Marathon Mission

notsofast

The new issue of Irish Runner includes a new worthy initiative called Marathon Mission, aimed at raising standards in Irish Marathon running.

One objective is to have an Irish team in the European championships next summer. A team event is to be introduced where 6 run and 3 score and AAI have set a standard of 2:18 for men and 2:38 for women to be included. Given that only two Irish men have run 2:18 during the last decade, what are the chances we'll have 6 before next summer ? Is 2:18 / 2:38 setting the bar too high ?

tunney

notsofast wrote: »

The new issue of Irish Runner includes a new worthy initiative called Marathon Mission, aimed at raising standards in Irish Marathon running.

One objective is to have an Irish team in the European championships next summer. A team event is to be introduced where 6 run and 3 score and AAI have set a standard of 2:18 for men and 2:43 for women to be included. Given that only two Irish men have run 2:18 during the last decade, what are the chances we'll have 6 before next summer ? Is 2:18 / 2:43 setting the bar too high ?

Definitely too high.
Do that not know that it doesn't matter what time you do its just about finishing?

RacoonQueen

notsofast wrote: »

The new issue of Irish Runner includes a new worthy initiative called Marathon Mission, aimed at raising standards in Irish Marathon running.

One objective is to have an Irish team in the European championships next summer. A team event is to be introduced where 6 run and 3 score and AAI have set a standard of 2:18 for men and 2:43 for women to be included. Given that only two Irish men have run 2:18 during the last decade, what are the chances we'll have 6 before next summer ? Is 2:18 / 2:43 setting the bar too high ?

I think the 2:43 for women is achievable, not sure how many men we have that would be close enough to 2:18 to be able to cut enough off their time in that short space of time.

TheRoadRunner

There are a few guys out there who have the potential to run 2.18. Without mentioning names there is definitely 1 poster on this board who could probably reach that target (apart from me obviously ). It's a good idea and hopefully it will help raise the standards of Irish elite marathon running

Racing Flat

I think they need to incentivise the club race a bit. At the moment I'm sure most clubs do their best to field a strong XC team at all the different levels, a strong track and field team for the League, but I don't think too many clubs target the marathon. If the medal winning club teams received a significant prize, the clubs might target the race. Also if winning the Irish marathon champs meant your club got to participate in a european Clubs marathon champs (if there was such a thing) this might get a bit of interest.

I also wonder whether starting the National Champs (individual and team) race before the main race (maybe 15mins or so) would make it more of a 'race'. At the moment you wouldn't know exactly who your close opposition was with everyone mixed in together. Or perhaps numbers on peoples backs signifiying they are in this race might be sufficient.

Timing may also be an issue - at the moment being so close to the European XC many potential sub 2.18ers might not be able to do the two races justice - but with National Interclubs in March and World XC soon after, track in the summer, this may always be an issue...

notsofast

sorry, the standard for women is 2:38, not 2:43 as previously stated. I know, I know 5 minutes IS a big deal.

notsofast

tunney wrote: »

Definitely too high.
Do that not know that it doesn't matter what time you do its just about finishing?

These are standards for inclusion on the Irish team at the European Championships next summer. Aimed at Elite runners.

tunney

notsofast wrote: »

These are standards for inclusion on the Irish team at the European Championships next summer. Aimed at Elite runners.

I was taking the pi$$

notsofast

:eek: - I'm not so fast on the uptake

Zuppy

Well I believe 2:18 to be a bit high for most of our Male elites at the moment but then again, we do have some.
I don't believe we will get 6 (I hope I am wrong) but if they can't make 2:18 then they might as well stay here anyway.

Maybe we should focus on making the marathon field more competitive and a goal worth pursuing .*gasp*
Or copy the states and import some talent. LOL

Tunny- considering the thread on Alex Vero, is a year enough for you to make sub 2:18?????

shels4ever

ZuppyLurk wrote: »

Well I believe 2:18 to be a bit high for most of our Male elites at the moment but then again, we do have some.
I don't believe we will get 6 (I hope I am wrong) but if they can't make 2:18 then they might as well stay here anyway.

Maybe we should focus on making the marathon field more competitive and a goal worth pursuing .*gasp*
Or copy the states and import some talent. LOL

Tunny- considering the thread on Alex Vero, is a year enough for you to make sub 2:18?????

Trying to do it now is a bit late if you were looking to get 6 people sub 2:18 there should have been a group set up a year ago. There maybe 3-4 people who were due to run Dublin that could get close to that, get Fagan and maybe cragg into it too and you may have a team. Should be a long term goal maybe for the next europeans as I think this one is too late.

Enduro

Gotta have high standards. It is for the Euros after all. Back in the eighties we would have had one hell of a team easily able to meet that standard. No reason why we shouldn't again.

