Clontarf half marathon, 23rd November

beertons

I am thinking of signing up for this. Bit of a step up from my 10km. What's it like? Who's done it before?

RunningKing

Cant fault the organisers, but the course is very weather dependent.

digger2d2

RunningKing wrote: »

Cant fault the organisers

:eek:

RunningKing

elvis jones

I'll be doing it !

Wubble Wubble

Did it in July, and will be doing it again. There's no hills to speak of, and if anything it may be easier in November, as the heat will not be a factor.

Foxychick

I signed up last night sick of sitting around doing nothing need something to motivate me, hopefully i'll get the training in

mick kk

I did the half during the summer and it was a very well organised run. The route is flat and very scenic. A section of it is along the beach at bull island and it was very pleasant - although, the weather was fantastic which it probably won't be next November! I would recommend it

average_runner

Wubble Wubble wrote: »

Did it in July, and will be doing it again. There's no hills to speak of, and if anything it may be easier in November, as the heat will not be a factor.

It be more than likely harder in November due to the driving wind..
Need to be very lucky to get a day in nov without wind.

Big Logger

average_runner wrote: »

It be more than likely harder in November due to the driving wind..
Need to be very lucky to get a day in nov without wind.

I'd take the wind over the heat any day, probs need glasses on for the sand parts though.

elvis jones

Big Logger wrote: »

I'd take the wind over the heat any day, probs need glasses on for the sand parts though.

It depends, If it has been wet then the sand won't move much but its dry and windy it can be a problem. In 2010 or 2011 ( can't remember which ) there was a sand storm on the beach and i got destroyed, at one stage i was running backwards as i couldn't see or breath going forward at all:(

Anyway i'll be there at the start making some noise on the mic and then off for a little 21k run !

eoin ryan

Well, at least we got the worst case scenario on weather out of the way.
I reckon its gonna be a lovely day...
If the good weather continues - it might be too hot!!

jac56

it will be a good experience if there is some clouds and not so sunny which can avoid sand storm. Run through the flattest course for abt 2 hrs.
http://www.ooyosports.com/sports-events/clontarf-half-marathon-nov-edition

Duanington

jac56 wrote: »

it will be a good experience if there is some clouds and not so sunny which can avoid sand storm. Run through the flattest course for abt 2 hrs.
http://www.ooyosports.com/sports-events/clontarf-half-marathon-nov-edition

Great part of the world to run in ( I live nearby though so I would say that!), flat as a pancake, yes it can get windy but to be honest its rare that the wind is a real obstacle - maybe just for the stretch on the beach. I watched the half here during the heatwave in the summer and witnessed some of the poor folks struggling with the heat, give me the wind any day !

beertons

Signed up for it on Friday. Did my longest training run of 17km in 1:35. Would i be mad in thinking i could do it in 2 hours?

Big Logger

beertons wrote: »

Signed up for it on Friday. Did my longest training run of 17km in 1:35. Would i be mad in thinking i could do it in 2 hours?

Yeah you're doing under 9 min miles in training so I think you could possibly do 1.55 for the half if you take into account that you'll be racing the half to a degree then I'm sure you could.

KeenRunner

Is this the same as the one in July - "Ireland's flattest Half Marathon"? Never done this one - do they usually do two within such a short space of time?

elvis jones

KeenRunner wrote: »

Is this the same as the one in July - "Ireland's flattest Half Marathon"? Never done this one - do they usually do two within such a short space of time?

Yep it is indeed the same one !

KeenRunner

Flat is good. I did the Longford Half a couple of years ago and it was as flat as a pancake, if the pancake had a bit of an incline in the 9th mile!

crisco10

beertons wrote: »

Signed up for it on Friday. Did my longest training run of 17km in 1:35. Would i be mad in thinking i could do it in 2 hours?

Why not? At that pace, you would do the 21km in a smidge under two hours. Race is still 6 weeks away, no reason you shouldn't get that extra bit of endurance in the system before the race.

Careful about doing long runs at race pace though....a recipe for injury!

eoin ryan

Few things:
Gonna have a cup of soup at the finish line rather than buns for the time of year thats in it... Veggie soup.
We'll also have a comfort bus to take 5 in (if needed)
Good luck - if doing the marathon

eoin ryan

Meteor use Clontarf course for TV add...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J1-1CVj0sU

Taking a lift on a flying horse is a DQ.

boccy23

just did the DCM. Is this too soon for a HM?
Body is fine if tired. No major injuries so far anyway!

maryishairy

Considering participating in the 5 mile event. I'm not familiar with Clontarf. Can anybody confirm if the course is run exclusively on the road/ or concrete promenade? Is there a section of the route run along a beach? Thanks.

eoin ryan

I think I'm best placed to answer that one

The 5 mile in November is different to July. It is an out and back instead of a point to point.

It is all along the concrete prom, across the wooden bridge and then goes as far as the ladies bathing shelter. The tarmac road ends at the start of the ladies shelter and then it is onto a kinda gravel/ hard sand for 15 metres then you turn and repeat till home.
At a guess it is 98% concrete and tarmac.
Could be a fast one...

Izoard

Hey Eoin,
What's the off-road element for the half?
Anything to be mindful of, from a pacing perspective?

Good to see you out-and-about at DCM, btw...!

chinguetti

Paced Clontarf before so if its the same course, it will be as follows:

a mix of concrete path and grass (depending on where you are) up to road down to Dollymount strand, then onto the sand, out the other end and onto road and then onto a cycle path and then turn around and head for home.

I would say about 5 or 6 k on the sand, of which about 300 metres is deep sand. Surface is usually not a problem for me but the heat was the last day. The wind might be a problem if it blows though.

eoin ryan

Agree with above. The main thing is crossing the soft sand at either end to get to the hard sand. I'd adjust my pace here and shorten stride.
Weather is in the hands of the Gods just like every other race - hope we are as lucky as DCM!!!

