Connemarathon 2010

aburke

Hi all,
Connemarathon 2010 takes place on April 11th 2010.
3 Races;
Half Marathon: Leenaun to Maam Cross
Full Marathon: Lough Inagh to Maam Cross
Ultra marathon: Maam Cross to Maam Cross [Connemara Loop]
€70 Entry for each race.

At the risk of sounding all "chicken little", entries are filling fast, and it will probably be closed earlier than last year [which was Dec 16th].

We keep the website at www.connemarathon.com as up-to-date as possible, but there's tends to be lots of threads asking questions about the Connemarathon, so if mods want to merge them in here, that's fine.
Otherwise I might miss them.

Full disclosure - I work for Proactive who organise the Connemarathon, and its my job to keep the website running, amoungst other things.
Small Print - Comments posted here by are in a private capacity and don't necessarily reflect the official Connemarathon policy, but I do what I can to get answers to any questions.

belcarra

Hey Alan,

Any update on the 14 Marathons next year? I heard a little rumour there may be one of them in January?? It'd be ideal preparation for the Ultra!

Cheers.

aburke

belcarra wrote: »

Hey Alan,

Any update on the 14 Marathons next year? I heard a little rumour there may be one of them in January?? It'd be ideal preparation for the Ultra!

Cheers.

One each in December, January, February and March.
More info on www.connemarathon.com in due course.

lukeeman

Alan will races start same time as last year or will the full start earlier to avoid the meeting with start of the half.

aburke

lukeeman wrote: »

Alan will races start same time as last year or will the full start earlier to avoid the meeting with start of the half.

The races start the same time as last year.
No matter which way we twist it, we hit a problem, either logistically or with races merging. We ask people to leave room on the right for marathoners coming through.

Gringo78

While running, can you tell if the competitor ahead of you is running the ultra, half or full? Is there some way to tell from the numbering?

RacoonQueen

Gringo78 wrote: »

While running, can you tell if the competitor ahead of you is running the ultra, half or full? Is there some way to tell from the numbering?

Ultra runners are given two numbers one for their front, one for their back, or we were last year anyway and they all start with 39. For the half marathon boys had blue numbers girls had pink and I think the full marathon runners had white numbers.

asimonov

Gringo78 wrote: »

While running, can you tell if the competitor ahead of you is running the ultra, half or full? Is there some way to tell from the numbering?

Earlier this year, the french ultra guy who came third went steaming by me at my mile 20 , his mile 33, he must have been doing around 6:45 pace....awesome stuff.

RacoonQueen

Are you doing the Ultra this year asimonov?

asimonov

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Are you doing the Ultra this year asimonov?

Hi RQ, I've signed up for it, but may change to the full. Not 100% sure I'll have the time to do an ultra training programme.

aburke

aburke wrote: »

At the risk of sounding all "chicken little", entries are filling fast, and it will probably be closed earlier than last year [which was Dec 16th].

Right then, Last warning from me.
Entries will be closed earlier than last year, and probably will be closed within a few days.
If you want in, better do so quickly.
Alan

Magnet

I`m in
I`m in
I`m in
Ok like Now for the hard bit.. Training

ronanmac

Phew, just made it so. Was putting off entering while trying to justify the expense. Enjoyed it so much last year though that there wasn't too much justification needed.

Hats off to all the Boards ultra savages, though, I don't think I'll take anything more than 13.1 miles on that early into the year!

RacoonQueen

A list of the boardsies going to Connemara taken from the Spring marathons thread. No excuses for not having a post race meet up/pre-race pasta dinner.

