Clontarf Half Marathon - 21st November 2015

Battery Kinzie

Anyone doing this? Signed up the other day, hoping for little wind but knowing that area like I do, it's highly unlikely.

Wubble Wubble

Hopefully. I'm injured at the moment, but with a bit of luck I'll be able to pick it up again in a week or two.

Halloween Jack

Is this one worth running? Is it well organised etc?

KJ

I've signed up for it. Haven't done it before so don't really know anything about it.

Phoole

Its one of my least favourite. I find it quite boring and the sand horrible to run on. I've never done a decent time at this race. But I'll probably do it again this year!

chris85

Phoole wrote: »

Its one of my least favourite. I find it quite boring and the sand horrible to run on. I've never done a decent time at this race. But I'll probably do it again this year!

Will probably look at doing this also. I like the area and running around there so will see. Great place to run in the summer but in the Winter if windy and rainy its a different story altogether.

Done some beach running for the Sandymount night run 10km earlier this year and found it better than I thought.

estariol

For me weather was easier in novembers race, July 2014 vs November 2014 only about a minute in the difference.

Saint Sonner

Whats the best way to sign up for this?

Greenmachine

Plan on doing this, but have not yet signed up. I will have to get my skates on soon. Will be my first half marathon and my third race.

SligoBrewer

Just signed up. My first half marathon so we'll see how it goes.

Murph_D

Local race for me but can't see myself ever doing it. Lovely route scenery wise but too much sand, too much risk of headwind and too much interference from the concurrent 5 mile race. Pity. Would love to see a good coastal HM in the city but this isn't the one for me.

Duanington

Murph_D wrote: »

Local race for me but can't see myself ever doing it. Lovely route scenery wise but too much sand, too much risk of headwind and too much interference from the concurrent 5 mile race. Pity. Would love to see a good coastal HM in the city but this isn't the one for me.

Its a real shame though - if they could get a few road closures sorted there's a whole mix of routes available to them ( taking in Raheny, Killester, maybe Baldoyle etc)

KJ

Saint Sonner wrote: »

Whats the best way to sign up for this?

http://www.runclontarf.com/index.php/enter/half-marathon

scotindublin

Doing this one as my second half marathon so looking forward to it.

How much of the route is on sand? I am assuming that the sand will be very compact as well.

Greenmachine

Murph_D wrote: »

Local race for me but can't see myself ever doing it. Lovely route scenery wise but too much sand, too much risk of headwind and too much interference from the concurrent 5 mile race. Pity. Would love to see a good coastal HM in the city but this isn't the one for me.

Bigger worry for me, and I have only just seen in the last few day, is half marathon walkers start time 9:20am, racers 10am. Easy walking pace for many could be 12-15 minute for km maybe slower. So the faster runners will hit a wall of walkers already after 4-5km. No idea how many actually walk, as we can't judge by pace alone. No idea how spread out they would be at this point or numbers either.

Phoebas

I've done this a couple of times. Its a nice enough route along the coast, but running on the sand can be difficult, in particular the short sections on very soft sand getting on and off the beach.
The wind can be a killer too.

Murph_D

Greenmachine wrote: »

Bigger worry for me, and I have only just seen in the last few day, is half marathon walkers start time 9:20am, racers 10am. Easy walking pace for many could be 12-15 minute for km maybe slower. So the faster runners will hit a wall of walkers already after 4-5km. No idea how many actually walk, as we can't judge by pace alone. No idea how spread out they would be at this point or numbers either.

Wall of walkers? Wouldn't worry, tends not to happen. Good to let walkers off early, works well for them and for runners too. It's the five milers you have to worry about on this route (not that they are at fault, they are just doing the race they signed up for).

Murph_D

Duanington wrote: »

Its a real shame though - if they could get a few road closures sorted there's a whole mix of routes available to them ( taking in Raheny, Killester, maybe Baldoyle etc)

I don't think expensive road closures are part of the organiser's business plan. That road HM that I would certainly love to do will have to wait :pac:

Pink11

I had a personal disaster for this one in July so not too keen to do it again.

Besides what happened to me there were other things I didn't like - echo who said that the course is boring (but I do my training along here a lot so that's probably why it doesn't appeal to me!).
Also didn't think there were enough water stations.
Running on the beach was awful. (I've ran the Sandymount 10k which had sand and it was fine - Clontarf sand stretch is a different beast!)

Greenmachine

Murph_D wrote: »

Wall of walkers? Wouldn't worry, tends not to happen. Good to let walkers off early, works well for them and for runners too. It's the five milers you have to worry about on this route (not that they are at fault, they are just doing the race they signed up for).

5 miler myself in July gone. Although I was admittedly one of the faster 5 milers, I can I imagine if people push themselves too hard they could end up walking back along the wooden bridge, and onto the seafront. I imagine it is most challenging for those guys at the front of the pack in the half.

