Dublin marathon to sell out in "few days"

Djoucer · 23-05-2018 9:56am #1

Friendly reminder for those not on FB.

Dublin marathon down to 2500 entries today. They reckon it'll sell out in next few days.

purelike · 23-05-2018 10:08am

Could it be sold out before the end of the weekend? Amazing to see how popular the race is becoming.

Djoucer · 23-05-2018 10:10am

Reckon before then. They had 3200 entries yesterday.

purelike · 23-05-2018 10:21am

Bejaysus! Most races would be very happy just to get 3,200 entries in total.

robinph · 23-05-2018 11:14am

When did entries open?

Downtime · 23-05-2018 11:15am

robinph wrote: »

When did entries open?

A couple of days after the 2017 marathon finished.

Woden · 23-05-2018 11:23am

cheers i'm undecided but want to have the option

robinph · 23-05-2018 11:46am

Downtime wrote: »

A couple of days after the 2017 marathon finished.

Would need a major uptick in the rate of entries to get through 2500 in a "few days" then.

benjamin d · 23-05-2018 11:48am

robinph wrote: »

Would need a major uptick in the rate of entries to get through 2500 in a "few days" then.

As always happens. 2 years ago they announced they expected to sell out "in the next two weeks" and the thing was sold out 2 days later. The panic buying when people realise they're about to miss out is a huge burst of sales at the end.

purelike · 23-05-2018 11:54am

In fairness, it is a great event. Was it last year where they added the extra few thousand entries? Are the organizers completely limited to 20,000 entries, or is there scope to expand again.

RayCun · 23-05-2018 2:01pm

purelike wrote: »

In fairness, it is a great event. Was it last year where they added the extra few thousand entries? Are the organizers completely limited to 20,000 entries, or is there scope to expand again.

Pretty sure there's no scope for expansion, not without overhauling the course.

average_runner · 23-05-2018 3:00pm

RayCun wrote: »

Pretty sure there's no scope for expansion, not without overhauling the course.

That wouldn't be a bad thing either.

RayCun · 23-05-2018 3:47pm

Well, it would be great if the government and Dublin council really rowed in behind the marathon, promoted it, built events around it, and said there were no limits on what roads it could use and when.

But for this year at least, the route is set, so there's not much chance of increasing the numbers.

OOnegative · 23-05-2018 3:50pm

RayCun wrote: »

Well, it would be great if the government and Dublin council really rowed in behind the marathon, promoted it, built events around it, and said there were no limits on what roads it could use and when.

But for this year at least, the route is set, so there's not much chance of increasing the numbers.

Think boys in blue may be a bit of a stumbling block to Ray(I am one so am not AGS bashing).

purelike · 23-05-2018 4:05pm

What are the limiting factors at the moment that are taking away from the potential of the race? Is it just difficulties in getting certain roads closed?

RayCun · 23-05-2018 4:25pm

purelike wrote: »

What are the limiting factors at the moment that are taking away from the potential of the race? Is it just difficulties in getting certain roads closed?

I'm sure that's a big factor
Keeping the public transport system running
Maintaining access to hospitals etc
Letting cars drive wherever they like

The whole start/finish area has to be put up and taken down again in a very short space of time, and of course while it is up those streets are closed

And the number of gardai and medical personnel needed would increase with numbers, and could increase for different routes

bigslice · 23-05-2018 4:36pm

Myself and few others had a chat about DCM on a recent Sunday run after we had been to London and Boston for the marathon and other big city marathons we had done.

While we all love running Dublin, we felt there was limitations in place that would add to the continued growth of it. While other cities embrace it and showcase the city and the event, Dublin has struggled with this although the recent move to Sunday was a big step in this direction. But it seems tucked away into the city, no other supporting events bar the breakfast run and expo. Lack of central finishing position at a landmark - be it O Connell street, College Green or Customs house.

Dublin could well be hampered by lack of underground and alternative routes or just that it’s basically a small city but get impression that it shows off certain landmarks on the promo stuff like logos and t shirts but doesn’t actually run past them. Unless this is actually planned to change in future. Like we run over the Liffey once and that’s that done.