Conn - 11/04/10
Killerz - ultra
TFBubendorfer - Ultra
Mithril - Ultra
Belcarra - Ultra
RQ - Ultra
SUNGOD - Ultra
ultraman1-ultra
Krusty_Clown - ultra
911sc - Ultra
Abhainn - Ultra
Mick Rice - Ultra
Nialloooo - Ultra (at the moment )
ScottReynolds - Ultra (for fun)
Highway_To_Hell - Ultra (punishment for running so badly at DCM)
Magnet - Ultra
DustyBin - Full
Blueskye - Full
cphowlin - Full
Goofygirl - Full
Carb - Full
Catweazle - Full (Lets Roll)
Redb - Full
Gringo78 - Full
Slogger Jogger - Full

ultraman1

RacoonQueen wrote: »

SUNGOD - Ultra



Abhainn - Ultra
Mick Rice - Ultra

thats #1, 2 and three sown up;)

MarieC

A list of the boardsies going to Connemara taken from the Spring marathons thread. No excuses for not having a post race meet up/pre-race pasta dinner.

Conn - 11/04/10
Killerz - ultra
TFBubendorfer - Ultra
Mithril - Ultra
Belcarra - Ultra
RQ - Ultra
SUNGOD - Ultra
ultraman1-ultra
Krusty_Clown - ultra
911sc - Ultra
Abhainn - Ultra
Mick Rice - Ultra
Nialloooo - Ultra (at the moment )
ScottReynolds - Ultra (for fun)
Highway_To_Hell - Ultra (punishment for running so badly at DCM)
Magnet - Ultra
DustyBin - Full
Blueskye - Full
cphowlin - Full
Goofygirl - Full
Carb - Full
Catweazle - Full (Lets Roll)
Redb - Full
Gringo78 - Full
Slogger Jogger - Full[
Marie C - Half[/QUOTE]

MarieC

A list of the boardsies going to Connemara taken from the Spring marathons thread. No excuses for not having a post race meet up/pre-race pasta dinner.

Conn - 11/04/10
Killerz - ultra
TFBubendorfer - Ultra
Mithril - Ultra
Belcarra - Ultra
RQ - Ultra
SUNGOD - Ultra
ultraman1-ultra
Krusty_Clown - ultra
911sc - Ultra
Abhainn - Ultra
Mick Rice - Ultra
Nialloooo - Ultra (at the moment )
ScottReynolds - Ultra (for fun)
Highway_To_Hell - Ultra (punishment for running so badly at DCM)
Magnet - Ultra
DustyBin - Full
Blueskye - Full
cphowlin - Full
Goofygirl - Full
Carb - Full
Catweazle - Full (Lets Roll)
Redb - Full
Gringo78 - Full
Slogger Jogger - Full
Marie C - Half

littlebug

A list of the boardsies going to Connemara taken from the Spring marathons thread. No excuses for not having a post race meet up/pre-race pasta dinner.

Conn - 11/04/10
Killerz - ultra
TFBubendorfer - Ultra
Mithril - Ultra
Belcarra - Ultra
RQ - Ultra
SUNGOD - Ultra
ultraman1-ultra
Krusty_Clown - ultra
911sc - Ultra
Abhainn - Ultra
Mick Rice - Ultra
Nialloooo - Ultra (at the moment )
ScottReynolds - Ultra (for fun)
Highway_To_Hell - Ultra (punishment for running so badly at DCM)
Magnet - Ultra
DustyBin - Full
Blueskye - Full
cphowlin - Full
Goofygirl - Full
Carb - Full
Catweazle - Full (Lets Roll)
Redb - Full
Gringo78 - Full
Slogger Jogger - Full
Marie C - Half
Littlebug - Half

RedB

littlebug wrote: »

A list of the boardsies going to Connemara taken from the Spring marathons thread. No excuses for not having a post race meet up/pre-race pasta dinner.

Conn - 11/04/10
Killerz - ultra
TFBubendorfer - Ultra
Mithril - Ultra
Belcarra - Ultra
RQ - Ultra
SUNGOD - Ultra
ultraman1-ultra
Krusty_Clown - ultra
911sc - Ultra
Abhainn - Ultra
Mick Rice - Ultra
Nialloooo - Ultra (at the moment )
ScottReynolds - Ultra (for fun)
Highway_To_Hell - Ultra (punishment for running so badly at DCM)
Magnet - Ultra
DustyBin - Full
Blueskye - Full
cphowlin - Full
Goofygirl - Full
Carb - Full
Catweazle - Full (Lets Roll)
Gringo78 - Full
Slogger Jogger - Full
Marie C - Half
Littlebug - Half
Redb - Half

