The Great Limerick Run, 2 May 2010

Nialler73 · 11-03-2010 09:41AM

Was getting pretty worried this wasn't going to come together. There's some big hitters named on the site - Reebok, Newstalk etc..Fingers crossed this'll get things moving...

Nialler73 · 11-03-2010 09:43AM

I'm sure New Balance will be delighted I called them Reebok!!! Apologies

baza1976 · 15-03-2010 10:08PM

There has been changes made to the route!!!!! I'm not so sure about these changes so late. On the site the map has been "just changed" just like that no reason as to why.
I see on their forum some asked for some info on this change but no answer came back as yet.

I know when this event was annouced there were a few people hinting they had some inside info. And were quick to "big it up"!!!!

I wonder if they would like to come back and give people a few min.

There have been numerous people on the forum asking for a clear map. It's impossibe to make where the route goes but they have all been ignore:mad:

I'm begining to wonder:(

mitresize5 · 16-03-2010 08:41AM

I heard at work yesterday that at UL the route joins the river bank and heads back into town along it.

Can't imagine how they're going to funnell, what I presume will be, thousands of runners down that path..... its a lovely run but very narrow for that amount of people

thats not from anyone in the know btw - just what one of the guys here heard

--amadeus-- · 16-03-2010 09:24AM

It's a nice path to run but it is very narrow. Depending where it enters and leaves there are also a lot of gates on there

Cartman78 · 16-03-2010 09:48AM

No offence to anybody, but I'm not really sure if it's worth getting too concerned about route alterations. There's no major advantage knowing the exact route before a race unless you happen to be leading the race from start to finish.

re: UL path - it's a bit narrow in places alright but I've run on much smaller path/trails in cross country events. There won't be much overtaking opportunities along there so time to take in the scenery and take a break from the tarmac for a mile or two. I would assume that the gates woillbe opened - could get very messy otherwise

Amazotheamazing · 16-03-2010 10:36AM

mitresize5 wrote: »

I heard at work yesterday that at UL the route joins the river bank and heads back into town along it.

Can't imagine how they're going to funnell, what I presume will be, thousands of runners down that path..... its a lovely run but very narrow for that amount of people

thats not from anyone in the know btw - just what one of the guys here heard

Could be great, could be a disaster, they'll have to knock the styles out by UL though.

--amadeus-- · 16-03-2010 10:46AM

I agree that knowing teh exact route doesn't matter but the outline on the map has a number of potential "areas for concern"

At roughly 16.5k you join the riverbank and run by it until just shy of 18k. This is a really nice place to run (I train there most days) but the path is narrow, no more than 2 - 3 abreast at most. This will make any overtaking tricky. There are also a few gates of teh "C" pedestrian type (where you have to slow down and go round the gate). Even taking out the gate section runners will have to go through in single file. There are a couple of humpback bridges, some rocks (to stop cars) and other obsticals as well.

It then looks like it goes left and runs by the old canal from 18 to 19. This will be less of an issue as there is a path and a cycle path as well as grass so you'll be able to get by. Getting onto that walk though there are gates that I'm not sure (from memory) can be opened - again they are pedestrian baffle gates designed to stop kids running onto the road and there are two of them. One is imobile; it's a series of fences that cannot be moved. The other is a metal structure that you turn sideways to fit through.

These are great places for training runs but they are talking about having thousands of marathon entrants. I wouldn't want to be in the 4 hr+ bracket having to queue through a gate.

Of course all this is speculation - I'm sure that they'll clarify on teh site soon enough!

cphowlin · 16-03-2010 10:57AM

They've put up a virtual tour so you can see they exact route now.

RedB · 16-03-2010 11:04AM

--amadeus-- wrote: »

There are also a few gates of teh "C" pedestrian type (where you have to slow down and go round the gate). Even taking out the gate section runners will have to go through in single file. There are a couple of humpback bridges, some rocks (to stop cars) and other obsticals as well.

One is imobile; it's a series of fences that cannot be moved. The other is a metal structure that you turn sideways to fit through.

These are great places for training runs but they are talking about having thousands of marathon entrants. I wouldn't want to be in the 4 hr+ bracket having to queue through a gate.

Of course all this is speculation - I'm sure that they'll clarify on teh site soon enough!

The river route is nice but very tricky for staging a race through. Apart from the narrowness, I recall several obstacles like amadeus mentions that would stop you in your tracks which is not on. Hopefully they can be removed as it shouldn't be an obstacle course. While they will have thousands doing the 10k + HM, the marathon might only have several hundred who would be well spaced out by the time they get to the river section, so hopefully the narrowness along there wouldn't be an issue. The gates, etc would be an issue for me during a marathon.

EDIT - Just had a proper look at the new route and I must say I do prefer it to the previous one

Bally8 · 16-03-2010 12:08PM

cphowlin wrote: »

They've put up a virtual tour so you can see they exact route now.

