Flora Women's Mini Marathon 2013

mollybird

So it's that time of year again ladies. Feb 20th is the open day to sign up to the worlds biggest women's marathon. I'm signing up for the 3rd year running.

Anyone going to do it this year? i'm going to be walking it. Anyone in the dublin area looking to do it and want to meet up to go training for it id love to train with a few people.

I'm pretty sure the world has plenty of women's actual marathons
Anyway good luck to all entering

rainbow kirby

mollybird wrote: »

So it's that time of year again ladies. Feb 20th is the open day to sign up to the worlds biggest women's marathon. I'm signing up for the 3rd year running. .

World's biggest women-only race yes - but it isn't a marathon (26.2 miles), it's a 10km road race.

I've done it 6 times before, as a walker pretty much every year as a teenager and 3 years ago ran it in around 52 minutes. I'd do it if you can get a runner number (sub 60 mins) or "elite" (sub 45 mins) as the course is very fast once you have the space, but if you plan to finish between 60 and 90 minutes it is an absolute nightmare in terms of congestion and I'd probably be looking for alternatives (the Dunshaughlin 10k race is a very good one about 3 weeks after it).

sassyj

Why don't they call it the Flora Women's 10km? I find "mini-marathon" patronising. Also, it's a huge charity event, raises serious cash for various charities, why are men not allowed to compete? Wouldn't interest me for those reasons, plenty of other great 10km races.

Stench Blossoms

sassyj wrote: »

Why don't they call it the Flora Women's 10km? I find "mini-marathon" patronising. Also, it's a huge charity event, raises serious cash for various charities, why are men not allowed to compete? Wouldn't interest me for those reasons, plenty of other great 10km races.

Men do compete.

They just dress up as women.

I think it's for a great cause and would encourage everyone to do it once BUT it's not really a marathon or even a mini marathon. I think I read somewhere that most people walk it. You wouldn't get many people actively going to a marathon planning to walk it.

As Rainbow said already, the Dunshaughlin 10k would probably be better especially if you are doing it for fitness.

rainbow kirby

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

I think I read somewhere that most people walk it. You wouldn't get many people actively going to a marathon planning to walk it.

Probably upwards of 80% of entrants walk the Women's Mini-Marathon, some taking upwards of 3 hours to complete the distance. The charity aspect is quite linked to that - people who may not ever have trained for other things often see the 10km as an achievable goal to aim for while raising money for charity in the process.

The race also has a huge problem with people cutting parts of the course to "beat the crowds" - people hopping in at Holles St and getting in the way of faster runners, cutting the Belfield flyover (which will reduce the distance by around 1km if done at the top of Nutley Lane) etc.

That said - you do get a few committed walkers who do walk full marathons and other road races, the Dublin Marathon has a long cutoff so there will be quite a few finishers in the 6.5 to 8 hour range there who would have walked, and the Great North Run in Newcastle (which I did last year) has a huge number of walkers and run-walkers as it has a high charity presence just like the Women's Mini-Marathon here.

stargazer 68

We walk it every year and will be doing it again. Why though does it start at 3pm? Surely 11 or 12 would be a better time. Someone said its to allow for people travelling to Dublin for it but wouldnt a early start and then getting home earlier be better?

rubberdungeon

It starts at 2:00pm this year!

http://www.florawomensminimarathon.ie/

stargazer 68

rubberdungeon wrote: »

It starts at 2:00pm this year!

http://www.florawomensminimarathon.ie/

They must have heard us complaining then!

sassyj

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Men do compete.

They just dress up as women.

I think it's for a great cause and would encourage everyone to do it once BUT it's not really a marathon or even a mini marathon. I think I read somewhere that most people walk it. You wouldn't get many people actively going to a marathon planning to walk it.

As Rainbow said already, the Dunshaughlin 10k would probably be better especially if you are doing it for fitness.

The men don't get medal when they finish though, very petty. As someone said, it's not a marathon, not even near it, don't understand why they use that term.

rainbow kirby

sassyj wrote: »

The men don't get medal when they finish though, very petty. As someone said, it's not a marathon, not even near it, don't understand why they use that term.

Probably historical reasons (it may have sounded a bit more palatable in the early 1980s when the race was first run) and because they've built a brand from it.

vitani

Is this the first year they've put a qualification time on the jogger entry? It's saying you have to have run 10k in 100 minutes or less at some point in the last two years.

Might help with some of the congestion. I remember the first time I ever did the mini-marathon, years ago, I was told by my aunt to enter as a jogger and not a walker, as I'd be stuck at the back otherwise. It didn't even occur to me at the time that this would be extremely bad form, especially to joggers who'd started behind me and planned to run the whole thing.

I'd only consider it this year if I could get a fast jogger or runner qualifying time beforehand. But my focus has changed since the handful of times I'd done it before. It's well worth doing, for the enjoyment factor if you're not concerned about getting around quickly.

Lia_lia

My friend who I usually do runs with did it last year and said it was awful in terms in congestion. Way too many people! Especially if you are running/jogging. Great cause though. And I suppose it would be grand if you are walking it.

Mince Pie

I've never done a marathon, mini (why can't it just be called 10K run?) or otherwise. this will be my first one but I will be power walking it as I can't run with my gammy knee.
10k should be a good stretch of the legs and I won't be taking shortcuts otherwise whats the point?
Not in Dublin though so can't really arrange to meet up for training. I do mine with the dog and a field.

rainbow kirby

vitani wrote: »

Is this the first year they've put a qualification time on the jogger entry? It's saying you have to have run 10k in 100 minutes or less at some point in the last two years.