Just signed up for full Limerick Marathon 3 weeks after Connemara so gonna switch here from the full to the half so as to give Limerick a lash!

nerraw1111

Conn - 11/04/10
Killerz - ultra
TFBubendorfer - Ultra
Mithril - Ultra
Belcarra - Ultra
RQ - Ultra
SUNGOD - Ultra
ultraman1-ultra
Krusty_Clown - ultra
911sc - Ultra
Abhainn - Ultra
Mick Rice - Ultra
Nialloooo - Ultra (at the moment )
ScottReynolds - Ultra (for fun)
Highway_To_Hell - Ultra (punishment for running so badly at DCM)
Magnet - Ultra
DustyBin - Full
Blueskye - Full
cphowlin - Full
Goofygirl - Full
Carb - Full
Catweazle - Full (Lets Roll)
Redb - Full
Gringo78 - Full
Slogger Jogger - Full
Nerraw - Full
Marie C - Half
Littlebug - Half

Izoard

At this rate, the Ultra is going to have the most boardsies...respect!


Conn - 11/04/10
Killerz - ultra
TFBubendorfer - Ultra
Mithril - Ultra
Belcarra - Ultra
RQ - Ultra
SUNGOD - Ultra
ultraman1-ultra
Krusty_Clown - ultra
911sc - Ultra
Abhainn - Ultra
Mick Rice - Ultra
Nialloooo - Ultra (at the moment )
ScottReynolds - Ultra (for fun)
Highway_To_Hell - Ultra (punishment for running so badly at DCM)
Magnet - Ultra
DustyBin - Full
Blueskye - Full
cphowlin - Full
Goofygirl - Full
Carb - Full
Catweazle - Full (Lets Roll)
Redb - Full
Izoard- Full
Gringo78 - Full
Slogger Jogger - Full
Nerraw - Full
Marie C - Half
Littlebug - Half

littlebug

Just putting RedB back in there for the half...got lost in the last quote.

Conn - 11/04/10
Killerz - ultra
TFBubendorfer - Ultra
Mithril - Ultra
Belcarra - Ultra
RQ - Ultra
SUNGOD - Ultra
ultraman1-ultra
Krusty_Clown - ultra
911sc - Ultra
Abhainn - Ultra
Mick Rice - Ultra
Nialloooo - Ultra (at the moment )
ScottReynolds - Ultra (for fun)
Highway_To_Hell - Ultra (punishment for running so badly at DCM)
Magnet - Ultra
DustyBin - Full
Blueskye - Full
cphowlin - Full
Goofygirl - Full
Carb - Full
Catweazle - Full (Lets Roll)
Izoard- Full
Gringo78 - Full
Slogger Jogger - Full
Nerraw - Full
Marie C - Half
Littlebug - Half
Redb- Half

sarsfieldsrock

Conn - 11/04/10
sarsfieldsrock - Ultra (Trying for less than 6:30, probably a forlorn hope).
Killerz - ultra
TFBubendorfer - Ultra
Mithril - Ultra
Belcarra - Ultra
RQ - Ultra
SUNGOD - Ultra
ultraman1-ultra
Krusty_Clown - ultra
911sc - Ultra
Abhainn - Ultra
Mick Rice - Ultra
Nialloooo - Ultra (at the moment )
ScottReynolds - Ultra (for fun)
Highway_To_Hell - Ultra (punishment for running so badly at DCM)
Magnet - Ultra
DustyBin - Full
Blueskye - Full
cphowlin - Full
Goofygirl - Full
Carb - Full
Catweazle - Full (Lets Roll)
Izoard- Full
Gringo78 - Full
Slogger Jogger - Full
Nerraw - Full
Marie C - Half
Littlebug - Half
Redb- Half[/quote]

