Wexford Half Marathon & Relay 22/5/2011

eoin ryan

Last years thread


Wexford Half Marathon & Relay has had a bit of an overhaul since its inception in 2009. Last year in recognition of the economic doldrums we find ourselves in - we cut out the 'bells and whistles' (the spectator Stand, Kids entertainment & Street entertainment, Marquee etc) and reduced the entry fee by €5. This year having listened to feedback and with the kind permission of Johnstown Castle we have a new flatter, faster and cheaper course. The race will take place on the 22nd of May. There are a few bits of news here so
In summary:

· There is an early bird offer until Jan 15th
· There is a special offer you can avail of
· Few more improvements/ points to the race to mention
· A new course
· New prize structure
· New team
· A suggestion towards your training in 2011
Btw - many of the improvements are from feedback and observations from other races
Early Bird is €35 until Jan 15th then it goes to €40. Naturally you will be wondering what's on offer for this: Race number, Technical Training Top, Shower, Timing Chip, Finishers Medal, 4 x aid stations, DJ at the finish, Sandwiches Tea & Coffee or BBQ (tbc).
Accurately measured course

Also to mention that we have our usual dedicated Walking section that starts earlier and a Relay facility where you get bussed to the changeover points and collected if you don't feel up to the full distance.
We have a new prize fund structure. Its 1-3 in Senior, Vets and Masters M+F


I am very excited about the new course. The highest elevation point is 75m which has a gradual span from 4km to 7.5km. Think of the 100m race. It only goes ¾ of the height of this if you put the track up vertically. From 7.5km it is practically downhill all the way to km 21.1..... Anyway a picture tells a thousand words so we have an elevation map on the front page of the website. The course will go through Johnstown Castle which is a tourist icon for the County with stunning gardens and a run around the lake (you might get caught in a Wedding photo as you pass through!!!)

There is huge potential for fast times and PB's on the course. Many courses claim they are flat, flatter or flattest... We are showing the elevation because we believe we can credibly stand in this category and don’t want to surprise you on the day with mystery hills.


The special offer mentioned is not on the website just yet (I will notify you when it appears) but to give you the heads up. There is a link to other races I am involved in. Should you be one of the first 40 people to enter 3 of the 6 races you will receive a €50 voucher from Amphibian King.

(To put a number on it: if you enter 3 x the Half marathons on the early bird it will cost you €50 for the 3 races if you avail of the voucher. Note: there are a few T&C's but they are straight forward)

In 2011 we are working with DMP Athletic club to bring the race and new course to life. They know the area and roads better than anyone.

There are training tips on the Wexford website and a 12 week training plan that has served many people well. If you are new to running I'd recommend a read some evening. I noted looking at the Dublin Marathon that so many people were making life very difficult for themselves. I bet you'll get at least one nugget from the tips....

FYI - I'm dubious about doing the FREE Roadshows around Wexford as the attendance was tiny this year. I'll see what the vibe is after Christmas and let you know.
If you want to get the quick updates can I suggest you join the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Pettitts-SuperValu-Wexford-Half-Marathon/273154299060

www.wexfordhalfmarathon.com

All the best

The Wexford Half Marathon Team


IT'S GOOD TO GIVE BACK......
Ryano Event Management was set up in 2009. We always endeavour to work with
and support local Clubs, Societies and Charities in the running of an event.
In two years Ryano Event Management has paid: €6,700 to Athletics,
€22,670 in Prize money, €8,600 to Charity, €4,950 to Medical organisations and
€4,900 to Clubs and Societies.

fitness fan

3 stars (average)

Ah no more hills, always a good thing. Timing is good for the Cork marathon next year so count me in.....:D

village runner

fitness fan wrote: »

Ah no more hills, always a good thing. Timing is good for the Cork marathon next year so count me in.....:D

Unless you are prepared to run it at mp it aint good timing for you...........
Good see its gone down from €48 in hte first year to €40 this year.....
The course had to be changed as runners didnt want to face those hills again and its a good move
Is there a list of prizes to date yet ?

ultraman1

mite do this ,will number collection be only on the day before....

eoin ryan

Ok this weather is gone beyond a joke! No run no fun....

