Tralee International marathon 16-03-13

BeepBeep67 · 07-10-2012 9:58pm #1

While searching around for spring marathon options I came across a new entry to Irish Marathon scene: http://www.traleemarathon.com/ Anyone know the area well - Thomas maybe?
Course here: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/92571133/

TFBubendorfer · 08-10-2012 10:17am

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

While searching around for spring marathon options I came across a new entry to Irish Marathon scene: http://www.traleemarathon.com/ Anyone know the area well - Thomas maybe?
Course here: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/92571133/

North Kerry - not my area

As far as I know the route will go from Tralee to Ardfert, then towards the coast, Tralee golf club and back via Blennerville. There are no major hills but it won't be flat (flat courses are not an option in that area). Let's hope it won't be windy, though!

There's plenty of buzz about this race. I think it's going to be a good one.

BeepBeep67 · 08-10-2012 8:27pm

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

North Kerry - not my area

As far as I know the route will go from Tralee to Ardfert, then towards the coast, Tralee golf club and back via Blennerville. There are no major hills but it won't be flat (flat courses are not an option in that area). Let's hope it won't be windy, though!

There's plenty of buzz about this race. I think it's going to be a good one.

Seems to be a good few entered already

irfrm · 10-10-2012 5:39am

Tough enough drag at start of race for first couple of miles out towards Ardfert,but should be ok after that. Will be on my list of races for next year.

jcsmum · 10-10-2012 9:41am

This is on my radar too.

Stazza · 10-10-2012 10:29am

I've been banging out my long easy runs (18-20 miles at 7 min pace) on the route and I can assure you that this a very tough course. The gentle pull out to Ardfert is nothing compared to the numerous 'long steep bumps' that plague the first 14 miles of this course (somehow, they don't appear on the course map), which will destroy any hopes of a good time. Then there's the 1 mile climb up into Spa around the 17 mile mark and the final 1.5 mile climb in the Kerries at the 20 mile mark. This is an energy sapping course.

The course is scenic and will suit those who fancy a plod around some nice scenery. But if you're planning on a half way decent time, forget it. If you're going to be up near the front of this race, I'd suggest you run a very conservative first 15 miles - if you don't, you will suffer.

On the plus side, the wind blows/blasts in off the ocean and this will help from miles 15 through 26, especially if you've held back until the 15 mile point. The roads are decent enough but watch the cambers - they're sharp in some parts. The course should be relatively quiet in terms of traffic. From the 22 mile mark to the finish there's a good run home: about a mile downhill followed by 3 flat miles.

I think the organisers are doing a sterling job and I'm sure the event will be a success. If you're going to do this marathon, be sure and to do plenty of miles at mp over rolling hills,:D

Krusty_Clown · 10-10-2012 10:44am

Stazza wrote: »

I've been banging out my long easy runs (18-20 miles at 7 min pace) on the route

That's some running. I remember your impressive log from earlier this year. How goes the plan for the 2014 marathon?
<sorry for the off-topic post>

Stazza · 10-10-2012 11:06am

Thanks Krusty. I'm surprised you remember my log:); it wasn't too impressive back then as I was just starting out. Happy to say things are going very well. Been dropping out 100 mpw for the last 12 weeks. Just starting on the strength work now (hill sprints, Canova type circuits, and one Horwill multi-paced session a week). Hopefully, in January, I'll be ready to start putting in some serious work with a view to running some decent 5k and 10 k times in the spring/summer. If that goes well, I'll be jumping into my Stazza/Canova marathon training plan, with a view to running in Cork/Dublin 2014. So yeah, happy with the training and the fact that I've managed to stay injury free - scrambles to touch wood.

To bring it back on the topic - although I'm happy to talk about me:D -I don't wish to sound negative, but the course is tough; training for a marathon involves a lot of work and people should have a fair idea of what to expect, so that they don't end up being disappointed. If you're after a scenic and subtley challenging course, then Tralee's for you.

opus · 10-10-2012 11:22am

Stazza wrote: »

I've been banging out my long easy runs (18-20 miles at 7 min pace) on the route and I can assure you that this a very tough course. The gentle pull out to Ardfert is nothing compared to the numerous 'long steep bumps' that plague the first 14 miles of this course (somehow, they don't appear on the course map), which will destroy any hopes of a good time. Then there's the 1 mile climb up into Spa around the 17 mile mark and the final 1.5 mile climb in the Kerries at the 20 mile mark. This is an energy sapping course.