Lack of TV coverage, which has been well documented on here.

It’s should a great event to take part in and those on the route really embrace it and deserve so much credit for doing so, but you feel there is even more to come with a few changes.

Better get the entry in regardless!!

Zebra3 · 23-05-2018 7:27pm

Definitely a big miss on not going past certain landmarks.

While I’m fully aware that PT needs to keep running (excuse the pun), imagine running past the front of Trinity, the GPO, over the James Joyce bridge or indeed some of these being the finishing area for iconic photos.

It’s a great marathon but one I feel that has so much more potential.

Working class heroes · 23-05-2018 10:19pm

bigslice wrote: »

Myself and few others had a chat about DCM on a recent Sunday run after we had been to London and Boston for the marathon and other big city marathons we had done.

While we all love running Dublin, we felt there was limitations in place that would add to the continued growth of it. While other cities embrace it and showcase the city and the event, Dublin has struggled with this although the recent move to Sunday was a big step in this direction. But it seems tucked away into the city, no other supporting events bar the breakfast run and expo. Lack of central finishing position at a landmark - be it O Connell street, College Green or Customs house.

Dublin could well be hampered by lack of underground and alternative routes or just that it’s basically a small city but get impression that it shows off certain landmarks on the promo stuff like logos and t shirts but doesn’t actually run past them. Unless this is actually planned to change in future. Like we run over the Liffey once and that’s that done.

Lack of TV coverage, which has been well documented on here.

It’s should a great event to take part in and those on the route really embrace it and deserve so much credit for doing so, but you feel there is even more to come with a few changes.

Better get the entry in regardless!!

Does it not cross the Liffey twice.
I think the current finish is perfect. Holles St. hospital, half the participants were born there and they probably feel like dying when they past it

bigslice · 23-05-2018 10:50pm

It does, at Chapelizod, one of my favourite parts of the run, the noise after the quietness of the Park.

I always though running up the Liffey to turn onto O’Connell street or college green at trinity would make a great finish.

Maybe the Dubs were born in Holles street but us culchies wouldn’t know the place, a finish at Kylemore cafe where we got the breakfast after getting off the bus at Busaras might suit better ;-)

TFBubendorfer · 23-05-2018 11:00pm

Working class heroes wrote: »

Does it not cross the Liffey twice.
I think the current finish is perfect. Holles St. hospital, half the participants were born there and they probably feel like dying when they past it

I think the course is awful. And that's from someone who actually loves the race.

It's neither fast nor does it show off the city. A good course would satisfy at least one of those 2 criteria. A slow, hilly course that spends most of its time going through nondescript suburbs is very far from perfect.

All that's good about DCM is from the people - the ones who organise it and the ones who create such a buzz during the event itself.

Working class heroes · 24-05-2018 2:01am

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I think the course is awful. And that's from someone who actually loves the race.

It's neither fast nor does it show off the city. A good course would satisfy at least one of those 2 criteria. A slow, hilly course that spends most of its time going through nondescript suburbs is very far from perfect.

All that's good about DCM is from the people - the ones who organise it and the ones who create such a buzz during the event itself.

No arguments there T.
Was just commenting on the finish, beside a maternity hospital.

RayCun · 24-05-2018 8:46am

It ran up O'Connell Street and passed Trinity twice, until a few years ago, but the LUAS extension put paid to that.

Some hills are inevitable. When you start in the city centre, you don't have much choice but to go uphill, and the city isn't so big that you could avoid the suburbs.

TheBigGreen · 24-05-2018 9:05am

signed up

Djoucer · 24-05-2018 9:18am

Bit harsh on Dublin

As a Dubliner, I'm a bit puzzled as to the amazing locations and landmarks we're missing outside of O'Connell street.

Start and finish areas are great, heart of city centre. Pass by St Patrick's and Christchurch. Onto Liffey, into park. The non-description suburbs are arguably the real Dublin and where support is best. Crumlin road is however poxy. As is UCD flyover.

I found London to be remarkably similar to Dublin in terms of spending most of the miles out of the city. You would unlikely step foot in most of the areas the marathon goes through if you were visiting.

