Na Fianna Bob Heffernan 5k 2014 - 20th May

Krusty_Clown

Just wondering if anyone was headed to this race tomorrow? No mention of it on the forums. Weather looks pretty good, with just the mildest of head-winds (3 m/s). Some mentions of the road changing slightly due to roadworks, but conflicting reports on whether that'll make the route faster or slower.

So anyone going?

BTW: Entry still seems to be open, at a very reasonable €12 + €0.66

menoscemo

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone was headed to this race tomorrow? No mention of it on the forums. Weather looks pretty good, with just the mildest of head-winds (3 m/s). Some mentions of the road changing slightly due to roadworks, but conflicting reports on whether that'll make the route faster or slower.

So anyone going?

This is a super fast one KC. I am sure you will go sub 16 on it.

Not going this year, timing just doesn't suit (no shape to be racing and have a work dinner anyway).

drquirky

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone was headed to this race tomorrow? No mention of it on the forums. Weather looks pretty good, with just the mildest of head-winds (3 m/s). Some mentions of the road changing slightly due to roadworks, but conflicting reports on whether that'll make the route faster or slower.

So anyone going?

Fastest course in Ireland (besides the maligned MSB one):D. Obviously not running this year but wish I was. KC-I would bet the farm on a sub 16 for you here (if you race it) (no pressure) :eek::eek::eek:

Timmaay

Hmmmmmm

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Not part of the plan, but ya got me well tempted now!

pistol_75

I'm doing it. First race since injury. Not race fit but I'll give it a bash anyway to get a marker of where I'm at.

Jnealon

Fastest 5k I know of. Route is faster than last years as it runs along the new edenderry road.
Great race and well worth the spin down

happygoose

Definite sub 16 for you. Fantastic race on a super fast course. Hope the rain holds off for the evening.

W.B. Yeats

The course was very fast last year- I was one of the many that PBed on it. There was also a good slua of fast runners at it as I think it's part of a Meath League but also close enough to Dublin, Mullingar and Tullamore. It was well organised and good value.
I believe the course may have changed slightly this year.

average_runner

This is a pb course for sure. Wont be running it, but its a big race with our club, so be alot of our runners at it.

Krusty_Clown

So just me and Timmaay then?

Will be heading from Sandyford direction, if anyone is undecided (sign-ups on the day) and would like a lift?

pistol_75

Anybody got a garmin link to the course? even last years? The one in the sticky doesn't seem to give an accurate profile.

Krusty_Clown

pistol_75 wrote: »

Anybody got a garmin link to the course? even last years? The one in the sticky doesn't seem to give an accurate profile.

I just mapped it a moment ago (based on the old route). Looks flat as a pancake (click on the elevation graph on the top left). You can probably expect a little more climb at the start due to the road changes, but otherwise pretty similar.

menoscemo

pistol_75 wrote: »

Anybody got a garmin link to the course? even last years? The one in the sticky doesn't seem to give an accurate profile.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/316260956

Krusty_Clown

menoscemo wrote: »

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/316260956

Do you happen to remember if the course is marked with 'km' markers?

drquirky

pistol_75 wrote: »

Anybody got a garmin link to the course? even last years? The one in the sticky doesn't seem to give an accurate profile.

Straight and incredibly fast. I think one or two turns max lol. Trust me there is simply not a faster course around . Always a good field as well- I think at least 30 under 17 last year!

menoscemo

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Do you happen to remember if the course is marked with 'km' markers?

Not 100 % sure if it was KM or miles but I think KM

Timmaay

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

So just me and Timmaay then?

Will be heading from Sandyford direction, if anyone is undecided (sign-ups on the day) and would like a lift?

Ugh can't get off work early enough, and feeling that 60mins 'easy' I did yday now, so sorry your on your own! But best of luck, I'll get in one of the other flat 5ks instead, or might just go for a track 5k

digger2d2

I'm in - CL's in but we can't tell TRR

GoTheDistance

First time poster - long term lurker. I'm not part of the race organisation.

The course will be measured in KMs.

The course has only changed due to the fact that the Edenderry to Enfield road has been subject to a major upgrade over the past 18 months or so. The race will start on the R402 as previous years.

Unfortunately aerial imagery and Streetviews etc have not caught up with these changes - (look to where the Thomastown road meets the R402 - I cannot post links). It's likely that the participants will be asked to wait on this road and then lead out to the start - the R402 is a busy road.

The 1st KM marker is just when you take the next left (the Kilmurray road).

Due to the road resurfacing/re-alignment the start sees a very very slight incline. I'm not surveyor but it's probably 1 meter rise spread over 100m horizontal.

Out from this the course is identical to previous years. The Na Fianna club had the course re-measured several times because of these changes.

The remaining 4KM of the race are essentially traffic free: roads are not closed but traffic volume is fairly low.

The only actual rise on the course occurs at about 400M to go where there is an old culvert bridge. That's it.

I'd agree with the posters above. One of the fastest courses for 5KM that you'll find. A top notch race in every sense of the word.

Parking is available in around the Hamlet Hotel or anywhere in the village of Johnstownbridge.