The course is scenic and will suit those who fancy a plod around some nice scenery. But if you're planning on a half way decent time, forget it. If you're going to be up near the front of this race, I'd suggest you run a very conservative first 15 miles - if you don't, you will suffer.

On the plus side, the wind blows/blasts in off the ocean and this will help from miles 15 through 26, especially if you've held back until the 15 mile point. The roads are decent enough but watch the cambers - they're sharp in some parts. The course should be relatively quiet in terms of traffic. From the 22 mile mark to the finish there's a good run home: about a mile downhill followed by 3 flat miles.

I think the organisers are doing a sterling job and I'm sure the event will be a success. If you're going to do this marathon, be sure and to do plenty of miles at mp over rolling hills,:D

Sounds right up my street as it's one of the Spring marathons I'm planning to run in prep for Comrades next June. That & the fact I'm from the Kingdom originally have sealed the deal

belcarra · 10-10-2012 11:24am

Stazza - Would you have a garmin profile (or similar) available from one of your training runs so that we can compare it to other courses?

Impressive stuff with your 100mpw training by the way!

Shane12 · 10-10-2012 11:32am

Hi

I am going to do this as my first marathon, was going to do Paris but due to unforseen circumstances that is now ruled out.

Stazza · 10-10-2012 11:58am

belcarra wrote: »

Stazza - Would you have a garmin profile (or similar) available from one of your training runs so that we can compare it to other courses?

Impressive stuff with your 100mpw training by the way!

I have some of my runs stored on my Garmin so I can check and see what's what. I don't know how to upload my Garmin to other sites?(I'm old and a Luddite) - so, if somebody can explain how to post the runs I will do so.

jcsmum · 10-10-2012 12:04pm

Stazza wrote: »

I've been banging out my long easy runs (18-20 miles at 7 min pace) on the route and I can assure you that this a very tough course. The gentle pull out to Ardfert is nothing compared to the numerous 'long steep bumps' that plague the first 14 miles of this course (somehow, they don't appear on the course map), which will destroy any hopes of a good time. Then there's the 1 mile climb up into Spa around the 17 mile mark and the final 1.5 mile climb in the Kerries at the 20 mile mark. This is an energy sapping course.

The course is scenic and will suit those who fancy a plod around some nice scenery. But if you're planning on a half way decent time, forget it. If you're going to be up near the front of this race, I'd suggest you run a very conservative first 15 miles - if you don't, you will suffer.

On the plus side, the wind blows/blasts in off the ocean and this will help from miles 15 through 26, especially if you've held back until the 15 mile point. The roads are decent enough but watch the cambers - they're sharp in some parts. The course should be relatively quiet in terms of traffic. From the 22 mile mark to the finish there's a good run home: about a mile downhill followed by 3 flat miles.

I think the organisers are doing a sterling job and I'm sure the event will be a success. If you're going to do this marathon, be sure and to do plenty of miles at mp over rolling hills,:D

Thanks for the heads up. Not one for me so I'm afraid.

belcarra · 10-10-2012 12:07pm

Stazza wrote: »

I have some of my runs stored on my Garmin so I can check and see what's what. I don't know how to upload my Garmin to other sites?(I'm old and a Luddite) - so, if somebody can explain how to post the runs I will do so.

You will first need to have your Garmin profile settings enabled to allow 'Public' viewing of your runs rather than just 'private' I think...

Then, if you open the most appropriate training run in your browser and just copy the web address, then just paste it in here to the text field then that should do it.
No real need for any fancy formatting!

Cheers!

Stazza · 10-10-2012 1:14pm

Had a check of my Garmin, which I rarely use. I've got a 15 miler on there with miles 1-7 and 18-20 from the course. This weekend, I'll run from mile 1 to 22 and post the route. Apart from the gentle rise of the opening mile, this will take in all the climbs.

Stazza · 12-10-2012 11:36pm

The elevation map on the site now shows all of the hills on the course. No need for me to drop out a cheeky little 22 miler - phew. Don't be put off by the opening 4 miles or so: you hardly notice the pull out to Ardfert. It's the rollers between 8 and 15 that break up your rhythm. But like I said before, once you get over the first 15 miles the run in isn't too bad - just 2 hills. Prepare properly and run a conservative first 15 and you should have an excellent experience on a scenic course. Good luck.

Shane12 · 13-10-2012 3:39pm

Stazza wrote: »

The elevation map on the site now shows all of the hills on the course. No need for me to drop out a cheeky little 22 miler - phew. Don't be put off by the opening 4 miles or so: you hardly notice the pull out to Ardfert. It's the rollers between 8 and 15 that break up your rhythm. But like I said before, once you get over the first 15 miles the run in isn't too bad - just 2 hills. Prepare properly and run a conservative first 15 and you should have an excellent experience on a scenic course. Good luck.