ronanmac

Conn - 11/04/10
sarsfieldsrock - Ultra (Trying for less than 6:30, probably a forlorn hope).
Killerz - ultra
TFBubendorfer - Ultra
Mithril - Ultra
Belcarra - Ultra
RQ - Ultra
SUNGOD - Ultra
ultraman1-ultra
Krusty_Clown - ultra
911sc - Ultra
Abhainn - Ultra
Mick Rice - Ultra
Nialloooo - Ultra (at the moment )
ScottReynolds - Ultra (for fun)
Highway_To_Hell - Ultra (punishment for running so badly at DCM)
Magnet - Ultra
DustyBin - Full
Blueskye - Full
cphowlin - Full
Goofygirl - Full
Carb - Full
Catweazle - Full (Lets Roll)
Izoard- Full
Gringo78 - Full
Slogger Jogger - Full
Nerraw - Full
Marie C - Half
Littlebug - Half
Redb- Half
ronanmac - Half

I count 16 ultras amongst boardsies so far. Wow, I feel like a wuss!

aburke

aburke wrote: »

Right then, Last warning from me.
Entries will be closed earlier than last year, and probably will be closed within a few days.
If you want in, better do so quickly.
Alan

Entries Sold out!
The 2010 RONHILL Connemarathon is now sold out.
A number of charity entries are available by downloading the Charity Entry Form of your choice and booking your place directly with the Charity. Charity Entries cost 250 Euro.
See our charities page.
http://www.connemarathon.com/charities

Ultra marathon entries will remain open for a short while.

Anyone who enters this Ultra Marathon [39.3 miles] from now on may NOT, under ANY circumstance , change their entry to the full or half marathons.
http://www.connemarathon.com/connemarathon-entry-form/

Krusty_Clown

Mad! That must be a record. 18 weeks before the race.
Let the begging mails begin..

journey

Just read on the website that ipods aren't permitted. Does anyone know how rigidly this is enforced? Don't know how I'd cope without my motivational music to keep me going when I hit a hard stretch!

RoyMcC

journey wrote: »

Just read on the website that ipods aren't permitted. Does anyone know how rigidly this is enforced? Don't know how I'd cope without my motivational music to keep me going when I hit a hard stretch!

It is enforced if observed - time to practice not relying on music.

happy28

Ive signed up to do the half.
Did it last year without training as I was off for 3 months with liagment knee damage.
So this year I hope to better my time.
Major respect for everyone doing the ultra:cool:
I felt so guilty running past all ultra and full last year.
Also found it funny that lotsa ultra and full overtaking me:)
A few people wore i pods last year.
I saw one guy playing music from his phone in his hand for everyone to hear that was funny.

Gringo78

Can anyone quantify the relative difficulty of connemara marathon in relation to other marathons? I mean if 3:00 was your target for an average flat marathon, would 3:05 be a reasonable target for connemara or is there more of a difficulty factor with the HOTW?
What kind of race tactics do people employ ie. do you run your normal marathon pace for the first 22 miles, lose 2min/ml up the hill and then gradually get back to your normal marathon pace? Or should you run 5-10sec per mile slower for the whole race and be more energetic up HOTW.

Very vague/subjective question I know but maybe someone who has done many marathons has a bit of anecdotal experience.

Krusty_Clown

While I've done Connemara (and 4 other marathons) I didn't do Connemara at race pace (as I was pacing a buddy) so take with a pinch of salt. My aim was to get my buddy in under 3:40, so what we did was run the first half quicker than PMP (8:08, instead of 8:17), which gave us just shy of two minutes to spare, for the two hills in the second half. Once you reach the top of the HOTW, you can figure out what kind of pace you can average/maintain over the remaining two miles and expend all of your remaining energy.

General concensus is that the hills adds 3-5 minutes to your marathon time (depending on how much hill training you include in your training). Strategy can depend on th conditions. The area is very exposed, so if it's windy on the day, try to fnid a group to run with, and hide. the marathon can be quite lonely for stretches, until you hit the back of the half marathon field. Then you're strategy is to get around (and through) the half-marathon field. Also, don't expect much local support. While the locals and supporters come out as much as they can, most of the 26 miles will be supporter-less.

