Dingle Marathon & Ultra News

Condo131

I see Cork Running Blogspot carries excerpts from a statement from the Dingle organisers.

Apparently the Ultra is cancelled due to lack of take up of places and they are considering running the marathon every second year.

I for one am not surprised. Last years prizes were, according to the organisers: "A piece of Dingle crystal, a hoodie and free entry to next year's event". Really... winning a 50 mile ultra and that's the reward. I know many people will respond saying that you shouldn't be running for prizes, but you'd like to think that the winner got something appropriate!

The Half Marathon is €55, while you can enter the excellent St. Finbarr's Cork Half Marathon the following week for €20 (based on last year's price) AND have a FULL range of prizes on offer, certainly far better than "A piece of Dingle crystal, a hoodie and free entry to next year's event"! [FYI, I am not a member of St. Finbarr's AC]

Is this change in Dingle one of the first signs of the recession hitting these commercial races?

Oisin11178

Condo131 wrote: »

I see Cork Running Blogspot carries excerpts from a statement from the Dingle organisers.

Apparently the Ultra is cancelled due to lack of take up of places and they are considering running the marathon every second year.

I for one am not surprised. Last years prizes were, according to the organisers: "A piece of Dingle crystal, a hoodie and free entry to next year's event". Really... winning a 50 mile ultra and that's the reward. I know many people will respond saying that you shouldn't be running for prizes, but you'd like to think that the winner got something appropriate!

The Half Marathon is €55, while you can enter the excellent St. Finbarr's Cork Half Marathon the following week for €20 (based on last year's price) AND have a FULL range of prizes on offer, certainly far better than "A piece of Dingle crystal, a hoodie and free entry to next year's event"! [FYI, I am not a member of St. Finbarr's AC]

Is this change in Dingle one of the first signs of the recession hitting these commercial races?

I read the bit on cork running and i read the exact same on facebook and they are exactly the same. Dont know how you got they are concidering running the marathon every 2 years. What i got from it is the half and marathon are grand. Its the ultra that is cancelled this year and they will concider running it every 2 years if the numbers are there. Maybe you read it wrong or im taking your post up wrong.

Condo131

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Maybe you read it wrong or im taking your post up wrong.

You're right. I read it too fast first time.

I stand by my other sentiments though. I googled the Dingle site and the word "prize" did not come up on any page......maybe they've dispensed with the hoodies etc :rolleyes:

Oisin11178

Condo131 wrote: »

You're right. I read it too fast first time.

I stand by my other sentiments though. I googled the Dingle site and the word "prize" did not come up on any page......maybe they've dispensed with the hoodies etc :rolleyes:

Yeah i agree with you on the pricing thing. I think dingles pulling power is similar to conns. The beautlful scenery and stunning views. Id say the view at the top of connors pass must have been spectacular. Seems you gotta pay big for scenery:D

TFBubendorfer

Condo131 wrote: »

The Half Marathon is €55, while you can enter the excellent St. Finbarr's Cork Half Marathon the following week for €20 (based on last year's price) ...

Say what you want, I've run both races and I'm willing to pay the extra money just to take in the fantastic scenery Dingle has to offer. The view of the Mallow Road is just not the same as Dingle Bay with the Skelligs in the background.

Id say the view at the top of connors pass must have been spectacular

It was, but it was only the ultra runners that got to enjoy it.

RacoonQueen

I was really disappointed to hear the Ultra wasn't happening this year. It's a bit early to decide not to run it surely? They got good numbers last year...

Magnet

That`s what I`m thinking...
Way too early to cancel when there`s months of training and decision making time left and while there`s no prizes, wouldn`t the Full and Half cover the cost of the Ultra`s water stations etc.

Condo131

Magnet wrote: »

.......... wouldn`t the Full and Half cover the cost of the Ultra`s water stations etc.

There's a different business model in play here.....non performing sections of the business plan are being axed. :rolleyes:

Aimman

I was looking forward to the 50M this year and expressed an interest in it on their facebook page when they were rallying up numbers.

