National Half Marathon

emerald007

Just kicking off the thread for the race in three weeks. Can anybody describe the course or is there a map my run route available? Predictions for the winners, team prizes?

violator13

Ran it before but also the Letterkenny one. Bit of a blur as they blend into one but im pretty sure the course was hilly for the first few miles and hard. Not sure if its the same course but no pain no gain!
Any idea on start time.? Mite drive up on the day.

Woddle

Who'll be racing, will Boit still be about. I'd love to see Barry Minnock challenge.

violator13

If there is money going there will be boit im sure.....

bazman

Would anyone know the course for the national half marathon? Think it is the same as route used 2 years ago, but I don't know what that was ...

emerald007

See the start time is 12 noon this sunday. Still can't find any maps online but does anybody know the roads that the course follows?

Woodie’s DIY/AAI Half Marathon Championships

thirtyfoot

violator13 wrote: »

If there is money going there will be boit im sure.....

No money at National track and he ran there:P

Then again, if you could run 10k in 27 mins you might feel each time you run you might as well see can you pick up a bit of cash;)

brutes

check out this link for course map!!
http://www.finnvalleyac.com/2009/090827/maptown.pdf
where and when
http://www.finnvalleyac.com/2009/090812/Woodie.pdf

T runner

Tingle wrote: »

No money at National track and he ran there:P

Then again, if you could run 10k in 27 mins you might feel each time you run you might as well see can you pick up a bit of cash;)

I agree. If I was that good and a full-time athlete (professional) I would have a strong bias towards cash prizes.

Mick Rice

Am really looking forward to this one. It's been ages since I ran a half marathon. Ran the same route a few years ago for the same event and it was 'undulating' but fair. Gradual downhill to the finish as far as I remember. With so many over-priced races around it's always great to get a really good quality half-marathon with good organisation and great competition for only Euro 15.00.

Slogger Jogger

Sure Baz it'll just be a blur to you anyway Best of luck.

Slogger Jogger

Very short race for you Mick

Mick Rice

It's all relative I suppose. Am looking forward to getting back to normality for a while. Will leave the long stuff alone now 'til next year.

BeepBeep67

Ran this race in Stanolar - probably 12 - 13 yrs ago, nice course, the only flat section is the track at the end , I can remember it rained and pulling my hamstring in 200m sprint at the end between myself and 2 others.

bazman

Give map above, this would logically be the full route:
http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/ie/ballybofey/972125198433944668

emerald007

cool - thanks for that. how many time do we think the "show elevation" will be used before sunday? seems flat enough tbh.

thirstywork

I agree about Boit being a pro runner an if i was him id be picking up the cash.In any other sport does anyone begruge Harrington for winning 2million for a gold tournament?
I thin because he isn't from Ireland more is made of this.
regards to the national 10m im sure he recieved a cash sum from his club for winning.
anyway getting of the subject:
contenders:Boit should win,Mulvey,Minnock,cian Mcloughlin???
Brian Maher....few others im missing but won't be a fast course by any means.

Stupid_Private

emerald007 wrote: »

cool - thanks for that. how many time do we think the "show elevation" will be used before sunday? seems flat enough tbh.

First thing I did when I hit the link. Not going up myself but I was just interested. I don't know what the roads are like but the elevation suggests a fast enough course.

Racing Flat

thirstywork wrote: »

I agree about Boit being a pro runner an if i was him id be picking up the cash.In any other sport does anyone begruge Harrington for winning 2million for a gold tournament?
I thin because he isn't from Ireland more is made of this.
regards to the national 10m im sure he recieved a cash sum from his club for winning.
anyway getting of the subject:
contenders:Boit should win,Mulvey,Minnock,cian Mcloughlin???
Brian Maher....few others im missing but won't be a fast course by any means.

Boit's not running - he's doing a 10k in Belfast instead I think.

Reaganomical

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/national-half-marathon-2009-2.pdf


Results from today available at the above link. Credit to AAI for getting them up quickly.