If I can get myself fit again in time. Will be a stretch. Today I considered going to Clonakilty in the beginning of December if I have got the miles in my legs to the half in Clontarf.
I don't even know where Clonakilty is, I know, it is Cork.
I'm that sore about all the running I missed. To think I used to dread walking an extra 700m when my first choice of bus didn't show.

Peadar_85

Found it quite boring to be honest as it's an 'out and back' loop. Didn't find the sand or winds that bad but probably was lucky with the day I ran it.

Finglas Flier

Have done this Summer and Winter. Last Winter they supplied a double Decker bus for runners to sit on as it was quite Baltic outside. Lovely and warm. It is a very exposed course as you might expect beside the sea. Two years ago, did this in Summer on the tail end of a storm. Got completely sand blasted on the route back in . Good exfoliation mind you for free.
Glasses may be an idea to bring along if the weather is windy. Lots of loose sand. Walkers are not really an issue in the November run. To cold for many.

You can not register on the morning. They are pretty sharp about that as the course is open to pedestrians so bear that in mind. But it is flat and it is organized well enough..

A nice end of season run...am doing it again... :-)

Oisin11178

Its a faboulous course. Ive done many marathons on it. The beach section can be tough and it can be windy but that's part of the appeal for a lot of people. There are tonnes of road races out there for people to do. its great to have a beach/trail section in some races. If you go out a little further away from the soft sand you can get very runnable sand. I don't think a wall of walkers is gonna be a problem as the beach is huge and you probably wont even notice them. As for road closures. The red tape and expense can be brutal.
Id deffo recommend this race.

MisterDrak

Doing this one myself. Did both the Summer and Winter events for a few years now, so I suppose I couldn't resist...

Given its an out an back race, Its great (some times not so great) to see the lead the top guys have by half way...

dekbhoy

IVE DID THIS IN THE PAST AND GOT MY HM PB... very small section of soft sand but once you go out to the running part its absolutely fine to run on. very well organised race

Finglas Flier

Not quite sold out yet...but getting there!!!

Joleigh

I have registered for this. First time doing this one so im a bit apprehensive. Wondering where to park, what time to leave the house, will there be toilets, will the queues be huge. Will I be freezing while waiting to start (I already know the answer to that one). Once I get running I will be grand. Already looking forward to the soup at the end.

MisterDrak

Joleigh wrote: »

I have registered for this. First time doing this one so im a bit apprehensive. Wondering where to park, what time to leave the house, will there be toilets, will the queues be huge. Will I be freezing while waiting to start (I already know the answer to that one). Once I get running I will be grand. Already looking forward to the soup at the end.

The car park opposite the bottom of Hollybrook road will fill up pretty fast, but there is plenty of on street parking around Clontarf anyway, just give your self time, to park up and warmup.
The race seems to be growing in popularity, I ran the first (summer one) years ago with only about 100 others, this one however will probably fill to capacity.
As regards the weather, with the wrong conditions, it can be pretty unforgiving on the beach section out or back, which comprise of 1.6miles each way.

kit3

Finglas Flier wrote: »

Not quite sold out yet...but getting there!!!

Are you involved in organising this one FF ?

Baggirshorts

Looking forward to this race this weekend. I hope the weather stays calm. Did this a few years back in the Summer when there was a real storm blowing through.....Horrible on the beach that day...LOL..

Baggirshorts

Weather looks not to bad for Saturday...at the moment...
NW breeze....with about 5*Celsius.....50% chance of a shower.....

So will be cold before the race......ah well....

meor

Signed up to do this tomorrow. Did 17km two weeks ago, couple of 5s and 10s since then, hoping that's enough! Best of luck!

Baggirshorts

meor wrote: »

Signed up to do this tomorrow. Did 17km two weeks ago, couple of 5s and 10s since then, hoping that's enough! Best of luck!

Should be more then enough. Very flat course...but will be quite cold in the morning...
Good luck to all participating in it...:-)

Battery Kinzie

Baggirshorts wrote: »

Should be more then enough. Very flat course...but will be quite cold in the morning...
Good luck to all participating in it...:-)

Looking like it'll be a bit breezy too.

Good luck to yourself too.

Baggirshorts

Well, it wasn't too cold in the end, pre the race starting... The race started a little further down the sea front then normal. I think well over 3,000 runners/walkers for the events.... There was only a small bit of loose sand to contend with before running on the beach, which was firm enough under foot. North/Westerly breeze kept things cool enough for a while but then it seemed to drop away once you were off the beach.
No rain or showers for the duration of the race, which was a bonus..:-)

I clocked my finishing time @ 1:41 (still waiting for the official time) which would be a PB for me at this distance by about 5 minutes but then this is a very flat course.

