How tough is Dingle marathon?

niteowl1

So I've completed Limerick and Dublin under 4 hours. Looking at an autumn marathon and Dublin doesn't suit me this year. Have Dingle on the bucket list but how tough is it ? Would be delighted if anyone would share their experiences/advice pls .
Thanks

ger664

niteowl1 wrote: »

So I've completed Limerick and Dublin under 4 hours. Looking at an autumn marathon and Dublin doesn't suit me this year. Have Dingle on the bucket list but how tough is it ? Would be delighted if anyone would share their experiences/advice pls .
Thanks

Its tougher mainly because of the climb @ mile 21. Just accept that you will be slower because of this, keep your effort at the same level throughout and it's no harder than any other marathon.

belcampprisoner

it seems slow

http://www.precisiontiming.net/result/racetimer?v=%252Fen%252Frace%252Fshow%252F980%253Flayout%253Dprecision_timing

TFBubendorfer

It is undoubtedly tougher than your average marathon. There are plenty of ups and downs and then there is a rather big hill at mile 22. You can expect to add 5 or 10 minutes to your normal marathon time.

On the other hand, there are no easy marathons. Tough ones like Dingle are a fraction harder, but if you have the fitness to run one of them, you have the fitness to run all of them.

Redtop

It's hard to compare any of the city based marathons to Dingle. The views in Dingle on the way out by the coast road are spectacular. It's likely your time will be slower than a flat boring city based marathon. You tend not to do Dingle for a Fast Time, but it's good for the soul. Relax & Enjoy it. You can always do it again the following year and try to beat your previous time.

3D2S

Agree with Redtop, did half in Dingle last year and doing full this year. Views are spectacular all along the coast. Will not be pushing for a time in the full, there are loads of other opportunities to do that. Ran full in Connemara 2 years ago with same mindset and thoroughly enjoyed it.:D

babalobioddy

Hi , I have also been thinking of doing Dingle this year, as I really don't like the Dublin marathon and having done it twice I feel I've had enough of the big city experience. I have also done Connemara twice , is dingle harder ?

TFBubendorfer

babalobioddy wrote: »

I have also done Connemara twice , is dingle harder ?

They are comparable; Dingle is a fraction harder because the final hill is a bit longer, a bit steeper and a bit higher than the Hell of the West in Connemara, and the first half is a bit hillier than Connemara as well.

My previous point still stands, though, if you are fit enough to run a marathon, any marathon, you are also fit to run one of the tougher ones like Dingle or Connemara. Your time will be a bit slower, but your chances of finishing are exactly the same.

Redtop

Agreed. If you've done the proper training for any marathon, what's a few hills ? They should not prevent you from finishing, but they might add a few extra minutes and will build character !

hot to trot

babalobioddy wrote: »

Hi , I have also been thinking of doing Dingle this year, as I really don't like the Dublin marathon and having done it twice I feel I've had enough of the big city experience. I have also done Connemara twice , is dingle harder ?

Donegal marathons are harder and possibly even more scenic than Connemara .( extreme north events organisers)

Insect Overlord

3D2S wrote: »

did half in Dingle last year and doing full this year. Views are spectacular all along the coast.

What's the half like? I've done Limerick and Achill over the last few months. Thinking of making An Daingean my third Half Marathon.

Edit: Dhera, sure I'll do it anyway! Signed up and paid up. Bring it on!

TFBubendorfer

Insect Overlord wrote: »

What's the half like? I've done Limerick and Achill over the last few months. Thinking of making An Daingean my third Half Marathon.

Edit: Dhera, sure I'll do it anyway! Signed up and paid up. Bring it on!

The half is fairly hilly and with the best views you can imagine.
On a nice day, that is.

Redtop

If you are chasing a Half Marathon PB, then consider Charleville Flat course : http://www.charlevillehalf.com/

Insect Overlord

Redtop wrote: »

If you are chasing a Half Marathon PB, then consider Charleville Flat course : http://www.charlevillehalf.com/

I've gone from 2:04:00 (May) to 1:56:00 (July). Hoping for 1:50:00 in Dingle (Spetember). No need to rush towards a great PB this soon!

