Achill Half Marathon

jj72

So whos in for this? Just signed up this morning...First ever half marathon and i hear its a tough one. Maybe not a great choice

kit3

Best of luck with this. I did it as my first one in 2009 because I was going to be there anyway and again in 2010. It's tough all right. Make sure you do plenty of hill training between this and then. Not doing it this year - can't bring myself to pay €60 to run around roads I'll be on for the summer in any case ! Spectacular place though. enjoy !

Mc1980

Its a great race, the €60 is a bit of a bummer alright but sure what can you do, the choice is yours

I'll be doing it again this year, Achill was my first ever race. There is no other race where the wind is in your face for the whole course

kit3

Mc1980 wrote: »

There is no other race where the wind is in your face for the whole course

Very true - never noticed how windy the place was until I was there for the first time with a newborn ! That's the atlantic for you. Toughens you up for wind though - nothing else can compare ! Good luck with it.

marchino

Don't Tempt Me Lads!!

Had a shocker last year.
Found it very tough.
Funny because i ran a half marathon pb 2 weeks later.
Maybe my body mis-took it for a long tempo training run!!
Done it 1st time in 2010 and won.
Its been at the back of my mind to enter again!.

jj72

Thanks guys, ya ive looked at the profile of the run and it seems tricky for sure...That and the fact the wind could potentially blow every direction apart from the way you are running!!

Mc1980

jj72 wrote: »

Thanks guys, ya ive looked at the profile of the run and it seems tricky for sure...That and the fact the wind could potentially blow every direction apart from the way you are running!!

It will always be in your face
Great race though

thirstywork2

They are doing a special offer this Thursday.Sign upand get the second halfprice.It will be in the fitmagazine in the Indo this Thur.



http://www.achillmarathon.com/fitmag-offer.html

woody1

i thought it was both half price. ie 2 for 1, so 30 each plus booking fee, anyway big improvement on the 60 normal entry..
how much is the booking fee..

Excuseless

woody1 wrote: »

i thought it was both half price. ie 2 for 1, so 30 each plus booking fee, anyway big improvement on the 60 normal entry..
how much is the booking fee..

It is half price for both (€30 each) when 2 enter together from the info I see on website:-

For one week only readers of the Irish Independent can avail of a special two for one offer. You and a friend can participate in the Elvery's Sports Achill Half Marathon on Saturday 7th July 2012, one of most beautiful and challenging races in the country. The price includes an amazing Elverys PB180 Tshirt and goody bag. All details can be found on the website. Each participant must complete a registration form. Please note the two people entering MUST enter together as a team. The fee will be €30 each plus booking fee which is lower than the full price of €60 each plus booking fee. The password will be available in the Fit Magazine in the Irish Independent on 7th June

When over there checkout the 3 routes now on offer for the Achill ROAR on 8th September

woody1

does anyone have any idea if signing up as a team on the 2 for 1 makes any difference.. i presume not, but im asking as all the people i ask to sign up with me are asking me, i presume 2 timing chips, people dont have to run toghether or anything daft like that..
ive asked on facebook but not gotten a response yet

BALI

Can't wait for this year again.

For anyone else wanting to take advantage of the 2 for 1 offer that was in the Indo yday, the registration password is Achill241. :)

yeppydeppy

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/record-set-as-1000-run-in-coastal-halfmarathon-3161862.html

I can't fine the results in the online sport section - anyone got a link?

The first comment says the results are not accurate again this year - I can't believe it. They didn't have the correct results for a lot of runners last year either and considering that it is one the most expensive half marathons in the country it is not acceptable.
I will be asking for a refund.

woody1

would presume results wont be online til tonight or tomorrow, to get you to buy the paper
wasnt scanned for a good while after i finished and i had a fair difference with my watch time, but otherwise i was fairly impressed, mind you i got in at the half price which helps..

ultrapercy

Thought this was well organised and a good athmospere about but definitely over priced. The course is very tough especialy this year with the wind, could have slowed times by as much as 3 minutes. I would have thought chip timing would solve results problems rather than cause them but sadly that does not seem to be the case.

gottarun

Results have been on the Achill website since yesterday evening. Curious about how the timings are inaccurate?

Lots of people seem confused about the difference between the start time and the chip time. Probably if they start their watch with the gun and start mid to back pack their chip time is going to seem wrong. Is that the problem?

paulmorro

My chip synced up with my watch (well I'll accept 3 seconds out). 2nd time doing the race and really love the route. Tough but fun, with mini tears on the 2nd last hill. Also a PB so yippee me!:p

Good support from the locals again, but they're really gonna have to look at the price. Entrants have fallen by around 800 in 2 years. It's an expensive weekend for most and seeing the €60 price tag is a big turn off considering.

yeppydeppy

There is a reduced fee of €40 available for the next 26 days for the 2013 race - I've registered.

