Longford Half Marathon

jimbojambo

Hi guys, just a quick one on the longford half marathon..

Have been toying with the idea of a half marathon for a while. I am a sub 60mins for 10miles (frank Duffy) and have been told that the longford half marathon is a flat, fast course. Do half marathon and full marathon athletes take off together? Does the course change at any stage? Any reccomendations?

Woddle

They do start together but as you run down the town we all take a left together but just after that the 1/2 runners stay straight and the full go right, we meet up with each other again, I think at 5 miles. It would be very flat

jimbojambo

Woddle wrote: »

They do start together but as you run down the town we all take a left together but just after that the 1/2 runners stay straight and the full go right, we meet up with each other again, I think at 5 miles. It would be very flat

Thanks a mil!... Was thinking it might not be a bad one for first attempt. Have to say I found the ten miler very, very tough mentally and def did not have a further three miles left in me. Completely different ball game to 5k and 10k. Think I will give it a crack though!

Krusty_Clown

It's nice as a marathoner, as after five miles you get to see the competitive half marathoners pushing the pace past you, while you're still settling into your long race.

For the half-marathoners I'd imagine you get all those marathoners as a target to pick off, which could help with the motivation.

BJohnson

I'd agree with the above two posters. It's a fun little race. It's a big change from races like the Dublin series in that there are so few entrants. The weather tends to be pretty warm, and there aren't many spectators but the ones that are will do their best to cheer you on. I say give it a shot and see how you like it.

limerickleader

Thinking of doing the longford half as well this year having heard good things about it previously. Seeing as it's only a week after the national half in Donegal, it may be more of a fun run than anything else on my part.

mrak

I did a quick half in Longford. It's flattish but not totally - there are a few bumps and a windy day could be tricky. There's one stage about 10 miles that you turn about a bollard to make up the distance (i.e. run 200 yards down a side-road then turn at bollard and go back) it didn't bother me but annoyed one or two lads that did it with me. You part from marathoners and meet them again for a while which can give you a boost if you like overtaking people (who doesn't). I think in terms of flatness it's on a par with dublin marathon course as my mcmillan time was bang on as were the times of some other folk I spoke to so it's a good one for a dublin tuneup to help you gauge your pace.

jimbojambo

Thanks for the great advice lads... Really appreciate it!