One for next year, I'd say.

angrykoala

how would it be suited as a first marathon. could do a flat city one like Dublin but cant make Dublin this year. don't want the first marathon to be one where your running on your own for miles.. trying to get one by the end of the year

TFBubendorfer

angrykoala wrote: »

how would it be suited as a first marathon. could do a flat city one like Dublin but cant make Dublin this year. don't want the first marathon to be one where your running on your own for miles.. trying to get one by the end of the year

Unless you have people running at the same pace with you, it will be very lonely.
If you want support from the sidelines, Dublin cannot be beaten, Cork is just about ok but a lot less busy, and just about every other marathon will see you out on your own most of the time.

angrykoala

thanks. might just go for dingle then

skeleton_boy

Signed up a few weeks ago for the half which will be my first. To say I'm looking forward to it is an understatement. Hoping for 1.40-1.45 depending on how I handle the course. Have been including a steep hill at the end of all my long runs recently so hopefully that will stand to me.

ronnie085

Near perfect race conditions here at the moment, hopefully that holds till the morning. Now most important, where's the post race beers????? ;-)

Insect Overlord

Anyone else going for the half marathon? My running buddy is injured so I'll need new people to talk to!

niteowl1

Just an update since I posted the original question..

knowing it was a hilly course, I had been running as many of the local hills as I could the last few weeks in training. I have no real time in mind but would have hoped to come in somewhere between 4 - 4:15. I had done two sub-4 hours before yesterday.

First half was really enjoyable with beautiful scenery on the coast and all the half runners around to keep me distracted. I didn't notice any bad hills in the first 13 miles.

Second half was a bit more lonely but actually a lot better than I thought. Some locals out handing out jellies, oranges..etc in the small towns and some music along the way. Hill at mile 14 was ok and then all that was left was the hill at mile 22. WOW is all I can say! Had to walk the first corner of it for maybe 30/40 seconds and further up I walked again for another bit but I was able to run most of it albeit slowly at times. The downhill was unbelievable, I was actually free wheeling down and wouldn't have been able to stop my legs even if I wanted to. I crossed the line in 3:45:00 (my watch), 3:45:02 (official time).

I took over 6 minutes off my Dublin time and 12 minutes off my Limerick time so I'm absolutely delighted and chuffed.

ronnie085

Great the way people have different experiences of the same race, done the half and it felt like it was nearly all uphill, all u know for sure I'd the last 2 miles were hell, first time in a while the legs turned to jelly on the last kick uphill

skeleton_boy

That hill during mile 12 was killer. Great challenging course though. Disappointed the timing issue isn't sorted out. Winner of the full is showing as a 10 min world record :pac:

ronnie085

skeleton_boy wrote: »

That hill during mile 12 was killer. Great challenging course though. Disappointed the timing issue isn't sorted out. Winner of the full is showing as a 10 min world record :pac:

Ha ha yeah, my theory was he entered the full and ran the half, otherwise we were there for history

blockic

Pity about the timing issues. I think they had issues last year too which is unfortunate.

Roadpounder

Ran Dingle Full on Saturday, have to say very enjoyable but challenging marathon. Ran it as a training run and to enjoy it as Dublin is my main goal this year. First half does seem to be hillier but with all the half marathon runners around the miles flew by.

As previous poster says it does get lonely at times on on second half, but there was always someone not to far away to give and receive encouragement. Only gripe I personally would have is the out and back section at Gallurus just before hill. Wow that hill! Took a decision after first 1/4 mile to walk sections as I needed to ( hill goes on for 1 3/4 miles). Even though I lost time , I felt the benefit all the way home from top of hill( mile 23) to finish. Finished in 3.58 and was delighted with time. Definitely I would agree the hills and pulls add 5- 10 minutes to flatter marathons.