Hi Stazza

Do you have a link to this course.

Stazza · 13-10-2012 4:05pm

If you go to the Tralee International Marathon site and click on 'course', a whole spiel comes up about the route - there's a small picture/map of the course in amongst this spiel. Click on the map and you'll get a link to the'proper' map, which has an elevation chart under it. The elevation chart was yellow and shaded and didn't reflect the true nature of the course. Now, however, it is blue and spiky and portrays a more accurate description of the the course. Hope this helps.

Krusty_Clown · 13-10-2012 5:24pm

Route. Tough looking route, indeed. The hills aren't huge, but there are many!

Stazza · 13-10-2012 5:44pm

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Route. Tough looking route, indeed. The hills aren't huge, but there are many!

Thanks for that Krusty - I need to learn how to do that link thingymabob.

(Off topic: I like your double tempo session - the 2 x 3 miles @ 5:40 pace. Very nice indeed. I think I'll be having some of that.)

Shane12 · 13-10-2012 6:14pm

Thanks for that, just have to discipline myself on the climbs.

TFBubendorfer · 13-10-2012 10:42pm

That's a comparison of the Dublin and Tralee marathon elevation charts, though the vertical scale is not exactly the same (Dublin on top, Tralee at the bottom). I don't think Tralee will be quite as bad as has been made out earlier, but you clearly have to be able to deal with all those rollers if you want to do well. That's a lot of little hills that will break up your rhythm, as Stazza said.

Dublin+And+Tralee+Elevation.jpg

SliM Dedalus · 04-11-2012 10:45am

Completed my first marathon in Dublin with a 4.28 finish after a stop/ start training regime.

While delighted to get over the line, my thoughts have turned to a more dedicated preparation and a sub 4 hour. Looking at this race as the hopeful target - it won't be easy though judging by the elevation chart.

Looking forward to it though!

morann · 05-11-2012 3:36pm

Guys,

Here is the route mapped using RidewithGPS.

The graph at the bottom can be used to see the gradient changes, just check on 'grades' and check of 'ele'

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1858118

I also have the DCM here:

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1866649

Although Tralee has sharper gradients at a couple of points it seems Dublin is less flat.

Fast27! · 03-01-2013 1:36pm

I admire all of you, when people gather together to challenge themselves and most important enjoy themselves. The preparation for the Tralee marathon is hard work, I would like to do it myself, but for the beginner I think it is quite a challenge. I’ll see maybe I give it ago. While searching about the marathons I found routes for the spring marathon. http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/92571133/, http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/160818316/.

Aislingtherese · 04-01-2013 3:31pm

I just saw this thread as I was looking through the Athletics forum yesterday following the AONC 2013 thread. Took a look at the website and signed up... Ireland is short on marathons early on in the year and it's great to see something scheduled for March.
Well done to the organisers for seeing a gap in the market. Looking forward to it!

Murph_D · 09-01-2013 9:02pm

There's a half marathon also, which I'm thinking of doing as part of my training for Cork in June. Any thoughts on the course? Or how this will work logistically - as part of the route is shared with the full marathon it seems Half contestants will need to turn off - could be a bit of a disaster if people make a wrong turn!

TFBubendorfer · 09-01-2013 9:20pm

murphd77 wrote: »

Any thoughts on the course? Or how this will work logistically - as part of the route is shared with the full marathon it seems Half contestants will need to turn off - could be a bit of a disaster if people make a wrong turn!

The turn off at mile 7 should be okay I reckon, but the second one, around mile 12 (half) / 22 (full) could be a disaster if they don't steward it properly. People will be tired at that point and won't pay full attention; plus, they might not expect another turn-off if they have not checked the course maps in advance.

There is definitely a risk that a few full marathoners will go straight ahead and inadvertently cut 3 miles off the course.

napathy · 18-01-2013 9:37am

Anyone know how many people have signed up for the full yet?

vinsanity · 28-01-2013 6:53am

We would be launching the free android/iOS runner tracking app - Odikyo (previously known as SeeMeRun) during the Tralee Marathon Expo. We are sponsoring Mile Marker 22. Will see you all at the expo/race..

http://www.facebook.com/odikyo

Good luck.

Zebrano · 31-01-2013 8:14pm

Does anybody know if there are pacers for the half marathon

Tralee International marathon 16-03-13

Comments