Race Saturation point

Slow_Runner

Nuttzz wrote: »

its a bit of a whingefest of an article

“parkrun has given joggers the divine right to hog the racing line, which is a shame as it is a fantastic event but has ruined 5k racing.”

" it’s the commercialisation of the sport we love by profiteering organisations that are ripping off runners and hurting the grass roots that are the lifeblood of athletics."

free and its rubbish, commercial and its rubbish, what is the author after? We tell people who finish at the back they are finishing ahead of those on the couch and yet complain because they take part?

Not everyone is going to be a sub 18 5k runner, do I train as hard as a sub 18 runner? I dont know but I give it my best shot physically, but should I feck off because I'm not to "the standard".

I've a lot of time of parkruns, my first 5k run was in the docklands and I wheezed around in 35 minutes, parkruns gave me the confidence and the platform to bring that down closer to 20 minutes.

Not everyone is going to the the same level, football has divisions for that reason, if race organisers explained waves and expected times properly then those at the front would have less weaving to do (night run I'm look at you!)

Thought it was a good article but thought it came across as dismissive of the mid/back of pack runner which I don't believe was the intention - just came across wrong with that 1 line about park runners hogging the line!!
What the article didn't broach was due to the amount of events taking place and a lot with prize money the faster runners are going to pick races with little competition to them so they can pick up the cheque (can't blame them really) so this has a lot to do with lack of fast competitive races.
Not much can be done about people in wrong waves/up the front with buggies/dogs, granted a marshall can ask someone with a buggy/dog to move to the back but they can't single out someone they "think" is a slower runner , all they can do is keep reinforcing the importance of starting in the correct place. As races get bigger it's taking longer to get across the start line especially as a lot of 5/10k are gun time only (bigger cost to have a start mat)

Nuttzz

RayCun wrote: »

Yeah, it takes more than explaining, it takes pens with qualifying times, identifiable bib numbers, and people enforcing the pens.

the last bit is probably the weakness of any race, due to the volunteer aspect of marshalling.

I've seen in the past where people were late to sign up to the dublin marathon and end up in wave 4 and try to get into the earlier waves, if you have picked the wrong wave or left it late to apply then you need to accept some sort of personal responsibility for it.

We're probably never going to eliminate the walker, dog runner from heading up front but I think people will naturally choose the better organised races, but I can see even in my local parkrun when they have pacers people tend to police themselves and start beside or behind their realistic time, whereas when there are no pacers its just a free for all.

Ultraman100

Slow_Runner wrote: »

especially as a lot of 5/10k are gun time only (bigger cost to have a start mat)

u shud shop around.:)

2 races in May in the Running in Munster blog calendar.

Swashbuckler

Deleted User wrote:

2 races in May in the Running in Munster blog calendar.

Lindienaughton.blogspot would be a more accurate reflection of what's going on in May

Slow_Runner

Ultraman100 wrote: »

Slow_Runner;106703095 especially as a lot of 5/10k are gun time only (bigger cost to have a start mat)
u shud shop around.:)

squirrel84

Slow_Runner wrote: »

I'm one of the organizers for the Kilcock 10 mile and we started last November trying to pick a date that didn't clash with other races in Leinster which was surprisingly difficult. Ironically we picked the 10 mile distance as we thought there was a gap for this distance and there was plenty of 1/2 marathons scheduled. Also looking at the numbers the likes of Trim and Ballycotton (rip) get in the run up to spring marathons there is definitely a demand. 
I think the reason for the clustering of all these races is they are scheduled and marketed as tune up races to Autumn marathons - our own race's selling point is 10 miles, 10 weeks out from DCM (hence the "10 from 10") so you have a small window in which to pitch your race, very fwe people would have a 10 mile as a target race unlike 5/10ks and HMs
The races listed by the OP I think, geographically speaking, are not really clashing - Roscommon and Monaghan are accessible to the West and North so will get the numbers. Only real clash is ourselves and Frank Duffy :angel:, while FD is a fantastic race we thought there was room for an alternative away from the park(this was before it moved to Fingal which means there is even more of a gap!).
[font=Open Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]One thing about a lot of races is it will force competition and innovation for the race organizers which can only be a good thing for the runners.[/font]



First year for this one. We're aiming to have the same small club race feel for a bigger event, friendly, accessible and big spread afterwards. Oh and its going to be flat - very flat :).

Is the Kilcock 10 miler AAI certified & measured?

Slow_Runner

squirrel84 wrote: »

Is the Kilcock 10 miler AAI certified & measured?

Yes it is - to get an AAI license you need to have an approved course measure and risk assessmnet. We've got approval from Waterways Ireland to use part of the new greenway so we will be getting the course officially measured soon. Keep an eye on the facebook page as the course video will be posted soon.

Slow_Runner

squirrel84 wrote: »

Is the Kilcock 10 miler AAI certified & measured?

Yes it is - to get an AAI license you need to have an approved course measure and risk assessmnet. We've got approval from Waterways Ireland to use part of the new greenway so we will be getting the course officially measured soon. Keep an eye on the facebook page as the course video will be posted soon.