Athenry AC Half Marathon & 5k - 25th June 2016

Bugsy2000

From the people who bring you the successful 'Fields of Athenry 10k' every St. Stephens Day, Athenry AC will be hosting their inaugural half marathon this 25th June 2016 in Monivea, Co. Galway.

Previously known as the Monivea Half & now in it's fourth year, Athenry AC have recently taken over the management & organisation of the already popular race & are looking to drive it on to even more success with all funds generated from the event being put towards the development of a running track on a new site which we recently purchased in the town of Athenry.

The race starts & finishes in the wide avenues of Monivea Village & takes you on a loop of the surrounding townlands, a beautiful rural setting which takes you through protected bogs & Coiltte forestry (all tarmac roads). Whilst I wouldn't call the route flat, it's definitely not a hilly course with only 90m of elevation gain throughout.

Monivea is located 5 miles North of Athenry & is 16 miles to the East of Galway City. Ample parking will be available on the day.

A 5k race will also be held on the day.

Half Marathon costs €25 & will start at 11am.

5k costs €15 and will start approx. 11.20am (TBC)

Race Website (Still being constructed but the entry portals are live)

Race Facebook Page

Enter Half Marathon Here

Enter 5km Here

Course Profile

Hope to see you all there.

Bugsy2000

Previous years results;

Male:

• 2015 - Oliver Mullins - Craughwell AC - 1.21.02
• 2014 - Oliver Mullins - Craughwell AC - 1.18.12 *Course Record*
• 2013 - Gearoid Hynes - Galway City Harriers - 1.21.37

Female:

• 2015 - Jane Ann Meehan - Athenry AC - 1.23.37 *Course Record*
• 2014 - Jane Ann Meehan - Athenry AC - 1.25.43
• 2013 - Sinead Brody - Galway City Harriers - 1.30.52

martyboy48

Excellent.. I can vouch for this one .
Did it last year and really enjoyed it. Not pancake flat but only a couple of gentle rolling hills, I'd expect to pb here if training has gone well leading up to it....

Bugsy2000

Athenry AC Half Marathon confirmed as the County Championships.

The 2016 Galway AAI Half Marathon Road Race Championships will take place in Monivea on Saturday, 25 June. Enter via here. The event is being hosted and run by Athenry AC.

All Galway clubs are encouraged to ensure that they have teams of women and men competing in this great event. The results of these championships will be based on the race's official result and it's incumbent on all local athletes to be correctly registered, both club and category. Galway AAI will produce the County Championship result and get the winners their medals as soon as possible thereafter.

Medals will be assigned as follows:

* 1st/2nd/3rd Male/Female @ Senior, O40, O50
* 1st/2nd Male/Female @ O60 and O70

* 1st/2nd/3rd Male/Female teams of four finishers.

kookiebrew

Any idea if this might sell out quickly... Had this one on my radar to push for a pb...

Bugsy2000

kookiebrew wrote: »

Any idea if this might sell out quickly... Had this one on my radar to push for a pb...

Hi kookie,

Our permit allows for plenty of entrants so you shouldn't have a problem, but as with every race I'd advise to get in early, as an incentive to train harder if for nothing else.

Great value for a half too at €25.

kookiebrew

Yea it is great value and I'll get a nice cap to go with my fields of athenry 10k hat from last year

Will probably book it the end of the month so.

Thanks

ThebitterLemon

Entered this, looking forward to it

TbL

martyboy48

Thanks for the reminder TbL, entered there also....

Bugsy2000

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Entered this, looking forward to it

TbL

Hoping to run it myself too. Had a fairly long lay off with back problems & this has been a target for a while. Pleasantly surprised with how the 5k series is going so I'm looking forward to it now.

(Just need to get my part of the race organisation out of the way early on the day!!!!)

mylesforsmiles

First time doing this half marathon course and very pleased with the day overall. Excellently organised from start to finish. Stunning rural route on narrow, quiet roads. Very well paced by friendly and knowledgable club runners. Well done to all in Athenry AC for a great race and a lovely day out in Monivea. Will be back again next year. Thanks!

Bugsy2000

mylesforsmiles wrote: »

First time doing this half marathon course and very pleased with the day overall. Excellently organised from start to finish. Stunning rural route on narrow, quiet roads. Very well paced by friendly and knowledgable club runners. Well done to all in Athenry AC for a great race and a lovely day out in Monivea. Will be back again next year. Thanks!

Cheers. Overall we were happy with the day. 300 entrants for the half & everything seemed to go well & it was well received on the day. Couple of hiccups with the 5k which need ironing out & a few logistical items to sort in the village but nothing that can't be easily fixed.

I'd be interested in getting feedback from anyone who took part, good & bad.

Cheers.

Bugsy2000

http://www.athenryachalfmarathon.ie

Results available via link above

youngrun

Oliver Mullins won the Galway champs race again , some going three in a row.

Bugsy2000

youngrun wrote: »

Oliver Mullins won the Galway champs race again , some going three in a row.

It was interesting watching him come in. I'm assuming he's not in the same shape as last year as he ran three minutes slower this time around & for the last 150m he was killed looking over his shoulder for the lad behind him who was finishing fast & gaining on him.

We more than doubled the entries this year which saw plenty more available for the County Championships & I know that the team event in particular was targeted by some clubs which is good. But I'd hope we can grow the top end of the race a bit further & see some good competition in the individual County Champs.

youngrun

Bugsy2000 wrote: »

It was interesting watching him come in. I'm assuming he's not in the same shape as last year as he ran three minutes slower this time around & for the last 150m he was killed looking over his shoulder for the lad behind him who was finishing fast & gaining on him.

We more than doubled the entries this year which saw plenty more available for the County Championships & I know that the team event in particular was targeted by some clubs which is good. But I'd hope we can grow the top end of the race a bit further & see some good competition in the individual County Champs.

It was a good turnout for a half at this time of year lots of people away etc or doing triathlons
Looked well organised wonder could the finish be tweaked away from main road
Hard to get the top lads out the only worrying thing about road running is the aging profile of runners