Clonakilty Marathon - 25th November 2023

robertod

Was thinking of signing up for the Clonakilty full this year, but the course map starting out in Courtmacsherry is confusing me a little. Apparently it's returning to a course that the marathon was last held on in 2015. It seems to leave Courtmacsherry, follow the coastline for about 14K, then double back to about 28K, then go out part of the way again on the same route before returning to finish in Courtmacsherry.

Has anyone on here done this course before?

niallo27

I haven't done it but I know the area, its fairly flat, the course for last few years was a nightmare, there was a mountain in the middle of it.

robertod

Cheers Niall. I had signed up for the Clon full twice before on that other course, and both times it got cancelled because of the weather. I did the half instead down there last year, lots of hills as you say, and a mudfest for the last 500m to finish at the showgrounds! Am hoping the new course would be more enjoyable, but I'm generally not a fan of too many out-and-backs on a course.

smashiner

I tried to sign up for the Clonakilty Marathon last night (missed the DCM due to Covid) .......and it is sold out.........nooooo 😭. The closing date was the 15th of November but it must have filled up.

I contacted the race organizers to see if I could get a late entry or transfer, but I am not hopeful....

Any other suggestions for a marathon later this month or early December?? I don't think that I would be able for the Dunloe one with the murderous hills just yet. I see the Tollymore Trail Marathon is on next week, but I have never done a trail run never mind a marathon....has anyone done it or a similar event, if so how does it compare to a regular marathon.

Might just do the Clontarf Half instead....if its not sold out 😀

niallo27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121331151#Comment_121331151

Very surprised to hear its sold out, usually loads of spaces. I am signed up for the half myself. Its always cold and miserable for this one.

tricky@

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121331151#Comment_121331151

Likewise I put registering for this on the long finger until it was too late! Did you get any response after contacting them about cancellations etc?

smashiner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121336342#Comment_121336342

No response so far....fingers crossed that we get in. They did have the 15th of November as the cut off point so hopefully some flexibility is allowed.

smashiner

Good news......the race is back open for a short time, the race director (lovely fella BTW) rang me to say that it is open again and back to its original route (a bit tougher as a route but more entrants allowed).......get in there quick!!

I am delighted....now have to go for a 20K LSR in the morning.....😀🙄😣

tricky@

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121354912#Comment_121354912

Signed up there, pity about the route change (double the elevation of Dublin marathon 😮) but sounds like it was unavoidable.

T-Bird

Hopefully he won't have the same trouble with flooding like last year.

niallo27

That old course is a nightmare. There is literally a mountain after about 9k.

smashiner

I had a look at the course profile and it looks ok until you hit about 27K and then from 29K to 32K looks 'up' so I take it that that is the tough bit/mountain in it, or have I got this wrong?

Any suggested tactics on how to approach the race? I was going coast along for the first 25K, take it handy on the 27-32K bit and then fall back down the mountain for the last 10k to the finish line.....

Also, as I am just getting over Covid a week before the DCM, since I have went back running I did 10K,7k,7k, 21K as my last 4 runs. I was up at 32K twice before the DCM and felt good, but am struggling to get back to that, so I am going to just do this one as an LSR with a 10k at the end of it and get the Tee Shirt (2022 version it seems, which I am totally ok with).....the question I have is .... I did 21K on yesterday and felt okish, but still a bit tired.....should I do another 26-30K LSR this weekend (I think that I need it) and skip the taper....or should I just do 10/16K and hand it over to the Gods of running??

niallo27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121363342#Comment_121363342

Sorry yes i was talking about the half when i said the mountain was after about 9k, the problem with the mountain is that its a rapid decline as well so you cant really coast it for long, I actually find it tough enough running down a hill too steep.

corcaigh07

Deferrals from last year will get last year's finisher shirt and medal.

T-Bird

I still think that my medal from there last year is the best medal I've had so far.

This was going to be my first marathon but it was unfortunately cancelled due to the flooding. I did the half and then ran / walked another half on my own afterwards. I got absolutely soaked and would probably do the same again I'd say 🤣.

corcaigh07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121385673#Comment_121385673

Until they confirmed the option to defer, that was my line of thinking last year as well. Ended up going to Valencia instead a week later and pb'ed so worked out very well in the end 🙂

niallo27

That is one tough course. Seriousl hills and steep declines. Some medal at the end, biggest I ever got.

tricky@

Tough course but enjoyed the day. Nice friendly atmosphere and weather conditions were great. The organisers got a lot of negative comments on social media in the run up to the event after the change of course but I had no complaints and would return to the event again.

Fiftyplus

Did the half today, good route despite the hills although like many was looking forward to the Courtmac route. Organisation on the day was fine but why is there always such poor post-race refreshments. Black Pudding and cheap Lidl/Aldi biscuits that was it. Was crying out for the plain old sambo and a banana! Surely organisers can lash out on a few bananas, greasy black puddings not the best for the stomach after a race. Oh, still not taken by the singlets they continually offer, possibly cos they wouldn't look great on my skinny body!

omicron

Didn't run it but looks like the 10k was more like 9.2 going by Strava?

smashiner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121417318#Comment_121417318

Yes, I would agree with tricky, it was a tough course with serious inclines and declines.....fantastic race and very well organized with a great atmosphere. Nice medal and running top/gilet too, cups of Tae and biscuits afterward were appreciated by the huddled masses.

I will NEVER complain about running up Roebuck Road ever again.....

corcaigh07

I'd be one of the first to criticise the event but for the most part, it went very well on Saturday. I thought the spread was good, there were plenty of spare old medals and old t shirts if anyone wanted them on top of what they got already. The course is tough but scenic and varied. Weather was perfect too, was brilliant luck. The showgrounds isn't a glamorous setting but works well for the start and for parking.

However, no mile/km markers at all is strange. No halfway timing mat is odd as well. I can see why some people had issues with the traffic management, I didn't but was more to do with low traffic (couple of cyclists was disappointing, they could have gone elsewhere on marathon day, not the event's fault). There didn't seem to be many marshals on the course either (arrows at major junctions/turns) so I sympathise with anyone that had to DNF on the course.

People seem to be willing customers for this race, especially the 10k despite the high cost. Considering registration only opened 10 weeks in advance, the numbers running in West Cork in late November was impressive I thought. It'll be back again.