1st Joe McAllister
2nd Gary Murray
3rd Cian McLoughlin

1st Caitriona Jennings
2nd Anne Curley
3rd Lucy Darcy

GoHardOrGoHome

Bazman in 5th.

68:23.

Mick Rice

A good race yesterday. I thought there was a relatively small turnout - 183 finishers. Ran fairly even spits to 1:16:10 which was a pb but I didn't think it was a particularly fast route. First half was rolling-uphill and second rolling-downhill. Was a bit surprised with the number of bicycles on the route. Some runners seemed to think it was fine to shield their mates from the wind along some sections. In a national champs it shouldn't really happen.

shels4ever

GoHardOrGoHome wrote: »

Bazman in 5th.

68:23.

Super run again by Pauric Mc Kinney

deadlybuzz

Mick Rice wrote: »

Some runners seemed to think it was fine to shield their mates from the wind along some sections. In a national champs it shouldn't really happen.

Agreed. On a couple of occasions, I noticed runners getting encouragment and bottles of water from cyclists. These would be runners in top 20 or 30, so going for catergory / team medals. Not sure if this is allowed in a championship? If it's not, then I guess it would be difficult to police.
Well done on PB, by the way.

bazman

The guy in 4th had 2 bikers shielding him from the wind and shouting encouragement at him from mile 7 onwards. Think I would have taken 4th if he hadn't support. It is against the rules and you can lodge a compaint to get someone disqualified, but despite my coach encouraging me to I didn't bother particularly as it would seem like sour grapes. It did help me in a weird sort of way as it encouraged me to try to catch him and as a result got me a time I'm happy with - but it was just so difficult as he always knew his gap.

There were others getting irregular support & drinks etc - there is absolutely no problem there. Support is a regular occurance unfortunately - means playing field is not even, but hey if you can't beat them join them & maybe I'll get support for my next race

First few miles were crazy fast for me and it almost killed me off Started running at my pace from mile 4 onwards. Certainly wasn't a fast course and so Joe's time is fantastic - he was on fire!

Hard Worker

shels4ever wrote: »

Super run again by Pauric Mc Kinney

Yeah, Skinny McKinney, as he is known by his pupils, is still running very well as he approaches 45. He goes through a big pot of lumpy porridge every morning and has five weetabix each evening before his 10 hours sleep. Maith an fear.

Hard Worker

bazman wrote: »

The guy in 4th had 2 bikers shielding him from the wind and shouting encouragement at him from mile 7 onwards. Think I would have taken 4th if he hadn't support. It is against the rules and you can lodge a compaint to get someone disqualified, but despite my coach encouraging me to I didn't bother particularly as it would seem like sour grapes. It did help me in a weird sort of way as it encouraged me to try to catch him and as a result got me a time I'm happy with - but it was just so difficult as he always knew his gap.

There were others getting irregular support & drinks etc - there is absolutely no problem there. Support is a regular occurance unfortunately - means playing field is not even, but hey if you can't beat them join them & maybe I'll get support for my next race

First few miles were crazy fast for me and it almost killed me off Started running at my pace from mile 4 onwards. Certainly wasn't a fast course and so Joe's time is fantastic - he was on fire!

Well done Bazman.
You should get your club to send a note to the Chairman of Competitions at AAI regarding the illegal assistance given to runners. If noone ever complains officially, nothing will ever change.
The note wouldn't have to be against any one individual and wouldn't and shouldn't be seen as sour grapes.

deadlybuzz

Hard Worker wrote: »

He goes through a big pot of lumpy porridge every morning and has five weetabix each evening before his 10 hours sleep.

The lumps must be the secret. Note for future!:D
Fair play to him.

emerald007

I'd agree with bazman (and great run btw) about the bikes, support is fine, but shielding isn't fair. At the start (post the delay for setting the clock), there was some auld fella on a bike on the left hand side of the road, and as we approached i shouted for him to move forward and out of the way, but he just stayed there meaning most runners had to more around him - spanner.

