Great Limerick Run

Willie_Power

I am looking at doing the half marathon in the great Limerick run next May, it will be my first half so am just wondering what advice people who have run this route previously might have.

jfh

Willie_Power wrote: »

I am looking at doing the half marathon in the great Limerick run next May, it will be my first half so am just wondering what advice people who have run this route previously might have.

my advice is to sign up before 31 jan & save yourself a tenner, it's a good course, altought it can get crowded near the finishing miles due to the different races finishing together. that depends on your time of course.
doing it myself, best of luck

rainbow kirby

It's one of the more hilly halfs I've run (particularly the section near Thomond Park) - still got a hefty PB back in May though.

Might do it again this year, undecided at the moment. Depends on whether I manage to get injured again or not really!

CivilEx

Looking hard at this race for next year as a first marathon. I have had a quick look the route and it seems to be set up that the second half of the marathon is the same route as the half marathon race, which starts 2.45hrs after the marathon start? I suppose I'm trying to get a sense of what the atmosphere will be like for the first half of the Marathon!

sassyj

Considering doing this, anyone who did it last year, where is good to stay - easy access to starting line etc.

Marty09

sassyj wrote: »

Considering doing this, anyone who did it last year, where is good to stay - easy access to starting line etc.

A few suggestions worth checking out...all depending on your budget.

- No.1 Pery Square....small stylish hotel...very close to start line.
- The George...newish hotel....on O'Connell St very close to finish.
- Jurys Inn.....5 min walk from start/ finsh....typical Jurys standard.
- The Clarion....modern hotel on river ...5 min walk from start.
- The Strand....probably one of best....10 min walk from finsh
- Patrick Punches....smallish hotel.....10/ 15 min walk to start
- The Absolut.....modern nice hotel on river....20min walk to start.

As it's on during May Bank Holiday / Reverfest....probably worth booking early if you do enter.
Best of luck!

event

I am going to do this as my first marathon I think, Ill be travelling from Louth so hopefully its a good one.

socialrunner

just saw the perfect present for the runner in my life gift vouchers on the great limerick run website thats one problem solved:)

mossym

hmmmm i smell shameless promotion..:)

plumber77

All's thats missing is the direct link...

overpronator

Anyone got a garmin link for the marathon course? How does it compare to Dublin in terms of difficulty?

RayCun

from the race profiles thread
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/32179490

overpronator

RayCun wrote: »

from the race profiles thread
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/32179490

Sound Ray, thanks for that

Dilbert75

Pity they hadn't elevation correction enabled - when it passes through the city centre the elevation seems to get confuddled. Nearly put me off for a few minutes until I realised.

menoscemo

Dilbert75 wrote: »

Pity they hadn't elevation correction enabled - when it passes through the city centre the elevation seems to get confuddled. Nearly put me off for a few minutes until I realised.

Here's the course with elevation corrections enabled: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/83015100

CivilEx

I'm not sure if any of the race pacers for the race are on here, but what splits would the 4.30 pacer normally run? Would the half be 2.15 or is it typically faster in the first half - maybe 2.05?

menoscemo

CivilEx wrote: »

I'm not sure if any of the race pacers for the race are on here, but what splits would the 4.30 pacer normally run? Would the half be 2.15 or is it typically faster in the first half - maybe 2.05?

Limerick is a pretty flat course so the pacers will be doing even splits. In a course like Dingle or Clonakilty where it was particularly hilly in the second half, the pacers might plan to run the first half a little faster but only by a minute or two not 10!

overpronator

menoscemo wrote: »

Limerick is a pretty flat course so the pacers will be doing even splits. In a course like Dingle or Clonakilty where it was particularly hilly in the second half, the pacers might plan to run the first half a little faster but only by a minute or two not 10!

Would Limerick be of a similar difficulty level to Dublin Meno?

menoscemo

overpronator wrote: »

Would Limerick be of a similar difficulty level to Dublin Meno?

Pretty much yeah. There are a few small hills near the end that may catch a few people but overall it is pretty flat.

Cartman78

There's a sneaky hill up by Thomand Park that you wouldn't really notice in the car but a tough one to get up in the closing miles.

There's also a bit of a drag from the Jetland up to the Gaelic grounds but once you get through that it's flat/downhill for the last mile or so.

The rest of the course is relatively flat iirc.

The marathon will be too soon for me this year, pondering doing the half...still don't get why they can't find the extra couple of hundred metres and have a 10k

overpronator

Registered, second marathon for me. Really looking forward to it!

event

Registered, 1st marathon!

FutureGuy

Registered. First 6 mile ever

So I have never tried running seriously in my life but I want to complete a 10k so might as well do it.

Been going 3-4k three nights a week for the last 3 weeks. Not sure if it was a great idea but decided to just keep going last night and did 6.8k without much of a problem.

