Cupids Dash in the Phoenix

BobbyJohn

13th Feb Cupids Dash on again. Hey ho, saves getting a valentines card and a bunch of flowers! Hahahaha no brownie points for me.

BobbyJohn

Might save some hassle if I posted the website???


www.cupidsdash.ie

Saw it on facebook

G-Money

I stumbled across this race a few weeks ago was considering registering for it but the reports from last year's race and the year before leave something to be desired.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055483879&highlight=cupid

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055817586&highlight=cupid

menoscemo

grandmaster wrote: »

I stumbled across this race a few weeks ago was considering registering for it but the reports from last year's race and the year before leave something to be desired.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055483879&highlight=cupid

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055817586&highlight=cupid

To be fair. The reports on both those races seem fine.

geld

Is this a serious race or should myself and Mrs Geld just run/walk around the course holding hands??....on second thoughts if I invited her to a cold and (possibly wet maybe?) Phoenix Park on Valentines day I might end up in the dog house!:rolleyes:

JosDel

menoscemo wrote: »

To be fair. The reports on both those races seem fine.

25 euro entry and the winner gets dinner for 2 in Johnnie foxes, not a great incentive to attract a good competitive field....

BobbyJohn

I got quite nervous there reading through the past events. Then realised that you put the 2009 before the 2010. Seems like a huge improvement over the year. If they improve that way again it could be a great race.

Gonna give it a shout anyway and see what happens.

Sklarker

Awful

BobbyJohn wrote: »

I got quite nervous there reading through the past events. Then realised that you put the 2009 before the 2010. Seems like a huge improvement over the year. If they improve that way again it could be a great race.
Gonna give it a shout anyway and see what happens.

Those reviews have put me off a bit but going to assume aswell that it'll be better again this year. Apart from start and end last year was the inbetweeny bit ok ie were there accuate km splits and was the course itself accurate? Where's best to park?

Fi H

Good question on the parking! I was thinking of parking at Heuston Station but not sure where the start of the race is in relation?
Anyone know?

JosDel

Fi H wrote: »

Good question on the parking! I was thinking of parking at Heuston Station but not sure where the start of the race is in relation?
Anyone know?

You would want to find parking around the chapelizod gate area or St Mary's Hospital..that where the start is... http://www.cupidsdash.ie/sponsors/routemap2010vs2.gif

Sklarker

Awful

Here's the route someone posted from 2 years ago with rough splits marked: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5423962 Think it starts a little closer to St. Mary's this year and finishes by doubling back down the Kyber

T runner

Sklarker wrote: »

Those reviews have put me off a bit but going to assume aswell that it'll be better again this year. Apart from start and end last year was the inbetweeny bit ok ie were there accuate km splits and was the course itself accurate? Where's best to park?

You could park in the free and extensive carpark beside hole in the wall on Blackhorse Ave. Nice 3k jog down to start and back.

8ofSpades

Awful

Is number collection available on the morning of the race?
Got an email saying it was Fri/Sat in carrickmines but am pretty sure when I registered it said race number collection available on the morning of the race

napathy

Poor

I got the email about collecting numbers as well and assumed it was just my mistake when I registered that I thought you could pick up on the day. Not a big problem for me but hardly fair to those who live further away.

In relation to the race itself and the reports, I did this last year and it was great, very much a fun run but I'm running for my own time rather than hopes of winning so that suits me. The last bit up the Kyber is horrible, not because you have to go up the hill but the fact that all the people coming back down look so fresh while you are suffering! Running in the park is always great IMO so it is well worth it. The T-shirt is horredndous though for people who take note of that sort of thing.

tHE vAGGABOND

Good

If the only option is to collect numbers is in Carrickmines I have no way to get there, so they can keep my money - but I wont be collecting the number or racing.

Cant imagine Im the only one in that boat tbh

I will have to go for a run in the park the old school way, for free

mloc123

Poor

looks like I'm doing this now too, heres hoping for a nice wet sunday

average_runner

Awful

I didnt get an email, but it did say on the website we can collect the numbers on the day .


Thats what i am doing anyhow.

8ofSpades

Awful

looks like number pick up is available on race day

from http://www.cupidsdash.ie/raceinfo.html

Race Packet Pick-up from 11th - 12th February at:
Available at IrishFit, 135 Ballyogan Rd, Carrickmines, Dublin 18

and on race day at the Papal Cross Car park from 8am - 9.45am.
The race will start at 10am sharp so please arrive early.
The start line is about a 10min walk from the car park.

napathy

Poor

Yep I emailed them and they say I can pick up on Sunday in the park.

