The Great Limerick Run, 2 May 2010

RedB · 23-04-2010 04:05PM

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Anyone doing the full planning on running with any of the pacing groups?

I'm hoping to go with the sub 3:45 group but I'm also thinking about a negative split strategy as described below

.
http://eifler.com/mara.cgi?pg=Calculate&la=EN&CkID=1&ds=2&hh=0&mm=47&ss=00&bt=180&un=M

donothoponpop · 23-04-2010 04:05PM

RedB wrote: »

While I accept that there are immovable objects on the riverbank, ...

The above areas will stop runners as they navigate them. Its a marathon, not an obstacle course. Limerick City Council should be able to facilitate reasonable requests that the above obstacles be temporarily removed. If the organisers confirm that the Council won't do this, can someone let us know and I'll try to take it up with the local public representatives.

Not knowing the route, I spoke to the RD a couple of days ago about obstacles along the riverbank, which had been mentioned on this thread, he said there were things that couldn't be moved, runners would have to accomadate as best they could.

As you're Limerick based, you might know more about what can/can't be moved- give them a call if you can help?

RedB · 23-04-2010 04:14PM

donothoponpop wrote: »

As you're Limerick based, you might know more about what can/can't be moved- give them a call if you can help?

Thanks - I'm going out now with my camera and will go into them on Monday morning with my cunning plans!

JimWhoIs50 · 23-04-2010 05:21PM

Hi to all the regular posters.
Just wanted to thank you all for giving me and the other silent forum watchers a wealth of information that is not available elsewhere. I wish Limerick City (my childhood home town) all the best for a successful marathon, but I have to say that the lack of information on the website does not inspire confidence. Also, the GLR website Forum is a disgrace (unless you have PC problems)!
After spending an hour reading through the 17 pages of this forum, I am now relatively confident that I know what to expect. As I am a 3:30 marathon runner, I think I should miss most of the people traffic black-spots, but the 4 hour+ runners are going to have all the 10km runners joining them from 12:30. Could get messy! And no bottled water - poor!
And as for the speedy 10km runners - they will have to overtake us 3:30 runners as their pace should be a minute or two faster than ours.
Again, thanks to RedB, MarieC, Cartman78, Beza1967, Gilmore and all the other posters for this most excellent information and good luck and run hard on the 2nd!
Jim

donothoponpop · 23-04-2010 05:55PM

If this can in any way placate those looking for more info- and I was phoning them looking for answers back in Nov- but quite a few of the pacers from Boards have had phone calls from the RD, and as far as I can see, everyone has been impressed by his desire to run this race as professionally as possible. Personally, I've been impressed at the scope of his vision- its not many first-time races that seek out AAI approval, AIMS accreditation, several pacing groups, accurate measurement, etc.; on their first outing. Have to admit I don't know the RD's, or what sort of race experience they have, but they do seem very willing to listen to suggestions, with a view to giving entrants the best experience on the day.

With that in mind, I'd suggest the best thing to do would be to continue this list of constructive questions, and for RedB to try and present them to the organizers on Monday. No doubt mistakes will be made the first year, but I think if enough people are willing to be constructive with their questions, it will contribute to a better race-day for all.

**Caveat- I've nothing to do with the race bar helping get the pacer names**

JimWhoIs50 · 23-04-2010 09:33PM

Could someone tell me the URL of the Great Limerick Run Facebook page? I have tried but can't for the life of me find it. None of the links seem to work.
Many thanks
Jim

geld · 23-04-2010 09:38PM

JimWhoIs50 wrote: »

Could someone tell me the URL of the Great Limerick Run Facebook page? I have tried but can't for the life of me find it. None of the links seem to work.
Many thanks
Jim

Jim, try this - http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Great-Limerick-Run/180985669729

gilmore · 23-04-2010 09:39PM

JimWhoIs50 wrote: »

Could someone tell me the URL of the Great Limerick Run Facebook page? I have tried but can't for the life of me find it. None of the links seem to work.
Many thanks
Jim

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Great-Limerick-Run/180985669729

Hope this works.

JimWhoIs50 · 23-04-2010 09:41PM

Many thanks Gilmore
Indeed that is the URL I have tried but it just takes me to my page. Any suggestions?

gilmore · 23-04-2010 09:46PM

I'm at a loss Jim, maybe someone with a bit more computer know how will be able to help.

geld · 23-04-2010 09:52PM

I knoe it sounds obvious but have you tried a search of "Great Limerick Run" in the search field at the top of the page? It seems to work for me.