But when I came home, I looked at mapmyrun, and it seemed like I had ran an approximate distance to the 6 mile. When I mapped out the official route as shown here...

http://www.greatlimerickrun.com/about/sixmile

...it only came to 8k? Surely that cannot be right?

Dilbert75

Any Limerickians got any recommendations for accommodation for the Saturday night? Secure parking & quiet sleep required, late checkout (for a shower after the race) is preferable and close proximity to city centre would be a bonus. And not too pricy!

Gavlor

Dilbert75 wrote: »

Any Limerickians got any recommendations for accommodation for the Saturday night? Secure parking & quiet sleep required, late checkout (for a shower after the race) is preferable and close proximity to city centre would be a bonus. And not too pricy!

dilbert, the clarion is ideal, also has a pool for a dip after the race! we're either staying there or radisson blu for that reason.

Jurys inn is central and a dirt cheap alternative

Dilbert75

Thanks Gavlor - Jurys is booked out. Was expecting to be travelling solo but Mrs. D is thinking about making the trip down too, babysitter dependent.

Runchick

Dilbert75 wrote: »

Thanks Gavlor - Jurys is booked out. Was expecting to be travelling solo but Mrs. D is thinking about making the trip down too, babysitter dependent.

I'm booked in jury's too dilbert, and fingers crossed this will be a child-free trip for me and hubby. (reminds me to start sweet talkin the babysitters ). Hopefully catch up with a few of you there

career_move

Ouch....hotels in Limerick are expensive :mad:

kerrylad1

career_move wrote: »

Ouch....hotels in Limerick are expensive :mad:

I found a deal you mite like.
Jurys inn is working out at 68E for a double room with breakfast for the saturday night before the marathon.Thats on travelrepublic.ie

event

Im in the maldron.
€72 for a double/twin, no breakfast.
That has free parking and a 16:00 check out so can use the pool afterwards.

That's my plan anyway!

nellocono

I am planning on running the half marathon in Limerick as a training run for the Cork marathon...

I am probably going to stay over night on the Sunday which means a drive up from Cork on Sun morning, the half doesn't start until 11.45am.

Does anyone here know if you HAVE to pick up your race number the day before at the expo? Cant find any info about this on race website...?

Aimman

nellocono wrote: »

Does anyone here know if you HAVE to pick up your race number the day before at the expo? Cant find any info about this on race website...?

The mail that was sent out says that there's no number collection on the day. I dont recall any opportunity to collect numbers on the day for the last couple of years.

Do you know anyone else doing it that could collect for you on the Sunday?

nellocono

Thanks Aiman, I guess it makes sense that you cant pick up race number on the day. I think I do know someone who is doing it and could pick it up for me...

I assume there will be no problem with someone else picking up my number will there?

kerrylad1

nellocono wrote: »

Thanks Aiman, I guess it makes sense that you cant pick up race number on the day. I think I do know someone who is doing it and could pick it up for me...

I assume there will be no problem with someone else picking up my number will there?

I picked up two other runner's as well as my own last year.No hassle what so ever,as long as they bring ur printed email with ur race number that g.l.r will have emailed you.:)

bmacma

Anyone know how many people have signed up for the marathon?

bmacma

A few other questions for previous GLR runners:

- Based on the last two years, how well organized is the marathon? I had heard that there were issues with people going the wrong way in previous years?
- How do they stagger the different races i.e. 10k, half, full. Will the full marathon finishers be running with the 10k runners?
- The course seems to be pretty flat from my viewing of it, the worst hills look to be the flyover at the Crescent shopping centre and the long drag up by the Gaelic grounds around mile 22. Any others I missed?
- Is the section through UL marked out well as it doesn't look to be going along any main roads?
- What type of gels do they give you at the gel stations?

Limerick91

Based on the last two years, how well organized is the marathon? I had heard that there were issues with people going the wrong way in previous years?
This issue happened during the first year of the marathon. I ran the half last year and a few friends ran the full it was well organised

- How do they stagger the different races i.e. 10k, half, full. Will the full marathon finishers be running with the 10k runners?
I would guess anybody finishing quicker than 4:30 will not have much traffic with the half marathon runners. There is no issue at all with the 10 k runners. The start times are on the website

- The course seems to be pretty flat from my viewing of it, the worst hills look to be the flyover at the Crescent shopping centre and the long drag up by the Gaelic grounds around mile 22. Any others I missed?
Two other flyovers, one at Old Crescent RFC and one at Ballycummin Village. The is a hill before Thomond Park as well. Neither of these are too bad
- Is the section through UL marked out well as it doesn't look to be going along any main roads?
The UL section from what I heard is well marselled. It is on a well known running route
- What type of gels do they give you at the gel stations? No idea

bmacma

Thanks Limerick 91, sounds good.

agall

Just a quick question to anyone who has visited the Great Limerick Run website recently as the graphic shows the half marathon route as the first half of the full marathon, rather than the previous route for the last three years. The text beside the graphic does describe the old route yet, there is a conflict between the two-does anyone know if the route has changed this year?