To ans a few questions:

The list of prizes are up on the website.
Yes, you can pick up number on the morn of the race

Putting the best foot foward we have gone from €48 to €35 on the early bird which lasts until Jan 15th... When the weather calms down and your hanging for a target PB race in 2011 maybe consider us.

There will be no snow that day

elvis jones

Looks like my dates suit and i think i'll do this.

Great to see its flat and that the price has come down !

average_runner

3 stars (average)

Hi eoin;


Just a few questions to ask about the half marathon as either I do this or Kildare Half.

Last year when i was watching the race in Clonard, the runners were running on footpaths, now I know the root has changed but will this be the same this year, on the footpath coming the fathye and parnell st etc?

Adding Johnstown Castle to the route is a good thing but what will be the protocol around the roads at Piercestown, will there be marshals there stopping the traffic etc?

Whats in the goody bag this year? training top etc?

Thanks

eoin ryan

Hi AR,

Yea the course is much different this year. We only have 3 road crossing v's 10 last year. I should also mention that the Marshalling is now being done by the local AC DMP so they know the roads really well

To answer your question about the exit of Johnstown Castle. Yes it will be Marshalled and runners will have right of way. There will be signs as well to warn motorists before they come to the exit. (it's won't be busy on a Sunday - its a secondary road). We will have 2-3 bodies here supervising. You are then running on the left through the village and there is no change to this up to the Main Rosslare Wex road where again you will stay left and turn for home.

The run into the Faythe will be on the road and once again Runners will have right of way at the Swan taking them right down to Parnell St and onto the finish.

The only path you'll be on is in Johnstown castle running around the Lake (its pedestrian only regardless) Nice too - I'm sure you know it..?

There will be high Quality Training Top and a Finishers medal that is embossed with the race logo. Nice chunk of metal.
The Goodie bag is sandwiches and tea/coffee in the Talbot hotel right at the finish line so you can eat the goodies in comfort and watch people finish. DJ insitu. If we get some more stuff we'll keep you posted.
A showers afterwards.
Free Kids race if you want to bring them.
And hopefully a PB.... (A lot of the course is well sheltered by ditches to km 15 and she's pretty flat) Elevation is on the website

average_runner

3 stars (average)

Thanks Eoin;

Will more than likely run it this year. Are you planning on have pace makers?

eoin ryan

Yep - we are.

Where do i get in contact with the makers of pace?

fitness fan

3 stars (average)

eoin ryan wrote: »

Yep - we are.

Where do i get in contact with the makers of pace?

Racoon Queen and donothoponpop paced at Strawberry Half last year try get in contact with them on here. Look up the thread for Strawberry half marathon on here as far as I can remember it was discussed and organised there

Sosa

Eoin,
I cannot find out anywhere what time the race is on.
Can you clarify ?

eoin ryan

Hi Sosa,

Sorry for late reply. Its 10.30am. Must update on website. Currently it says 10.15 but we want to give 10am Mass in Piercestown a chance to clear before you guys go stomping through.

E

AlmostQuick

Is there free parking in Wexford on race day?

eoin ryan

Hi AQ,

Yes there is and i will forward on that detail on the last news letter to participants like last year.

E

AlmostQuick

eoin ryan wrote: »

Hi AQ,

Yes there is and i will forward on that detail on the last news letter to participants like last year.

E

Cheers Eoin.

HeavyRunner

I ran the first Wexford half and enjoyed it and am planning to to it this year on the new course which I like the look of. Just one question. My club-mates tell me that DMP had said at the last county board meeting that the event is now a 100% DMP club event. That is a goog selling point and worth mentioning if all profits are now going back in to athletics.

eoin ryan

Sounds like a plan...

HeavyRunner

eoin ryan wrote: »

Sounds like a plan...

Great, thanks.

average_runner

3 stars (average)

When is the closing date for this event?

eoin ryan

Sorry for late reply

Wed 18th May online will close

happyJJ

I don`t have a credit card. Can I still enter or should I get a fried to do my entry on-line.

eoin ryan

Send me an email and I'll forward on entry sheet
eoinryan1@hotmail.com

happyJJ

eoin ryan wrote: »

Send me an email and I'll forward on entry sheet
eoinryan1@hotmail.com

Super, you can ignore my e-mail however. I have ordered something called a 3V Visa card and will use tha. You learn something every day. It`s a credit card which can be topped up.