JimWhoIs50 · 23-04-2010 10:02PM

Indeed I have and I get about 6 results, some called The Great Limerick Run with some members but they are not the real GLR. Sounds mad but it just doesn't seem to exist in my Facebook world!!

Amazotheamazing · 24-04-2010 01:37AM

There's still time, imo, to get on to your councillors and make sure the route is as clean and obstacle free as possible. The stretch by the riverbank could be a disaster if it's not as obstacle free as possible.

Please, please tell me the stile by the old footbridge near UL is gone? The metal U-shaped one you've to step through? If not, cough, could it have an accident, cough, with a lump hammer, cough, during the week, cough?

lecheile · 24-04-2010 08:47AM

donothoponpop wrote: »

Personally, I've been impressed at the scope of his vision- its not many first-time races that seek out AAI approval, AIMS accreditation, several pacing groups, accurate measurement, etc.; on their first outing.

I have to echo d....p's views. I am also involved in the pacing group and had a long conversation with one of the organisers during the week. I have arranged a few races so was inquiring from a RDs point of view as to how things were going.

They have set themselves a very high standard in an inaugural event of this scale and I believe that the investment that they are putting into it is a clear indication that they intend to make it a regular, successful event. They may not get everything right on the day, but in my view, it wont be for want of trying.

As d...p said - lets keep our suggestions positive and look forward to Limerick putting on a wonderful show.

And I also have nothing to do with the organisation of the race apart from taking a pacing group and do not know any of the organisers.

lecheile · 24-04-2010 08:51AM

JimWhoIs50 wrote: »

As I am a 3:30 marathon runner

Hi Jim - I'm one of the 3:30 pacers and look forward to running with you in Limerick - perhaps with your local knowledge you can incorporate a bit of a guided tour for the group

Krusty_Clown · 24-04-2010 09:00AM

lecheile wrote: »

Hi Jim - I'm one of the 3:30 pacers and look forward to running with you in Limerick - perhaps with your local knowledge you can incorporate a bit of a guided tour for the group

I'll bring my camera.

Just heading off for my 20 mile jolly jaunt. Fingers crossed!

RedB · 24-04-2010 11:06AM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

There's still time, imo, to get on to your councillors and make sure the route is as clean and obstacle free as possible. The stretch by the riverbank could be a disaster if it's not as obstacle free as possible.

Please, please tell me the stile by the old footbridge near UL is gone? The metal U-shaped one you've to step through? If not, cough, could it have an accident, cough, with a lump hammer, cough, during the week, cough?

Just came from the riverbank now and its not as straightforward as I had hoped. That U-shaped stile (C type gate:)) is there just after the footbridge about 1/2 mile beyond the boatclub and the bolts holding it are welded on

. It doesn't look like it'll be going anywhere unless the Council accept that, if it does come out (con-saw job

), it won't be going back in quick.

I watched a runner go through it and it does involve a bit of a quick stop and side shuffle through it and while not ideal, its do-able given that its in the early part of the race. I would like to see it gone but I don't think it'll happen so it may just be a matter of dealing with it. I'll raise the issue on Monday.

Off into town now to review the canal section if I can. My limping has gotton worse

Krusty_Clown · 24-04-2010 01:21PM

RedB wrote: »

I watched a runner go through it and it does involve a bit of a quick stop and side shuffle through it and while not ideal, its do-able given that its in the early part of the race. I would like to see it gone but I don't think it'll happen so it may just be a matter of dealing with it. I'll raise the issue on Monday.

Off into town now to review the canal section if I can. My limping has gotton worse

It's a pity it's in the early part of the race, as the runners will be packed tightly together. I presume it's a single file jobby? It sounds like a bit of a safety risk to me. Perhaps the race organizers should consider removing it and replacing it with something a little more flexible, particularly if they plan repeating this event over the coming years. If the race is successful it could draw sizeable numbers to Limerick, so it would also be in the interest of the council to get something more practical.

donothoponpop · 24-04-2010 03:12PM

1. Will the Proper Route Map be online soon?
2. Email notification he said the email re. collecting race packs is going out on monday next
3. Will water be in bottles or cups?
4. Will there be sports drinks / gels, if so which type?
5. Number of people running the marathon
6. Will the roads be closed and junctions marshalled?
7. Those e-bends / s-bends obstacles- will they be removed?
8. Will there be portaloos? If so at what mile marks and how many?