Insect Overlord

Just registered for this year's event. €50 at the moment.

I only did my first half marathon yesterday in Limerick. This should be an interesting second run!

Lostnfound

I'm thinking about giving this one a go. I'm told it's a tough half, but can't get over the price. Seems quite high for a half marathon and I thought it was organised by those trying to attract tourists to the area - maybe I got that one wrong.

What's so special?

ultrapercy

Lostnfound wrote: »

I'm thinking about giving this one a go. I'm told it's a tough half, but can't get over the price. Seems quite high for a half marathon and I thought it was organised by those trying to attract tourists to the area - maybe I got that one wrong.

What's so special?

Its a very tough course. 3 or 4 mins slower(for me) than average. Theres nothing at all special about the race.Its Well organised but at 60 euros is overpriced.Achill is a lovely place but you have to buyyour food and tea afterwards. Bit of a rip off.

ultraman1

this one is cheaper.....http://www.achillultra.com/.

Lostnfound

I checked out the website again and it is organised or endorsed by Achill Tourism. I would have thought that if it was half the price they would attract twice the numbers and that would help the local economy.

I'll think a bit more about this, looked at their Facebook page and I think there's a bit of attitude around clinging on to a high price event. Maybe they don't want the riff raff like me who count my pennies

kit3

ultraman1 wrote: »

this one is cheaper.....http://www.achillultra.com/.

Anyone doing this one ? Half, full & Ultra around the same 13.1 mile loop. Prices go up on Monday 1st July. I'd reckon it is tough enough but really spectacular. Thinking of signing up for the half because I'll be there anyway - it's a route I'd love to run but would be wary of traffic on the roads on my own and parts of it are quite remote - it will make me do some hill training during the summer !

mr.wiggle

I ran this route a few times this week as Im in achill on a weeks hols...brought the sun with me from Cork!! Spectacular stuff in the sunshine alright . I would have absolutely no worries about the traffic..or lack of it!!! Fantastic really. Not a course for a pb as its all hills but a really great route for training hard on. Met the winner of the Conam-marathon race for the last 5 yrs in the senior cat. Hes a pretty fit guy from training around it.

kit3

mr.wiggle wrote: »

I ran this route a few times this week as Im in achill on a weeks hols...brought the sun with me from Cork!! Spectacular stuff in the sunshine alright . I would have absolutely no worries about the traffic..or lack of it!!! Fantastic really. Not a course for a pb as its all hills but a really great route for training hard on. Met the winner of the Conam-marathon race for the last 5 yrs in the senior cat. Hes a pretty fit guy from training around it.

Did you run the route of the second one - around the Atlantic Drive ? Would agree defo not a pb course and tougher than the one next week I would think. Would think it's fairly quiet at this time all right. I'm there for July & August and it's busier. The part of the route out by Gráinne mhaol's castle can be a bit hairy then ! Sounds like you had a good week.

mr.wiggle

Didnt do that route, but I can imagine the traffic in July&august alright, cant get over the hundreds of hol.homes on the island. Hope theres sunshine for the race next wknd, looks promising. Best of luck to all doing it.

Insect Overlord

I've only got back into training for this over the past fortnight. Hoping to finish it in 2:05. It'll only be my second half-marathon, but the hills of Cratloe are serving me well for warm-up runs!

brutes1

Ran this race a few years ago, very enjoyable day out , tough course and weather but a real community effort. Crowds used to descend for weekend but numbers seem to have dropped off as with many other races last year or two. Its a great weekend away and a testing race. Had a great battle with Caitriona Jennings for third place in it , but had to yield, male pride severely damaged for months after!!

Mr Freeze

Just signed up.

Haven't ran this half marathon before, hopefully this heat wave holds off till about 1pm, so it doesn't burn us up while running. :pac:

kit3

Mr Freeze wrote: »

Just signed up.

Haven't ran this half marathon before, hopefully this heat wave holds off till about 1pm, so it doesn't burn us up while running. :pac:

No heatwave worries in Achill today. Overcast & cool with a strongish breeze. Think the wind might be your main problem. Hope it dies down for ye !

Insect Overlord

kit3 wrote: »

No heatwave worries in Achill today. Overcast & cool with a strongish breeze. Think the wind might be your main problem. Hope it dies down for ye !

I was doing a practice run during the week in Clare. The mist and the cool breeze were the only things* that kept me going! :eek:

(*apart from 2 bottles of Lucozade Sport. They also kept me going. :pac: )

Lostnfound

Did this yesterday, have to say its a real challenge. The hills go up but never seemed to come down. It's been one of the hardest Half's I've tried yet.

Still baffled on the price structure, it's a lot of money for a race the same as every other. The technical top is a good quality product but the goody bag that their advertising states is worth €80 consists of mini bags of jellies, breakfast bars, the usual. As someone else at the race said the top obviously retails at €79 .

