Fields of Athenry 10km 2009

aburke

It's that of the year again, when we at Athenry AC start gearing up for our annual 10km race. This race has grown in popularity over the years, as a mini running boom continues in the West of Ireland. We do our best to provide a top-quality race, that has something for all levels from International athletes to people taking on their first 10km race.
Entry fee: €20
Online entry is available here

Limited Entries.
This year we have taken the decision to cap the entries at 1000 participants to ensure a safe, well-run race. This unfortunately means that on-the-day entries seem very unlikely. We'll try to keep you updated on www.athenryac.com as to how many entries we have to date, but you have been warned...

Chip timing.
With the growth of entries in the race, certain tasks become more difficult. This year we have decided to engage the services of Red Tag timing to provide full chip timing. On the morning of the event, as well as you race number, you'll get a electronic chip to attach your shoe to record your time - Just don't run off after the race with it!

The Hat!
Ah yes, the colour of the hat... Forget Lisbon - this is the decision that counts. Our now traditional race souvenir, a woolly hat, is coveted by runners up and down the country in the depths of winter [and indeed much of the summer too.] You'll be wearing this hat with pride for a number of years, so it may as well match your wardrobe.
Vote here.

Looking forward to seeing you all on 26th December.

Regards
Alan Burke
Race Director.

pgibbo

I was very impressed with the personalised email I got from Athenry AC this morning promoting this event. Very professional indeed. Congrats on that Alan. Love the hat picture too - JAL will be a household name before long!

EvilHomer73

Seeing as how its only 10 mins from me It would be disgraceful if I didnt enter.

Been hearing good things about it, looking forward to it

Seres

just signed up for it this morning, something different to look forward to at xmas , will be nice to get out and have some proper exercise the day after the turkey !

pgibbo

Just registered for this too. My OH is a Fit4Life attendee in Athenry and has pressured me in to this. Looking forward to it though as it will be my first ever 10k race. Hope I'm in better health than last year - was sick as pig on the couch - and not from over indulgence (was just sick - man flu I think it's called)

pgibbo

Hi Alan,
I hear it's filling fast. Are there any issues with the Run Ireland site? A friend tried to register but was informed it was sold out. However I submitted 2 registration after I got his message. Cheers.

EvilHomer73

that's me signed up as well now. Had that man flu as well last year pgiboo, wasn't fun!!!!!

aburke

pgibbo wrote: »

Hi Alan,
I hear it's filling fast.

Understatement ;-)

Are there any issues with the Run Ireland site?

Its not as fast as I'd like - but I'm never happy.
[PS, I'm the server admin....]

A friend tried to register but was informed it was sold out.

Very odd. never heard that one before. Get them to contact me directly if they are still having issues.

However I submitted 2 registration after I got his message. Cheers.

Good Stuff!

Munster_Gal

Might put this one in my diary for next year
Any excuse to head up drinking in Athenry really :pac:

littlebug

I'm in. In fact I think I may have been the first in I alerted a few others to it as well.. looking forward to it already.

RoyMcC

A race worth travelling for without doubt. I hope the treadmill guy is still going in the check-in place - the race was a piece of cake after watching him for a bit :pac:

Tawfee

just signed up, it will take some discipline to be in any sort of fit state to attempt it though!

RoyMcC

Tawfee wrote: »

just signed up, it will take some discipline to be in any sort of fit state to attempt it though!

No better cure - a bracing run, good grub afterwards, grab a pint before lunch. And if staying over in Galway I recommend the Kashmir later on for a top Indian.

gigantic09

Think i shall sign up as well.Even if it means turning my back on the real meaning of 'stephens day'-Fry up,paper,bookies,pub,nightclub.Plan to do 5k in westport the next day also so goin to hav to break with tradition.Father forgive me,i know not what i do.

BeepBeep67

RoyMcC wrote: »

I recommend the Kashmir later on for a top Indian.

+1

aburke

RoyMcC wrote: »

A race worth travelling for without doubt. I hope the treadmill guy is still going in the check-in place - the race was a piece of cake after watching him for a bit :pac:

Roy - you have me baffled!
Please explain :-)

Krusty_Clown

RoyMcC wrote: »

A race worth travelling for without doubt. I hope the treadmill guy is still going in the check-in place - the race was a piece of cake after watching him for a bit :pac:

Are you thinking of Longford in '08?

RoyMcC

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Are you thinking of Longford in '08?

Oh yes it was, sorry But Athenry's a great occasion even without a tready man.

aburke

Over 2/3 full with 700 entrants.
Get your entry in now to avoid disappointment :-)

Foxx92

aburke wrote: »

Over 2/3 full with 700 entrants.
Get your entry in now to avoid disappointment :-)

Just signed up there. Looking forward to it, haven't had a race since Streets of Galway.

BTW less than 100 places left.

Lex Luther

gigantic09 wrote: »

Think i shall sign up as well.Even if it means turning my back on the real meaning of 'stephens day'-Fry up,paper,bookies,pub,nightclub.Plan to do 5k in westport the next day also so goin to hav to break with tradition.Father forgive me,i know not what i do.