DD Mikasa

I ran a lot of the route last Sunday, along promenade, across wooden bridge, down to beach, length of beach etc. Twas a doddle on way out but when turning around "oh dear"! It was like running into a sand storm and the wind was really strong. Some gusts were so strong that the beach became a treadmill as you were just running on the spot.

If the wind is that high on the day you can forget any thoughts of a PB. You might smash your 10k PB on the way out but coming home will be a slog.

carlton36

eoin ryan wrote: »

I think I'm best placed to answer that one

The 5 mile in November is different to July. It is an out and back instead of a point to point.

It is all along the concrete prom, across the wooden bridge and then goes as far as the ladies bathing shelter. The tarmac road ends at the start of the ladies shelter and then it is onto a kinda gravel/ hard sand for 15 metres then you turn and repeat till home.
At a guess it is 98% concrete and tarmac.
Could be a fast one...

Hi Eoin

can you please provide a bit more detail about the 'turn' in the 5 mile race?

Hopefully it's not going to be a case of running around a bollard and going back in the opposite direction. Will there be a need to decrease the pace significantly in order to slow down for the turn / avoid other runners and creating a bottleneck?
Also, how will the runners be separated in terms of those running towards the turn from those who have already turned and are running away from it? Will there some form of fencing / bollards etc?


Thanks

eoin ryan

Its a very good point and I was looking at it the other day.

We'll be going with a coned tear drop shape with cones leading the runners towards/back until on the straight road to establish the lanes. There will be signs to indicate staying on the right on return. We'll also have a system at end of wooden bridge. I'll be briefing the chief marshal on all this.

elvis jones

eoin ryan wrote: »

Its a very good point and I was looking at it the other day.

We'll be going with a coned tear drop shape with cones leading the runners towards/back until on the straight road to establish the lanes. There will be signs to indicate staying on the right on return. We'll also have a system at end of wooden bridge. I'll be briefing the chief marshal on all this.

And it will be announced a number of times on the morning of the event !

maryishairy

Is registration & start/finish area close to a dart station (clontarf dart station)?

elvis jones

maryishairy wrote: »

Is registration & start/finish area close to a dart station (clontarf dart station)?

Yep a couple of hundred metres !

eoin ryan

Have discussed this with timing company and we are going to put a timing mat at the 10km point of the course.
Normally it was at the half way point (+ 550m).
So, if the day is very blowey (might not be - could be lovely) people can aim for a 10km time as well as Half marathon.
Potentially 2 x PB's. A good days work.....

RunRoryRun

Eoin - is it likely to sell out or will there be registration on the day? Not sure i'll be able to make it, but will try!

belcarra

eoin ryan wrote: »

Have discussed this with timing company and we are going to put a timing mat at the 10km point of the course.
Normally it was at the half way point (+ 550m).
So, if the day is very blowey (might not be - could be lovely) people can aim for a 10km time as well as Half marathon.
Potentially 2 x PB's. A good days work.....

Are the pacers free to join in this strategy??:pac:

eoin ryan

belcarra wrote: »

Are the pacers free to join in this strategy??:pac:

Sorry to take the air out of your balloon - but that would be a no

eoin ryan

RunRoryRun wrote: »

Eoin - is it likely to sell out or will there be registration on the day? Not sure i'll be able to make it, but will try!

Gut feeling is it will sell out. I have nothing to go on verses last year. But if July is anything to go by - it should. Always a big rush in the end.
I'll let ppl know if we are taking entries on the day here come the time

denis160

Hi, have registered for this, can the race number/chip etc picked up on the morning of the race?
thanks,
D

elvis jones

eoin ryan wrote: »

Gut feeling is it will sell out. I have nothing to go on verses last year. But if July is anything to go by - it should. Always a big rush in the end.
I'll let ppl know if we are taking entries on the day here come the time

hmmmm i should charge you per person;)

eviltwin

Just entered this today, I have to say as someone who has only done one HM the flatness of the course is a real bonus Really looking forward to it, I know the area well, haven't run there for a long time, visually its a lovely route.

NameThatTune

Hi Eoin

I had a problem when trying to register at first so I then chose the option to register via FIT magazine which worked fine but the other failed process has emailed me saying incomplete registration? Will everything be ok for me? Also when do you post out the numbers or do we collect on the day? Ta

eoin ryan

Hiya,

You'll have to PM your name to check. Lets start there first.

Numbers will be picked up. Details here http://www.runclontarf.com/home-content_42_1493719122.pdf

Lovely day in Clontarf today

E

thewolf_ie

Eoin can you register on the day for the kids race my son wants to do it???

gerryhickey

How much of an issue is sand going to be ? Especially if its windy .

eoin ryan

thewolf_ie wrote: »

Eoin can you register on the day for the kids race my son wants to do it???

I have my doubts we will take entries on the day. Might be at limit before then

eoin ryan

gerryhickey wrote: »

How much of an issue is sand going to be ? Especially if its windy .

Welcome to boards Gerry. 1st post cheer....
If i understand the question - it won't be an issue in the sense it won't be blowed into your face if there is wind. The sand is damp this time of year. And you are inside the tide line so the sand will be hard (with the exception of crossing on and off it). Follow where i put the km markers - that is the sweet spot and most direct line. Hope that helps

gerryhickey

Cheers Eoin ,

It's my first half marathon so feel free to post more tips :-/

eoin ryan

General stuff from website - might make life a bit easier
http://www.runclontarf.com/home.php?page=training

AdpRo

What times are the pacers running Eoin?