Charleville Half Marathon Sept 23rd 2012

Redtop

Entries Now Open for The Flattest, Straightest Half-Marathon in Ireland !

Details & Entry on New Website : http://www.charlevillehalf.com/

Contact Details :
Race Director, Michael Herlihy, Tel 086 3168954
email : charlevillehalf@gmail.com

BringBackSocky

Just wondering, will the catering at the half marathon be as yummy as last year's?

Also, can I register on the day?

eliwallach

Imagine that, a race being advertised as being flat!! I'm there.

rom

eliwallach wrote: »

Imagine that, a race being advertised as being flat!! I'm there.

It seems pretty flat http://www.mapmyrun.com/s/routes/view/run-jog-map/ireland/charleville/41614236
Not as flat as Kildare http://www.mapmyrun.com/s/routes/view/run-jog-map/ireland/kildare/92126715
but looks comparable to waterford half http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5528462
or newry http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/2253095

ecoli

rom wrote: »

It seems pretty flat http://www.mapmyrun.com/s/routes/view/run-jog-map/ireland/charleville/41614236
Not as flat as Kildare http://www.mapmyrun.com/s/routes/view/run-jog-map/ireland/kildare/92126715
but looks comparable to waterford half http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5528462
or newry http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/2253095

Was only recommended this race during the week from one the lads who did it last year and said you won get a flatter one around

Redtop

Last Year's catering team will be a hard act to follow, but plans are being put in place to put on another good post-race spread. It may prove a bit more challenging due to the expected increase in the number of runners this year.

Yes, you can register on the morning of the race for €35. Come at 08:30AM to avoid the queue and to avoid holding up the Start. Cutoff time will be 09:30AM sharp. Alternatively, you can register at Charleville Park Hotel on the day before the race for €30 from 3PM to 9PM.

Check the website for further details and updates.
http://www.charlevillehalf.com/

BringBackSocky

Thanks Red, how many are ye expecting this year?
Last year, there were plenty of martials, but I don't think that number could handle a big increase in numbers.
Will you have more martials?

Redtop

There should be plenty of Marshalls, as directed by the local Garda.

Regarding the "Flatness" of the course ---- It's pretty Flat all right.
It has only a 37m Gain per MapMyRun compared to 46m for Kildare, 50m for Waterford and 54m for Newry. The scale on the map profile does not really show the detail. There is one humpback bridge over the railway line at the 1.5 to 2 mile mark and there's a very slight pull back to Charleville for the last mile, but it's hardly noticeable.

rom

Redtop: are you a punter or the event organizer,just wondering ?

Redtop

Rom, I am helping out the organiser who asked me to start this Post and I will most likely be marshalling for the race.

Raven Runner

What International athletes are expected to run I'm assuming Sergiu Ciobanu will be there?

ger664

Ram this last year and its flat as a pancake. Also grub was top class afterwards as well. In general a very well run event.

@Redtop

The start area last year was a bit congested. If there is a big increase in numbers it will become a serious issue. It might be worth starting it along the road where it will be wider and eliminate the turn out of St Josephs.

Redtop

This year's Start will be in front of the NCT on Baker's Road, about 400m up from the gate of St. Joseph's. It will be a wide and straight start along the full length of Baker's Road down to the right hand turn on the road to Kilmallock.

I will try to attach a picture - hopefully it will work.

overthebridge

I signed up for this last week. I ran it last year and it was my favourite race of the whole year.
It's well organised, good value for money and a great chance of a PB over the distance.

Redtop

Raven Runner wrote: »

What International athletes are expected to run I'm assuming Sergiu Ciobanu will be there?

I heard from a reliable source that he is planning on racing the Charleville Half Marathon. A full list of Elite Athletes that are racing will be released closer to the event, once they are fully confirmed.