The first 2/3 miles through the town are fine. next four miles along the back road are tough enough, with the slight hills and loose-ish road surface. I kinda died a bit at the 1/2 way mark, when crossan and reid caught up with me. had to dig in for 2 miles to keep with them, but then the long runs kicked in and i managed to pull away as we came back into town. everyone in donegal seems to know gary!. happy enough with the time in the end, but i reckon on a dry day it might be a minute faster for everyone.

Was interesting to see a team excluded from the results because a runner didn't have a singlet, think thats fair enough. national race = club singlet. Why is it only three to score for the 1/2 and marathon, when the national 10km is four to score?

My LOL moment today

poppy08

So turns out the National Half isn't really the place for your debut half-marathon:eek:

Even though I was way out of my league running yesterday, I really enjoy it! I came in very close to my ideal time even though it is was over an hour slower than the winner and i was very close to the end of the pack

Everyone i met along the course were very encouraging, even the guy collecting the mile markers was kind enough to wait for me to pass the final marker before chucking it in his trailer :rolleyes:

Can't wait for the Dublin Half though i think i'ill skipping the National Halfs for the foreseeable future!

(from where I was there was no cyclists giving help...only a some very nice people in a black jeep!:D)

Mick Rice

Poppy08 - Thanks for being there...the more the merrier. Well attended races are much more fun for everyone. Don't let anyone else's running limit yours. Hopefully you'll run this race again next year.

Peckham

emerald007 wrote: »

Was interesting to see a team excluded from the results because a runner didn't have a singlet, think thats fair enough.

...but yet the use of bicycles was not policed/no action taken against these people?! :rolleyes:

shels4ever

Mick Rice wrote: »

Poppy08 - Thanks for being there...the more the merrier. Well attended races are much more fun for everyone. Don't let anyone else's running limit yours. Hopefully you'll run this race again next year.

+1
Well done you finished a national half marathon well done and you much have been in the top 200 in the country now .

eltuerto

183 runners at a NATIONAL half marathon. Not very good (in fact appalling ) I would have to say at a time when there are thousands doing similar races.
Clubs are not attracting the masses who could with resonable guidance be good runners. Also holding it in Ballybofey on a Sunday was a big tunroff to many club members. Think this is the second time in 3 years it has been held there. The AAI Comp Sec is from there and that cannot be a good reason to hold races in specific locations.

If at least it was a Sat and they did a deal with a hotel then the competitors could have had a good evening after the race with the other runners. Then a leisurely drive home on Sunday.

BTW was the thread on the new AAI CEO scrapped?? If so why? Anytime we seem to get into interesting areas and (certainly we were getting great insights from IrishTrackFan) these threads are pulled.

gerard65

eltuerto wrote: »

BTW was the thread on the new AAI CEO scrapped?? If so why? Anytime we seem to get into interesting areas and (certainly we were getting great insights from IrishTrackFan) these threads are pulled.

Ypu mean this one??
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055677276

thirtyfoot

emerald007 wrote: »

Was interesting to see a team excluded from the results because a runner didn't have a singlet, think thats fair enough. national race = club singlet.

I think there is a rule that in races from half marathon up you do not need to wear club vest in National Comps as running a race that long in an unsuitable vest may be difficult etc. The club that protested were not aware of this but I think may have been swayed by the colour of the vest (or lack of) in 3rd team slot while the competition people were not aware of this. The club that lost out were subsequently made aware of this, but meh, was it worth it making a song and dance about it. More important things to focus on;)

thirtyfoot

eltuerto wrote: »

.

BTW was the thread on the new AAI CEO scrapped?? If so why? Anytime we seem to get into interesting areas and (certainly we were getting great insights from IrishTrackFan) these threads are pulled.

Its still there as it has been kept sensible.

Other ones were scrapped (when I was a moderator) as they were discussing a pending legal case and it that case its advised by powers that be on boards.ie that if you are unsure in anyway from a legal perspective you should delete.

The problem can be that people making unfounded comments with anonymous names. If we all had our names up it might be easier to discuss openly. The current thread is good though and its a breath of fresh air from IrishTrackFan who is making concrete positive suggestions while also been critical of the organisation. Makes a change from the usual negative 'everything is sh*t' waffle.