The Great Limerick Run, 2 May 2010

Condo131 wrote: »

By all accounts, the pacers contributed immensely to last weekend - Take a *BIG* Bow all of you! Without them, the marathon, and half, would have been a total shambles.

I find it incomprehensible that so many MAJOR elements of each of the three races was so badly organised. We all make mistakes in our events, but last weekend takes some beating.

The Chinese have a saying "Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Anyone for next year's event?

I hoped that this event would prove to be a different sort of model for private for-profit races, but after the euphoria of being in a pacing group dies down after a few days, I'm left with the bitter realization that many corners were cut, to save money (or to maximize profit, whatever way you want to look at it). Having dealt with- literally- hundreds of PM's in the preceeding weeks while organizing pacers, and fielding questions from them and others, about the race, and being in regular contact with the organizers, I feel quite able to speak with some authority on the motives of this race.

Repeatedly, my discussions with the organizers was that this was a race being run primarily with the runners in mind, that a well-organized operation this year would help them host a successful event (to compete with Dublin's scale) in succeeding years. I bought into these discussions in good faith, and can only apologize to anybody who may feel let down by answers I had given them to their questions. Here are some of the direct things that went wrong-

*People who signed up for pacing were not contacted in time, or at all, by the organizers
*Pacers for the half had been placed in outlying hotels, with the promise that a bus would collect them for the race start. No bus came.
*Safety/congestion issues were raised by pacers at a meeting the night before, and ignored on the day
*Measurement for the marathon and half were accurate, however, the 10k was way off; indeed it was almost an afterthought as a race. Not good enough for a short race with a €25 entry.
*Water stations were understaffed and far too small. The worst I have seen for a race this size.
*Cars and runners sharing the same road. It is ineptitude to consider it adequate that a line of small cones will separate thousands of runners going one way, against traffic moving the other, down narrow street.


This is to say nothing of the missing mile markers for the half and 10k, the shambles trying to exit the finish chute, the congestion points on route, the lack of prizes or fanfare for winners, etc. Overall, it was an expensive race for the return. An impression was given that year one would be a learning experience- well it was a handsomely rewarded learning experience. As someone who ran and supported this race, I feel very let down, and would have severe hesitations about supporting new for-profit races like this again. This type of shambles is precisely the sort of thing that will put runners off entering more deserving races.

(The supporters along the route, the Gardai marshalling, the volunteers, and Limerick itself, were magnificant).

Hi guys,

Below are my two favourite races and examples of flawless execution.

The Cape Argus Cycle Tour attracts in excess of 30 000 entrants and 73 start groups ... and the volunteers in the local communities get paid to clean-up etc

http://www.cycletour.co.za/

Another local example growing from strength to strength is the Triathlone ... Athlone is a tiny town, as we know split by a river and the vibe is surreal.

http://www.triathlone.com/

There are enough experts in Ireland and no excuse not to get it right - the first time.

Perhaps a little junket to SA in April may be a learning experience for the race organisers ...

Nuff said !

This is going to be my last comment on this thread for a couple of reasons. First is that (having spent time talking to the organisers in teh weeks leading up to the race) I feel a slight split in loyalty between the runners who had a woeful experience and a race crew who are currently taking quite a kicking. And I think that we need to retain perspective - a lot of what happened was unforgivable. But endlessly repeating it and amplifying it and getting more and more outraged is not productive.

Before the race when there was a lack of info I said that we could sit here and moan about it or we could use the channels we had available to get the info we needed. We could moan or we could do something.

And the same thing applies now. Venting anger and rubbishing an event on an anonymous online BB is deeply satisfying (and I have done it myself in the past). However it is much more productive to get in touch with the RD directly and not just rant and roar about the (many) screw ups but to suggest ways it could be improved. If you are local you could volunteer to get involved. If you are an experienced race organiser you can make suggestions (for example the one about having race directors for each race reporting into an event director). If you are a runner go to them and tell them where the mistakes where made and why it affected you. This event was a fraction of the event that it could have been; we can slate it until it dies or we can work with the RD and his crew to bring it up to the standards that a race at this price point should reach.