Hard Worker

Marathon Mission is not just for the short term. The first real target is London 2012.
I could name at least 20 Irish athletes who could break 2.18. They wouldn't all, however, target the marathon. There are 15 men and 8 women in the mission squad at the moment. They will be given assistance and inducements in their quest to gain qualifying standards. The aim of the Mission is to improve the standard of Irish runners in the Dublin Marathon and to help them compete with distinction in major Championships.

brutes

Hard Worker wrote: »

Marathon Mission is not just for the short term. The first real target is London 2012.
I could name at least 20 Irish athletes who could break 2.18. They wouldn't all, however, target the marathon. There are 15 men and 8 women in the mission squad at the moment. They will be given assistance and inducements in their quest to gain qualifying standards. The aim of the Mission is to improve the standard of Irish runners in the Dublin Marathon and to help them compete with distinction in major Championships.

Can names be named??!!

Id agree no doubt 20 men/10 women capable of the standards, .. speaking as a relatively experienced marathoner but a few levels below this standard ( how Id love to be there!) , I have no doubt that group training helps and pushes people along to new heights/times.
The length volume and intensity of training for a marathon is tough and this type of squad will be of great help to those involved. Theres every chance Irish men/women in marathon can medal at Europeans with the right focus, the ability is there...

Hard Worker

The Marathon Mission squad will be announced shortly. All the athletes that achieved the standard since January 2009 have been written to and replies are being gathered.

--amadeus--

Are there any plans to have a "feeder" level below this; younger runners performing well at half marathon distance or runners currently below the qualification threashold getting tailored training and the like?

Rineanna

I'm kind of excited by this initiative, and kudos to those involved for setting it up. With the Euros going bi-annually from 2010, there'll be more and more chances for a good marathon squad to succeed at international level.

Clum

Hard Worker wrote: »

The Marathon Mission squad will be announced shortly. All the athletes that achieved the standard since January 2009 have been written to and replies are being gathered.

Is "the standard" you mention above a standard to make the Marathon Mission squad? If so what kind of standard was that?

Racing Flat

Clum wrote: »

Is "the standard" you mention above a standard to make the Marathon Mission squad? If so what kind of standard was that?

2.25 for men and 2.45 for women. I think.

Hard Worker

Racing Flat wrote: »

2.25 for men and 2.45 for women. I think.

They're correct.
There are also times for 10 miles ( sub 50 minutes for men ) and half marathon which I havn't with me at the moment.
The "qualifying times" for inclusion are very reasonable and will allow for quite a few athletes. I would imagine stricter times will be set for next year.

Hard Worker

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Are there any plans to have a "feeder" level below this; younger runners performing well at half marathon distance or runners currently below the qualification threashold getting tailored training and the like?

It is hoped to involve coaches in almost every county. The Irish Runner lists a number of people with huge marathon experience who should be tapped for their knowledge ( if they are available ). Any ahlete showing potential could be asked onto the Marathon Mission squad.

notsofast

What happens next year if we have 3 runners achieving the 2:18/2:38 standard, could a team still be entered or do we have to have 6 ? It would be great to watch a European marathon that includes a team event.

Is the team event also to be included the next World champs / Olympics ?

RRSC

Hard Worker wrote: »

They're correct.
There are also times for 10 miles ( sub 50 minutes for men ) and half marathon which I havn't with me at the moment.

The full MM qualifying times are Men sub 2:25 marathon, sub 67:30 half, sub 50 10M, Women sub 2:45 marathon, sub 79:30 half, sub 60 10M. Also option for MM management team to invite athletes with potential and ambition for marathon onto the panel.

I think this is the most exciting thing to happen to Irish elite marathon running in about the last 20 years. The management team has a wealth of experience and expertise and if athletes are willing to put in the work there is definitely potential for team medals at 2-yearly europeans down the road.

Zuppy

Thanks for the official times. Hopefully it will realize some Irish talent. Who is managing/ coaching or does it have a website. Just curious as to how the pro's do it.

Woddle

I heard Sean Hehir has been added to the mission based on a quick half time, not sure when or where he did it. Has anyone else met the criteria recently. There site could do with a bit of updating.

ecoli

Woddle wrote: »

I heard Sean Hehir has been added to the mission based on a quick half time, not sure when or where he did it. Has anyone else met the criteria recently. There site could do with a bit of updating.

Sean has been training with many from the group for some time now (under Dick Hooper to as far as I am aware)
As far as I am aware Linda Byrne is on this to though I am just going on the ones who turned up to the last group training day and Kenneally is another one

Though they dont update the list there is fairly regular news updates:

http://dublinmarathon.ie/news.php?article=348

http://dublinmarathon.ie/news.php?article=343

http://dublinmarathon.ie/news.php?article=338

Woddle

Just found his time 66'50 in Gothenburg back in May

shels4ever

Think this years Dublin marathon could be a cracker if most of the guys run.

heffsarmy

He won the Clare 10km the weekend in an impressive 29:43.

woodchopper

heffsarmy wrote: »

He won the Clare 10km the weekend in an impressive 29:43.

Some fine running but the course is 220 metres short, 40 seconds still works out at around 30.20-30.25 which is great running on his own.