Hi completely off-topic but I hope Alan wont mind ...............i'm in Mayo for Christmas with in-laws do you know where I can get info, register for the Westport 5k you mention ????

Seres

Lex Luther wrote: »

Hi completely off-topic but I hope Alan wont mind ...............i'm in Mayo for Christmas with in-laws do you know where I can get info, register for the Westport 5k you mention ????

its part of the mayo series so if its like all the rest of them you register on the day , race starts at 2pm , Contact: Michael (086) 853 4729 for more details , robbed info off athenry ac website

tunguska

Ok just signed up for the Athenry 10k. I must be mad going all the way to Galway on Stephens day to run a race. Although anything to avoid relatives at christmas.........
Cant wait for this, those anthenry lads are decent runners.

aburke

We're full up!

pgibbo

aburke wrote: »

We're full up!

Congrats on filling so early.

I figure I know the answer before asking Alan but will ask anyway.

Are you guys facilitating transfers or anything like that? I know a muppet that got plenty of notice about the race filling fast and was still surprised to find the event full when he went to register this weekend. I have no sympathy for him but figured there's no harm in asking if you guys do anything for muppets like him. Cheers.

aburke

pgibbo wrote: »

Are you guys facilitating transfers or anything like that?

No harm in asking...
I have very little sympathy for muppets who get warnings :-).

village runner

aburke wrote: »

No harm in asking...
I have very little smpathy for muppets who get warnings :-).

Class absolute class. Most lads think it. Would have loved too go but just too far up.
Could brush up on the spelling though. Hope to see you in Ballycotton.

1000 people on dec 26th is amazing. Fair play.

aburke

village runner wrote: »

Class absolute class. Most lads think it. Would have loved too go but just too far up.
Could brush up on the spelling though. Hope to see you in Ballycotton.

1000 people on dec 26th is amazing. Fair play.

Ballycotton is race 3 in March Madness, the focus of my winter training.
http://www.athenryac.com/march-madness
Next hurdle is securing an entry to that!

pgibbo

I understand that there's a race t-shirt for the first 50 people home. Looking at the list of entrants, I'm guessing 38mins or better to get a t-shirt. Would others agree? I won't be within an ass's (or is it asses) roar of that!

Also, what's the course record and will Gary T break it this year? Or are there any dark horses in the field?

aburke

pgibbo wrote: »

I understand that there's a race t-shirt for the first 50 people home.

Yes, a very nice long sleeve tech tee.

Looking at the list of entrants, I'm guessing 38mins or better to get a t-shirt. Would others agree? I won't be within an ass's (or is it asses) roar of that!

Hard to tell exactly, but there or thereabouts

Also, what's the course record and will Gary T break it this year? Or are there any dark horses in the field?

30:40 Set last year by GT AFAIK.
He's in better form this year so will be hard to beat. Paul MacNamara, Emmet Dunleavy and Rory Cheser will keep him honest.

Seres

aburke wrote: »

Yes, a very nice long sleeve tech tee.

Hard to tell exactly, but there or thereabouts

30:40 Set last year by GT AFAIK.
He's in better form this year so will be hard to beat. Paul MacNamara, Emmet Dunleavy and Rory Cheser will keep him honest.

whos your bet for the ladies ? , couple of strong contestants there in the line up

pgibbo

aburke wrote: »

30:40 Set last year by GT AFAIK.
He's in better form this year so will be hard to beat. Paul MacNamara, Emmet Dunleavy and Rory Cheser will keep him honest.

Maybe I should opt out and watch the battle unfold! Sounds like it should be a cracking race.

tunguska

Looking forward to this a lot now. I really want one of those T-shirts.
First time doing this race, does it attract good support from the people of athenry on the day? Hopefully we'll get good weather.

aburke

aburke wrote: »

30:40 Set last year by GT AFAIK.
He's in better form this year so will be hard to beat. Paul MacNamara, Emmet Dunleavy and Rory Cheser will keep him honest.

I've been informed he ran 30:02 in 2007.
Sean Hehir will also be in the mix there.

aburke

Seres wrote: »

whos your bet for the ladies ? , couple of strong contestants there in the line up

I've been told Catherine Conway is focussing on this race, so will be hard to beat again. Lucy Brennan ran around 2:50 in Dublin, so is in cracking form too.

aburke

Update: IF we have to cancel the race, we will update our website at 9am tomorrow morning.
We will also issue a text to our database of race entrants.
It looks like we'll be OK, if the weather forecast is accurate.

Speedy44

Hi Alan,

Sorry to hear you had to cancel the race. I know how much preparations you guys have put in over the past few months and that you have done everything possible to get it done. Can't argue with mother nature unfortunately, and I'm sure its the correct call as the last thing you need is someone getting injured or hurt.
I tried to run yesterday afternoon and everywhere was still covered with ice, I think there was just so much of it that it would have teken a dramatic rise in temps to get rid of it all on time.

littlebug

That's unfortunate but as speedy says it can't be helped. The roads are still treacherous. I still look forward to it whenever it does happen.
I wonder how Westport is looking for tomorrow.

locteau

Folks,
The race is unfortunately cancelled. The roads around the town are coverred in ice and it's dangerous to travel let alone run. We'll be re-scheduling the run for another date in the near future and we'll obviously let everyone know of the new arrangements asap.