I asked the RD would he answer a list of questions from here, he said he would and thought it a great idea. Bear in mind too that some of the questions may help remind the organizers with elements they may have overlooked, so it's a helpful exercise all round. I removed some of the answers, just so we can hear them "from the horse's mouth" next Mon/Tue. Please feel free to add questions to the list above.

Also he said they are looking for volunteers to help on the day, details should be on their homepage.

Krusty_Clown · 25-04-2010 12:04PM

Does the Limerick E-gate look a little like this, or is it smaller (note: This gate is in Dublin, it's not the Limerick gate!). What mile does it come at?

OdettiSpaghetti · 25-04-2010 01:51PM

Hi D...p,

Did you ever get a reply from the race director / organisers? I was an event manager and I think this races is hopelessly disorganised and Im sorry I entered it. The lack of information is frustrating and the lack of attention to detail is mind boggling. Is this the Limerick answer to the usual happy slap-dash system of doing things and pocketing the money. Furthermore I am disgusted at the thought that we will have to pay for parking in one of the many multistorey car-parks. I have run other marathons and competed in dozens of cycling races and have never experienced this level of incompetance and ineptness.

I get the feeling Someone is running this like its a personal hobby, never mind all the accreditation blah -blah ... get it right first time ... the way this is going you wont have a race next year. I lived in Limerick and I know the river routes and the uni bridges etc and the fact we are sharing this event with a triathlon is even more shocking. Futhermore the city will be chaos with the other events taking place, and colliding and water shortages.

I still dont see anywhere on the website where there is mention of the registration area, they obviously couldnt get their act together to even host a mini expo and the online maps are deplorable. Where do we ask family to meet us with provisions etc ...

The 3 hour cut off point for the at the halfway point for the marathon is ridiculous ... what about newcomers who are expecting a 6 hour marathon ... will they get turned away with a ...'train harder next year' flippant remark. Very bad sportsmanship.

I entered this race to give my support to Limerick which is crippled with unemployment etc and paying to stay in a hotel and buy meals and treats etc there, paying for parking on race day is a bit of a rub. Maybe the organisers should ask the 'big' boys to help them ... they have 1 week left and its still a mystery. Never again Limerick ... maybe your event needs to sink back into the swamp!

My apologies if I have personally offended anyone but being a frequent competitor I expect a little bang for my buck, and certainly a lot of information and NO! I dont want it to be anecdotal or have to chase around face-book etc for it either.

Get it right the first time or you mightn't get the support you need next year.
Remember this is after all a marketing campaign after all and the customer is actually king.

Thank you

Hard Worker · 25-04-2010 02:10PM

OdettiSpaghetti wrote: »

Hi D...p,

Did you ever get a reply from the race director / organisers? I was an event manager and I think this races is hopelessly disorganised and Im sorry I entered it. The lack of information is frustrating and the lack of attention to detail is mind boggling. Is this the Limerick answer to the usual happy slap-dash system of doing things and pocketing the money. Furthermore I am disgusted at the thought that we will have to pay for parking in one of the many multistorey car-parks. I have run other marathons and competed in dozens of cycling races and have never experienced this level of incompetance and ineptness.

I get the feeling Someone is running this like its a personal hobby, never mind all the accreditation blah -blah ... get it right first time ... the way this is going you wont have a race next year. I lived in Limerick and I know the river routes and the uni bridges etc and the fact we are sharing this event with a triathlon is even more shocking. Futhermore the city will be chaos with the other events taking place, and colliding and water shortages.

I still dont see anywhere on the website where there is mention of the registration area, they obviously couldnt get their act together to even host a mini expo and the online maps are deplorable. Where do we ask family to meet us with provisions etc ...

The 3 hour cut off point for the at the halfway point for the marathon is ridiculous ... what about newcomers who are expecting a 6 hour marathon ... will they get turned away with a ...'train harder next year' flippant remark. Very bad sportsmanship.

