Connemarathon 2015

cmickdaly · 07-02-2015 03:57PM

I entered the Connemara ultra this year- my first ultra. I ran the half there way back in 2011 and ran what was a Pb for me at the time , sub 1.45. I ran the full marathon there last year and I ran what was at the time my second fastest marathon sub 3.38. I was probably overly cautious at the start, given the fact that the last 4 miles are so tough so I reckon I should have shaved 4-5 minutes off my time.

Training for the ultra is going ok enough but as this will be my first ultra it's very much a case of see what happens. I don't have a ambitious time goal beyond A) getting the training completed to my satisfaction b) getting to the start line in good shape mentally and physically and c) getting under 6hrs20mins. After that the plan is to recover well for another crack off a marathon in Autumn. See my blog for all the news ? (not another blog written by a midpack runner ;-) )

In terms of training i will hope to peak at 70 miles with back to back longs peaking at a combined total of 40 miles. As if that will be a 20 : 20 split or a 25: 15 split remains to be seen. I would be chuffed to get the 40 mile back to back's done at least once. Maybe run the tralee marathon as a training run with the 4hour pacers?

That said.... I did enjoy the Connmerathon but there is a awful lot of hype attached to it. The t shirt and medal isn't great and the goody bags aren't that great either. I also thought the organisation as you cross the finish line a bit chaotic. That said the challenge of running of running the race is the major plus point of the race.

ray lanigan · 07-02-2015 04:18PM

cmickdaly wrote: »

I entered the Connemara ultra this year- my first ultra. I ran the half there way back in 2011 and ran what was a Pb for me at the time , sub 1.45. I ran the full marathon there last year and I ran what was at the time my second fastest marathon sub 3.38. I was probably overly cautious at the start, given the fact that the last 4 miles are so tough so I reckon I should have shaved 4-5 minutes off my time.

Training for the ultra is going ok enough but as this will be my first ultra it's very much a case of see what happens. I don't have a ambitious time goal beyond A) getting the training completed to my satisfaction b) getting to the start line in good shape mentally and physically and c) getting under 6hrs20mins. After that the plan is to recover well for another crack off a marathon in Autumn. See my blog for all the news ? (not another blog written by a midpack runner ;-) )

In terms of training i will hope to peak at 70 miles with back to back longs peaking at a combined total of 40 miles. As if that will be a 20 : 20 split or a 25: 15 split remains to be seen. I would be chuffed to get the 40 mile back to back's done at least once. Maybe run the tralee marathon as a training run with the 4hour pacers?

That said.... I did enjoy the Connmerathon but there is a awful lot of hype attached to it. The t shirt and medal isn't great and the goody bags aren't that great either. I also thought the organisation as you cross the finish line a bit chaotic. That said the challenge of running of running the race is the major plus point of the race.

best of luck with the ultra.
I would defintlet choose the 25,15 option instead of the 20,20.

cmickdaly · 07-02-2015 06:01PM

ray lanigan wrote: »

best of luck with the ultra.
I would defintley choose the 25,15 option instead of the 20,20.

Thanks Ray. Why would you believe 25 :15 is a better option? More time on the feet in the first run and gentler (but testing) recovery in the second?

ultraman1 · 07-02-2015 06:35PM

cmickdaly wrote: »

Thanks Ray. Why would you believe 25 :15 is a better option?

Lesser chance of injury....

ray lanigan · 07-02-2015 06:51PM

cmickdaly wrote: »

Thanks Ray. Why would you believe 25 :15 is a better option? More time on the feet in the first run and gentler (but testing) recovery in the second?

first time I ran it I went 30,10.
yep definitely more time on feet but you will get stronger the longer you go so 25,15 be better option I would think:)

NateUltra · 09-02-2015 03:15PM

I'm looking for accommodation sat and sun. Getting public trans from Dublin so need something as close to the shuttle stops as possible. Hotels seem to be very expensive for single person. Thanks

mobfromcork · 09-02-2015 07:03PM

NateUltra wrote: »

I'm looking for accommodation sat and sun. Getting public trans from Dublin so need something as close to the shuttle stops as possible. Hotels seem to be very expensive for single person. Thanks

You could try www.airbnb.ie for accommodation if it's just a room you're looking for. We booked a house in Oughterard for a week on that site and it was very reasonable. You can rent a room for about 40 a night as well.

NateUltra · 09-02-2015 07:22PM

Thanks, I'll look into that.

cmickdaly · 17-02-2015 09:27PM

Training for the ultra is going ok so far. Up to 67/68 miles with the back to back runs of 23/15 miles. Anyway is it advisable to run the Tralee marathon as a long run- make use of water stations, run with a crowd, take gels etc- and do the 15 miles the next day? The idea would be to run at around 4hr pace. For the record 8 marathons completed - the last one was in oct 2014 - 3.30.08. The thoughts of running 25/26 miles on my own as a training run would be enough to crush me hence the marathon as a slow run idea.

Wubble Wubble · 18-02-2015 09:58AM

For various reasons, I have decided to defer my HM entry to next year. No reply from organisers 2-3 weeks later though (closing date for those who wish to defer is March 1). Anyone else have this issue?