Mick Rice Athenry AC
Posting from Locteau's account :-) hence the title :-)

aburke

The race has been PROVISIONALLY rescheduled for Sunday January 3rd at 1-30pm.
The date is dependant on race insurace and weather [obviously!].

Your entry is automatically valid for the rescheduled date.

If you cannot make this date you can defer your entry to next years event by emailing alan@athenryac.com before Dec 31st.
Alternatively, you can obtain a refund by emailing alan@athenryac.com with your entry details before Dec 31st.

Please check www.athenryac.com regularly for updates.

For Athenry AC members, an organisational meeting will be held on Wednesday 30th, 8pm, Raheen Woods Hotel.

village runner

aburke wrote: »

The race has been PROVISIONALLY rescheduled for Sunday January 3rd at 1-30pm.
The date is dependant on race insurace and weather [obviously!].

Your entry is automatically valid for the rescheduled date.

If you cannot make this date you can defer your entry to next years event by emailing alan@athenryac.com before Dec 31st.
Alternatively, you can obtain a refund by emailing alan@athenryac.com with your entry details before Dec 31st.

Please check www.athenryac.com regularly for updates.

For Athenry AC members, an organisational meeting will be held on Wednesday 30th, 8pm, Raheen Woods Hotel.

Will entries be open again ? Stephens day didnt suit me say with a family. wouldnt mind a 10km first week in 2010. Prob missed the boat.

questor282

Entries are not generally being opened again. We will have to see if/how many people decide to defer their entires to Christmas 2010 or ask for a refund. It MAY then give us a SMALL capacity to take a few entries. However you have to understand that for insurance purposes the maximum amount of people that can run this race is 1000. No decisions will be made until after 31st December when the already registered athletes have had a chance to state their preference. Keep an eye on www.athenryac.com where all decisions and details will be posted in due course.

aburke

The Fields of Athenry will now take place on Sunday 3rd January at 1:30pm.

Registration will be open from 12 noon in Presentation College Athenry.

In the event of inclement weather, we will have a course inspection at 10:30am.
If the event is to be rescheduled, we will update the website, and issue texts to participants immediately.
It will then be postponed a further 7 days to Sunday January 10th.

The kids race will take place at 12:30, runners should gather outside the Byne Mech factory.

We have to use a slighlty modified course that we used for the National 10km race a few years ago, we'll post a map of the course shortly.

A small number of entries will be available on the day on a first-come, first-served basis.

aburke

Unfortunately we've had to cancel our race once more. Foremost in our minds is the safety of our runners and the organising committee. The course is still very icy today and there is no significant thaw forecast between now and tomorrow.
We have provisionally rescheduled the race for Sunday the 24th January at 01:30pm, weather and permitting issues allowing.
Given the amount of ice of the roads around Athenry today and the lack of any improvement in the conditions it seems prudent to cancel at this stage in order to minimise any inconvenience for both organisers and participants.

As soon as we know more about the arrangements for the re-fixed race we'll post them here.

We hope to issue a text message later today giving information on this cancellation to all entrants who provided a contact number at the time of registration.

Bear with us. We're determined to stage this race at the soonest safe opportunity.

Foxx92

Heres hoping we get a thaw before the 24th!

tunguska

Tomorrows the big day, finally after all the bad weather. Heres hoping we get a good day for it.
I wonder if many people gave up and just took a refund?

yop

Looking forward to it now, have a bit of a niggle from last weeks race but I wont pull out now so all going well the weather will be as good as today

Good luck to everyone

Speedy44

tunguska wrote: »

Tomorrows the big day, finally after all the bad weather. Heres hoping we get a good day for it.
I wonder if many people gave up and just took a refund?

I've heard a few people have, but my main concern right now is that it will actually go ahead tomorrow. Woke up in Galway this morning to be greeted by our 'old friend' Jack Frost, and I head he's coming back again tonight with a vengence ! :mad:

tunguska

Checked the forecast and its meant to be grand tomorrow. Although it'll definitely be cold tonight so hopefully the late kick off will ensure that any frost will have gone by 1:30pm.
Really looking forward to this even though my time will be super crap due to a dodgy knee.

Speedy44

tunguska wrote: »

Checked the forecast and its meant to be grand tomorrow. Although it'll definitely be cold tonight so hopefully the late kick off will ensure that any frost will have gone by 1:30pm.
Really looking forward to this even though my time will be super crap due to a dodgy knee.

Always good to get the excuses in early

tunguska

Speedy44 wrote: »

Always good to get the excuses in early

I wish it was just an excuse speedy:). Fell on the ice a couple of weeks ago and the right knee took a heavy hit. I probably shouldnt be doing this race tomorrow at all but that would be the sensible thing to do. And unfortunately when it comes to running all my sense goes out the window.