TFBubendorfer · 24-05-2018 9:28am

Working class heroes wrote: »

No arguments there T.
Was just commenting on the finish, beside a maternity hospital.

The finish is pretty good. However, I preferred it until 2013 when we did the loop around Trinity because that's where the best buzz was, people standing in 5 deep right beside the runners and giving all runners the rockstar treatment. That last mile felt almost like Boston.

I'm perfectly aware that not everyone liked running a mile around the block when the finish was so close at mile 25 that you could clearly hear it.

As for the maternity hospital near the finish, many years ago I offered the missus to run an extra half mile from the finish to the hospital if she went into labour on marathon day and join her for the proceedings. She declined. I had to find another race.

TFBubendorfer · 24-05-2018 9:40am

Djoucer wrote: »

Bit harsh on Dublin

As a Dubliner, I'm a bit puzzled as to the amazing locations and landmarks we're missing outside of O'Connell street.

Start and finish areas are great, heart of city centre. Pass by St Patrick's and Christchurch. Onto Liffey, into park. The non-description suburbs are arguably the real Dublin and where support is best. Crumlin road is however poxy. As is UCD flyover.

I found London to be remarkably similar to Dublin in terms of spending most of the miles out of the city. You would unlikely step foot in most of the areas the marathon goes through if you were visiting.

I know I'm a little bit harsh but most cities in the (western) world consist mainly of nondescript suburbs that nobody would be particularly inclined to visit unless you happen to live there.

Phoenix Park is the one area of the DCM course that's somewhat scenic. Almost everything from mile 10 to 25 is totally forgettable. If we could run along the promenade and/or pass all those great buildings at or near the Liffey and have an epic finish down O'Connell Street it would be a much more memorable course.

I'm not blaming the DCM organisers for the course. It's the total lack of support from the public officials that dictates much of what they can offer.

And just to point it out again, I absolutely love that race, despite it all.

sideswipe · 24-05-2018 9:59am

Feck the landmarks, I can only see a few feet in front of me.....give me flat and fast over scenery any day.

ligerdub · 24-05-2018 10:34am

robinph wrote: »

Would need a major uptick in the rate of entries to get through 2500 in a "few days" then.

Depends on your definition of a few days.

May 10: 6,500 spaces left
May 18: 4,000 spaces left
May 23: 2,500 spaces left

Sounds to me like their forecast is fairly sound and no uptick required at all. You can probably safely assume a bit of panic registration as those spots dry up. It will probably be sold out by this day next week.

It's not like you can really judge interest because registration was insignificant a few weeks after last years edition finished. I dare say half of entrants swore off ever doing it again at that stage. This is not a marathon (at the moment) where there's sufficient over-subscription where there's a ballot required and the entry period is say a week or so. People are doing other marathons in the Spring and may want to keep their options open for doing one in Autumn, especially with considerations around injuries.

Stands to reason that people are registering in larger swathes now, as it's pretty much bang on when a lot of people start their training period.

RayCun · 24-05-2018 10:45am

I wonder how long it will be before some form of two-tier entry is introduced? A certain number of places set aside for people with qualifying times, or club members?

Duanington · 24-05-2018 10:54am

It's up there with the best in terms of the sense of occasion and the atmosphere ( in places) but I'd have to agree that we don't really showcase some of the landmarks around the city.

Trinity, O'Connell Street, our coastline, the Quays (bar a short stretch), College Green, The 4 courts, Customs House, The Canals, some of these would be great vantage points for spectators too.

I still love it, I still get jealous that I didn't run it when I go to watch the race.

benjamin d · 24-05-2018 11:02am

If they ever do the College Green Plaza (lol) finishing down Dame Street towards Trinity would be lovely and would make a great fast finishing chute.

If they rerouted the last few km straight on at Nutley Lane to Stephen's Green and on to Aungier Street coming round Dame St it wouldn't even need huge course revisions I reckon.

Kissy Lips · 24-05-2018 11:04am

RayCun wrote: »

I wonder how long it will be before some form of two-tier entry is introduced? A certain number of places set aside for people with qualifying times, or club members?

When it moves from selling out in 7 months to 5 days.

