm currently injured, though I may walk the first one, and based on physio advice, jog the second, and run the next 3 to claim the top at the end. I'm away for the last race so I need to finish the first 5 to get it.

Was hoping to get a PB of sub 22 and aim towards a sub 21 by the end of them, but the injury has pretty much scrapped any chance of that, so now its just to make it to as many of them as I can without any problems.

Looks like it will be the same courses as last year - except Dangan is in a bit of a mess with building works, so not sure what the course there will be.

aburke

spurscormac wrote: »

So who else from here is doing it, and whats your goal - pb or just to claim the training top ?

I'll be there!
I'm not the RD in Athenry this year, I've handed over the reins.
I'll still be working in the night handing out numbers and no doubt other tasks.

Target is getting the tshirt - Technical tops I believe this year.
A PB would be nice but unlikely.

Looks like it will be the same courses as last year - except Dangan is in a bit of a mess with building works, so not sure what the course there will be.

The race in Dangan will finish on the track, but I'm not sure where the rest of it will go. The bottom soccer pitch is fecked, 2/3 closed and semi flooded the whole time. The dirt track is fine though, so they will probably pick a 1.5 km or so loop, and then finish by going up and into the track. Anyway, there's 6 weeks to finalise a course. Hopefully it will be drier by then.

mrak

I'm injured too but will do something similar to yourself spurscormac - jog the early ones to get the t-shirt but hopefully be able to run some later ones. I'm doing the timing for the 3rd one and we don't plan on changing the course. The t-shirt is very nice - if you got it in a shop for your series entry fee you would be doing very well. It's a brilliant series.

Edit - hey 100 posts - now I have 2 stars.

spurscormac

Anyone else here doing the series?

pgibbo

I am doing the series. I am really looking forward to it and am targetting a t-shirt too. I am also guaranteed a PB as I have never raced this disance before - not counting 2 Sprint triathlon times. I am hoping to go sub 20 by the end of the series but appreciate it will be difficult to achieve. Fingers crossed!

My 2 previous races were the Streets of Galway so looking forward to trying to do all 6 of these and get a better handle of pacing, etc.

Caz

I wish I had known about it sooner, I'm running the womens mini marathon in june for the first time so this would have been great training for it to build up a pace. Good luck to Everyone who does it though. :):)

aburke

spurscormac wrote: »

I'm away for the last race so I need to finish the first 5 to get it.

I just spotted this part of the comment. We ask that people collect their shirt on the last night, any unclaimed shirts are given to volunteeers.

But seeing as you are very confident you'll do the first 5...
I'd suggest getting a strong padded A4 stamped self addressed envelope ready.
Put you race number on it and hand it to myself or Mick Rice tomorrow at registration. We'll stick it in the post -if you've earned it ;-)

spurscormac

aburke wrote: »

I just spotted this part of the comment. We ask that people collect their shirt on the last night, any unclaimed shirts are given to volunteeers.

But seeing as you are very confident you'll do the first 5...
I'd suggest getting a strong padded A4 stamped self addressed envelope ready.
Put you race number on it and hand it to myself or Mick Rice tomorrow at registration. We'll stick it in the post -if you've earned it ;-)

I'll just get one of the GCH folks to put one behind for me in Dangan if I manage to complete the first 5.

T runner

Hi Folks

Is it OK to turn up and enter an individual race on the day?

HardyEustace

T runner wrote: »

Hi Folks

Is it OK to turn up and enter an individual race on the day?

Most of the time there isn't room. You'll have to check the individual web sites of each AC that is hosting the run, there will be information there.

aburke

T runner wrote: »

Hi Folks

Is it OK to turn up and enter an individual race on the day?

Series Sold out [in 24 hours].
Some events may take entry on the night - check local websites.
NO on-the-night entry in Athenry tonight, sorry.

Alan

spurscormac

aburke wrote: »

Series Sold out [in 24 hours].
Some events may take entry on the night - check local websites.
NO on-the-night entry in Athenry tonight, sorry.

Alan

Just a question on the "Sold Out", and the possibility of clubs taking entries on the night later in the series.
I know you've set a limit on numbers, fully understand why, etc.

However, how are other clubs going to decide whether or not they take entries on the night?
Just wondering if the organisers (I know you're up to your eyeballs already) are willing to count the numbers of people not going to race a specific night.

Reason for asking is that I am not running the last race (I'm out of the country), and I know of someone who won't run tomorrow cos of injury, and another who cant make it to the 2nd race. So thats 3 races that someone else could run, without going over the limit.

I know its probably extra logistical nightmares for you, but I'm curious as to how it will be handled.

aburke

spurscormac wrote: »

However, how are other clubs going to decide whether or not they take entries on the night?

I'm not directly involved this year, but I'll answer as best I can.
[The series director lurks here from time to time].
Basically, each club decides whether they can handle extra entries on the night,
and they'll post that on their own website before their own race.

In Athenry's case, we have small country roads, almost no parking etc, and we handle distribution of series numbers [a big enough task], so we've decided no entries can be taken on the night.

