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Great Ireland Run gains IAAF Road Race Label

  • 12-01-2010 10:36PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,614 ✭✭✭


    Apologies if this has already been mentioned elsewhere, but I thought it was worth highlighting that the Great Ireland Run has been conferred with an IAAF Road Race Label, making it the first road race in Ireland to gain such recognition:
    Last week, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the world governing body of athletics conferred an IAAF Road Race Label on the Great Ireland Run, in recognition of the event's high standard of organisation, elite participation and media profile. This is the first time an Irish event has been recognised in this way by the IAAF.

    http://www.rte.ie/sport/athletics/2010/0111/greatirelandrun.html


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 669 ✭✭✭emerald007


    Just give us back our our national 10km road racing championship race please.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 286 ✭✭eon1208


    emerald007 wrote: »
    Just give us back our our national 10km road racing championship race please.
    Its good promotion for the sport to have it included in this race. Or have you a real reason for wanting it out. Be hard to find one though......


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,912 ✭✭✭thirtyfoot


    eon1208 wrote: »
    Its good promotion for the sport to have it included in this race. Or have you a real reason for wanting it out. Be hard to find one though......

    I'd be with emerald007 on this one. No reason why the 10k can't be a standalone race as its a frequently run distance. Here are only some reasons off the top of my head:
    • Extra cost to enter
    • Will all club athletes be in pens at the front to facilitate a fair race from a club perspective.
    • How much revenue will Irish athletics get from the event and how much will go to an overseas company

    Good promotion but is it losing the essence of competition and lower the value of a National Competition.

    How about staging the National 10k as it used to be and promoting that in its own right to get even more recreational runners running in it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭shels4ever


    Tingle wrote: »
    I'd be with emerald007 on this one. No reason why the 10k can't be a standalone race as its a frequently run distance. Here are only some reasons off the top of my head:
    • Extra cost to enter
    • Will all club athletes be in pens at the front to facilitate a fair race from a club perspective.
    • How much revenue will Irish athletics get from the event and how much will go to an overseas company

    Good promotion but is it losing the essence of competition and lower the value of a National Competition.

    How about staging the National 10k as it used to be and promoting that in its own right to get even more recreational runners running in it.

    +1
    I would have run the national 10k this year, but for someone at my level there will be far too many people in the Great Ireland run :(

    Great that the race has the IAAF label now but won't be one i'll be doing this year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,346 ✭✭✭smmoore79


    The one up side for me is that as a non club runner, i can see how close/far off i am from the standard of the top Irish athletes :rolleyes:


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,983 ✭✭✭TheRoadRunner


    smmoore79 wrote: »
    The one up side for me is that as a non club runner, i can see how close/far off i am from the standard of the top Irish athletes :rolleyes:

    In recent years you could still have run in the national 10k without being a member of a club. You could have still gauged yourself against the top guys but paid a third of the price to do so !


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,770 ✭✭✭rovers_runner


    It doesn't appear that the great run company have done anything to try to improve the start of the race.

    They have used corrals and staggered starts in the UK races where there were large fields and unless they do it here I won't be lining up for a 10,000 strong free for all at the start.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,895 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    To be honest this race is a bit of joke. Didnt do it last year but every other year its a nightmare going around that tight roundabout at the start.

    Its a race that never starts on time, always a good delay.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,418 ✭✭✭Jip


    It doesn't appear that the great run company have done anything to try to improve the start of the race.

    They have used corrals and staggered starts in the UK races where there were large fields and unless they do it here I won't be lining up for a 10,000 strong free for all at the start.


    Are they not doing it like this this year ? On their website it asks your for your estimated time when registering and I'm pretty sure the reason is that there's staggered starts.

    Edit, this is the actual wording
    We are using a Wave starting system based on the runner's estimated running time. This is an important safety measure and we ask that you enter an accurate time. If you haven't completed a 10k running event before, please make a 'best guess' based on your general fitness and any other running events you may have completed. The average time in 2009 was 65mins


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭shels4ever


    Jip wrote: »
    Are they not doing it like this this year ? On their website it asks your for your estimated time when registering and I'm pretty sure the reason is that there's staggered starts.