RayCun · 24-05-2018 11:21am

Kissy Lips wrote: »

When it moves from selling out in 7 months to 5 days.

Even with all the time people have to enter, I'd guess there will be plenty of people in August/September complaining that entries are closed. And some of them will be club runners, and so there'll be some clubs complaining that they should be able to enter people in the national championships closer to race day.

robinph · 24-05-2018 11:22am

The Dublin course doesn't do too bad for scenery but the runners would hardly ever notice. The previous edition running around Trinity or up O'Connell Street were better alright, and way back when it finished on O'Connell Street would be a great now with the bigger numbers.

Of all the tourist sites you go past in London though you probably only notice Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge. Easy to miss Big Ben and the Palace when running, although they do result in some great photos afterwards. The big difference with London though is the mostly fully lined route all the way round with people shouting at you.

For Dublin to get bigger they would need to have a longer start before going around any corners and a much bigger area for assembly at the start and dealing with the baggage drops. The size of the road in London and Dublin isn't that different as a road is a road, what allows for the bigger capacity is that they completely take over Blackheath and a large chunk of Greenwich park for the start and then the Queen lets them shut down her driveway and parks out the front and that gives all the extra space. Unless Dublin did their start and finish in the middle of Phoenix Park there just isn't the space, O'Connell Street possibly but would require the shutting down the whole area around as well.

Kissy Lips · 24-05-2018 11:28am

RayCun wrote: »

Even with all the time people have to enter, I'd guess there will be plenty of people in August/September complaining that entries are closed. And some of them will be club runners, and so there'll be some clubs complaining that they should be able to enter people in the national championships closer to race day.

That should be a thing alright, would be a shame to turn away genuine late entrants to the national champs. Very tough to plan marathon readiness.

bucketybuck · 24-05-2018 11:57am

Kissy Lips wrote: »

That should be a thing alright, would be a shame to turn away genuine late entrants to the national champs. Very tough to plan marathon readiness.

How many people are you talking about there? I have genuinely no idea by the way, but when it comes to competitive club runners who have genuine national title aspirations I would imagine you can't be talking many people at all?

average_runner · 24-05-2018 12:48pm

I think the finish and start should be at iconic parts of Dublin, so much history in Dublin.

This is a bit controversial, but maybe finish it in Croke Park or Aviva Stadium, just to give it that grand stand finish or even Santry if needs be.

RayCun · 24-05-2018 1:16pm

bucketybuck wrote: »

How many people are you talking about there? I have genuinely no idea by the way, but when it comes to competitive club runners who have genuine national title aspirations I would imagine you can't be talking many people at all?

I'm not so much thinking of the people going for the overall win, but the people going on club teams. The M50 teams and women's senior teams that won national medals, for example, most of their members ran over 3 hours (one of them posts on here

). Add in county medals and there are a lot of people who are in the mix.

bucketybuck · 24-05-2018 1:22pm

RayCun wrote: »

I'm not so much thinking of the people going for the overall win, but the people going on club teams. The M50 teams and women's senior teams that won national medals, for example, most of their members ran over 3 hours (one of them posts on here ). Add in county medals and there are a lot of people who are in the mix.

How many though? Dozens or hundreds?

I'm only asking from the context of a race with 20000 people, I would imagine the organisers would surely have leeway to add a few late entries at their discretion? I bet they can give elite athletes wildcard entries, why not allow certain exemptions for recognised club runners as well?

Assuming there aren't thousands of them of course...

average_runner · 24-05-2018 1:36pm

bucketybuck wrote: »

How many though? Dozens or hundreds?

I'm only asking from the context of a race with 20000 people, I would imagine the organisers would surely have leeway to add a few late entries at their discretion? I bet they can give elite athletes wildcard entries, why not allow certain exemptions for recognised club runners as well?

Assuming there aren't thousands of them of course...

Why can't the club runners not just enter before it closes?
Most club runners would have their next 4 - 6 months planned out especially if a marathon is there

RayCun · 24-05-2018 1:39pm

Hundreds. Not hundreds who are going to win a medal, but hundreds who would consider themselves in contention. And even those who aren't in serious contention could argue that as AAI members they should be able to enter the national championship.

