Tralee Marathon 2015 15/03/2015

averagejoe123

Hi,

I have decided to do this as my first marathon. I had initially thought Barcelona might be a better fit but have decided to keep it in Ireland.

Does anyone have any information on any of the following;

1. The number of participants anticipated
2. Will there be pacers? If so, for what times?
3. What is the course like? I see from their website that it has a number of hills but how much more difficult/easier would it be versus a flatter route?

Many Thanks

Joe

dublin runner

Numbers last year: 572

http://munsterrunning.blogspot.ie/2013/03/results-of-tralee-half-and-full.html

The course this year has changed, apparently making it flatter (someone with more info might clarify). The infamous Barrow Hill was been omitted. The course is fairly challenging but fair. It's a well run race and the night out in Tralee is a good one. There is a nice amount of on-course support but don't expect a big city marathon feeling.

Would I recommend? Yes. It's not the quickest course but the scenery makes it worthwhile.

There are pacers. I think every half an hour 3.00, 3.30 etc. Not entirely sure how many and what times though.

skittles8710

Have decided to do the half in Tralee instead of Connemara this year. Bit of a novelty factor for me as it's my home town.

Rumours are that the Barrow hill section on return from Fenit is to be removed for the full but don't think it's officially confirmed just yet.

Best of luck with the training!

chavezychavez

Go to here for details of the new route. Barrow and feint pier are not part of the run this year.
http://runthekingdom.ie/events-calendar/march-tralee-international-full-half-marathon/

averagejoe123

Cheers for the info guys, delighted to see the course is going to be a bit flatter this year. Hopefully the wind behaves itself and it gets a decent turnout.

Will be looking at accomadation over the weekend so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Joe

JohnDozer

What type of accommodation are you looking for? Hotel or b&b? In the town or out of it? And of course budget!

Probably going to have a crack at the half as well.

averagejoe123

I'm all about the convenience. If its a couple of quid extra to get a hotel near enough the start/finish i'm happy to pay...had budgeted for the Barcelona marathon so saving a decent bit doing Tralee. Plenty left in the kitty for pints after.

I'm trying to rope a few people in to running also. Have 2 lined up for the half but no one for the full as of yet, I need to work on my persuasion techniques.

opus

chavezychavez wrote: »

Go to here for details of the new route. Barrow and feint pier are not part of the run this year.
http://runthekingdom.ie/events-calendar/march-tralee-international-full-half-marathon/

I'm in myself for it as well. Too bad about Barrow hill, that was fun although not sorry to see the end of the run up & down the pier.

JohnDozer

If you want to be close to town and the start/ finish lines have a look at the Grand Hotel or the Imperial Hotel on Denny Street. If there is a few there is Finnegans Hostel on Denny Street too. Any of these will have you only 100 meters from both the start and finish lines, and very close to all areas for socialising after!

http://www.grandhoteltralee.com/?gclid=CP_1tMO7mMMCFWSK2wodGKEARg

http://www.imperialhoteltralee.com/

http://www.finnegans.hostel.com/

skittles8710

JohnDozer wrote: »

If you want to be close to town and the start/ finish lines have a look at the Grand Hotel or the Imperial Hotel on Denny Street. If there is a few there is Finnegans Hostel on Denny Street too. Any of these will have you only 100 meters from both the start and finish lines, and very close to all areas for socialising after!

http://www.grandhoteltralee.com/?gclid=CP_1tMO7mMMCFWSK2wodGKEARg

http://www.imperialhoteltralee.com/

http://www.finnegans.hostel.com/

All good options as mentioned above. Also available is Tralee townhouse if looking at the budget end or Fels Point Hotel is a bit of a stroll but a nice hotel for about 90 quid!

Hope you manage to convince a few to join you. Looking forward to the session that night already myself!

JohnDozer

I was only thinking afterwards yesterday, if you do want a hotel with a gym and a swimming pool, either the Brandon Hotel or Fels Point mentioned above would be good options, and still have you less than 10 minutes walk from all the action.

averagejoe123

Thanks for the recommendations folks, much appreciated!

quinlivan

I've signed up for the full. Really looking forward to it but really need to get my training in gear. 7 weeks

acorn

Any update on pacers ? Can't find info online

averagejoe123

Not sure but going by last years thread there was pacers for 3.15 and 3.30 so I would imagine there was pacers for other times. I'm not allowed to post URLs but just search Tralee marathon and the 2014 is first one. I have never really used pacers before in races but followed one today in the Trim 10 miler and he was brilliant so hopefully there will be a few in Tralee.

running coach pacer

acorn wrote: »

Any update on pacers ? Can't find info online

Sub 3 / 3.15 / 3.30/ 3.45 / 4.00 / 4.15 / 4.30 / 5.00

TFBubendorfer

running coach pacer wrote: »

Sub 3 / 3.15 / 3.30/ 3.45 / 4.00 / 4.15 / 4.30 / 5.00

Sub 3:00:09 / 3.15 / 3.30/ 3.45 / 4.00 / 4.15 / 4.30 / 5.00

Run and Jump

Start and finish lines have been moved, as per a post by the organisers on their Facebook page, because of the need to avoid traffic congestion with the Kerry-Donegal match on in Tralee also that afternoon.