The background to the series is key to understanding the reason for small numbers.
It was, and still is, a low key event with 'no-frills'. This was to make it easy for clubs of all sizes to manage a leg of the series. We NEVER anticipated the demand. I organised the very first race, and handled series and on-the-night entry from the back on my van on the side of the road.
Things have grown since then, so its capped to make sure it can be handled easily.

Alan

spurscormac

aburke wrote: »

I'm not directly involved this year, but I'll answer as best I can.
[The series director lurks here from time to time].
Basically, each club decides whether they can handle extra entries on the night,
and they'll post that on their own website before their own race.

In Athenry's case, we have small country roads, almost no parking etc, and we handle distribution of series numbers [a big enough task], so we've decided no entries can be taken on the night.

The background to the series is key to understanding the reason for small numbers.
It was, and still is, a low key event with 'no-frills'. This was to make it easy for clubs of all sizes to manage a leg of the series. We NEVER anticipated the demand. I organised the very first race, and handled series and on-the-night entry from the back on my van on the side of the road.
Things have grown since then, so its capped to make sure it can be handled easily.

Alan

Thanks for the explanation Alan - I've completed the past two series, and appreciate all the volunteer effort that goes into the running of it.

My idea was just a suggestion really on a way to handle entries on the night, if people could let organisers in advance if they knew they wouldn't make a particular race, it would help on those clubs making a decision as to whether or not to take entries.
It may be something to consider for next year.

I think the explosion in the numbers of people running in the past few years was unprecedented, so its hard to balance the demand for the races (5k is a really good distance for people getting started and looking to improve fitness) with the ideal of the series to be a no frills, just turn up & run event.

ManFromAtlantis

this is a great series of events.
wish it could be open for more tho.
i blinked and there it was, gone.
would love it had a few 5 miles thrown in also along the way somewhere.

re streets of galway. anybody know if start area will be the same as last year. just a bit tight at the first bend (unless u like swimming)

pgibbo

Great event last night. It was a beautiful evening and there was an unreal buzz about the place. Well done to Athenry on a very successful kick-off to the series. I now know why the series sold out so fast! :cool:

How did everyone get on?

mrak

Agreed I was there too and it was a fabulous event. Great course, organisation and crowd. Fair play Athenry AC!

spurscormac

I was there - great organisation as usual from Athenry.
As per my training log, jogged the start, then ran through the middle, and felt the pain afterwards.
Basically, I ran too fast, but at least I now know that I need more strenghening of my knee before I'm back to normal.

EDIT: Provisional results now up on the athenry site - confirms that yes, I did run too fast for a training run.

spurscormac

Rising this thread from the dead rather than start a new one.

Well organised race from Tuam AC last night - thanks & well done to all involved.

Liked this one way better than last year, cool and windy, rather than hot & suffering the after effects of a bank hol stag weekend.

All added up to what appears to be recovery from injury (no aches or stiffness in my knee) and a PB in a time of 21:28 - woohoo :D:pac:

mrak

nice one spurscormac - provisional results up on http://www.athenryac.com. I felt amazingly well relative to the past few months yesterday too and really enjoyed the run. It was a lot easier and faster than last year - the stiff wind seemed to be mainly at our backs - esp up the hill. Jerry Ryan walked away with it despite having reportedly only trained 3 times since March due to injury.

Next week is our race in Craughwell - a hilly country course - course details here. I'll be manning the timer at the finish line so for a small fee I can guarantee you a pb. See you there!

ManFromAtlantis

mrak wrote: »

I'll be manning the timer at the finish line so for a small fee I can guarantee you a pb. See you there!

cool, can ya put me down for a 15:02

pgibbo

Well done on your PB spurscormac.

mrak, I was told that Craughwell was a good course for a PB as it was one of the fastest in the series. I assume by your "hilly country course" comment that you don't agree?

I missed last night so looking forward to next week. It seems Tuam was a fast course. Lots of improvements over last week for people I know.

mrak

None of the Galway 5k's are easy or quick and apart from Dangan (the slowest) there isn't much between them. Athenry is the flattest course but for some reason doesn't post the fastest times. Up to this year many people did post their best times in Craughwell. However it's still a hard days work as there are some testing bumps in the middle and a hard uphill finish that sticks in your mind. If you still feel strong after the humps from 1.5 to 3k you will post a good time. It's not as hilly as Loughrea or Claregalway and the surface is better than Dangan's.

spurscormac

I like the Craughwell course, a few hills, but not too bad - I'll settle for a 20:59 if you can arrange it mrak

Even though its my home clubs race, I don't like Dangan at all, the grass/gravel surface just isn't good, and I don't like the laps - its hard to judge your speed.
Wont be in the country for its this year, so its 3 more to go for me.

Loughrea & Claregalway are tough courses alright - just need to make sure you don't blow up on the hills.

I think Athenry suffers from the fact that its the first race of the series, and people are improving throughout the month - hence the lack of good times.