HeavyRunner

Just wondering is the race a club run one or is it stil a privatly run one. It is a bit unclear from the web-site and the response here. On the official web-site it says 'in association' with DMP which could mean anything. It is important to have a clear statement on the status of the race.

eoin ryan

Pleased to say that we will have Pacers (mostly from boards A.C.) who will guide you along the course and help you achieve your target time.

The following times will be Paced in the half marathon:

1hr 30mins
1hr 45mins
2hrs

The guys will have balloons with the times marked on them so you can identify which group to join at the start of the race (if you wish to...)

average_runner

3 stars (average)

Hi Eoin;

Can we not have pacers for 2.00, 1.50, 1.40 and 1.30? Would of thought these would be the standard pacing times?

happyJJ

HeavyRunner wrote: »

I ran the first Wexford half and enjoyed it and am planning to to it this year on the new course which I like the look of. Just one question. My club-mates tell me that DMP had said at the last county board meeting that the event is now a 100% DMP club event. That is a goog selling point and worth mentioning if all profits are now going back in to athletics.

Who cares as long as it is a good race and well organized.

fitness fan

3 stars (average)

The addition of pacers is great news Eoin. A good move !:D

HeavyRunner

happyJJ wrote: »

Who cares as long as it is a good race and well organized.

I care. But somehow I don't think I am going to get an definitive response to the question.

donothoponpop

HeavyRunner wrote: »

Just wondering is the race a club run one or is it stil a privatly run one. It is a bit unclear from the web-site and the response here. On the official web-site it says 'in association' with DMP which could mean anything. It is important to have a clear statement on the status of the race.

HeavyRunner wrote: »

I care. But somehow I don't think I am going to get an definitive response to the question.

Hi Eoin,
the general idea here is that if race directors want to engage with posters on the forum about their races, they don't cherry-pick which questions to answer. It's only fair that you try to answer those questions put to you. <mod>

average_runner

3 stars (average)

donothoponpop wrote: »

Hi Eoin,
the general idea here is that if race directors want to engage with posters on the forum about their races, they don't cherry-pick which questions to answer. It's only fair that you try to answer those questions put to you. <mod>

In fairness to Eoin, he doesnt be on this everyday, can take him up to 7 days or so to get you an answer, but he will answer I would think

eoin ryan

Yep- that would be the general idea. And I generally do. I’m back working 9-5 and organising the events so I’m time poor to be frank about it. However I will make time for this fella HeavyRunner because some things need to be said for once and for all


Heavyrunner you have a continued unhealthy interest in Wexford Half marathon and I get the undertones behind your postings. I know who you are I have always know who you are but have chosen to ignore or fob you off - but you won’t let me. So here’s the thing, considering you never have anything positive to say about the race with all the constant sniping (not just on boards – I hear all the gossip back from Wexford btw) I’m going to make a suggestion that you don’t enter it. Leave it be – do something else that day. It’s clear you don’t like the race or is it just me. Maybe it’s me and to be honest – that fine by me.


Now if you have an issue with anything i’ve wrote let’s have a chat face to face like adults. As of now we have moved on from fake names and moderators.


The ans is yes it is a DMP race and the profits go to DMP.

HeavyRunner

Hi Eoin. Thanks for answering my question. First of all I do not know you and I don't think I have ever spoken to you so I have no reason to like or dislike you personally. My problem is with some privatly run races for reasons I have highlighted already and am not going to go over old ground again. The Wexford HM is the only one I have taken part in and is the only one I can comment on. Almost every race has a debate about it on boards.ie and is usually by people who took part in them. I have given positive as well as negative comments about the race.
As regards anonymity on boards.ie. This is normal practice to use a username on forums. I do not hide my identity and if anybody sends me a PM I will tell them who I am. I'll leave it at that.

eoin ryan

We were doing a reiki of the course last week and made a short video of some of the route but mostly focused on Johnstown Castle.
This does the castle grounds a bit of justice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENqg8HGxYV8

dev123

Not sure if this question has been asked and apologies if it has but where will the locations of the water stations be for the Wexford half?

