Belfast or Limerick?

RayCun

Kildare marathon has been cancelled

Limerick - I remember they made a complete bollocks of the race the first year it was run. Have things improved?

Belfast - Poor support and a boring course from what I hear, but maybe these criticisms have been exaggerated?

Any other options? Connemara always a possibility but its a few weeks early, and I don't know if I want to deal with the logistics. Plus I was kind of keeping that for the ultra.

menoscemo

RayCun wrote: »

Kildare marathon has been cancelled

:eek:

RayCun wrote: »

Kildare Limerick - I remember they made a complete bollocks of the race the first year it was run. Have things improved?

Belfast - Poor support and a boring course from what I hear, but maybe these criticisms have been exaggerated?

Any other options? Connemara always a possibility but its a few weeks early, and I don't know if I want to deal with the logistics. Plus I was kind of keeping that for the ultra.

I'd say both Limerick and Belfast are grand, Limerick has improved a lot and Belfast has as many people praising it as against it (never done that one myself tbh). Connemara is one to do if you are not after any kind of time...
Derry is supposed to be great if you can wait until June? You'd have to be quick though as it has almost sold out...

morceli

I've only done Belfast and while it wouldn't be on the top of my list it would be grand for what you want. The relay can be a bit of a pain and annoy you a little but something you can deal with.
Once they have sorted the issue out with the bag collection that happened the it would be fine.
The course isn't the best first half is ok, slight climb but nothing major but once it turns and goes back to the city it is sparse, but saying that I wouldnt rule out running this again so it wasnt that bad.

RayCun

I've only a narrow window - going on holiday May 19th* and the race has to be before that, but don't want it to be too much earlier...

*maybe I shouldn't have posted that where Claralara and Digger could see it :eek:

menoscemo

RayCun wrote: »

I've only a narrow window - going on holiday May 19th* and the race has to be before that, but don't want it to be too much earlier...

*maybe I shouldn't have posted that where Claralara and Digger could see it :eek:

Make sure to wait till after London anyway

In all honesty though I would go for Limerick if I were you; it's on the Sunday of a Bank holiday weekend so you get a rest day afterwards. If you want to stay down the night there'll be a decent crowd of Boardie pacers down for the weekend.

career_move

RayCun wrote: »

Kildare marathon has been cancelled

Limerick - I remember they made a complete bollocks of the race the first year it was run. Have things improved?

Belfast - Poor support and a boring course from what I hear, but maybe these criticisms have been exaggerated?

Any other options? Connemara always a possibility but its a few weeks early, and I don't know if I want to deal with the logistics. Plus I was kind of keeping that for the ultra.

I thought Limerick was good last year. I liked the course. I liked going through the university and down O Connell street and I liked the out and back bit and seeing the faster and slower runners. The only bit I didn't like was going over the moving bridge near the university but it's quite short. Had no complaints about the organisation although I was a bit miffed to be 3rd in my age group and not get a prize

ultraman1

Do the marathon that is on may 15th,,part of the staplestown 50k/50 mile race. Or u could stop being a pussy and do the 50 miler

Running Fool

Just wondering why nobody here has mentioned Newry - they've announced a new flat course for 2014?

RayCun

Running Fool wrote: »

Just wondering why nobody here has mentioned Newry - they've announced a new flat course for 2014?

Has to be before May 19th

likestosmile

Tralee Marathon, March 16th -hilly and undulating route
Manchester Marathon, April 06th - advertised as a flat and fast route.

carlaboi

In the same boat here was signed up for Kildare gutted now! Looking at Connemara but its 2 weeks earlier than Kildare, then there is Limerick or Cork in June. Any bit of advice on which one people prefer would be great!

ger664

From a course profile Limerick is probably easier than Belfast.

TRR

I've ran Belfast 3 times and hate it! I ran it back in the days when there wasn't a marathon on every second week so limited choice. It may have changed for the better and I can't compare to Limerick.

tommykb

Have signed up, Kildare cancellation a real disappointment

carlaboi

Have decided on Newry in May instead. Let the training commence!

opus

RayCun wrote: »

Kildare marathon has been cancelled

Limerick - I remember they made a complete bollocks of the race the first year it was run. Have things improved?

Belfast - Poor support and a boring course from what I hear, but maybe these criticisms have been exaggerated?

Any other options? Connemara always a possibility but its a few weeks early, and I don't know if I want to deal with the logistics. Plus I was kind of keeping that for the ultra.

I ran in Belfast last year & it was fine, only part I disliked was when the course ran along the A6 (pretty much a motorway) for a while. Was interesting to run through the different neighbourhoods, some festooned with tricolours, some with union jacks & some with none. Finish was grand in a park & I had no problem with bags or anything.

It's a good option if you want to make a weekend of it as plenty to do/see there, got in a taxi tour, a visit to the Titanic museum plus a hike up the hills outside the city the morning after the marathon.

Coincidentally I'm doing the Limerick marathon this year to see what it's like.

Toblerone1978

Profile wise, can anyone comment on how the Limerick marathon compares to DCM route?