Don't get me wrong - the mile markers for teh half and 10k and the mis-measurement of teh course are fundamental errors. But they - along with the prize structure, the marshals, the closing of teh start line and so on - are also very, very easy to fix. Limerick *needs* this event and it needs this event to be a success and that is why I'll be back next year putting my time into trying to improve the race.

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Before the race when there was a lack of info I said that we could sit here and moan about it or we could use the channels we had available to get the info we needed. We could moan or we could do something.

And the same thing applies now. Venting anger and rubbishing an event on an anonymous online BB is deeply satisfying (and I have done it myself in the past). However it is much more productive to get in touch with the RD directly and not just rant and roar about the (many) screw ups but to suggest ways it could be improved. If you are local you could volunteer to get involved.

Trying to get information prior to the event was very difficult. The "person connected" to the race who promoted it on Boards back in November, became very quiet when subsequent questions were put to him. It took me numerous phone calls and emails to get answers to route measuring questions, and was led to believe the course was AIMS accredited. You were at the pacers meeting prior to the race, when I raised issues about timing and congestion, issues that could easily have been solved by delaying the half start by two minutes until the 4 hour pacing group had passed. Promises were made, and yet it was still messed up on the day. This to say nothing about how trivially the 10k was spoken about, nor the nonchalant way road closures were dealt with. I was pushed against moving cars, I doubt I was the only one. Every one of us at that meeting knew that half-closed roads could never deal with the volumes of runners they were expecting.

Of course you want the event to be a success in your hometown: that's very commendable, and I loved the route and seeing Limerick its finest, and agree that Limerick needs a large marathon event. But I disagree on quite how much value the organizers will put on any feedback they receive, given how flippantly they have treated suggestions prior to the race. And that's their prerogative- what they are doing is running a race for a profit, rather than (say) a race that will benefit local athletics. And in the absence of feedback being acted upon, I'd suggest its one of the functions of this discussion board to discuss races (so long as its constructive criticism and not just taking the p*ss, you know who you are). I believe the organizers need to understand just how wrong they got many things last Sunday, when the time to listen and take the advice was prior to the event.

At very least, discussing the aftermath of Limerick might make runners more cautious of profit-driven races, and send them to better-organized club events.

Just a note I did not do the event but was in the city on the day and that evening.

I have read the posts on here and to be honest people need to give it some perspective. It is the first year of the race. Limerick city council wanted a marathon in the city and tendered it out. To my knowledge the people running it are a former or current councillor and a guy who is involved with marathon running, iron man and limerick triathlon club. They got involved to yes make a few quid but also for their passion for the city and sport. .

If the event ran at a loss which they full expected to do for the first 3 years they would have had to fit the bill. They are not a big company just two guys who said let’s give it a go.

On running a event like this for the first time there will always be problems and im sure they will do their best it eliminate the problems from the 2010 event. I have been speaking to a number of people and bar some errors it is generally positive regards the race. From speaking to a number of running club members in limerick and cork there was general negativity toward this event from the off and it would seem to me to be because a club was not running the event but a private company. But there was plenty of opportunity for anyone to organise a marathon in the city over the last 20 years.

I know from organising events and being involved with races and clubs that there is a huge cost in putting on any event and all people see is how much it cost to enter and how many people did the race. I heard figures of 800 euro per garda for over time on the day and there were over 100 on duty for the race. Im sure they have every intention to improve the race for next year and I hope they do. limerick city needs something like this. The runners going the wrong way is just inexcusable, some timing chip problems is not great either (outside company looks after this and there are very few good ones about believe me) the problem with foot bridge and running out of water and road markings all problems that HAVE to be sorted out and are easily fixed.

I also agree that no prizes for the winners is just not right. but I spoke to the winner of the ladies marathon well before she did the event and asked her what the prizes were and she said she didn’t know and didn’t care. Saying that I do hope that the event organisers present the winners of the marathon a cheq for winning cause they should get something for their achievements. Hopefully they will look into this if nothing else from a PR point of view.

I know there is a lot of negativity towards the race on this site and they do need to iron out problems and from reading a post on this site you have an opportunity to have your say directly to the organisers. BUT people need to support events like this. Limerick city needs it and the country needs more people who take a chance and put events like this on by showing initiative. Yes it needs to be improved and if it’s not done better next year then the event will be in trouble, give them a chance to make the required changes.

6200 people took part and most seemed to enjoy the event and the day.