Redtop

Today is the last day to qualify for the Low Race Entry Fee of €25. From tomorrow, it goes up by €5.
50% of the runners we surveyed prefer a Low Race Entry Fee without T-Shirt or Medal so we are accomodating them.
They felt that they had enough T-Shirts from other races and were not interested in a medal unless it was their first Half Marathon.
For those who want a T-Shirt or Medal, they are asked to pay €5 each when registering.

rom

Really looking forward to this one now. Will there be pace bands at the start or waves as it looks like its going to have much more than last year. Are the numbers up a lot on last year. Hope the grub afterwards is a good as reports from last year

Redtop

Once we have the final numbers confirmed, we will decide what's the best way to start, but it would be recommended that faster runners move towards the front behind the elites and slower runners & joggers stay towards the back for obvious reasons. We plan on having pacers, like we did last year. We are working on a catering plan to accomodate a larger number of runners.

rom

Redtop wrote: »

Once we have the final numbers confirmed, we will decide what's the best way to start, but it would be recommended that faster runners move towards the front behind the elites and slower runners & joggers stay towards the back for obvious reasons. We plan on having pacers, like we did last year. We are working on a catering plan to accomodate a larger number of runners.

Would it be possible to give an update on registered numbers on the week of the race please ?

ChampionChip

ChampionChip Ireland are the timer for the race again this year and will have mats at the start so we can produce a full set of times for halfway as well as guntime ie start pistol to finish as well as chip time which is start mat to finish mat.

Great race last year and very well organised in every aspect I found.

Solobally8

Redtop wrote: »

Once we have the final numbers confirmed, we will decide what's the best way to start, but it would be recommended that faster runners move towards the front behind the elites and slower runners & joggers stay towards the back for obvious reasons. We plan on having pacers, like we did last year. We are working on a catering plan to accomodate a larger number of runners.

Will you let us know what times the pacers are going to be running as soon as they are confirmed Redtop? Im delighted to hear ye are having them. Fingers crossed you get a slow enough one for me to cling on to

Redtop

A good friend of the club is organising Pacers from their running club for the following times : 1.20, 1.30, 1.40, 1.50, 2.00, 2.10. We really appreciate their help & support. Note : There is a cutoff time of 2:30 for Health & Safety reasons.

rom

Loving this being a walker free race with the 2hr 30 cutoff. Just hope the start is very well organised too as everything else seems to be spot on so far.

Solobally8

What happens after the 2hrs 30 cut off? My sister's training hasnt gone to plan and she intends to walk most of it. Is it really a walker free race?

Sacksian

Redtop wrote: »

A good friend of the club is organising Pacers from their running club for the following times : 1.20, 1.30, 1.40, 1.50, 2.00, 2.10. We really appreciate their help & support. Note : There is a cutoff time of 2:30 for Health & Safety reasons.

Wow - that's an impressive range of pacers! Definitely heading down anyway but will you be able to confirm that there will be 1.20 pacers before the day?

Redtop

Solobally8 wrote: »

What happens after the 2hrs 30 cut off? My sister's training hasnt gone to plan and she intends to walk most of it. Is it really a walker free race?

As long as people intend on finishing around the 2:30 mark, the organisers will allow a small buffer, assuming they are close to the finish. That effectively gives them a 12 min/mile limit, which is generous. Beyond that, the organisers cannot be held liable for their safety. Marshalls are being asked to stay at their designated spots while there are still runners on the course. They will be on duty 30 mins before the Start, and then for another 2 hours and 30 mins. Many of those marshalls would also have been on duty the day before the race and very early on the day of the race getting things organised. They are all volunteers, giving up their free time to help the runners, so it would be unfair to ask them to marshall the course for more than 3 hours. We also cannot guarantee that the Garda & Ambulances will be available beyond the 2:30 limit, as they have other commitments. I hope this helps explain the situation.

Solobally8

That's fine. Thanks for that redtop

Redtop

The Charleville-International Half-Marathon is now officially listed on the AIMS Calendar of Events. The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races only grants accreditation to high quality events so we are very happy to have been granted membership. Thank you AIMS.

rom

Any info on water stations just haven't seen that info anywhere ? Thanks

Redtop

Water Stations should be the same as last year : near 3 Miles (Thomastown Crossroads), 6 Miles (near Kilmallock Church) and back again at Thomastown Crossroads which will be close to the 10 Mile mark on the way back to Charleville.

kenn0

Redtop wrote: »

Water Stations should be the same as last year : near 3 Miles (Thomastown Crossroads), 6 Miles (near Kilmallock Church) and back again at Thomastown Crossroads which will be close to the 10 Mile mark on the way back to Charleville.

Hi any idea are they giving out bottles or cups of water?