Slogger Jogger

7 and a half weeks to go... How are people's training going for this? What are people's targets?

Ticking over nicely (see 1000 mile table). Need to get some longer runs in but can't complain. I'm fortunate in where I do most of my training which is a good match hill-wise for Conn territory and actually the Conn roads probably have more traffic than my back roads.

I've had the pleasure of running Conn full 3 times before (and half once). Best full time was in and around 3:17, so with luck I'll better that.

Krusty_Clown

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

What are people's targets?

Survival.

Just booked accommodation (B&B) yesterday in Clifden. Anyone else staying in Clifden?

TFBubendorfer

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

7 and a half weeks to go... How are people's training going for this? What are people's targets?

Ticking over nicely (see 1000 mile table). Need to get some longer runs in but can't complain. I'm fortunate in where I do most of my training which is a good match hill-wise for Conn territory and actually the Conn roads probably have more traffic than my back roads.

I've had the pleasure of running Conn full 3 times before (and half once). Best full time was in and around 3:17, so with luck I'll better that.

Training's going great so far, thanks for asking. I did a 25 mile training run last week and felt so fresh I thought I could do another loop.

Target is to break 5:15 for the Ultra (8:00 pace). Then again, I said that last time and crashed and burned horribly to miss that target by over half an hour. Still, a new PR should be a given (5:40), or at least as close as you can come to a given in ultra running.

My training routes are just as hilly as Connemara, and the traffic just as sparse. In fact, I feel right at home on the course.

Krusty_Clown

How are you managing nutrition TFB? are you planning on carrying everything you need, or are you going to take chances with the drop-off tables?

TFBubendorfer

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

How are you managing nutrition TFB? are you planning on carrying everything you need, or are you going to take chances with the drop-off tables?

Definitely the drop-off tables. I've done the ultra twice, and both times collected all my bottles without issue.

Having said that, I've always put them into boxes that were placed before Leenaun (at miles 10 and 22 one year, and miles 5/13/26 the other one). From what I've heard there were never any problems with marathon or fellow ultra runners nicking stuff, but there have been "issues" with the odd half-marathon runner helping themselves.

Krusty_Clown

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Definitely the drop-off tables. I've done the ultra twice, and both times collected all my bottles without issue.

Having said that, I've always put them into boxes that were placed before Leenaun (at miles 10 and 22 one year, and miles 5/13/26 the other one). From what I've heard there were never any problems with marathon or fellow ultra runners nicking stuff, but there have been "issues" with the odd half-marathon runner helping themselves.

Hadn't thought of that. Thanks. Any ideas at this stage what you will drop-off/carry? I was thinking some gels, dried fruit, jelly sweets, that kind of thing.. (Ok I'm being lazy. Must go find/re-read the Connemarathon nutrition thread).

TFBubendorfer

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Hadn't thought of that. Thanks. Any ideas at this stage what you will drop-off/carry? I was thinking some gels, dried fruit, jelly sweets, that kind of thing.. (Ok I'm being lazy. Must go find/re-read the Connemarathon nutrition thread).

Put into the boxes whatever food you're comfortable with. It's very much an individual thing. In my 2 attempts I only had a 500ml bottle of drink per box, nothing else. This time I might tape a gel to each bottle, but haven't decided yet. I might just carry a gel or 2 in the back pocket of my running shorts instead, and maybe a granola bar or 2. There's limited room and I detest running with a bum bag.

They give out extra stuff at some of the tables as well. Water obviously, and sports drink at 3 or 4 stations, but they also had the odd fig roll and mini mars bar (which really hit the spot at mile 26 last time round!).

RacoonQueen

My last drop off went walkabout last year but I had it at the last aid station so it's possible everything else was gone and the aid station volunteers just abandoned ship instead of waiting for me.

I put mine at mile 25/26(to give me something to push on from at this distance) mile 30 or 33 I think for the second drop off to keep me going and then the final aid station to give me somthing to look forward to and keep going toward(even though it was robbed). So my use of aid stations was purely psychological and it worked a treat. I knew I could get to 26 miles on just water and gels so I didn't bother putting anything before that.