On a side note...I think I ran with a slight groin strain, which I had injured at work on Wednesday (never had that type of injury before..:-) )
Running off the beach for the last time and I felt it get sore when I was running across the loose sand..but I wanted to get a sub 5 mpk for the race...so I just kept the pace going....

It's sore now but....I would say worth it....:-)

meor

Congrats, good summary. Managed 1:50:57 for my first half, delighted. Well done all.

Baggirshorts

Good running meor...very well done for your first.....

Battery Kinzie

meor wrote: »

Congrats, good summary. Managed 1:50:57 for my first half, delighted. Well done all.

Congrats. Was less than a minute behind you myself, I'm a first timer too so pretty happy.

Phoole

Really enjoyed today. The easiest half I've ever done but I'll put that down to the DCM training. That said, I didn't do a PB as I was nervous from previous experiences at this race where I've struggled, so I took it very handy on the way out. It felt great to be passing so many people on the way back.

JosDel

Well done to all my CSH buddies

PauloMN

Good conditions for the half today, bit of a breeze to contend with on the beach on the way back, and coming off the beach on the wooden bridge on the way back was tough enough as well. Aside from that the wind didn't really play a part so we were lucky.

Found it hard to get going for the first couple of km due to the crowds, not easy to get into a settled pace until 3km onwards, but after that it was grand. Wanted sub-1:50, so stuck just behind the pacers for about 4km. Decided I was feeling strong so left them and went on a bit further myself, just hovering over 5min/km pace for most of the rest of the race. Managed to up the pace quite a bit for the last 3km which I was delighted with as I have struggled in the final part of this distance before and came in at 1:46, a 4 min PB.

The soup was very welcome at the end as I started to cool down pretty quickly after finishing! Well organised in general, would do it again.

Baggirshorts

PauloMN wrote: »

The soup was very welcome at the end as I started to cool down pretty quickly after finishing! Well organised in general, would do it again.

I missed the soup. Did a very quick warm down jog and then straight back into the car and home. Was cooling down quite quickly afterwards.....

kin9pin

Just wanted to say thanks to the organisers. This was my second hm and i managed to run 1:57, my first time under 2 hours. Have to say I was surprised how clear the run was, I was expecting gridlock but found the whole run to be very clear ( that's probably due to the slower pace I was running)
Great job again by the pacers, the encouragement really helped.

Battery Kinzie

kin9pin wrote: »

Just wanted to say thanks to the organisers. This was my second hm and i managed to run 1:57, my first time under 2 hours. Have to say I was surprised how clear the run was, I was expecting gridlock but found the whole run to be very clear ( that's probably due to the slower pace I was running)
Great job again by the pacers, the encouragement really helped.

Agreed, it was very well organised. I went out with the 2hr pacers for the first few k and I thought they were great. Funny and encouraging, can only imagine how good they wouldve been on the way back in.

scotindublin

Very well organised event and like a few have said thanks to all the event staff and marshals.

Found coming off the beach to the Clontarf Road tough on the way back. Just dipped under 1hr 45 with 1:44:47 so happy with that for my second half marathon.

Seriously considering the Dublin Marathon for 2016 now.

niallo32

Really enjoyed that, great route and aside from the beach on the way back - it wasn't too cold.

Got a new PB of 1.47:44 - went too handy in the first half but will definitely do it next summer.

Well organised and loved the medal.

AAD

I also really enjoyed yesterday, that was until 17k in, on the beach, my energy levels just completely crashed. I just kept saying to myself "get me off this F#####g beach" I have never felt that bad while running. But thanks to people at the end of the bridge and along the path back I finished it.

Overall, I did get a PB at 10K but it was a very poor run from me. The medal was class and the banana never tasted as good, my first but certainly not my last Clontarf half,

Thanks to the organisers and all the volunteers on the course without you guys theses races can't happen.

Greenmachine

Well done to all who made it out yesterday to the Clontarf half.

KJ

niallo32 wrote: »

Really enjoyed that, great route and aside from the beach on the way back - it wasn't too cold.

Got a new PB of 1.47:44 - went too handy in the first half but will definitely do it next summer.

Well organised and loved the medal.

I must have been just before you at 1.47.24. Really enjoyed the race except for the bridge on the way back which was quite windy and drained me for the last 3km. New PB though so happy with that.

PauloMN

Has anyone seen any photos from the day?

Gillo

Also managed a new PB 1:52:48 I took about 3 minutes off my previous; I managed to pace it fairly well and had loads in the tank for a brilliant sprint the last 150 or so metres. The training for DCM definitely helped the as the only bit I found tough was the wooden bridge coming back. The beach definitely seems to be the part to make good time as I found I got "boxed" in a fair number of times when in the cycle track.
Apart from the cold hanging around at the start it was much nicer than the summer one and again really well organised.