8ofSpades wrote: »

looks like number pick up is available on race day

from http://www.cupidsdash.ie/raceinfo.html

tang1

If you are a large in t shirt normally go 4 xtra large, just tried mine on and its rather figure hugging to say the least and i'm not big by any stretch.

Fi H

ah yeah but it is lovely and red with hearts all over it?

tang1

Yeah, thats it in a nutshell. All red and cute!!

tang1

Good race i thought this morning, did not see any hiccups organistaion wise anyway, weather was good and decent crowd. My first race since tearing my calf muscle at Rathfarnham 5km last year, well happy with my time just dipped under 47 mins. Second last km up Kyber was a killer!!

dub8

my first 'official 10k' , was a good run , well organised ,good warm up session at the start! also struggled on the hill on kyber road, only thing that kept me going was knowing i would running back down it to the finish!

tHE vAGGABOND

Good

Enjoyed that, well organised, knocked 4 mins or so off my personal best, so you cant ask more than that really

mloc123

Poor

Hate to piss on peoples PBs but this one was well short, about 9.8km at most.

TheRoadRunner

mloc123 wrote: »

Hate to piss on peoples PBs but this one was well short, about 9.8km at most.

had to miss this due to vomiting bug. Kind of glad now as would have been well pissed off. How hard is it to get course measurement right?

Newaglish

Average

mloc123 wrote: »

Hate to piss on peoples PBs but this one was well short, about 9.8km at most.

Mine actually came out at 9.99km so I was happy enough with that; but then I do think I started measuring a few metres before the start line.

Race was well organised and a nice route (although a hill from the 8-9km mark is cruel!) but I couldn't believe there was no official bag drop. I left my wallet, keys etc. in my bag tied to a tree with a bunch of other people.

Also I didn't have this problem but I noticed one guy going mental at one of the organisers because they ran out of chips. It's incredibly unfair to people who have paid and trained for a race not to be given a timing chip, but then I still think it's a bit out of order to start shouting at the organisers. I suppose some people would be more serious about this than I though.

All in all, I aimed for 50 minutes and did it 49:58. So ever-so-slightly beat my target but can be pretty happy with my pacing I think (if my GPS is accurate!).

ultraman1

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

had to miss this due to vomiting bug. Kind of glad now as would have been well pissed off. How hard is it to get course measurement right?

didnt measure this one ,but ur assuming mloc's measuring device is calibrated properly and is right ......

TheRoadRunner

ultraman1 wrote: »

didnt measure this one ,but ur assuming mloc's measuring device is calibrated properly and is right ......

true but based on above post would seem it was short.

mloc123

Poor

ultraman1 wrote: »

didnt measure this one ,but ur assuming mloc's measuring device is calibrated properly and is right ......

Garmin 310xt, chatted to some guy with a 405 on the way back to my car. We both clocked it at 9.8km

Markers seemed fine up to 5km, didn't notice the 6km marker and I hit the 7km mark 40 seconds before my garmin did.

ultraman1

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

true but based on above post would seem it was short.

agree with u there,just after lookin at the course map and if it finished on grass that could be where the missing metres are,providing they iniatally got it accuratly measured by an aai measurer,and started and finished where he measured from and finished(had posted before 2nd poster)

ultraman1

ultraman1 wrote: »

and if it finished on grass

doesnt finish on grass,just a black line on map:o

EdMoses

Awful

9.78 on my Garmin 110

menoscemo

Looking at the map it's pretty obvious where the distance was lost. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the runners turned at the top of Kyber today instead of doing a loop of the triangle up beside the papal cross car park?

EdMoses

Awful

Yep. Spot on menoscemo. Annoying to say the least.

napathy

Poor

Grrrrr, high of geting under 50 at third attempt has slumped with that news. Hadn't noticed the distance on my watch but have 9.8. Think I woud have got the sub 50 at the full distance which somehow makes it worse as it doesn't count.

Same thing happened with one of the series runs last year. It is bizarre that they g to all the effort of measuing the course and then ge the markings/ route wong. Next time I suppose.

Mr Slow

Awful

I had 6.25 miles on my Garmin, I may have run a longer course than the race line but I'll take it!

Mr Slow

Awful

menoscemo wrote: »

Looking at the map it's pretty obvious where the distance was lost. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the runners turned at the top of Kyber today instead of doing a loop of the triangle up beside the papal cross car park?

Yes but if you map it on map my run including the loop, you're well beyond 10km by the time you hit the end of the Kyber.