Thats brilliant. Wish I had seen something like that before Dublin last year.

metamorphosis · 16-03-2010 12:11PM

just did the virtual tour - it sure has a few narrow parts alright especially the riverbank and again after arthurs quay by the milk market in the later stages.

Amazotheamazing · 16-03-2010 12:54PM

At the risk of getting carried away, get on to your local councillor to ensure the route is fully open for the day of the run, the council could clear most of the path, cut back the hedges and make it a small bit more runnable very easily. They have the manpower and the tools to do it.

Done properly it should be beautiful route. Done badly it will kill the event, anyone remember the Plassey 10k from 2 years ago, could be horrible.

Btw, I know one councillor is trying to get a proper path from the new tunnel up to the Clondel bridge, (there's already a path to the clonmacken roadabout), if that comes to pass, and this race comes to pass, we'll have a really good run all the way from UL to Cratloemoyle (2 mile Inn). The councillor's plan is to have the path from Clondel bridge roughly as wide as the one out to UL, at the minute it's pretty narrow except for a small bit after the drop after the pier.

baza1976 · 16-03-2010 01:04PM

Good to see the virtual tour. Few sneaky hills in there that you wouldn't be thinking of. So thats good, that I know where I'm going can tell family and friends so that I'll some support. All the other marathons I ran I've been on my own till the finish line.
Not sure how they are going to manage the canal and people trying to over take etc. I have taken in enough scenry during training the marathon is for running!!!

There is a lot of doubling back and cris-crossing(speeling:o). I can imagine it will be tempting for people. I hope there are plenty of timing mats out and stewards to prevent this.

Would believe after all I have said above that I'm looking forward to it:D

baza1976 · 16-03-2010 01:12PM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Btw, I know one councillor is trying to get a proper path from the new tunnel up to the Clondel bridge, (there's already a path to the clonmacken roadabout), if that comes to pass, and this race comes to pass, we'll have a really good run all the way from UL to Cratloemoyle (2 mile Inn). The councillor's plan is to have the path from Clondel bridge roughly as wide as the one out to UL, at the minute it's pretty narrow except for a small bit after the drop after the pier.

Where is this bridge? do you mean the Shannon bridge?

Amazotheamazing · 16-03-2010 01:18PM

baza1976 wrote: »

Where is this bridge? do you mean the Shannon bridge?

Sorry, yes I do, just so used to thinking in terms of Clondel rd when trying to explain the concept to people who aren't from the area.

Hope it comes to pass, would be a great facility for Limerick in general, even if it's just a nice walk/run.

baza1976 · 16-03-2010 01:21PM

How would you link that road up with UL?? just trying to get my around it , not trying to catch you out.

Thanks

Amazotheamazing · 16-03-2010 01:32PM

baza1976 wrote: »

How would you link that road up with UL?? just trying to get my around it , not trying to catch you out.

Thanks

It's a fair question, of course you'd still have to run through town but the new boardwalks by the river have made that route far nicer, depends on how you want to go, either up Nicholas street or across the bridge by Athlunkard rowing club, or along in front of Arthur's Quay etc. There are also plans to upgrade Honan's Quay, Harvey's Quay etc.

the main thing is that there would be decent quality surface from UL to Cratlormoyle, not an unbroken path, or a path that narrows to one person width for a sizeable length of it.

--amadeus-- · 16-03-2010 09:39PM

Dumb Q - is the half marathon route the same as the first half of the marathon route? I know that the official route map is different but they change teh colour on the virtual map at half way

Reaganomical · 18-03-2010 01:02PM

I'm pretty sure that the half marathon route is the second half of the full marathon route - it goes from Peoples Park up thru Rosbrien and out to Ballyclough before turning back thru Raheen onto South Circular Road. From there back in thru town, out past King John's Castle and Thomondgate/Ennis Rd before finishing in town.

It starts 2 hours after the marathon, so I'm guessing anyone running over 4hours in the marathon is going to be faced with a couple of miles of the half marathon runners streaming past them...hopefully a bit of common sense will be employed in relation to making room for people to overtake...

baza1976 · 18-03-2010 01:19PM

What do ye think about the over lapping that may tempt people to take short cuts!!???! I'm esp worried where you come off of Clancy's Strand where you should turn right and run a loop. BUt I'd be worried that people will be tempted to take a left here. Even when you go up the back of the maternity there are some small streets where you could take a few miles out on purpose. . I hope there is some timing mat atound the maternity or Shelbourne road. I hope there are some marshalls or timing maps around there.

woodchopper · 18-03-2010 01:21PM

Any idea of the prize structure for the three different events. One would presume the rewards would have to be good if they want to endice elite athletes to run the events.

