What Irish Marathon is considered flat & fast for a PB?

viperlogic · 02-01-2014 02:43PM #1

Hi all. What marathon in Ireland is considered flat and fast for a PB? I have previously ran Cork, Waterford and Dublin marathons. I have previously seen Limerick and Kildare mentioned and also they are early in the year so should be somewhat cooler, ~13C, compared to Cork and Waterford which were ~19C.

Any suggestions most welcome

Thanks

Cabaal · 02-01-2014 02:51PM

I hear Longford Marathon is pretty flat, never done it though.

menoscemo · 02-01-2014 03:06PM

Cabaal wrote: »

I hear Longford Marathon is pretty flat, never done it though.

It's probably flatter than Dublin but not necessarily faster. It is pretty boring given that there are few runners and basicaly no spectators, water stations are also poor
Overall I would probably give the nod to Dublin tbh.

ultraman1 · 02-01-2014 03:16PM

Eoi Clontarf marathon...if ian Ryan is to be believed

ultraman1 · 02-01-2014 03:16PM

Eoi Clontarf marathon...if ian Ryan is to be believed

Running Fool · 03-01-2014 12:56PM

Apparently Newry this year has changed it's course and they claim it to now be the flattest in Europe.

shane1981 · 03-01-2014 02:27PM

ultraman1 wrote: »

Eoi Clontarf marathon...if ian Ryan is to be believed

Would agree that Clontarf is very flat but very exposed so the wind can be a real killer some days.

ThebitterLemon · 03-01-2014 10:02PM

menoscemo wrote: »

It's probably flatter than Dublin but not necessarily faster. It is pretty boring given that there are few runners and basicaly no spectators, water stations are also poor
Overall I would probably give the nod to Dublin tbh.

+1 to this.

Also roads not closed and parts of the route are on busy roads.

I personally like Limerick, find it a fast PB course.

TbL

dekbhoy · 03-01-2014 10:48PM

Limerick is hilly in places. I found a lot of long uphills but short steep downhills. Can be a bit demoralizing running back through city centre but still 6 miles to go. Overall it's well organized though

Murph_D · 04-01-2014 01:02AM

ultraman1 wrote: »

Eoi Clontarf marathon...if ian Ryan is to be believed

Ah now. It's hard enough to squeeze a HM into D3. :rolleyes:

viperlogic · 07-01-2014 12:30PM

Thank you for the reply's. For those who have ran Cork and Limerick, which is a faster course solely from a hill/pull/drag perspective, not supporters or weather etc? I have ran Cork so can then compare.

thx

Mr Freeze · 07-01-2014 12:36PM

Isn't Kildare supposed to be fairly flat too, but probably quite an exposed route?

I'm looking at either doing Limerick or Kildare this year.

menoscemo · 07-01-2014 12:46PM

viperlogic wrote: »

Thank you for the reply's. For those who have ran Cork and Limerick, which is a faster course solely from a hill/pull/drag perspective, not supporters or weather etc? I have ran Cork so can then compare.

thx

I have ran both. Cork is probably a touch faster purely in terms of the course but there is not much in it.

TFBubendorfer · 07-01-2014 12:47PM

Mr Freeze wrote: »

Isn't Kildare supposed to be fairly flat too, but probably quite an exposed route?

I'm looking at either doing Limerick or Kildare this year.

Kildare is reasonably flat, but there are a few climbs in there. I do remember a short but very steep one close to the halfway point that caused half of our group to drop off (I was pacing the 3:30 group).

And yes, it is exposed and it tends to be windy there. But if you're in good shape you can easily set a PB there.

TFBubendorfer · 07-01-2014 12:47PM

viperlogic wrote: »

Thank you for the reply's. For those who have ran Cork and Limerick, which is a faster course solely from a hill/pull/drag perspective, not supporters or weather etc? I have ran Cork so can then compare.

thx

I'd rank them pretty much the same.

Mr Freeze · 07-01-2014 01:00PM

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

And yes, it is exposed and it tends to be windy there. But if you're in good shape you can easily set a PB there.

Thanks, just looking to run my first.
Do you do pace each year for it?

viperlogic · 07-01-2014 01:01PM

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I'd rank them pretty much the same.

Thanks, I'm gonna go for Limerick id say as have ran Cork and Waterford last year and the heat/humidity in both kicked in about half way which knocked everyone's times. With Limerick earlier in the year the temps "should" be down which will help.

Also looking to line up Amsterdam for later in the year but will see how Limerick goes first.

TFBubendorfer · 07-01-2014 02:59PM

Mr Freeze wrote: »

Thanks, just looking to run my first.
Do you do pace each year for it?

No, I've only paced Kildare once. It's a bit far away from Kerry to be doing it on a regular basis. I did enjoy it very much, though,

ultraman1 · 07-01-2014 05:31PM

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

No, I've only paced Kildare once. It's a bit far away from Kerry to be doing it on a regular basis. I did enjoy it very much, though,

This year will be Ur second year doin it...

TFBubendorfer · 07-01-2014 06:05PM

ultraman1 wrote: »

This year will be Ur second year doin it...

Does that mean you're paying expenses this year, then? :rolleyes:

menoscemo · 07-01-2014 06:12PM

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Does that mean you're paying expenses this year, then? :rolleyes:

Is a free t-shirt and a bag of smarties not enough for you now?