Ed Mc · 18-02-2015 11:56AM

cmickdaly wrote:

Training for the ultra is going ok so far. Up to 67/68 miles with the back to back runs of 23/15 miles. Anyway is it advisable to run the Tralee marathon as a long run- make use of water stations, run with a crowd, take gels etc- and do the 15 miles the next day? The idea would be to run at around 4hr pace. For the record 8 marathons completed - the last one was in oct 2014 - 3.30.08. The thoughts of running 25/26 miles on my own as a training run would be enough to crush me hence the marathon as a slow run idea.

Absolutely, go for it.
Those longer training distances can be tight on your own although I do find they build mental strenght.

Señor Fancy Pants · 18-02-2015 08:11PM

Best of luck cmickdaly! I'm envious but don't have the balls or ability for the ultra this year, maybe next.

Signed up for the full, by all accounts the route is a bastard. I better check it out....does anyone know if it is always the same route or does it vary?

cmickdaly · 20-02-2015 03:27PM

Same route every year. First half is nice and downhill and fast, the second half is trickier and can take it out of your legs. It's not as hard as people say but probably isn't a PB course

ray lanigan · 23-02-2015 02:52PM

Anyone on here pacing the conna marathon?

acurno · 23-02-2015 09:50PM

Yea I'm down to pace the 4 hour slot. Haven't heard if there's a pacing meeting beforehand, have emailed about it. First time pacing so wouldn't mind chatting to a few veterans before I get to the start line.

I'm assuming we'd run a quicker first half than second based upon the hills after Leenane. I was thinking 1.55 and 2.05. Have ran it 4 times previous.

carlaboi · 23-02-2015 11:26PM

Hey acurno, have signed up for connemarathon and hope to complete it in 4 hours. I have never ran it before so just wondering if you can give me a bit of an idea how hilly it is particularly on the second half? Any other advice to prep for it?

quinlivan · 26-02-2015 03:53PM

carlaboi wrote: »

Hey acurno, have signed up for connemarathon and hope to complete it in 4 hours. I have never ran it before so just wondering if you can give me a bit of an idea how hilly it is particularly on the second half? Any other advice to prep for it?

I ran it last year in 3:51 carlaboi. I have my times/course profile/extra info on my blogpost here Hope its of some use to you

mobfromcork · 26-02-2015 04:55PM

Does anyone who has run it before know what the situation is with spectators coming along by car to watch the finish?
My OH and young daughter and my sister and her two smallies (3 months and 3 years) will want to come along and see the finish. Is there parking available at the end somewhere as getting the spectators bus would be very difficult with buggies/slings?

Hope everyone's training is going ok.

Thanks

Mark

carlaboi · 26-02-2015 08:19PM

Thanks Quinlivan, loads of info in your blog. Well done you on your time sounds like it was hell! The second half seems to be the killer. Anyway Im training away and hopefully Ill get under 4 hours. :0 If not Ill try again in Dublin.

RegisteredMice · 26-02-2015 09:19PM

mobfromcork wrote: »

Does anyone who has run it before know what the situation is with spectators coming along by car to watch the finish?
My OH and young daughter and my sister and her two smallies (3 months and 3 years) will want to come along and see the finish. Is there parking available at the end somewhere as getting the spectators bus would be very difficult with buggies/slings?

Hope everyone's training is going ok.

Thanks

Mark

I ran it last year and there was a great crowd at the finish line. As far as I recall there wasn't all that much place for parking..other than the side of the main road. Should be grand though..
The thoughts of that run still give me nightmares! Best of luck ..

acurno · 26-02-2015 09:31PM

carlaboi wrote: »

Hey acurno, have signed up for connemarathon and hope to complete it in 4 hours. I have never ran it before so just wondering if you can give me a bit of an idea how hilly it is particularly on the second half? Any other advice to prep for it?

Second half is definitely tougher, begins with a steep hill out of leenane at 13, with the long drag up around the 22 mile mark. The 'hell of the West' as they call it isn't actually too bad. It's not steep, just long. Hardest battle you're gonna have here is the mental one. When we get to it we'll be running into the back of the slower half marathon runners, the majority of whom will start walking it. Very easy to join them at this stage, if you walk once, you'll walk twice, in which case, you can say goodbye to a sub4.

Only advice I can give you is get out training on hills and prepare for it.

It's a great marathon though you'll enjoy it.

cmickdaly · 26-02-2015 09:32PM

carlaboi wrote: »

Thanks Quinlivan, loads of info in your blog. Well done you on your time sounds like it was hell! The second half seems to be the killer. Anyway Im training away and hopefully Ill get under 4 hours. :0 If not Ill try again in Dublin.

