Tralee Marathon, 12th March

Anyone else doing it?

Did 35km of the route in wet and windy conditions today. Nice, fast out to Ardfert, then we faced into a strong wind around Barrow and Churchill. Hill up to Barrow is interesting. Some lovely scenery running along the coast on way back in, though today involved a lot of head down to keep the hat on!

Think there are 3.30 pacers so will stick with them and let them do the work. Doesn't seem like a place for a PB so anything under 3.30 will be grand.

opus

Yup I'll be giving it a go, I read that it's back to the old route this year which I actually preferred even with that tasty treat at Barrow Hill!

TFBubendorfer

I'm doing it as well and I was a bit surprised by the sudden announcement of the route reverting back to the old one.

I never saw the point of running up Barrow hill only to turn around and run down again to be honest.

I thought last year that they had finally found a good route and was sorry to see it change again.

Barrow is an unusual one alright. As most of my running is on mountains, can't claim it is too hard but might upset some of those used to flatter roads. And it's like they go out of their way to take it in, it being on an out and back spur in the route.

TFBubendorfer

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I'm doing it as well and I was a bit surprised by the sudden announcement of the route reverting back to the old one...

You pacing it or running it?

You've placed high in it before, didn't you win a category?

Actually, I see a top 10 in '13, a category win, a category win in '14...so looks like a happy hunting ground for you!

Killerz

Did this in 2013 (which was the first year of it I believe) myself. It's a tough enough course I think, that Barrow bit is a bit of an oddity alright, it's almost like as if they added that in as a 'Hell of the West' talking point type thing. Perfect conditions that year which helped and a decent enough event overall. Best of luck with it.

dublin runner

Killerz wrote:

Did this in 2013 (which was the first year of it I believe) myself. It's a tough enough course I think, that Barrow bit is a bit of an oddity alright, it's almost like as if they added that in as a 'Hell of the West' talking point type thing. Perfect conditions that year which helped and a decent enough event overall. Best of luck with it.

Barrow Hill is wayyyy tougher, particularly on the way down!

I was going to run the new course as a steady long run but now won't. Still a very scenic course and well worth the effort.

Hilden

I'm running it too. Trainings gone to sh1t though. I wasn't intending on an astronomical PB but was hoping to better my Cork time last year. On a clear day do you think its possible? I definitely wasn't expecting to make it on the newer 2016 route as some of the drags were very long. Really looking forward to it!

Run and Jump

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I'm doing it as well and I was a bit surprised by the sudden announcement of the route reverting back to the old one.

I never saw the point of running up Barrow hill only to turn around and run down again to be honest.

I thought last year that they had finally found a good route and was sorry to see it change again.

Thank God it's going back to the old route - the proposed new route was horrible. Whatever about the hills, the old route has great scenery around Tralee Bay. The proposed new route just went up the mountains, and took in only one street in Tralee (just before the finish).

Feeling smug also, because I did last year's marathon when the route bypassed Barrow Doing the half this year: just the one tasty climb in the middle.

TFBubendorfer

Run and Jump wrote: »

Thank God it's going back to the old route - the proposed new route was horrible.

Well, I got a bit of a shock when I saw the proposed new route and immediately dropped my plans to try for a new PB but it would have made for a good training run

I never liked Barrow hill and could have done without a return. Maybe that's just me as the FB comments seem surprisingly enthusiastic.

opus

Best of luck to everyone tomorrow, weather gods look like they'll be kind again. The weather has always been my only concern for Tralee as it could be brutal if there was a storm coming in from the Atlantic!

TFBubendorfer

I've got another one. Wind will be noticeable but manageable.
They differ quite a bit with regards to temperature, though!

Run and Jump

The organisation for this year's event has gone a little downhill since last year. No bag drop for runners this year, plus the event website has the wrong location for the bib collection today (it's at Fels Point, not the Brandon).

Added to the complete change of routes just 4 weeks before the event, and the steep entry price (50 euro for the half marathon), it doesn't give a great impression of the planning.

UPDATE: Tralee Marathon subsequently tweeted me to say there WILL be a bag drop at Fels Point. At the bib collection today the people at the race desk had insisted there was no bag drop for the race at all.

I can't see on the site if another person can collect the bib - won't be there until about 8.30 am.

Furthermore, pretty sure I saw something about pacers...they will have pacers, will they?

TFBubendorfer

Deleted User wrote: »

I can't see on the site if another person can collect the bib - won't be there until about 8.30 am.

From http://www.traleemarathon.com/find-out-more.html
SATURDAY, MARCH 12
• Bib Pick Up – 7am to 8.30am
at the Fels Point Hotel

Furthermore, pretty sure I saw something about pacers...they will have pacers, will they?

yes there will be pacers, from 3:15 to 5:00

Crash and burn...

3.33.50something. Not a wipeout but was hoping to go at least 10 mins faster, had run most of the route much faster in training. Ach, you live and learn, went out too fast, suffered from Fenit on. Just so different to mountain running where the last third of the race might be a sufferfest...but at least it's usually downhill anyway!

ger664

tfb and jscmum both finished 4th in male and female races and picked up age catogery prizes today.