EdMoses

Awful

Getting more and more peeved the more I think about this. My last (and first) 10k was the Dublin 10km in July where I struggled around in 54mins. Had set myself a target of sub-50 for this one and was elated at the finish line when the watch clocked me at 45:30. Bubble well and truly burst! Not one to rant but feeling very disappointed tbh. Ed.

**Portia**

Average

EdMoses wrote: »

Getting more and more peeved the more I think about this. My last (and first) 10k was the Dublin 10km in July where I struggled around in 54mins. Had set myself a target of sub-50 for this one and was elated at the finish line when the watch clocked me at 45:30. Bubble well and truly burst! Not one to rant but feeling very disappointed tbh. Ed.

Don't worry you still did an amazing time, would definitely have been well under the 50 min mark either way, maybe just guesstimate how long an extra 200M would have taken you and add it to your time. Don't get too bogged down in it, might drive you to kill it on your next 10k, excellent time congrats!!;)

TheRoadRunner

**Portia** wrote: »

Don't worry you still did an amazing time, would definitely have been well under the 50 min mark either way, maybe just guesstimate how long an extra 200M would have taken you and add it to your time. Don't get too bogged down in it, might drive you to kill it on your next 10k, excellent time congrats!!;)

When you pay 25 quid entry you should not have to guestimate the course. Race organiser class 101 always says you should get the course spot on distance and safety wise.

**Portia**

Average

Yes and I completely agree with you. I ran the course today but was only doing it as a training run so was not bothered about times, but for thos who were I would definitely recommend contacting the organisers to complain about this and also about the chips running out, I would be doing so right now if it were a race I was training seriously for. So, I wasn't dismissing the poster's annoyance - I would have felt the same - but the race is over now, and from the perspective of looking at how you ran your race you shouldn't let elements outside of your control determine this IMHO

Oisin11178

I feel for everyone who ran this race. How many short courses now? Apoligies dont cut it anymore. If you went the cinema and the film ended 5 mins early you would demand a refund. Do the same here.

**Portia**

Average

Oisin11178 wrote: »

I feel for everyone who ran this race. How many short courses now? Apoligies dont cut it anymore. If you went the cinema and the film ended 5 mins early you would demand a refund. Do the same here.

A portion of the organiser's fee should be refunded, it's a fundamental error and unacceptable - but we need to be less passive and actually voice the complaint to the organisers and ask them what they are going to do as compensation - very Irish mentality of grumbling but never actually taking the step to complain i.e avoid confrontation at all costs

TheRoadRunner

**Portia** wrote: »

very Irish mentality of grumbling but never actually taking the step to complain i.e avoid confrontation at all costs

Not so with recent races that were found to be short. People are definitely letting organisers know now. Did so myself during the summer

T runner

This race is a a disaster everyyear. Best advice: find out who organised it, tell them you wont be attending anymore of their events if you wish, but above all DO NOT attend any more of their events.
There has been complaints every year. They dont care once they get the money.

menoscemo

T runner wrote: »

This race is a a disaster everyyear. Best advice: find out who organised it, tell them you wont be attending anymore of their events if you wish, but above all DO NOT attend any more of their events.
There has been complaints every year. They dont care once they get the money.

http://www.irishfit.eu/eventsmain.html

Didn't realise they organised the Mooathon in Donegal.

**Portia**

Average

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Not so with recent races that were found to be short. People are definitely letting organisers know now. Did so myself during the summer

Yes but they need to be hit where it hurts - in the pocket. Why are we so reluctant to demand some sort of monetary compensation.

As for boycotting their races, I can't see this happening because races are known as e.g 'Cupid's Dash' not 'Irishfit's Cupid's Dash' and the same could be said for the other races they organise - most people will not even notice who is organising their race and will inadvertently end up applying for one of their races again, even if they say they never will sign up to one of their races again, busy lives etc. mean people will not do background check like this.

RacoonQueen

T runner wrote: »

This race is a a disaster everyyear. Best advice: find out who organised it, tell them you wont be attending anymore of their events if you wish, but above all DO NOT attend any more of their events.
There has been complaints every year. They dont care once they get the money.

Yep, I avoid any event run by these guys. Partly because they're so bad and partly because everything he's involved in is horribly over priced. They don't get big numbers in general any way, haven't read the thread so not sure about today, I wouldn't touch any of his events again.

ButchMG

Average

Despite being short by about 140 metres (I measured 6.12 miles), I enjoyed the event. It's a good challenging course and the stretch up the Kyber separates the boys from the men. I took up running again about two years ago and this was my first 10k race since 1983 (the Radio Nova Puma 10k - anyone remember?). Happy with my 40:45 time. I think if you add 30-50 secs depending on your pace, you'll have your accurate time.:)