I initially thought it had something to do with the inaugural Longford Ultra on the week before, but in fairness, if I had a choice of only having to do one, I'd know what I'd be choosing, and that's to see the view from Connor's pass again, along with the post pub refreshments along the street etc.

I'm not long doing the Ultras, but I think the races should be available to runners annually, not just every now and again. They say they want to keep the Ultra 'special', but sure if they think people are not going to sign up for it this year, whats going to make them change their mind next year?

Ireland has some fantastic scenery and countryside. I think we should be making more of it and in some cases, the longer runs are the only was to enjoy it all (ok, some people's definition of combining ultra running and 'enjoying it' might differ)

iamjenko

Really gutted to hear this. Had my heart set on doing the Dingle Ultra this year

jaymack75

Aimman wrote: »

I initially thought it had something to do with the inaugural Longford Ultra on the week before

anyone got any more info on this? - didn't see anything on the longford website about an ultra?

RacoonQueen

jaymack75 wrote: »

anyone got any more info on this? - didn't see anything on the longford website about an ultra?

They were looking for interest from people at the DCM expo. It's set to be 39.3 miles, I haven't heard anything about it in ages though...

opus

Got a €10 off promo code for the Dingle marathon in my email just now.

10 euros off entry for all Active users valid until the 30th June. Type in promo code DINGLE2011 when registering.

ger664

Condo131 wrote: »

Is this change in Dingle one of the first signs of the recession hitting these commercial races?

Cliffs of Moher Marathon and half marathon were also cancelled for 2011 due to lack of interest/entries.

Tec Diver

ger664 wrote: »

Cliffs of Moher Marathon and half marathon were also cancelled for 2011 due to lack of interest/entries.

Yea, I had signed up to run the Cliffs HM but got mailed to say I'll be getting a refund. Is it a sign of the times that fewer races are being organized due to lack of money to fork out for registration?

Eoin

RacoonQueen

Tec Diver wrote: »

Yea, I had signed up to run the Cliffs HM but got mailed to say I'll be getting a refund. Is it a sign of the times that fewer races are being organized due to lack of money to fork out for registration?

Eoin

I think we just got a boom of marathons and halfs and there wasn't really enough to sustain them all, especially at the prices many events are charging.

Slogger Jogger

Judging from the results is Dingle the most difficult (road) marathon in Ireland? Only 4 finishers sub 3 hrs. Hats off to Martin Francis, 4th overall and M50 at that but eternally young! I think he ran sub 3 only a week ago in Longford too for good measure.

groovyg

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Judging from the results is Dingle the most difficult (road) marathon in Ireland? Only 4 finishers sub 3 hrs. Hats off to Martin Francis, 4th overall and M50 at that but eternally young! I think he ran sub 3 only a week ago in Longford too for good measure.

:eek: fair play to him....he is a running machine. I see he ran the Dublin peaks the following day...it must have been his warm down.:D

anymore

I was thrilled to do 3.40 and I am 54 ! Last year I took 5hrs for Dingle which was my first marathon - hell it was my first race in 40 years ! You are never too old !

TFBubendorfer

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Judging from the results is Dingle the most difficult (road) marathon in Ireland? Only 4 finishers sub 3 hrs. Hats off to Martin Francis, 4th overall and M50 at that but eternally young! I think he ran sub 3 only a week ago in Longford too for good measure.

Judging from the elevation profile, yes, it's the most difficult road marathon in Ireland.

Also, I tend to get distracted by the stunning scenery. :rolleyes:

anymore

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Judging from the elevation profile, yes, it's the most difficult road marathon in Ireland.

Also, I tend to get distracted by the stunning scenery. :rolleyes:

In fairness, there are a lot of attracive women running marathons and half marathons these days !

anymore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H15nstnGlSA

For anyone interested there are two Dingle 2011 vids on You tube now.