Will it be bottled water or plastic cups?

Thanks,
Dev

thirstywork2

eoin ryan wrote: »

We were doing a reiki of the course last week and made a short video of some of the route but mostly focused on Johnstown Castle.
This does the castle grounds a bit of justice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENqg8HGxYV8

Looks like a very scenic route,how would you rate the hills and what mile markers are they at?
Some fantastic looking cows also

eoin ryan

The Aid station's are at Km 6.5, Km 11 and Km 15
Course is marked in Km's
Its cups.

Fine looken cows to make the Wexford cheese...

(the front page of the website shows the elevation to help demonstrate)

From km 4 to km 7 there is a gradual increase of +50 meters. Thats the height of it - excuse the punn...?!
It peaks at 75m here and then its either flat or down hill.
Small drag for 1/2 km at 13.5km. From Km 16.5 to finish its all downhill!!

From Km3 to km15 the route is very well protected by tall ditches and the inside of the Castle gardens so there is good wind cover
This has potential to be a flier

dev123

Thanks for that Eoin

floyd333

eoin ryan wrote: »

The Aid station's are at Km 6.5, Km 11 and Km 15
Course is marked in Km's
Its cups.

Hmmmm Cups.... This is not very satisfactory:( For the relatively expensive fee I'd have expected bottles! Sounds amateurish. I will be going flat out looking for a PB. I don't have time to stop and drink from a cup. I guess I'll need to have someone on the route with some bottles.. or is that bad race etiquette;)

menoscemo

4 stars (good)

floyd333 wrote: »

Hmmmm Cups.... This is not very satisfactory:( For the relatively expensive fee I'd have expected bottles! Sounds amateurish. I will be going flat out looking for a PB. I don't have time to stop and drink from a cup. I guess I'll need to have someone on the route with some bottles.. or is that bad race etiquette;)

I agree, bottles would be a great addition. i can't drink from cups myself without stopping. There is no need to provide 500ml bottles as most races do, just the little 200ml ones. They sell them in Lidl in packs of 12 for next to nothing (little ones for kiddies lunchboxes) that come with sports caps and everything

average_runner

3 stars (average)

While i prefer water bottles myself and I hope they do that next year.
But you cant classify it as a bad race because of this as all the race series drinks are in cup, London, new york, bostn, frankfurt marathons are all in cups too!!

Woddle

floyd333 wrote: »

Hmmmm Cups.... This is not very satisfactory:()

Carrying a straw has been suggested before, never tried it though.

average_runner

3 stars (average)

Not a bad idea!!

menoscemo

4 stars (good)

Woddle wrote: »

Carrying a straw has been suggested before, never tried it though.

Might give this a go, especially since I'm on pacing Duties and not racing. I might actually bring a packet of starws for the 1.45 pacing group.

rainbow kirby

Woddle wrote: »

Carrying a straw has been suggested before, never tried it though.

Came in useful in Barcelona for the Powerade in cups!

Oisin11178

4 stars (good)

menoscemo wrote: »

Might give this a go, especially since I'm on pacing Duties and not racing. I might actually bring a packet of starws for the 1.45 pacing group.

haha like mammy handing out straws to the children:D

eoin ryan

Maybe the Pacers would like to identify themselves?
(adds a social element to it)

ecoli

eoin ryan wrote: »

Maybe the Pacers would like to identify themselves?
(adds a social element to it)

Guess ill be first to step up. Pacing the sub 1.30 myself

menoscemo

4 stars (good)

eoin ryan wrote: »

Maybe the Pacers would like to identify themselves?
(adds a social element to it)

Yeah, Myself and Oisin11178 will be doing 1'45 duties as already stated. If you want to do us up pacer signs with our names on the back, that would be cool

ecoli

menoscemo wrote: »

Yeah, Myself and Oisin11178 will be doing 1'45 duties as already stated. If you want to do us up pacer signs with our names on the back, that would be cool

Not sure people will come near me wit "ecoli" on my back never know what they might catch (dont worry folks had all my shots so you wont catch anything promise:p)