Exit 9 on the M4

Krusty_Clown

GoTheDistance wrote: »

Due to the road resurfacing/re-alignment the start sees a very very slight incline. I'm not surveyor but it's probably 1 meter rise spread over 100m horizontal.

Thanks GoTheDistance. I'm sure we can manage the extra metre rise.
(famous last words).

GoTheDistance

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Thanks GoTheDistance. I'm sure we can manage the extra metre rise.
(famous last words).

Well I have the 'I'm not a surveyor disclaimer' ;-) - You'll have the 1 mile (approx) jog to the start area so you'll be able to have a little look before you start. Best of luck KC.

corny

Can you jump off at exit 8 to avoid the toll bridge?

Krusty_Clown

corny wrote: »

Can you jump off at exit 8 to avoid the toll bridge?

This looks like it might avoid it: map

Yes take the exit before hand and go round the roundabout to the Enfield exit off the roundabout

what time should we show up to pick up numbers etc

menoscemo

bluewolf wrote: »

Yes take the exit before hand and go round the roundabout to the Enfield exit off the roundabout

what time should we show up to pick up numbers etc

They'll give you out your number any time up to about 15 minutes before the off but bear in mind that the start is about a mile away. I'd be aiming to get there before 7:30 to avoid any panic.

menoscemo

menoscemo wrote: »

This is a super fast one KC. I am sure you will go sub 16 on it.

Not going this year, timing just doesn't suit (no shape to be racing and have a work dinner anyway).

drquirky wrote: »

Fastest course in Ireland (besides the maligned MSB one):D. Obviously not running this year but wish I was. KC-I would bet the farm on a sub 16 for you here (if you race it) (no pressure) :eek::eek::eek:

looks like we were right!!
http://www.precisiontiming.net/result.aspx?v=1900

drquirky

Great running KC. To say I was confident of the sub 16 though would be a pretty big understatement!

(btw still think that MSB run was legit)

pointer28

49 under 17 mins and Fagan wins by a full minute!

Krusty_Clown

What a great race. The best thing about this race isn't the very flat, fast course. It isn't the ideal location just off the m50. It isn't all of the wonderful volunteers and marshals. It isn't that the fact that the final 500m is largely downhill. It is the fact that they have something that no other race in Ireland has. Decent coffee.

Nah, just kidding. It's the standard that shows up for this race. Incredible. !5:52 get's you 2nd m40, and outside of the top 10. Nothing like it!

Also the coffee..

wideball

Great race, congrats KC on sub 16. Super running in a top class field. Well deserved. I'm happy out with my first sub 17 (16:58), a bit of a sprint for the line!

corny

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157644763278914/with/14046377990/

Some race photos.

menoscemo

If you click your name on the results, there is a videos of your finish.
Nice touch from precision timing. I noticed the same thing on the Sportsworld 5 mile.

walshb

My mate did a 15:42. Almost a 30 second PB in less than a year!

walshb

What made the course quick? Slight downhill throughout?

drquirky

walshb wrote: »

My mate did a 15:42. Almost a 30 second PB in less than a year!

Why would anyone here give a flying duck about what your "mate" ran

Krusty_Clown

walshb wrote: »

What made the course quick? Slight downhill throughout?

It's dead flat, has few turns, and has a very competitive field. Also, the last 500 is slightly downhill. There is no significant elevation change between the start and finish (I reckon 3m).

walshb

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

It's dead flat, has few turns, and has a very competitive field. Also, the last 500 is slightly downhill. There is no significant elevation change between the start and finish (I reckon 3m).

You got a PB? That's great. Take out the turns and even a better time is possible.

Krusty_Clown

walshb wrote: »

You got a PB? That's great. Take out the turns and even a better time is possible.

I don't think those two turns would really add anything to one's time, as they're nice and curved (more so than they appear on the map). The only way one could make that course slightly faster would be to put the finish line on the road, instead of inside the car-park, so people could see the clock ahead of them. I reckon it would be worth 4-5 seconds.

menoscemo

walshb wrote: »

What made the course quick? Slight downhill throughout?

The course is a horse-shoe shape. Not quite a point to point but the start and finish are a mile apart.
I heard from some of the locals last year that the course is designed so that the prevailing wind is helping most of the way. I think after the first k; the next 4k is pretty much downwind most of the time and at no point are you running straight into the wind (assuming a westerly).

corny

menoscemo wrote: »

The course is a horse-shoe shape. Not quite a point to point but the start and finish are a mile apart.
I heard from some of the locals last year that the course is designed so that the prevailing wind is helping most of the way. I think after the first k; the next 4k is pretty much downwind most of the time and at no point are you running straight into the wind (assuming a westerly).

The hedgerow blocks out the wind most of the time anyway.

Finish line really sneaks up on you.

walshb

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I don't think those two turns would really add anything to one's time, as they're nice and curved (more so than they appear on the map). .

Indeed. It's them damned 180 turns that you encounter in some races that really can affect your stride and rhythm. That's the thing about PBs and the "perfect" race, it's so dependent on the course and the weather. I may just target this race next year!

Anyone think a straight line 5 k run with no wind (very very little wind) at all would produce records?

carlton36

corny wrote: »

Finish line really sneaks up on you.

:rolleyes:

?? I thought it would never come!!:)