FutureGuy

agall wrote: »

Just a quick question to anyone who has visited the Great Limerick Run website recently as the graphic shows the half marathon route as the first half of the full marathon, rather than the previous route for the last three years. The text beside the graphic does describe the old route yet, there is a conflict between the two-does anyone know if the route has changed this year?

The routes are being reviewed as far as I know. There may be changes to the 6-mile - the course marked right now only works out at 8k (5 mile).

agall

FutureGuy wrote: »

The routes are being reviewed as far as I know. There may be changes to the 6-mile - the course marked right now only works out at 8k (5 mile).

......and now today the route has suddenly changed back to previous years??!!

event

so got an email there and it says:

Less than 4 weeks left until this year’s 4th Barringtons Hospital Great Limerick Run on May the 5th.

Monday 15th of April is the LAST day to have your name on race bib. The Barringtons Hospital Great Limerick Run always tries to go an extra mile. One of the MOST talked about elements of the previous year's events is having your name on your bib.

This encourages spectators to call and support you through the event. Monday the 15th is the last date to guarantee your name on your bib. Register here at http://www.greatlimerickrun.com/register

I'm already registered, does this mean my name will be on the number or what?
Nice touch if so

Brianderunner

Yep, just looked at the routes and tis a bizarre enough route from hassetts cross back to the gaelic grounds. In fact its not even passing Thomond park anymore. Route seems to be going down the narrow road through mayorstone with the speedbumps. A downgrade i would say

menoscemo

Brianderunner wrote: »

Yep, just looked at the routes and tis a bizarre enough route from hassetts cross back to the gaelic grounds. In fact its not even passing Thomond park anymore. Route seems to be going down the narrow road through mayorstone with the speedbumps. A downgrade i would say

Any comments on the Half course? It seems to still pass both Thomond Park and the Gaelic grounds but in a different order???
I'm down to pace it again so just interested in where any hills etc are. Is it flatter or hillier?

Dilbert75

event wrote: »

so got an email there and it says:


I'm already registered, does this mean my name will be on the number or what?
Nice touch if so

Didn't get that mail...

eliwallach

"the Barringtpns Hospial Great Limerick Run always tries to go an exta mile"

:P:P

Didn't a couple of (leading) runners run extra distance the first year after being sent down a wrong street at mile 23??

Dilbert75

eliwallach wrote: »

"the Barringtpns Hospial Great Limerick Run always tries to go an exta mile"

:P:P

Didn't a couple of (leading) runners run extra distance the first year after being sent down a wrong street at mile 23??

Clonmel Half had an overly-long course the first year too - they make reference to it on their t-shirts now. Not so funny in a full marathon - wonder if you could claim to be an ultra marathon runner after that?

ger664

Brianderunner wrote: »

Yep, just looked at the routes and tis a bizarre enough route from hassetts cross back to the gaelic grounds. In fact its not even passing Thomond park anymore. Route seems to be going down the narrow road through mayorstone with the speedbumps. A downgrade i would say

There is also the change in the first few miles. Its does not go down to the golf club but instead turns back into Dooradoyle and into clover hill which is much the same. It goes out to Raheen Ind Estate and does a little loop there. How they are going to manage traffic, and runners going in both directions on that section will be interesting.

FutureGuy

The 6 mile is coming up 300m further than 6 miles in mapmyrun! Unless I'm doing something wrong?

Dilbert75

FutureGuy wrote: »

The 6 mile is coming up 300m further than 6 miles in mapmyrun! Unless I'm doing something wrong?

Is it a 6 mile or a 10k? If it's a 10k then that's a couple of hundred metres more than 6 miles. In any case the likes of MapMyRun is a good indicator but I don't expect that you could rely on them 100%.

event

So did my 20 mile run today, now starts the taper.
I also have a stag weekend next week (:eek:) but I wont be drinking that much and while take plenty of water on board.

Couple of questions for people:

1) Is this the confirmed route? http://www.greatlimerickrun.com/sites/default/files/downloads/marathon.pdf
2) About the water stations, is it small bottles of water or little cups? Same for the lucozade sport.
3) Could anyone in the Limerick area recommend a place to get pasta the night before, an italian restaurant? Myself and my brother will be down, just looking for places to go.

EDIT: 4) The expo, what is likely to be at it? Never been to one before so dont know if they are just filled with rubbish or actual good stuff you can buy/sample

Thank you all