Will I do it again? - no, it's a tad pricey for a race. Clontarf next week is half the price and the same distance. It's all about the principal of it.

Like everyone else I know who has done it, you do it once for the challenge and that's it. The entries seem to be falling year on year (from talking to those I know based in the county who have run it) and some day the organisers who I understand are the local tourist board will realise the errors of their ways.

Murraythree

Did the 10km yesterday or rather the 9.7 km :rolleyes:
Very well organised event but way too overpriced.

sadie06

I completely agree with you that it's overpriced, but the numbers have actually increased greatly! 1,100 last year, 1,700 this year. The 10k probably accounts for a large percentage of the increase.

Such a pity the day was so grey. It really didn't show off the island at its best!

ultrapercy

Lostnfound wrote: »

Did this yesterday, have to say its a real challenge. The hills go up but never seemed to come down. It's been one of the hardest Half's I've tried yet.

Still baffled on the price structure, it's a lot of money for a race the same as every other. The technical top is a good quality product but the goody bag that their advertising states is worth €80 consists of mini bags of jellies, breakfast bars, the usual. As someone else at the race said the top obviously retails at €79 .

Will I do it again? - no, it's a tad pricey for a race. Clontarf next week is half the price and the same distance. It's all about the principal of it.

Like everyone else I know who has done it, you do it once for the challenge and that's it. The entries seem to be falling year on year (from talking to those I know based in the county who have run it) and some day the organisers who I understand are the local tourist board will realise the errors of their ways.

I think your 100% correct. 30 euros would be plenty especially as its organised by a body seeking to boost tourism. With entry fee, travel,overnight accommodation and all the extras youd get a week holiday abroad for the same price. For the 10k to be short is unforgivable. Some races can be given a bit of slack for slip ups ie charity low key efforts but at Achill prices everything needs to be A1.

Professey Chin

Did the half yesterday & I never want to see another hill in my life.....ever.

Lostnfound

Chinpool wrote: »

Did the half yesterday & I never want to see another hill in my life.....ever.

Three people I know have now said to me that Achill was harder for them than the DCM, that's given me a great boost to enter for October. A distance that I've never had a go at so maybe now's my time. Need to up the training plan and sort out the focus.

As for the 10k, surprised that it came up short, both are AAI accredited so distance should be measured correctly. I wouldn't go on what a GPS device says.

Insect Overlord

Very happy with my time from this. Probably not an ideal course for a total novice like myself! But I'd been warned that it was hilly so I was fairly well prepared.

I've some great friends in Achill so we made a weekend out of it. The weather wasn't great, but we'd have been dead if we were running in the sunshine.

Murraythree

Lostnfound wrote: »

As for the 10k, surprised that it came up short, both are AAI accredited so distance should be measured correctly. I wouldn't go on what a GPS device says.

Well I would when I have checked it with about five other people and all have it short. Imagine 9.7km, serious error. AAI:eek:

menoscemo

Murraythree wrote: »

Well I would when I have checked it with about five other people and all have it short. Imagine 9.7km, serious error. AAI:eek:

Just because a course was AAI measured, doesn't mean that that course was used for the race. Organisers have been known to put the start or finish in the wrong place/ take a wrong turn etc.

*I have no idea if any of this happened in the Achill 10k

Insect Overlord

Which section do ye reckon was short? Or did ye think there were a few metres missing off several km?

Edit:

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Hoping to finish it in 2:05.

Forgot I'd posted this. Ended up finishing in less than 1:56! :eek: Haven't stopped smiling since!

digger2d2

Some observations.....

Did the HM, tough course alright.....

Didn't realise how expensive the entry was as the OH entered me, that's very steep...

Weather was sh1te, shame...

Only pockets of people cheering on, not exactly what was suggested....

Getting the names wrong on the bibs was pretty amateur...

The lads doing the chip timing were staying in our B&B, I wouldn't have complete confidence in them sorting out the mess...

Mr Freeze

Did the half, I'd take that weather over a heat wave any day, pity it was so windy though, but the overcast weather and mist was most welcome, as it was boiling climbing those hills.

I probably wouldn't go back, I'll pick a flatter course next time, but nice to have this half marathon done at long last after hearing about it for years. Definitely the hardest, hilliest one I have done.

Organisation wasn't too bad, my biggest nitpick was the food tent at the end, that wouldn't have been fine for a few 100 people, but with nearly 1700 at the event, the tent was far too small, and the queue for food was crazy, I just went and paid for a cup of tea at the end and hit the road, didn't see the massage tent either, was there one?

yeppydeppy

What a rip off! They re-used t-shirts left over from last year. They re-use chips from last year which is why the names were wrong on the bibs. Goody bag worth €80 - that's a laugh. No mugs this year. Between the 10k and the half we had something like 20 people taking part and over 30 people visiting Achill for the weekend.
This is not a good advertisement for the Achill Island or Achill tourism - all of us intend to email Achill tourism to let them know how annoyed we were - we've been taking part for 7 years.

