Cork City Marathon 2019

deisedude · 21-03-2019 3:03pm #1

Anybody else signed up to run Cork?

I'm signed up to do the full. Sounds like a bit of a sh1tshow from the organisers, they only recently posted on Facebook to confirm it's going ahead after a lot of runours circulating it was in trouble and they are looking for an event company to run it!

colin32 · 21-03-2019 8:05pm

Did the half 2 years ago, and was a disaster from the organisers. Sent us the wrong way at the start, heading in to the marathon runners. Added on bout 0.7 miles to the course

Murph_D · 24-03-2019 7:09pm

I’d hate to see it go. Have done the full twice and put together a team for the relay last year which was great fun. It’s a super route in my opinion, full of variety - challenging but fair. The numbers doing the full seems to have been declining however, possibly due to the awkward time of year. I think people are choosing to do spring marathons abroad in greater numbers, possibly to the detriment of Cork’s June bank holiday date. It’s a well organized race as far as I can see - couple of problems with the half alright in recent years, but the ‘lesser’ race in simultaneous events often gets shorter shrift (like the 5 Mile that accompanies the Clontarf HM, or used to anyway). Cork has a fabulous road racing scene and it would be terrible to see the CCM go the way of Ballycotton (although the latter was arguably a victim of success, not failure).

Itziger · 24-03-2019 7:54pm

It would be a terrible shame to see it go. My hometown and marathon PB and so far only sub 3. They would want to decide what they are doing though and then do it properly. The year I ran the marathon I must say, it was very well organised. No complaints at all. But it's a bit of a mess with the Full/Half/Relay. I understand that if they haven't the numbers for the Full, then they have to spread the love. As Murph says, there's a great road race scene in Cork/Munster. I think they need to promote the bloody thing more. This means money, yes but c'mon use a bit of imagination as well. A few Facebook posts can't cost that much!

Scream out to people that this is THE marathon to do where you can train in the mild months of March/April/May.

opus · 24-03-2019 10:18pm

Didn't hear those rumours about it being in trouble, must ask around. Signed up to run the half with a friend myself.

deisedude · 24-03-2019 10:27pm

opus wrote: »

Didn't hear those rumours about it being in trouble, must ask around. Signed up to run the half with a friend myself.

I don't think it's actually in trouble just a damning indictment of how bad they are at promoting it

Murph_D · 25-03-2019 9:02am

http://www.corkcitymarathon.ie/2019/02/20/event-management-services/

See what you mean about bringing in an external provider to run the event. Good and bad, I guess. I bet the price will be increased for a start, and probably goodbye to the concession entry and generous deferral policy.

purelike · 10-05-2019 12:51am

I do either the full or the half here every year. It is a really good event. Great that you finish right in the centre of the city. Usually a good athmosphere.

sixpack's little hat · 13-05-2019 12:06am

Any indications yet on whether the courses are changing from last year?

I ran most of the course for the half on Saturday, no sign of the mile markers being painted yet but it can't be too far off now.

opus · 14-05-2019 11:37am

There's keeping it vague on the website anyway

The half-marathon course will probably follow more-or-less the same route as in 2018 but that will be confirmed here as soon as possible.

Doing the half myself to provide a bit of moral support for a friend. Bit early for the markers, normally towards the end of May.

useurename · 15-05-2019 11:19pm

Hello there. I'm doing the full and was just wondering about the Pacers. I would love to finish under the 4 hour mark. I've done a 21 miler in 3:11 and a 20 in just under 3 hours in the past 2 weeks. I was wrecked after them and am worried that I will struggle badly in the unknown of the last 5 miles.
I don't know whether I should try and hang onto the 3:45 paces or go with the 4 hour pacers.
I was looking it up online and it said to aim for 1:52 for the first half and hope to get home in 2:08. I think this might be an OK strategy for me.
Just wondering is this the kind of splits the 4 hour Pacers would also be doing?

Kellygirl · 15-05-2019 11:37pm

useurename wrote: »

Hello there. I'm doing the full and was just wondering about the Pacers. I would love to finish under the 4 hour mark. I've done a 21 miler in 3:11 and a 20 in just under 3 hours in the past 2 weeks. I was wrecked after them and am worried that I will struggle badly in the unknown of the last 5 miles.
I don't know whether I should try and hang onto the 3:45 paces or go with the 4 hour pacers.
I was looking it up online and it said to aim for 1:52 for the first half and hope to get home in 2:08. I think this might be an OK strategy for me.
Just wondering is this the kind of splits the 4 hour Pacers would also be doing?

The pacers will be doing even splits. I’d go with the 4 hour pacers if you really want to use pacers and if you are feeling strong at the end then you could push on. If you go with the 3:45 you could burn out early and make the last few miles very painful.

deisedude · 16-05-2019 9:19am

useurename wrote: »

Hello there. I'm doing the full and was just wondering about the Pacers. I would love to finish under the 4 hour mark. I've done a 21 miler in 3:11 and a 20 in just under 3 hours in the past 2 weeks. I was wrecked after them and am worried that I will struggle badly in the unknown of the last 5 miles.
I don't know whether I should try and hang onto the 3:45 paces or go with the 4 hour pacers.
I was looking it up online and it said to aim for 1:52 for the first half and hope to get home in 2:08. I think this might be an OK strategy for me.
Just wondering is this the kind of splits the 4 hour Pacers would also be doing?