    Edit, this is the actual wording

    Sounds ok but what about the club runners, if there is a stagdered start you could have a team with some members in a different wave ;) That wouldnt be idea , or will all club runners go in wave one, so you will have sub 30 min runners and 40/45 + runners in this wave?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,704 ✭✭✭✭RayCun


    shels4ever wrote: »
    Sounds ok but what about the club runners, if there is a stagdered start you could have a team with some members in a different wave

    Apparently you're allowed drop down to a slower wave (but not go up to a faster one) if you want to keep a group together.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭shels4ever


    RayCun wrote: »
    Apparently you're allowed drop down to a slower wave (but not go up to a faster one) if you want to keep a group together.

    I dont see how that will work in a team event . So I guess all club runners will start in wave 1 no matter what standard.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,704 ✭✭✭✭RayCun


    I must be missing something here, because I don't understand the problem.
    If you have two 30 minute runners and a 40 minute runner, all three can start together in the 40 minute group.
    Why would you want a 'club runners' start, with everyone from 30 minute runners to 60 minute runner? Isn't that a recipe for congestion?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 669 ✭✭✭emerald007


    shels4ever wrote: »
    I dont see how that will work in a team event . So I guess all club runners will start in wave 1 no matter what standard.

    I'd prefer if the AAI could clarify how this will work. There is little point speculating here. I emailed the greatrun.org to ask, and we'll see what reply i get.

    Looking at the online registration process, it has an option to select a running club (good) but it only lists UK running clubs (bad).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 975 ✭✭✭louthandproud


    shels4ever wrote: »
    I dont see how that will work in a team event . So I guess all club runners will start in wave 1 no matter what standard.

    The start really isn't that bad in my experience, unless you start well back, albeit with the few idiots that stand forward in the field and then walk, but how can you legislate for these?

    I don't see any problem with all club runners starting together in the front, slower club runners aren't going to get in too many peoples way in reality (IMHO).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 606 ✭✭✭aburke


    You STILL can't enter this race online as an Irish club member.
    The dropdown list of clubs on the form includes UK clubs only.

    I hope that the AAI will clarify how club athletes in the National 10km championships are supposed to enter this race. Granted its a bit of time yet, but I'd like to know its supposed to work.

    Will it be the same as at the Dublin City Marathon & National Championships - eg enter online and sign up at the AAI stand at registration.

    OR will we be able to enter directly via the AAI.

    Are we paying the same price?
    Is there a cut off time for entries?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,418 ✭✭✭Jip


    aburke wrote: »
    You STILL can't enter this race online as an Irish club member.
    The dropdown list of clubs on the form includes UK clubs only.

    A mail to the organisers might help, I work for a very UK-centric organisation who regularly seem to think Ireland is part of the UK and therefore come across issues like this on a weekly basis.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,415 ✭✭✭Racing Flat


    aburke wrote: »

    Are we paying the same price?

    20Euro for AAI members, 29 for everyone else AFAIK


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 669 ✭✭✭emerald007


    20Euro for AAI members, 29 for everyone else AFAIK

    Where did you see that? URL link please. ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,415 ✭✭✭Racing Flat


    emerald007 wrote: »
    Where did you see that? URL link please. ;)

    Irish independent yesterday - can't find the link, but was a piece in the launch of the Bupa race by either Cliodhna or Lindie.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,704 ✭✭✭✭RayCun


    http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/athletics-controversy-over-national-merger-2009405.html

    AAI have negotiated that the usual Great Ireland Run entry fee (€29/€32) will be only €20 for registered AAI members which will incorporate their entry into the national championships.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 218 ✭✭Reaganomical


    Just wondering whether in order to obtain this Label, the race organisers had to guarantee that there would be a certain amount of, say, sub-34 minute runners in the field? Hence, the reason the National 10k is now being reduced to a sub-category within the race.

    I really enjoyed the 10k when it was in Athenry in 2008 and I don't see why it couldn't have continued as it was...was there a lack of interest from clubs in hosting it?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,450 ✭✭✭meathcountysec


    J

    I really enjoyed the 10k when it was in Athenry in 2008 and I don't see why it couldn't have continued as it was...was there a lack of interest from clubs in hosting it?

