Lack of Irish marathons in Autumn. Why?

ThePiedPiper

There's a great choice of marathons in Ireland now. There's loads to choose from in the Spring and early summer particularly. Connemara, Limerick, Kildare, Belfast. Summer is well catered for with Cork, Longford and Dingle.

However, there's no real alternative to Dublin as an Autumn marathon. Why is this? All the newer marathons, such as Tralee, Kilarney, Waterford, Clonakility, etc. etc. always avoid Autumn. Is it a fear that the DCM has too much pulling power?

Personally, I'd love to see another marathon going with an October date. There's bound to be a lot of people out there who've done Dublin many times, and want an Autumn alternative.

Krusty_Clown

Apart from Sligo Marathon in September. There must be a few more?

ThePiedPiper

Cheers Krusty. I know there's a couple of other very small ones, such as the Mooathon up in Donegal too. But, the major cities have all opted to avoid Autumn completely. Maybe Sligo will take off and become a realistic alternative.

RayCun

RunForestRun wrote: »

Is it a fear that the DCM has too much pulling power?

I'd say so. Few people will do two autumn marathons so the potential field in another marathon around that time is limited.

TFBubendorfer

Sixmilebridge in November is another one.

My guess is that most marathon organisers avoid the autumn because Dublin would take away a significant percentage of entrants.

If you don't mind doing a low key, self-supported marathon (but officially measured and properly organised), the 100 marathon club organise a marathon roughly every fortnight, all year round.

Clearlier

RayCun wrote: »

I'd say so. Few people will do two autumn marathons so the potential field in another marathon around that time is limited.

I think Ray hits it here. Dublin essentially has the whole country as a catchment area and unlike London where places are limited and there are a host of 'supporting' marathons anybody can enter. If I were organising a marathon in Ireland I'd be looking to the spring.

Seanie_H

I think maybe the other cities are intimidated by Dublin. It would be very hard for them to compete especially considering that Dublin pulls approx. 40-50% entrants from abroad. I think it was the 5th largest marathon in Europe in last year beaten by London, Berlin, Paris and marginally by Stockholm.

I think it's amazing that there three are so close together because I feel they really miss out. Cork (considering it has a relay category) also clashes with the women's Mini Marathon. I think they're hindering each other.
05/05/2013 – Limerick
07/05/2013 – Belfast
03/06/2013 – Cork

Krusty_Clown

Lets not forget that Dublin marathon has traditionally also been the National Marathon championship, which is an additional incentive for club runners to avoid doing any other marathons in Autumn.

ThePiedPiper

It's totally understandable that there would be an intimidation factor about going up against Dublin, but in all honesty, I don't see it that way. Limerick, Cork, Kildare and Belfast are, as Seanie H said, hindering each other. I think that DCM is nearly getting too big, I think anything over 15,000 entrants in Dublin would be too much. It's possible that a Cork/Belfast/Kildare/Limerick type of marathon would actually do just as well in October as they now do in the Summer.

I've done DCM four times. I'm not in any rush back to do it, but for the lack of alternatives at the time of year, it's either that, a small low-key race such as those mentioned by Thomas and Krusty, or go abroad.

brutes1

Longford end August is a flat end summer marathon, good course but a lonely one

We Dont need another marathon in Autumn it will only cannibalise the market. Dublins a great buzz these years, not long ago only 2-3thousand in it

No way anyone is going to run well in two marathons close to each other well unless you Alan O Shea or something..!

elvis jones

Up & Over going through Offaly, Laois & Kildare is 100% for charity and will be on Aug 31st ( almost autumn ). It mainly flat apart from a few hill sin the last 5 miles.

spurscormac

elvis jones wrote: »

Up & Over going through Offaly, Laois & Kildare is 100% for charity and will be on Aug 31st ( almost autumn ). It mainly flat apart from a few hill sin the last 5 miles.

<pedant> August is in Autumn </pedant>

ger664

spurscormac wrote: »

<pedant> August is in Autumn </pedant>

There is no such thing as summer in Ireland Spring ends in June and Autumn starts in July.:rolleyes:

elvis jones

ger664 wrote: »

There is no such thing as summer in Ireland Spring ends in June and Autumn starts in July.:rolleyes:

Ah cheer up Ger;):D