First time for "jogger" - possibly to discourage the traditional mass registration of walkers into that category. The limit for the slightly contradictorily named "Fast Jogger" category has been reduced to 75 minutes too, can't wait to see the fuss kicked up about that on the Facebook page as there was a lot of giving out last year when it was 85 minutes!

vitani

rainbow kirby wrote: »

First time for "jogger" - possibly to discourage the traditional mass registration of walkers into that category. The limit for the slightly contradictorily named "Fast Jogger" category has been reduced to 75 minutes too, can't wait to see the fuss kicked up about that on the Facebook page as there was a lot of giving out last year when it was 85 minutes!

Took a swing over to the Facebook page. It seems civil so far, although there are a few questions coming in about the qualifying times. I'm sure things will heat up when registration opens tomorrow.

Personally, I think it's a great decision. I know some people are going to be frustrated if they have to go into the walkers section but for the majority, it will suit them much better.

Nolimits12

Would love to run it! I love doing 10k and 5k races. My most recent 10k was hell and back which definitely makes this look simple! Ran for irish cancer society and only raised 300 euro as it was really last minute.

How do you organise representing a charity? I've noticed many charities give you tshirts when you represent them?

rainbow kirby

Nolimits12 wrote: »

How do you organise representing a charity? I've noticed many charities give you tshirts when you represent them?

Enter the race first (entries open tomorrow), then contact a charity - they should send you out sponsorship cards/t-shirts etc.

teenso

<SNIP> - no number transfers allowed (race rules)

x Purple Pawprints x

I've signed up. I'm walking it because I recently only started to exercise properly and thought this was a good thing to aim for. Doing it for an animal rescue group. I think the charity aspect is the important part tbh.

rainbow kirby

x Purple Pawprints x wrote: »

I think the charity aspect is the important part tbh.

I just hate asking people for money for doing something I genuinely enjoy doing, it feels so awkward! I'll be running, but won't get even remotely close to my PB (aiming for 53-55 mins). Only really entered to give myself a bit of training motivation for the next few weeks.

x Purple Pawprints x

rainbow kirby wrote: »

I just hate asking people for money for doing something I genuinely enjoy doing, it feels so awkward! I'll be running, but won't get even remotely close to my PB (aiming for 53-55 mins). Only really entered to give myself a bit of training motivation for the next few weeks.

Yeah I'll probably be the same but I'm just thinking that the charity I'm doing it for could really really use money because they get very little from the government, they really need it for vet bills and food.

Fair play to you, I'm walking 5k in about 55 minutes at the moment so I'll be happy if I can walk it in under 2 hours.

Pomplamousse

I took up running last year and signed up for this to keep me motivated. Never again! It is great in terms of the charity aspect but not if you're serious about running it in a good time (unless you qualify for the elite runners).
I'd say I ended up running about 15km for all the weaving in and out between other people that I had to do:p
Did have a great day last year though and got amazing weather for it:)

rainbow kirby

You're lucky you got the weather for it, the last time I did it was 3 years ago and it bucketed rain the entire time, poor firemen in Donnybrook getting completely avoided!

I didn't have a serious problem with congestion with a sub-60 number the last time, but things get a lot worse immediately behind that.

Pomplamousse

rainbow kirby wrote: »

You're lucky you got the weather for it, the last time I did it was 3 years ago and it bucketed rain the entire time, poor firemen in Donnybrook getting completely avoided!

That sounds horrendous! I couldn't wait to get to the firemen but they weren't hosing as I went past:(
Did get a bottle of water thrown in my face by a teenage boy, not sure if he was trying to be helpful or annoying:pac:

Posy

rainbow kirby wrote: »

You're lucky you got the weather for it, the last time I did it was 3 years ago and it bucketed rain the entire time, poor firemen in Donnybrook getting completely avoided! .

The last time I did the Mini Marathon it was the same year, 3 years ago- cold, pissing rain the whole time and miserable.
The time I did it before that it was roasting and the sun was beating down. Crazy weather! :mad:

I hope ye get a good day for it this year!

QueenBee1

Ladies, which charities are you running for and why? I have signed up but yet to choose a charity ! I need some suggestions !

x Purple Pawprints x

QueenBee1 wrote: »

Ladies, which charities are you running for and why? I have signed up but yet to choose a charity ! I need some suggestions !

I'm doing it for Laois SPCA

Twee.

I've not picked a charity yet! I really must.

I'm registered as a walker as I didn't think you could reg for jogger with out filling in your times on the site somewhere, but turns out you can. The text was kind of misleading, IMO. I asked on the FB how to change and got no reply.

AnimalRights

http://pix.ie/punkrock/album/467425

Some pics from the finish line...

x Purple Pawprints x

Crossing that finish line was a great feeling.

Twee.

Great day! Did it for Medicins Sans Frontiers in the end

Ninap

Anyone know when the times will be available on the website?

rainbow kirby

Most likely after they appear in the Herald tomorrow.

50SofG

to all of you who completed the mini marathon i salute you for your efforts, training, committment, the highs and lows and the personal challanges you over came................
WELL DONE;)