    It was in Navan in 2009, 300+ runners (and one jogger:p)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 629 ✭✭✭Clum


    Just wondering whether in order to obtain this Label, the race organisers had to guarantee that there would be a certain amount of, say, sub-34 minute runners in the field? Hence, the reason the National 10k is now being reduced to a sub-category within the race.

    The Bronze Label would have been awarded on what the race has previously accomplished rather than what it hopes to accomplish. There are loads of criteria to get this label, some being course accuracy, elite participants from a minimum number of nationalities, road closures, electronic timing, participant numbers, coverage, blah blah blah....

    For a Bronze Label 10K Road Race the elites have to have run 29.30 (male) or 37.00 (female) in previous 36 months. Not sure how many elites they need though.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    Won't be doing this myself as it will be too soon after Rotterdam so I expect to still be unable to walk. :D

    All the club runners need to start in the same 1st wave though, otherwise you will end up with some starting in the middle of the 1st wave being at a disadvantage to those starting at the front of the 2nd wave.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 408 ✭✭jinka


    Jip wrote: »
    A mail to the organisers might help, I work for a very UK-centric organisation who regularly seem to think Ireland is part of the UK and therefore come across issues like this on a weekly basis.

    What-!!! Southern ireland or worse still Eire is not part of the mainland?!!!That would by typical alright.Most Irish could buy and sell a brit! We look outwards,they look inwards. I hate this race. Did you ever see Lindie Naughtons views on it!?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 94 ✭✭Irishathlete_1


    I don't really understand the 'controversy' here, as stated in the Indo.

    Any club runners/teams with serious intentions of running well would be in the top 2 waves anyway, so the congestion issue is a bit of a non started IMO. Also, the NOVA events tend to merge the front 2 waves just prior to the start, as they do in Manchester, Portsmouth and at the Great North Run. Any elite runners here who have competed at the front of these events will confirm this.

    Secondly, it is common practice around the world to have the national 10km/marathon championships held in conjunction with major mass participation events. Why should Ireland be any different? God, the Irish Marathon Champs are held at the Dublin Marathon, yet nobody moans about that. Is it because DM is an Irish owned event v's a British owned event?? I hope as a nation we've moved on from that kind of thinking!

    The frustrating thing for me here is that nobody sees this as an opportunity, bar possibly the new CEO who is likely to have signed this off. The Great Ireland Run is now an event that is shown in a number of countries around the world, and domestically is one of the very few running events that gets decent TV/media coverage. Is this not an opportunity to inspire people into athletics and show off Ireland's talent?

    If the national championships are handled correctly as part of the Great Ireland run, it could drive those runners who are in the 40-45 minute bracket to join their local club and from that you could find some great talent. Shane Healy anyone?? Increased memberships would see increased revenues for clubs etc etc....

    So far I can't see any sustainable arguments as to why this is a bad thing for Irish athletics. If there are, I'll happily come back on and take this back, but I think this is a great opportunity for Irish distance running and it should be embraced.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 94 ✭✭Irishathlete_1


    Just saw this post. Well I guess some of us haven't moved on!

    Jinka - I'm assuming you don't watch the BBC/Sky or buy anything that can possibly have originated from across the water??

    Idiot.
    jinka wrote: »
    What-!!! Southern ireland or worse still Eire is not part of the mainland?!!!That would by typical alright.Most Irish could buy and sell a brit! We look outwards,they look inwards. I hate this race. Did you ever see Lindie Naughtons views on it!?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,983 ✭✭✭TheRoadRunner


    Just saw this post. Well I guess some of us haven't moved on!

    Jinka - I'm assuming you don't watch the BBC/Sky or buy anything that can possibly have originated from across the water??

    Idiot.

    eh sarcasm maybe !


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,758 ✭✭✭downthemiddle


    I think the best thing is to reserve judgement until we see what happens. I can understand, and would share, some of the reservations but the AAI are showing some initiative so lets see how things develop.


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