Start will move back around the corner to the North Circular Road (near Dunnes Stores). Finish is no longer down Denny Street but on The Mall, the street just before turning into Denny Street.

(I had been looking forward to that finish straight down Denny Street. Oh well.)

averagejoe123

Will this have a big impact on the course elevation? Don't think they have updates the route on the website yet.

Thanks

TFBubendorfer

averagejoe123 wrote: »

Will this have a big impact on the course elevation?

None whatsoever

Run and Jump

Run and Jump wrote: »

Start and finish lines have been moved, as per a post by the organisers on their Facebook page, because of the need to avoid traffic congestion with the Kerry-Donegal match on in Tralee also that afternoon.

Start will move back around the corner to the North Circular Road (near Dunnes Stores). Finish is no longer down Denny Street but on The Mall, the street just before turning into Denny Street.

(I had been looking forward to that finish straight down Denny Street. Oh well.)

Just realised that there are now 2 famous marathons that finish on The Mall: London and Tralee!

acorn

Anyone know if there will be toilets somewhere on the route, first marathon, could be a long time out there !!

Run and Jump

acorn wrote: »

Anyone know if there will be toilets somewhere on the route, first marathon, could be a long time out there !!

Toilets at the start and at miles 6, 15, 18 and 22, says the course map just posted today.

quinlivan

17 days to go... Bloody hell!

Anyone know what the expected Full numbers are?

averagejoe123

The registration closes on the 8th so I would say full numbers will be announced then.

Any one know the craic with gels/isotonic drinks and if they will be given out at any of the water stations? I can't see any info on it.

quinlivan

How is everyone set for Sunday?

averagejoe123

quinlivan wrote: »

How is everyone set for Sunday?

Rearing to go! Spent the morning looking up the 7 day weather forecast for Tralee....It's looking OK, Max temp 13 with moderate winds from the south east, v low change of rain. I won't be reading too much into this but good to see that there are no extreme weather conditions on course.....for now!

Have changed my pace plan several times already today so god only knows what i'll be like come Saturday night. Fairly sure i'll head out with the 3.30 pacer and reassess in the 2nd half.

How are you fixed?

opus

Looking forward to it now that Ballycotton is out of the way, must stop myself checking the weather 'til later in the week

quinlivan

I'm as ready as I'm going to be. Would love to come in under 4:00 but don't know. Think I'm having taper-doubts but I'll see how it goes on the day.

I'm excited. This will be Marathon #3 for me. Not too nervous about the course profile - have ye done it before. Any tips?

averagejoe123

quinlivan wrote: »

I'm as ready as I'm going to be. Would love to come in under 4:00 but don't know. Think I'm having taper-doubts but I'll see how it goes on the day.

I'm excited. This will be Marathon #3 for me. Not too nervous about the course profile - have ye done it before. Any tips?

This will be my first marathon so I'm the one looking for tips! Have trained for another 2 but this will be the 1st time I'll make it to the start line....fingers crossed.

Course looks fair enough, I'm use to training on hills so hopefully these won't be too bad. I'm going to try and get down early enough on Saturday to watch the Ireland game and then i'll go for a 26.2 mile drive to see whats in store.

quinlivan

Can't believe you are going to drive it first. I'd rather not know whats instore
It'll all be new then on Sunday

ultraman1

Good to see tralee jumping on the bandwagon....

skittles8710

ultraman1 wrote: »

Good to see tralee jumping on the bandwagon....

Explain..

opus

ultraman1 wrote: »

Good to see tralee jumping on the bandwagon....

It's the third year of the Tralee marathon

averagejoe123

quinlivan wrote: »

Can't believe you are going to drive it first. I'd rather not know whats instore
It'll all be new then on Sunday

Ah it's more just to get an idea of it. I will have a few supporters with me on the day so I will need to suss out what points are the best to meet them on course. It looks accessible for supports at 6 & 12 miles close to Ardfert. Could anyone recommend a suitable place betweek miles 18-22 for support?