Thanks

rom

Water bottles last year so I presume the same this year. Redtop could maybe verify.

Redtop

We're hoping to have 250ml bottles at the water stations. We may have plastic cups at the Finish.

kenn0

Thanks for the replies Rom and Redtop. Bottles en route and a nice cup of water at the end. Perfect. See you on Sunday.

webpal

there is no option to enter the race and get a medal i.e. without the t shirt, is that correct?

rom

Correct
http://www.runireland.com/events/charleville-international-half-marathon

mr.wiggle

Any pics of the T-shirt - have signed up for the race minus the t-shirt, so it better not be sexy !!:)

lway

I assume this is it:

http://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2012/08/tech-top-for-2012-charleville-half.html

Redtop

Thanks Iway, that's it all right. We will have T-Shirts left over so you may be able to buy one on Race Day, if you had not ordered one at Registration and still want one.

Redtop

We had 10 club members run the Charleville Half Marathon course last Sunday and it's looking good. Final preparations are being put in place this week. We have over 125 volunteers signed up from the local community to take care of Stewarding, Registration, Catering, Health & Safety, Medical Emergencies, Timing, Pacing, Water, etc. Many of them will be on duty from 8AM until 2PM on race day. They deserve a special Thanks for their support, because the event could not be run without them.

rom

elite field looking good. would love to watch if I wasn't plodding it compared to these guys.
http://www.corkrunning.blogspot.ie/2012/09/elite-field-announced-for-charleville.html

Redtop

We are expecting 500 Individual Runners to be Registered before Race Day. New Entries will be accepted on Sunday morning from 08:15AM with a hard stop at 9:30AM to ensure we start on time at 10AM. Sorry, No Relay this year. Looking forward to seeing you there.

custom

Hi, this will be my first half marathon and I'm wondering will the distance signs be at mile intervals or kilometers? Thanks.

Redtop

Every Mile should be marked. We also plan on marking 5, 10, 15 and 20Km. Half Way will be marked with a Timing Mat. There will be Pacers for 1:20, 1:30, 1:40, 1:50, 2.00 so you could stick with one of them to bring you home.

irfrm

Wodering if there's pacers for 2:10, OH running first half and would be coming in around this time.

Redtop

Yes, we plan on having a 2:10 Pacer. Best of luck with your first Half. We hope you enjoy it.
Full Pacer Detail Here :

http://corkrunning.blogspot.ie/2012/09/pace-bands-for-charleville-half-marathon.html

Thanks to our friends in Sixmilebridge, Eagle & North Cork for providing the pacers.

ChampionChip

ChampionChip Ireland are the chosen timer for the race this year again and we are throwing the full set of features at the race to ensure it has the exposure it deserves.

We will have start and finish mats of course as well as mats at halfway and 10 miles all linked live to the finish for the commentator and on the LED screen for the spectators. We will have live updates to the web site www.championchipireland.com on the results page showing splits and finish times as well as text messages to all valid numbers during the race.

There will be a spotter mat linked to the IPad for the commentator to call out names as the runners approach the finish line and get their moment of glory.

We also will have satellite trackers with the lead man, lead lady and also the sweep vehicle displayed on a Google map so anyone can follow the progress of the race. The link is http://www.tracksmart.info/Charleville

We also have some exciting developments coming soon with regard to the trackers so keep your eyes peeled.

Should be a great race and a great day.

custom

Thanks redtop for all your useful info! I don't have the "thanks" button yet.

mr.wiggle

Redtop wrote: »

Yes, we plan on having a 2:10 Pacer. Best of luck with your first Half. We hope you enjoy it.
Full Pacer Detail Here :

http://corkrunning.blogspot.ie/2012/09/pace-bands-for-charleville-half-marathon.html

Thanks to our friends in Sixmilebridge, Eagle & North Cork for providing the pacers.

Great stuff, starting to get excited now, going to join the 1.30 group and see if I can hang on....hopefully the weather will hold !!

webpal

Is entry closed? Just tried registering but Runireland says entry closed yesterday at 18.30

rom

webpal wrote: »

Is entry closed? Just tried registering but Runireland says entry closed yesterday at 18.30

Online closed friday. You can register in the morning at the race. Details on Cork Running blog