Slogger Jogger

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Survival.

Just booked accommodation (B&B) yesterday in Clifden. Anyone else staying in Clifden?

Doing the usual thing and staying in Leenaun. The clan can wave me through at half-way

911sc

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

What are people's targets?

Survival as well

Training is a bit on the low side, with weekly mileage of approx 50kms.
Not getting enough long runs though. Longuest run so far was 3hours, average run is 1h30min.

So, i am already feeling anxious about the 39miles of the Ultra, which will be a big step up for me. I would be more dissapointing by not trying rather than by not finishing on my 2 legs. So, i'll remain positive until the 11th of April.
Time to go now, have a 16kms run to go to work now.

Highway_To_Hell

Made the painful decision yesterday to defer my Ultra attempt until next year. haven't run since the Jan 4th, while trying to maintain my training schedule during the snowy weather I damaged tendons in my ankle and I am still off my feet. up till then my training was going well and I was getting good 20/25km B2B runs in. I have tried to keep my fitness level up by biking on a turbo trainer and swimming but at this stage I am just not going to get the milage done as it now looks like I will be another few weeks not running.

Next year I have planned to do the Sahara Marathon so I am not too sure if I will do the Ultra, might just do the full or half.

best of luck to everyone else who is still on track.

belcarra

My target is just to get around the course, be able to say I did it, and then retire from anything longer than 26.2 miles!
At the moment I've a bit of a dodgy right knee but the physio said a few stretches on various muscles should sort this issue out...apprently I'm overcompensating the bejaysus out of my knee as my hips are too inflexible:eek:
Anywho, i have managed a few 22 mile+ runs but the second LSR the next day has usually been around the 15-17 mile mark due to sore knee or time constraints.
Therefore my question is: Am I better off doing longer, single runs at the weekend or persevere with the shorter b2b runs?
i.e. This weekend should I go for one run of 25+ miles or try for two 20 mile b2b's?

Hope this isn't too fuddled!

RacoonQueen

Belcarra, if you have no time goals and your target is just to get around I wouldn't even bother with the back to back 20 milers, especially if you're carrying an injury. By the looks of it you've already done heavier training than I did last year for it so you should be ok. Look after the injury first and foremost there is still a LONG time to go and you've obviously got some really good work done.

belcarra

Thanks for that RQ!

RacoonQueen

Any hotel recommendations for Galway city? I'm not staying in Connemara again after last years horror show and seen as I won't be driving I'd be best off in the City. I'm contemplating treating myself to a nice four star hotel.

Edit: 2011 entry now open folks. Don't miss out.

Slogger Jogger

I've stayed in Jurys Inn over the years and it ticks all the boxes.

Aimman

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

I've stayed in Jurys Inn over the years and it ticks all the boxes.

I'm booked into the Jurys too, and will get the pick up at 7am, but I believe there are buses that will bring spectators to the finish line from Galway later in the day. Given that I'll probably be around the 6-7 hour mark for the Ultra (first one, no real idea how long it will take) I'll be getting to the finish after the Full and Half races are more or less finished. Any idea how frequent the spectator buses come from Galway, so that the fan club dont have to wait around too long for me at the finish line?

Also, whats around the finish line to keep people amused while waiting? Funfair, cafes and all day entertainment? Or just a finish line painted on the road and an arrow pointing to the bus to get you out of there?

Krusty_Clown

Aimman wrote:

just a finish line painted on the road and an arrow pointing to the bus to get you out of there?

This, and usually a chip-van. There's also a hotel with bar around the corner. They could of course entertain themselves with cheering everyone home!

SUNGOD

i got an e-mail back today saying my entry is deferred until 2011
big thanks to Krusty for that i would have never thought of it

Aimman

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

This, and usually a chip-van. There's also a hotel with bar around the corner. They could of course entertain themselves with cheering everyone home!

They will, but I think the majority will be actually home by the time I get there,