MarieC · 23-03-2010 11:31AM

FYI the deadline for changing from race you have registered for to one of the other 2 alternatives has been extended until April 20th.

Cartman78 · 24-03-2010 03:28PM

Will be interesting to see how many people are actually doing the full marathon. I've a vision of a couple of hundred marathoners being swarmed and passed out by thousands of 10k runners.

Should be a good atmosphere though with the 3 different races - passing thru town twice as well will help those doing the marathon

Condo131 · 24-03-2010 04:48PM

baza1976 wrote: »

What do ye think about the over lapping that may tempt people to take short cuts!!???! I'm esp worried where you come off of Clancy's Strand where you should turn right and run a loop. BUt I'd be worried that people will be tempted to take a left here. Even when you go up the back of the maternity there are some small streets where you could take a few miles out on purpose. . I hope there is some timing mat atound the maternity or Shelbourne road. I hope there are some marshalls or timing maps around there.

If there is a possibility of participants taking short cuts, the organisers *must* put controls in place to ensure that the temptation is reduced, by putting barriers etc in place. One check is to put 'chip mats' at chosen critical points to ensure that people haven't succumbed to the temptation to cheat.

I'm not familiar with the course, except thro the course maps, but I think it will be very difficult to ensure that course certification controls are met.

shotgunmcos · 24-03-2010 05:22PM

On the pro side
- It great that a Marathon is being staged in limerick
- Riverfest weeknd, general atmosphere will be great

- 3 races together will only add to the atmosphere
- The course is quite nice and shows off the city
- Decent sponsor on board

On the con side
- As mentioned above 'controls' there are so many places for dodgers to cheat I just hope the controls are in place and this is envisaged in the plan
- The turnaround point at the plassey tech park roundabout - will the whole tech road be divided in 2?
- The plassey tech road is part of the Joey Hannon cycle rout e which will be taking place that morning :rolleyes:

- 1.5 miles of the run route is the same as the Joey route which will be taking place that morning :rolleyes:

- Miles 9-11 on the riverbank are going to be so congested I cannot for the life of me fathom how that will work. Anyone in the 3:45-4:40 bracket will need to wear elbow pads and helmets
- Its on the same flippin day as the Joey Hannon which I believes weakens the participation and support of both events. Why it could not be organised for the Bank Holiday Monday I don't know, perhaps a logical reason but its just silly that 2 such big events are on the same morning :mad:

baza1976 · 24-03-2010 11:19PM

[/QUOTE] -The plassey tech road is part of the Joey Hannon cycle rout e which will be taking place that morning :rolleyes:
- 1.5 miles of the run route is the same as the Joey route which will be taking place that morning :rolleyes: - :[/QUOTE]

Please someone tell me the organisors of the GLR know this:eek: ......... I don't know

Backmarker · 25-03-2010 08:51AM

Besides the clash with the Joey Hannon event, can someone please tell me if the roads on the course are going to be closed to traffic.

cphowlin · 25-03-2010 10:40AM

shotgunmcos wrote: »

- The plassey tech road is part of the Joey Hannon cycle rout e which will be taking place that morning :rolleyes:
- 1.5 miles of the run route is the same as the Joey route which will be taking place that morning :rolleyes:

Anyone know the start time of the Joey Hannon? The Castletroy section of the race is the first 10-ish miles of the marathon so maybe the marathon will have already passed through by the time cycle and run sections of Joey starts?

Brianderunner · 25-03-2010 01:01PM

A few points on the GLR:

I think its great for whats its doing to the city as regards people out running, never before have i seen so many runners in all areas of the city, at all times of the day and at all speeds. You cant miss the signs on all the roundabouts and the word seems to have now spread. First time racers will no doubt keep it up afterwards which will strenghten running in Limerick over time. The race has the potential to go from strength to strength and can become the 3rd biggest marathon in ROI after dublin and cork.

However, the UL riverbank, which i run on most days, is a horror show waiting to happen, firstly the C ring gates previously mentioned, i think there is only one on the route, will slow everyone down which will lead to queues, the boulders and humpback bridges will interfere too, not to mention the weekend dog walkers, which will inevitably be on the route. I feel too that there is too much of the route around UL, it seems to wander aimlessly around there for a few miles. Also the what type of crowds do people expect away from the city centre. For example i live just beyond mile 24 and i cant see there being many (if any) spectators around there and other areas. Also i can see the roads being kept open for the most part with bollards at the side for segregation. I expect the general public in Limerick to be nonchalent about the event and i see more people complaining about traffic disruption than cheering on the runners.

For the above reasons i have chosen not to do Limerick this year but i wish all participants the best of luck and i may compete next year depending on how it goes. As regards cheating, if people want to cut corners then good luck to them, but who are they fooling?

The Great Limerick Run, 2 May 2010

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