TFBubendorfer

ger664 wrote: »

tfb and jscmum both finished 4th in male and female races and picked up age catogery prizes today.

It was one of my better days (and jcsmum's as well, I guess )

opus

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

It was one of my better days (and jcsmum's as well, I guess )

Great run, congrats on the result! Your weather forecasters certainly beat my Norwegian ones

Poncho1964

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

It was one of my better days (and jcsmum's as well, I guess )

Congrats on the 75th marathon medal Thomas. Great stuff

Rowdy Roddy

Congrats

Chilli Con Kearney

Hi all

Just wondering how you felt this course compared to the DCM course? Thinking of going down to it but not fully committed yet.

Thanks

opus

It's a new route for '17 so no idea I'm afraid, the previous one had a nice tasty hill around the 17k mark and then a few other climbs along the way.

Race director Martin O’Sullivan of Tralee Harriers has created a new marathon route for 2017 that is sure to be of interest to experienced runners and newcomers alike

chavezychavez

Route for marathon can be found here

Barrow hill is gone from it thankfully. Not a flat course by any means, but a lot of the climbs are more like slow burners.

Ones to note

Miles 5 to 8 - Steady climb out of Tralee towards Ardfert, nothing steep there but goes on for a while.

Miles 14 to 15.5 - Banna to Ardfert. Again not too steep but can be a leg sapper if the wind is against. Very isolated out around Banna there for the wind to be blowing at strength.

Miles 18.5 to 20 - Churchill and beyond. The double climb here is the first of the tougher climbs on the route. Once you reach Churchill, you go on to the new part of the route for this year. Goes downhill for a while but quickly back up hill again. One to watchout for and take your time on

Miles 23.5 to 24.25 - 3/4's of a mile with a final steep enough uphill. At this point in the race, you could see a lot walking this hill. If you can force your way up it, there is a nice downhill and flat finish afterwards.

I'll be pacing the 3:45 train again this year, so if any of ye fancy jumping on board, you're more than welcome.

opus

Is it still the same route as above as I saw this post on the facebook page earlier when I was checking to see what I needed to do that morning. Strange I haven't had any contact from them since I entered and the race is less than a week away

This is half & full Route if your doing the full you'll loop it, the marathon full & half 9.30 5k & 10k 10 on march 18th. Register here http://www.traleemarathon.com/

chavezychavez

opus wrote: »

Is it still the same route as above as I saw this post on the facebook page earlier when I was checking to see what I needed to do that morning. Strange I haven't had any contact from them since I entered and the race is less than a week away

No they changed it about 3 weeks ago. Now its a 2 loop course.
Overall its a flatter course, there's only 1 major hill that you need to tackle twice, so if the weather permits, it should be fast enough.
As for updates, it looks like any info is getting posted on Facebook. I've no idea if they have any intention of sending out info.
Whats your plan for the day Opus? You dropping the hammer?

Chilli Con Kearney

chavezychavez wrote: »

No they changed it about 3 weeks ago. Now its a 2 loop course.
Overall its a flatter course, there's only 1 major hill that you need to tackle twice, so if the weather permits, it should be fast enough.
As for updates, it looks like any info is getting posted on Facebook. I've no idea if they have any intention of sending out info.
Whats your plan for the day Opus? You dropping the hammer?

Hi chavez

Are there many pacers in this one? I know you said that you're doing 3:45. Thanks

chavezychavez

Chilli Con Kearney wrote: »

Hi chavez

Are there many pacers in this one? I know you said that you're doing 3:45. Thanks

From what I can gather for the full theres 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 5:00, 5:15, 5:30?

opus

chavezychavez wrote: »

No they changed it about 3 weeks ago. Now its a 2 loop course.
Overall its a flatter course, there's only 1 major hill that you need to tackle twice, so if the weather permits, it should be fast enough.
As for updates, it looks like any info is getting posted on Facebook. I've no idea if they have any intention of sending out info.
Whats your plan for the day Opus? You dropping the hammer?

Thanks for the update, I'm a bit allergic to Facebook so wasn't looking there. Not a huge fan of loops but will survive.

It's a training run for Comrades for me so I'll be joining one of the pacing posses.

ger664

opus wrote: »

Not a huge fan of loops but will survive.

Dont do an extra one this time

opus

ger664 wrote: »

Dont do an extra one this time

I'd say I'd notice the extra lap in this one Ger

opus

Best of luck to everyone tomorrow! Was out for a bit of a jog to stretch my legs this morning, nice bit of wind about, hopefully bit calmer for the race.

opus

Didn't see any thread for this year's Tralee marathon so best of luck to everyone on Sunday!

Looks like it's going to be a cold one, hopefully driving there won't be too dodgy.

martyboy48

opus wrote: »

Didn't see any thread for this year's Tralee marathon so best of luck to everyone on Sunday!

Looks like it's going to be a cold one, hopefully driving there won't be too dodgy.

How did you enjoy that, how were the conditions??

opus

martyboy48 wrote: »

How did you enjoy that, how were the conditions??