I entered this race to give my support to Limerick which is crippled with unemployment etc and paying to stay in a hotel and buy meals and treats etc there, paying for parking on race day is a bit of a rub. Maybe the organisers should ask the 'big' boys to help them ... they have 1 week left and its still a mystery. Never again Limerick ... maybe your event needs to sink back into the swamp!

My apologies if I have personally offended anyone but being a frequent competitor I expect a little bang for my buck, and certainly a lot of information and NO! I dont want it to be anecdotal or have to chase around face-book etc for it either.

Get it right the first time or you mightn't get the support you need next year.
Remember this is after all a marketing campaign after all and the customer is actually king.

Thank you

You're joking about the parking surely. Can't think of any city marathon that offers free parking - London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Belfast.
The 3 hour cut off at half way was probably brought upon the organisers on safety grounds because of other events on in the city.

ecoli · 25-04-2010 02:11PM

OdettiSpaghetti wrote: »

Hi D...p,

Did you ever get a reply from the race director / organisers? I was an event manager and I think this races is hopelessly disorganised and Im sorry I entered it. The lack of information is frustrating and the lack of attention to detail is mind boggling. Is this the Limerick answer to the usual happy slap-dash system of doing things and pocketing the money. Furthermore I am disgusted at the thought that we will have to pay for parking in one of the many multistorey car-parks. I have run other marathons and competed in dozens of cycling races and have never experienced this level of incompetance and ineptness.

I get the feeling Someone is running this like its a personal hobby, never mind all the accreditation blah -blah ... get it right first time ... the way this is going you wont have a race next year. I lived in Limerick and I know the river routes and the uni bridges etc and the fact we are sharing this event with a triathlon is even more shocking. Futhermore the city will be chaos with the other events taking place, and colliding and water shortages.

I still dont see anywhere on the website where there is mention of the registration area, they obviously couldnt get their act together to even host a mini expo and the online maps are deplorable. Where do we ask family to meet us with provisions etc ...

The 3 hour cut off point for the at the halfway point for the marathon is ridiculous ... what about newcomers who are expecting a 6 hour marathon ... will they get turned away with a ...'train harder next year' flippant remark. Very bad sportsmanship.

I entered this race to give my support to Limerick which is crippled with unemployment etc and paying to stay in a hotel and buy meals and treats etc there, paying for parking on race day is a bit of a rub. Maybe the organisers should ask the 'big' boys to help them ... they have 1 week left and its still a mystery. Never again Limerick ... maybe your event needs to sink back into the swamp!

My apologies if I have personally offended anyone but being a frequent competitor I expect a little bang for my buck, and certainly a lot of information and NO! I dont want it to be anecdotal or have to chase around face-book etc for it either.

Get it right the first time or you mightn't get the support you need next year.
Remember this is after all a marketing campaign after all and the customer is actually king.

Thank you

As far as i know the expo is in Thomond Park the day before. This was a pop up as soon as i went on the site

baza1976 · 25-04-2010 02:24PM

I have to agree about the communication from the rd and other organisors of the great limerick run. Their website is a joke, and the face book thingy won't answer qustions about how many people approx are running in each race, questions about the route etc etc.

Seems unless your a pacer on boards you can't get an answer!!! The rd seems more interested in reasuring. No offence to the pacers, but where else would you have to pm a pacer for info???

This is boards.ie not the great limerick run web site. I know I can get some answers indirectly on here but what about all the other people that don't frequent here? what confusion must they be in?

And to think it is less than a week away and we here on boards hav to put a list of Q's together :eek:

I really hope everything goes well on the day as I have paid enough and trained hard plus it is my home city. But the silence is a worry.

donothoponpop · 25-04-2010 02:57PM

OdettiSpaghetti wrote: »

Hi D...p,

Did you ever get a reply from the race director / organisers? ...
Remember this is after all a marketing campaign after all and the customer is actually king.

baza1976 wrote: »

Seems unless your a pacer on boards you can't get an answer!!! The rd seems more interested in reasuring. No offence to the pacers, but where else would you have to pm a pacer for info???

I'm going to assume a bit of taper madness at this point...

@OS, you could have read my reply, two above yours, for your first answer. It might have saved you a lot of typing, and frankly, a lot of your points are nonsense.

@baza, the rd has answered my phonecalls and emails, long before I signed up for pacing. If you've a question you want answered, put it down on the list, and the RD has said he'll answer the list on Mon/Tue.