Most of them will enter on time of course. But the earlier entries close, the more complaints there will be from people who don't get a place, and the AAI members have some grounds for complaint.

Murph_D · 24-05-2018 1:41pm

RayCun wrote: »

I'm not so much thinking of the people going for the overall win, but the people going on club teams. The M50 teams and women's senior teams that won national medals, for example, most of their members ran over 3 hours (one of them posts on here ). Add in county medals and there are a lot of people who are in the mix.

Maybe transferrable entry for club members? Ie Club does mass entry in advance with unnamed runners, teams to be determined closer to the date?

Kissy Lips · 24-05-2018 2:07pm

bucketybuck wrote: »

How many people are you talking about there? I have genuinely no idea by the way, but when it comes to competitive club runners who have genuine national title aspirations I would imagine you can't be talking many people at all?

Very few, wouldn't even be a consideration since you get, what 20% now show on the day. Plenty of room for extra club runners.

theyoungchap · 24-05-2018 2:34pm

My only gripe with the Dublin marathon organisation (it is a fantastic event, the crowd are absolutely epic the whole way) is that of the 20k entries, maybe 1k of them don't do the race for a variety of reasons (injuries, etc).

Those entries should be allowed to be re-assigned. I have registered but am not confident on the injury front, if I don't make it somebody else should be able to take my place instead.

I also would love to see the finish around Trinity College, I remember going down Westland Row and coming down Pearse Street up Nassau Street to the absolute cauldron of noise around there. It was absolutely fantastic. Could a finish around Stephen's Green be an option? Maybe up Merrion Square, Nassau Street and up Kildare Street to the finish on Stephens Green. The finish misses that cauldron of noise.

RayCun · 24-05-2018 2:42pm

All races expect that a certain amount of entrants won't turn up, I think it's built in to their event plan.

robinph · 24-05-2018 2:53pm

If a race is selling 20000 entries they will have negotiated with the various authorities that they will have about 17000 turn up and participate and have the supplies of water/ goodie bags/ medals based on that number. Which will be why if 17500 tun up they will run out. It is apparently a very consistent a drop out rate among all race sizes and types over the years.

theyoungchap · 24-05-2018 2:54pm

But it is a pity that people who want to enter can't join a waiting list and just keep training until people pull out.

Murph_D · 24-05-2018 3:05pm

theyoungchap wrote: »

But it is a pity that people who want to enter can't join a waiting list and just keep training until people pull out.

Much simpler to just give people plenty of time to enter and close entries when full - ie. what they do now. People who want to enter should just enter - but on time.

sideswipe · 24-05-2018 3:52pm

Never seen the complaints about the race being full happen before the race is actually full before:D

Chivito550 · 24-05-2018 4:57pm

average_runner wrote: »

I think the finish and start should be at iconic parts of Dublin, so much history in Dublin.

This is a bit controversial, but maybe finish it in Croke Park or Aviva Stadium, just to give it that grand stand finish or even Santry if needs be.

No way. They do this in Melbourne at the MCG and it is absolutely sh1te!

Worst marathon I've ever seen by the way. It takes in none of the CBD, except a tiny bit of Flinders Street at the start and the end, and most people in the city have no idea it is even going on. It covers just a few roads in an out and back format, along with Albert Park (which is a nice area). It takes in absolutely none of the Northside, which is where all the culture and charming streets and districts are. Tram tracks could be an excuse, but there are tram tracks on some of the streets they do actually use.

Worst of all, they start the marathon at 7am, to get it over and done with as quickly as they can, and there are bugger all people supporting on the course. Sonia O'Sullivan had a rant about in the Irish Times last year I recall.

Here's the map:

http://melbournemarathon.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/MM17-Course-Map-A4.pdf

Dublin's route looks a bit uninspiring to be honest (though better than what Melbourne offers), but we as people, continue to not push our government to build an underground network (we will always remain a car dependent society regrettably). If we had an underground, you could shut down the centre of the city for a marathon, but without such first world transport systems (that the rest of Europe enjoys and assumes to be a normal part of a functioning city), we can't go shutting down areas where the LUAS and buses run.

Dublin marathon to sell out in "few days"

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