Enjoy would be a strong word Temp was a balmy 1c at the start with a nice biting easterly wind that we really felt when we had to run straight into it for ~1.5 miles at the end of each lap of the two lap course, with added snow then for the second lap to make a nice blizzard effect!

Really felt sorry for the stewards & gardai who had to hang around out in that for many hours but they were good crack I must say.

I got talking to the 3:45 pacer when I was jogging back to the hotel to get my bag, the poor guy said he couldn't feel any part of his body! Checked the time for him & he had ~13 mins to cover the last mile & a bit so hopefully he made it, his group were gone by that stage (hopefully pushing ahead).

plumber77

Did Tralee half yesterday myself. It was bitterly cold but fine for running in (then again I had running tights on, 2 tops and a woolly hat 😊). Really windy coming back into town along the canal for mile 11.Route was fine and well marshalled. Id imagine the marathon runners got worse conditions on the second loop. I didn't envy them.

chavezychavez

Ran the full as well yesterday and I must admit, it was fairly surreal with the snow ploughing down on us for the second 13.
Tough course with 3 varying but testing climbs, but had plenty of training runs on the loop in the run up to it so even with the horrendous wind coming home along the canal, I was able to put a nice bit of strategy into the run to account for it.

Major Kudos to all that had to marshal it and stay out all day. I don't envy you.
Like everyone else it seems, the walk back to the Rose hotel nearly killed us off :-)

Run and Jump

I did the half and got in just before the snow flurries, felt sorry for those setting out on lap 2 of the full!

Apart from a bit of confusion at the start (when the full field were sent off first to do an extra loop, and the half field were kept back a couple of minutes) all was well organised. As a local, I like the route - a few short hills, good scenery. That said, 99 times out of 100 coming in from Blennerville the wind is at your back, so running into it on race day was an unlucky exception!

vinnycoyne

It was my first full marathon. Decided to do it after the Kinvara full was canceled, due to the snow a few weeks back. I sure know how to pick 'em! :rolleyes:

I found the first half really tough, especially having to pass the turn off to the finish line. I'll admit, I did think "I could just finish now", but pushed on and it got a little easier after that.

That last stretch along the canal, running head-first into the wind and snow, really exercised the mental training. Longest couple of miles I've ever run!

Despite all that, it was a great run. Good craic at the water stations, with volunteers dressed up as Disney characters. Fair play to them and the Gardai - I can't imagine how grim it was out there for them in the cold.

diego_b

Run and Jump wrote: »

I did the half and got in just before the snow flurries, felt sorry for those setting out on lap 2 of the full!

Apart from a bit of confusion at the start (when the full field were sent off first to do an extra loop, and the half field were kept back a couple of minutes) all was well organised. As a local, I like the route - a few short hills, good scenery. That said, 99 times out of 100 coming in from Blennerville the wind is at your back, so running into it on race day was an unlucky exception!

Yup that was particularly odd now, a friend of mine was down from Dublin to do the half and when telling them about the route I had said that the wind is usually at your back from there in (but it is so exposed there). He found it tough going there for the two miles but got a good pb so was happy to hear that.

opus

vinnycoyne wrote: »

I found the first half really tough, especially having to pass the turn off to the finish line. I'll admit, I did think "I could just finish now", but pushed on and it got a little easier after that.

Don't worry you weren't the only person who had that thought

Kerry Gooner

Did the half this year after completing the full the last three years.
Not a fan of the route but at least this year the full didn't have to go through the finish line at the end of the first loop like last year.
Kudos to all the volunteers who endured the weather.

opus

Tralee marathon has bit the dust sadly

End of the road for the Tralee Marathon

Swashbuckler

There is a Tralee marathon on April 20th so not sure if that's a direct replacement or what the story is.

plumber77

Swashbuckler wrote: »

There is a Tralee marathon on April 20th so not sure if that's a direct replacement or what the story is.

Yeah according to facebook it'll be going back to the original route. 1 loop

TFBubendorfer

Swashbuckler wrote: »

There is a Tralee marathon on April 20th so not sure if that's a direct replacement or what the story is.

Yes, it is a direct replacement. The RD of the April race used to be on the organising committee of Tralee marathon right from the start, and it's run on the original Tralee marathon course (which, incidentally, isn't my favour course, but what the heck)

opus

Swashbuckler wrote: »

There is a Tralee marathon on April 20th so not sure if that's a direct replacement or what the story is.

I'd be interested in that date actually, do you have a link somewhere (sorry I don't do facebook)?

The original route was grand, hope it still has Barrow Hill

TFBubendorfer

opus wrote: »

The original route was grand, hope it still has Barrow Hill

It is and it has, and incidentally Barrow Hill is the major reason why it's not my favourite course :rolleyes:

pc11

Somehow there's a marathon in Tralee, HM in Ballybunion and HM in Valentia all on the same day (April 20th).

Kerry Gooner

pc11 wrote: »

Somehow there's a marathon in Tralee, HM in Ballybunion and HM in Valentia all on the same day (April 20th).

Easter weekend will be busy for runners in the Kingdom.