TFBubendorfer

averagejoe123 wrote: »

Ah it's more just to get an idea of it. I will have a few supporters with me on the day so I will need to suss out what points are the best to meet them on course. It looks accessible for supports at 6 & 12 miles close to Ardfert. Could anyone recommend a suitable place betweek miles 18-22 for support?

I understand you want to have some support on the course but please don't have you friends and/or family drive on the race route. A lot of the course is on narrow roads and cars and packs of runners are just not a good mix on those. That especially means avoiding the half marathon route.

Incidentally, between miles 18 and 22 the road is okay. They can stop anywhere along that route, there are plenty of suitable parking places.

If they meet you at Ardfert (miles 6 and 12-ish), possibly Fenit (18) and at Spa (22/23) that should be manageable I'd think.

averagejoe123

Perfect. I'd say thats what they will do so. Cheers for the info!

quinlivan

By the looks of it, its 360 registered for the Full, 564 registered for the Half...

averagejoe123

quinlivan wrote: »

By the looks of it, its 360 registered for the Full, 564 registered for the Half...

No wonder they left registration open longer. Would of preferred bigger numbers but not the end of the world.

More importantly....where's the session after!!?

quinlivan

When I ran Connemara there were about 600 runners. I was on my own for a lot of the first half (as the second half ran into the back of the half marathoners).

It doesnt really bother me as I do all my running on my own anyway but love feeding off the energy of others (not in a vampiric way).

quinlivan

Weather looks good for Sunday

JohnDozer

With Tralee being located where it is, and the wind generally coming from the Atlantic, be prepared to be facing into it for the early miles until you turn at Ardfert. If that is the way it pans out, you'll have it at your back, or at the very worst side on, for the remainder of the race. Hopefully it won't be too bad, but no harm in expecting it anyway... Nearly always an extra bit of wind around the area, especially if the tide is coming in, but I've no idea what time that happens Sunday.

TFBubendorfer

JohnDozer wrote: »

With Tralee being located where it is, and the wind generally coming from the Atlantic, be prepared to be facing into it for the early miles until you turn at Ardfert. If that is the way it pans out, you'll have it at your back, or at the very worst side on, for the remainder of the race. Hopefully it won't be too bad, but no harm in expecting it anyway... Nearly always an extra bit of wind around the area, especially if the tide is coming in, but I've no idea what time that happens Sunday.

Met.ie have a tiny bit of wind coming from south-east on Sunday, which means it would be on our backs at first and against it in the second half.

wunderground.com say there won't be any wind at all!

The Norwegians have it coming from the southeast as well, but at speeds of 2 or 3 m/s that's not even worth talking about.

Conditions will be great on Sunday, if a bit on the chilly side. Will need to decide between a t-shirt and long sleeves.

skittles8710

Best of luck to all on Sunday! last training run done I hope. I'll be out around the 10 and 20 miles cheering ye on

TFBubendorfer

quinlivan wrote: »

When I ran Connemara there were about 600 runners. I was on my own for a lot of the first half (as the second half ran into the back of the half marathoners).

It doesnt really bother me as I do all my running on my own anyway but love feeding off the energy of others (not in a vampiric way).

What pace are you planning on running?

There are pace groups every 15 minutes, which obviously means company for the entire race.

Anything in-between you may or may not find a buddy going at the same speed, at least for a while.

quinlivan

I'm aiming for 4:00... but operate better under fear conditions so might try stay ahead of the 4hr pacer if possible.

ultraman1

Nice medal,,,but wtf is a 13.1 mile marathon..

TFBubendorfer

ultraman1 wrote: »

Nice medal,,,but wtf is a 13.1 mile marathon..

It doesn't say miles anywhere

opus

Best of luck to everyone tomorrow! Better bring the sun glasses going by the clear skies & sunshine forecast

averagejoe123

opus wrote: »

Best of luck to everyone tomorrow! Better bring the sun glasses going by the clear skies & sunshine forecast

Just back from driving the course, missed a few of the mile markers. The roads around miles 8-13 aren't great but apart from that it seems like a nice scenic route. The hill between miles 22-23 will hurt!

Run and Jump

Well, how did everyone get on?

I aimed for sub-3:30 and stayed on the bus until mile 20. Alas, my recent chest infection had left me drained and so from mile 20 I felt a bit weak, so I parked my ego, cut my losses and ran in for 3:49:00.

Highlight for me: my sprint finish all on my own down the finishing straight of my home town.

Great weather and course, and apart from a few mile markers being way out (maybe due to a late route change) the organisation was excellent. I'll do it again.