Condo131 · 07-01-2014 09:50PM

One thing to bear in mind if you're thinking of a qualifying time for some big marathons, e.g. Boston, you'll need to have made your qualifying time on an AIMS registered course: This means, in Ireland: Cork, Portumna, Longford or Dublin. Charleville Half is also AIMS registered.

AIMS Calendar

Statement of Interest: I'm an AIMS/IAAF Measurer, and have measured Cork & Charleville.

menoscemo · 07-01-2014 09:55PM

Condo131 wrote: »

One thing to bear in mind if you're thinking of a qualifying time for some big marathons, e.g. Boston, you'll need to have made your qualifying time on an AIMS registered course: This means, in Ireland: Cork, Portumna, Longford or Dublin. Charleville Half is also AIMS registered.

AIMS Calendar

Statement of Interest: I'm an AIMS/IAAF Measurer, and have measured Cork & Charleville.

Not true, Boston accepted qualifying times from waterford, limerick, tralee, Derry and others this year (granted they took a little longer to 'verify' than the ones you mentioned but they accepted them in the end).

Condo131 · 07-01-2014 10:41PM

I stand corrected ......seems that the BAA has relaxed the qualifying races since I last checked.

However, from BAA website:
"There are many marathons that can be used to qualify. The Boston Marathon does not determine what races are Boston Qualifiers. Please contact the race you are interested in attempting your qualifying mark to see if they are certified by either USA Track & Field or AIMS (Association of International Marathons)."

One of the marathons courses you list does not comply with IAAF rules See Rule 240, on Page 246. So...if it isn't AIMS/IAAF certified..caveat emptor.

menoscemo · 07-01-2014 11:08PM

Condo131 wrote: »

I stand corrected ......seems that the BAA has relaxed the qualifying races since I last checked.

However, from BAA website:
"There are many marathons that can be used to qualify. The Boston Marathon does not determine what races are Boston Qualifiers. Please contact the race you are interested in attempting your qualifying mark to see if they are certified by either USA Track & Field or AIMS (Association of International Marathons)."

One of the marathons courses you list does not comply with IAAF rules See Rule 240, on Page 246. So...if it isn't AIMS/IAAF certified..caveat emptor.

Sorry, not reading that....don't shoot the messenger....

ger664 · 08-01-2014 01:36AM

AFAIK if the course is measured by an AIMS/IAFF measurer then Boston will accept the time even if its not an AIMS certified Race.

Condo131 · 08-01-2014 11:36AM

ger664 wrote: »

AFAIK if the course is measured by an AIMS/IAFF measurer then Boston will accept the time even if its not an AIMS certified Race.

I've no idea what BAA do or do not accept, but I'd be very surprised if they simply accepted on the basis that a course had been measured by an AIMS/IAAF measurer. The level of documentation required for an AIMS/IAAF measurement is significantly higher than for an "ordinary" race. The last sentence of my previous mail might give a bit of insight into that.

Also I've since had a PM about another course where the organisers have, reportedly, shortened the course since the original measurement - looking into that one at the mo'.

ger664 · 08-01-2014 02:53PM

Condo131 wrote: »

I've no idea what BAA do or do not accept, but I'd be very surprised if they simply accepted on the basis that a course had been measured by an AIMS/IAAF measurer. The level of documentation required for an AIMS/IAAF measurement is significantly higher than for an "ordinary" race. The last sentence of my previous mail might give a bit of insight into that.

Just to clarify. It has to be approved by that countries association in our case AAI and is measured by AIMS/IAFF measurer then Boston may accept the qualifying time. Speedy44 qualified this year from Limerick and thats the info which they got from the AAI. That was the case for this year race, but it may not be the case for times required for 2015. It may also depend on the type of permit the race has as well so it would be best to check with race/AAI firstly if a required qualifying time is needed.

As regards the standard of measurement any AIMS course I have ran has been bang on, so it shows the level of detail that is required to measure to that standard.

viperlogic · 08-01-2014 02:57PM

As a matter of interest, is the measured racing line for corners kerb to kerb or does the measured racing line go over footpaths?

Mulberry · 08-01-2014 03:07PM

Condo131 wrote: »

One thing to bear in mind if you're thinking of a qualifying time for some big marathons, e.g. Boston, you'll need to have made your qualifying time on an AIMS registered course: This means, in Ireland: Cork, Portumna, Longford or Dublin. Charleville Half is also AIMS registered.

AIMS Calendar

Statement of Interest: I'm an AIMS/IAAF Measurer, and have measured Cork & Charleville.

Hi there, I'd be very interested to know which side of the road is commonly used for measuring - so in a marathon am I better off sticking to the right or the left or the middle? Or does it make any difference?

At last - someone who knows the answer to this question - hopefully.

Many thanks.

RayCun · 08-01-2014 03:34PM

viperlogic wrote: »

As a matter of interest, is the measured racing line for corners kerb to kerb or does the measured racing line go over footpaths?

kerb to kerb

Mulberry wrote: »

Hi there, I'd be very interested to know which side of the road is commonly used for measuring - so in a marathon am I better off sticking to the right or the left or the middle? Or does it make any difference?

It depends on the route. The racing line is the shortest possible route, on the roads, measured about a foot out from the kerb.
If you come around a left hand turn, and the next corner is also on the left, the shortest route is down the left.
If you come around a right hand turn, and the next corner is also on the right, the shortest route is down the right.
If you come around a left hand turn, and the next corner is on the right, or vice versa, the shortest route is a straight line diagonally across the road from corner to corner.

Condo or ultraman had a really detailed post about this that I can't find

What Irish Marathon is considered flat & fast for a PB?

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