Dublin Marathon 2023

is there any stats on how successful the lottery was last year? I've done DCM a few times but I decided not to enter this year. I know the lottery is open on the 2nd for next year but I'm curious how subscribed it was last year.

That is very odd. I just assumed everyone did the hoodie and tracksuit bottoms from Pennys or something very old.

One reason for no shows is people want to be guaranteed entry next year. To me, if you didn't at least start this year you have no entitlement to a place next year.

A number of reasons

1. Injuries, people trying to get around. Had this a good few years ago myself. It was awful. Never again.

2. The "ah sure I'll get around, the crowd and adrenaline will help" people who don't realise just how far it is.

3. Those who are sick coming in to the race. Has happened me too albeit not in a marathon.

Was pacing a friend which dropped me at some point so ended up slowing the pace down earlier than planned at 25k mark as wasn't chasing a PB, only to nearly blow up later on and really shuffle using will power mostly for the last 8k.

Biblical rain at that stage didn't help but managed to do a good time of sub 3:45.

Crowd support was a big factor in me not stopping at that point.

Not surprised. They were of poor quality and design imo.

I get that. They could mix it up a bit though to make each year stand out.

Yeah, not sure I've ever worn mine since. Wouldn't throw it away though.

Same with the 2018 one, was awful looking I thought.

My 2017 one is a treasured possession, wore that one a lot.

I think the people who do it every year have made it the event it is, I'd have no problem with the annual or even this years first timers getting guaranteed a place.

But if you registered, and didn't start you have no entitlement to a guaranteed place. I guess paradoxically they are "cheaper" for the organisers in that they are pure profit (i.e. they don't turn up!).

But they still had to plan for them being there one way or other, and they deny people who would run a place. You should be able to transfer up to the week of the event in my opinion. They aren't something which can be sold for a profit so its not like a black market exists for them!

Totally agree. You shouldn't be guaranteed an entry for the following year, just because you had an entry for the current year. You should at the very least have started the marathon, whatever about actually finishing it. I appreciate people get injured, things happen and can't make it on the day, but that's life.

When you look at the fact that nearly a third of the total field didn't run it, that's a kick in the teeth to those that were looking to run and didn't get a number in the lottery. I'd also like to know how many of those no-shows were women, given they gave woman a guaranteed entry to the marathon that had run the half marathon. If they hadn't been training for a marathon by the time of the half, doubtful they were ready to run a full.

I had an entry for this year, but gave it back, as had I had run Dublin 2022 and then London 2023 and didn't have the motivation to do a 3rd marathon in 12 months, and was glad I didn't do it. The thing that has really stuck in my throat was the €30 "admin" fee Dublin marathon charged to hand back my number. Absolutely disgraceful money grab by them. And then they sell it on again at full price, creaming it at both ends. So not really enamoured with the Dublin marathon at the moment.

They need to implement a transfer system for a small admin fee (not €30!) to be able to either transfer your number or hand it back. They have created a rod for their own back by not having one. Look at the Half marathon (National Championships), there were so many people running under other peoples numbers, they couldn't award the prizes immediately, they had to go back and re-check everything. And I bet there were loads of people running under other peoples numbers on Sunday too.

Don't think I will bother again with Dublin for a few years, until they sort themselves out.

I believe, its for next years marathon women who ran the half marathon are guaranteed entry, it wasn't this year. Its probably too much hassle to just guarantee people who started the marathon places, they would get a flood of doctor notes and complaints. Remember there was a good few days last year where anyone could just log in and register.

This makes sense, only about 30% of runners yesterday were women (5k from 16k).

as for the guaranteed entry for next year, they’ve tried to change that before and there was war from the many thousands of regulars, myself included - I think guaranteed entry is fair enough; one suggestion might be to upload your finishing certificate from this year when applying for next year.

I’m not sure there’s as many people as you might think paying the €110 just to keep their place for the following year - €220 is a very expensive marathon :)

Also worth remembering that every marathon has 10-15% no shows and DNS/F.

didn’t they open a transfer window back in July for this years marathon?

A 27% no-show rate is extremely high for sure (assuming they actually sold out the 22.5k places).

had a great run yesterday, my best at DCM, and got in before the downpour

Anyone who wanted to run under the name they could have. There was a window where anyone could have entered after the lottery and it was open for 24 hours before the numbers sold out but I agree the transfer window should be available until 1st of October at least. They could even do it at the expo they really wanted to. Have a desk and you queue up. 2 people manning it and charge €20 a head. You’re in wave 3/4 unless you’ve proof you can move up

With respect to entry for next year, to me it should be straightforward.

1. All Clubs automatically get a certain number of entries based on their size. Any unused to be put back in by a certain date. Come down hard on clubs not using their allocation or returning unused.
2. All starters given first preference for next year.
3. Open a transfer portal up until Sept 1st. €20 admin fee.
4. Anyone who did the right thing and transferred in the portal, is considered as a preference for the following year.
5. Anyone who misses the transfer portal deadline and doesn't start, is taken off the preference list.
6. Open a dropout Portal from Sept 1st to Early October. €20 admin fee.
7. Anyone who uses the dropout portal to give up their number, is considered for the following year. Anyone who doesnt, loses their preference for following year.
8. Last minute portal, a 2-3 day portal that opens 2 weeks before marathon. Increased price to cover admin.

I know it seems like a lot of portals, but technically speaking each one of those are in sequence and can piggyback off each other, from a technical point of view. Its 2023, it shouldn't be an issue.

Emails are in there, suppose I have no choice but to sign up, i love the pain too much.