Have a look at my posting history, I tend to complain about the cost of every privately run event (in fact, I'm usually cranky about paying more than €7 a race...). I hate commercialism, hate "charity" races, hate badly run events, so I've no reason to stick up for the RD of this (or any) event. However, I find it extremely refreshing to see a commercial race:

*Organize an AAI permit and ensure all AIMS standards are upheld;
*Organize an expo for those runners who like that sort of thing;
*Organize pacers in the marathon and half, basically treating the runners (all the way to 4:30 and 2:00 standard) as people who care about goals and times, rather than forget about them once they've paid their entry fee;
*Not scream about "portion to charity" at every opportunity;
*Be willing to engage with a bunch of internet forum cranks who demand answers.
*Who knows? Perhaps even run an enjoyable event no-one forced you to enter.
I'd prefer this sort of model if there has to be commercial races, and they can live or die by the market.

There's bound to be problems the first year, if you can think of any way to alleviate these problems, stick down your thoughts on the list above, rather than bemoaning the fact you have a means to do so.

baza1976 · 25-04-2010 05:17PM

Hi D.P

Like I said, I mean't no offence to the pacers.

And I admit we are lucky to have a channel to the r.d here on boards. But it is only us here on boards who know about it.
Maybe the r.d should link boards on their web site. That way a lot more people would benefit, because nobody is gaining anything from the face book thing they have going on or the marathon web site itself.

I really hope this event goes well and we(me) are worryng over nothing. The last thing I want is people to be slagging off an event in my home city. The chances are it will go well. It might not sound like it at times but I'm really looking forward to it.......... and I'm looking forward to tagging along to a pacer;)

RedB · 25-04-2010 05:23PM

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Does the Limerick E-gate look a little like this, or is it smaller (note: This gate is in Dublin, it's not the Limerick gate!). What mile does it come at?

The gates are similar to that but even narrower I think. The bad news is that there is 3 of them

. I thought we could get 2 bollards removed on the 2nd half of the canal section but they're cemented in so its squeeze past the bollard sideways or shuffle through the gates. I'll upload the photos in the morning (left cable at work).

First is about 10.5M on the riverbank just after the hump back bridge
2nd one is about 11.5M at the start of the 2nd section of the Canal
3rd one is about 12M at Canal / Lelia St junction.

They are definitely a single file jobbey!

Krusty_Clown · 25-04-2010 06:22PM

baza1976 wrote: »

And I admit we are lucky to have a channel to the r.d here on boards. But it is only us here on boards who know about it.
Maybe the r.d should link boards on their web site. That way a lot more people would benefit, because nobody is gaining anything from the face book thing they have going on or the marathon web site itself.

Anyone can ring their contact number, which is listed on the contact page. Have you tried this?
Phone: 061-609 627

baza1976 · 25-04-2010 06:38PM

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Anyone can ring their contact number, which is listed on the contact page. Have you tried this?
Phone: 061-609 627

I don't need to ring him, I get all the info I need here on boards;)

But just so you know I haven't rang them but I have emailed them 3 times with no replies and posted on their website with no reply(i posted under the same name I post here with). If you want to PM me with I can send you the 3 emails I sent them.

Thanks to boards I can get relevent info here.

--amadeus-- · 25-04-2010 06:54PM

I emailed the RD a few times before I got roped into the pacing thing and I always got a reply, maybe they are just swamped at the minute?

One thing I will say about them is that most of teh emails I've had from them have had this as a closing line "If you have any suggestions that you feel will make this a more successful event we would be delighted to hear from you." and he has *always* been very forthright about seeking out ideas and help.

However this is a *huge* challenge. 3 events at once on teh same day and in the same location as one of teh countries most popular triathlons was always going to be tough. And they are very aggressive in thier targets - they want to be the marathon that all other Irish marathons are measured against. Going public with that kind of ambition in your debut year leaves a lot of hostages to fortune - if you promise teh earth, moon and stars then you better do it. I have "bought in" to what the RD wants to achieve and I have faith in his desire to do what he is promising. But I have the advantage of having met and spoke to him. As I said a while back I hope that people get the event that the RD wants to deliver.

In teh meantime we can either crib about lack of communication, poor websites and teh like or we can use the channels that we have available and get the answers we want.

The Great Limerick Run, 2 May 2010

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