Reading your blog there. I blog myself but your blog is defo something different, did Connemara marathon myself last year. I'll add it to my sidebar. You did very well last April and your personal journey is very interesting. A sub 3.30 will be yours in no time

nop98 · 26-02-2015 10:27PM

quinlivan wrote: »

I ran it last year in 3:51 carlaboi. I have my times/course profile/extra info on my blogpost. Hope its of some use to you

Some report! Well done. Sounds painful yet fabulous!

quinlivan · 27-02-2015 09:56AM

carlaboi wrote: »

Thanks Quinlivan, loads of info in your blog. Well done you on your time sounds like it was hell! The second half seems to be the killer. Anyway Im training away and hopefully Ill get under 4 hours. :0 If not Ill try again in Dublin.

I'm currently training for Tralee (March 15th) and looking at the course profile is always scary. Try not think about it too much but just don't go in blind. That last incline was particularly bad due to the cross wind on the day. As you know, weather plays such a huge part.

Best of luck in Connemara. Go kick ass!

Coileach dearg · 27-02-2015 11:09AM

quinlivan wrote: »

I'm currently training for Tralee (March 15th) and looking at the course profile is always scary. Try not think about it too much but just don't go in blind. That last incline was particularly bad due to the cross wind on the day. As you know, weather plays such a huge part.

Best of luck in Connemara. Go kick ass!

Best of luck in Tralee. Cheers for the race report link, read it today and started to really think about the race itself
My first marathon and can't wait for this. I'm in Australia and training is a bit hard where I am because of the heat and lack of hills. Things going well though. It rained last Sunday so got my first long run in the rain but the wind is what I would really like to train in.

On the course itself, it looks like the hill after Leenane is the one that catches most people out. Will try and remember that for the race!

Enduro · 27-02-2015 12:57PM

Coileach dearg wrote: »

On the course itself, it looks like the hill after Leenane is the one that catches most people out. Will try and remember that for the race!

Just remember that you should be pacing for effort, not speed. So if your mile splits in the race are consistant, then you'll have got it wrong! For a hilly race its important to be able to judge your pacing on feel (the way you would without any technoligical assistance). So if you were to do a perfectly evenly paced connemara marathon (on feel) then your second half would be slower than your first half due to the course profile.

Van.Bosch · 27-02-2015 03:50PM

are numbers down this year i wonder? All sold out except the half but if i recall correctly it is usually well sold out at this stage?

donnacha · 27-02-2015 09:54PM

What I'd give for a Tunguska type Connemara Marathon overview :pac:

Picked up a minor injury a couple of weeks back from a combination of my hill training and lack of core work (sorry ecolii I know I said I'd do the exercises).
Anyways thankfully I only missed a few days and my physio gave me some great exercises which I'm working on.

So back to the hill training: I live near Cabinteely so was including in MP runs, steady runs and LSRs a mixture of Cornelscourt Hill, Glenamuck Rd and even did Ballyedmonduff Rd starting at the Burrow one weekend (never again :pac:). Looking back at the garmin stats, and at a garmin overview for the marathon route I reckon the worst mountain in Connemara is the equivalent to say 2.5 time Cornelscourt Hill so I'm thinking maybe I've been over doing the hill training and need to take it a bit easier. Any feedback from folks that have ran this course before really would be much appreciated. Its only my 2nd Marathon - and its the B goal for 2015 with DCM being the A goal. I'm hoping I can hit around 3:40 in Connemara with the A goal being a sub 3:30 at DCM (I just about managed a sub 4hr as part of the DCM 2013 Novices).

Señor Fancy Pants · 28-02-2015 05:17PM

donnacha wrote: »

So back to the hill training: I live near Cabinteely so was including in MP runs, steady runs and LSRs a mixture of Cornelscourt Hill, Glenamuck Rd and even did Ballyedmonduff Rd starting at the Burrow one weekend (never again :pac:). Looking back at the garmin stats, and at a garmin overview for the marathon route I reckon the worst mountain in Connemara is the equivalent to say 2.5 time Cornelscourt Hill so I'm thinking maybe I've been over doing the hill training and need to take it a bit easier. Any feedback from folks that have ran this course before really would be much appreciated. Its only my 2nd Marathon - and its the B goal for 2015 with DCM being the A goal. I'm hoping I can hit around 3:40 in Connemara with the A goal being a sub 3:30 at DCM (I just about managed a sub 4hr as part of the DCM 2013 Novices).

That's good to know, good man. I think il give Cornelscourt Hill a try too. I normally use Killiney Hill Road as my hill training. Starting at the roundabout near Shankill and straight up to the Druids Chair and up and around Killiney Hill. Cornelscourt will make a nice change

cmickdaly · 28-02-2015 07:14PM

Truffle Pig wrote: »

That's good to know, good man. I think il give Cornelscourt Hill a try too. I normally use Killiney Hill Road as my hill training. Starting at the roundabout near Shankill and straight up to the Druids Chair and up and around Killiney Hill. Cornelscourt will make a nice change

I wouldn't get too hung up on the hill training to such a degree that it dominates your training. I suppose it's easier for me as I live in Cork City but the marathon in Connemara is on the whole flat and largely downhill. The hills at 13.1 ish miles and of course at mile 22 to 24 do tend to freak people out but as long you have endurance in your training you should be fine. For Dublin Northsiders a few runs up Gardiner st and Summerhill and up Fairview onto Collins ave will sort you out.

Connemarathon 2015

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