Lostnfound

Was talking to a friend who also took part, his number went missing so he had to queue again at the late entry section at registration. After finally convincing them that he had in fact entered paid etc he got sorted.

The person behind him in the queue was entering that morning, was stung for €70 late entry fee, told they couldn't have a T shirt or goody bag and could only have two safety pins.

It's a cracking location for a race which is a real challenge. Seems to me that the fee goes on buying the locals a flashing amber roof light for their car. I saw more marshalls in cars than locals along the route.

It's a real shame that its a rip off.

Shane O' Malley

Ran the race and loved it.

Wind was perfect at our backs when we needed. Bit of drizzle to cool us off and for some reason on a very hilly course i got a personal best.

Atmosphere in the pubs that night was great and i am looking forward to next year.

saligator

This was my 3rd time doing the Achill Half and it's still my favourite race but only due to the location and crowd I go with. There were about 20 of us running the race and more than 30 of us altogether, including supporters. I was disappointed in a number of aspects of the race this year:

- diminished goody bag - no mugs, no water bottles. also a pic of last years goody bag was on the magazine which included these things and more - false advertising?
- times seem to be wrong (i started my watch before i went over the start line and stopeed it after i got my medal but it's still faster than the time posted)
- the late start on both 10k and half, def did not need that on a cold misty day
- where was this mythical 'tented vilage'???
- re used t-shirts from last year, mayb the magazine was re-used from last year too which is why the wrong pic of goody bag was on it?
- wrong names on bibs.....were the chips re-used as well?
- no results in the paper as promised as they lost their 'dongle'

all in all not a very professional race and i just don't understand how they keep the entry fee so high. Thankfully I won a facebook competition this year so didn't have to pay. I did email them last year about al this and they said the entry fee is high because it goes to local charities, etc....still tho, they don't even close the roads and it's organised by Achill Tourism who should want you to go back.....i don't get it! they should do 'if you raise so much for our charity the entry fee drops' or each year you do it you get a discount or get a discount for however many newbies you bring with you to do the race.

Anyway, despite all that I will probably be back next year to do it again because i just love Achill and the weekend that's in so much but I'd like to see these things change

grizzlynorris

saligator wrote: »

This was my 3rd time doing the Achill Half and it's still my favourite race but only due to the location and crowd I go with. There were about 20 of us running the race and more than 30 of us altogether, including supporters. I was disappointed in a number of aspects of the race this year:

- diminished goody bag - no mugs, no water bottles. also a pic of last years goody bag was on the magazine which included these things and more - false advertising?
- times seem to be wrong (i started my watch before i went over the start line and stopeed it after i got my medal but it's still faster than the time posted)
- the late start on both 10k and half, def did not need that on a cold misty day
- where was this mythical 'tented vilage'???
- re used t-shirts from last year, mayb the magazine was re-used from last year too which is why the wrong pic of goody bag was on it?
- wrong names on bibs.....were the chips re-used as well?
- no results in the paper as promised as they lost their 'dongle'

all in all not a very professional race and i just don't understand how they keep the entry fee so high. Thankfully I won a facebook competition this year so didn't have to pay. I did email them last year about al this and they said the entry fee is high because it goes to local charities, etc....still tho, they don't even close the roads and it's organised by Achill Tourism who should want you to go back.....i don't get it! they should do 'if you raise so much for our charity the entry fee drops' or each year you do it you get a discount or get a discount for however many newbies you bring with you to do the race.

Anyway, despite all that I will probably be back next year to do it again because i just love Achill and the weekend that's in so much but I'd like to see these things change

Hey Athletes! In reply to this post and some of the other comments..
I just wanted to mention the Achill Ultra Event on August the 24th.
We guarantee you value for money, challenging running on the Atlantic Drive and a great after party.
Hope to see you at the start line for any of our 3 races.
Have a look at www.achillultra.com
Saligator. Love your idea of a discount for however many newbies you bring with you to do the race. We will be doing this next year.

Insect Overlord

grizzlynorris wrote: »

Hey Athletes! In reply to this post and some of the other comments..
I just wanted to mention the Achill Ultra Event on August the 24th.
We guarantee you value for money, challenging running on the Atlantic Drive and a great after party.
Hope to see you at the start line for any of our 3 races.
Have a look at www.achillultra.com
Saligator. Love your idea of a discount for however many newbies you bring with you to do the race. We will be doing this next year.

I saw that event mentioned earlier in this thread and had a good look at the website the evening after the last run. How would you describe the route of the Ultra event, in comparison to the July 6th run?

Murraythree

I am unknown.....overpriced, didn't get to run the full distance (10km/9.7km) and total rip off. Never again.