I'd agree with Kelly, you could burn out if you go with the 3:45 pacers and you aren't sure you can last the pace. If the plan was to finish under 4 then stick with that.

From past experience changing the goal in the weeks leading up to the marathon from what you initially trained for can be a dangerous road to go down

yaboya1 · 16-05-2019 5:41pm

useurename wrote: »

Hello there. I'm doing the full and was just wondering about the Pacers. I would love to finish under the 4 hour mark. I've done a 21 miler in 3:11 and a 20 in just under 3 hours in the past 2 weeks. I was wrecked after them and am worried that I will struggle badly in the unknown of the last 5 miles.
I don't know whether I should try and hang onto the 3:45 paces or go with the 4 hour pacers.
I was looking it up t and it said to aim for 1:52 for the first half and hope to get home in 2:08. I think this might be an OK strategy for me.
Just wondering is this the kind of splits the 4 hour Pacers would also be doing?

If you were wrecked after 20/21 miles at that pace, you've virtually no chance of running 3:45. That's 30secs per mile faster for another 5 odd miles. Go out and that pace and you're likely to have a very, very unpleasant experience.
I wouldn't fancy sub 4 hours either for the same reason. You need to slow your long run pace down. If you're targeting 4 hours, those 20 milers should be 10min/mile pace at least.
As for what you'll run, who knows? Almost certainly 4+ hours, but you might learn something

Kellygirl · 16-05-2019 8:29pm

yaboya1 wrote: »

If you were wrecked after 20/21 miles at that pace, you've virtually no chance of running 3:45. That's 30secs per mile faster for another 5 odd miles. Go out and that pace and you're likely to have a very, very unpleasant experience.
I wouldn't fancy sub 4 hours either for the same reason. You need to slow your long run pace down. If you're targeting 4 hours, those 20 milers should be 10min/mile pace at least.
As for what you'll run, who knows? Almost certainly 4+ hours, but you might learn something

I’d tend to agree. Especially considering you were wrecked after the 20 and 21 milers. I’d even consider starting with the 4:15 pacers and if you are extremely comfortable then you could pull ahead a bit. There’s a massive sense of achievement in finishing a marathon really strongly no matter what the time and it would give you a good line for another marathon later in the year. You’d have such a buzz after the time wouldn’t matter. Blowing up and walking is miserable and finishing in a world of pain is awful.

useurename · 16-05-2019 8:54pm

Thanks for the replies. I'll go out with either the 4:00 hour or the 4:15. I'll decide closer to the day.
I know I must to do my Long runs at a slower pace but I'm doing my training with faster friends and it's easier having the company than heading out on my own.

I have been following this plan as best I can
https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/marathon/a760131/rws-ultimate-marathon-schedule-sub-400/

Nearly there now. Looking forward to it

Kellygirl · 16-05-2019 9:02pm

useurename wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I'll go out with either the 4:00 hour or the 4:15. I'll decide closer to the day.
I know I must to do my Long runs at a slower pace but I'm doing my training with faster friends and it's easier having the company than heading out on my own.

I have been following this plan as best I can
https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/marathon/a760131/rws-ultimate-marathon-schedule-sub-400/

Nearly there now. Looking forward to it

It’s a nice one. I’ve done it the last 2 years. Best of luck.

yaboya1 · 16-05-2019 9:18pm

I'd say the 4:15 pacers may be the way to go alright. Far nicer experience to finish strong than to blow a gasket a long way out and crawl home. Enjoy the race.
More intelligent training and you could be blowing the 4 hour target out of the water next time. No matter what happens, you'll be wiser afterwards.
Good luck!

Ron Scott · 21-05-2019 12:35pm

sixpack's little hat wrote: »

Any indications yet on whether the courses are changing from last year?

I ran most of the course for the half on Saturday, no sign of the mile markers being painted yet but it can't be too far off now.

Confirmed on the website now that both courses are unchanged from 2018.

opus · 22-05-2019 11:43am

For anyone looking for a bit of parkrun action on the Sat, nearest event to the city centre is Glen River parkrun.

SwordsRunner · 22-05-2019 5:08pm

opus wrote: »

For anyone looking for a bit of parkrun action on the Sat, nearest event to the city centre is parkrun.

You don’t think a parkrun the day before would sap the energy out of your legs a bit too much?

deisedude · 22-05-2019 5:24pm

SwordsRunner wrote: »

You don’t think a parkrun the day before would sap the energy out of your legs a bit too much?

If you trot along at a relatively easy pace for you to loosen the legs then that would be ok but I personally wouldnt be racing it

Itziger · 22-05-2019 6:14pm

deisedude wrote: »

If you trot along at a relatively easy pace for you to loosen the legs then that would be ok but I personally wouldnt be racing it

Ah, Jaysus, nobody would be racing a 5k the day before a marathon!!! I'm sure Opus was just highlighting this as an option for a light jog. This Park Run needs a bit of TLC as well as the numbers are low.

Give it a go, folks.

opus · 22-05-2019 9:31pm

Exactly this ^^^^^

I'll be doing North Beach parkrun the following Saturday just before Comrades as am used to running most days.

purelike · 22-05-2019 10:51pm

You would have to treat the Parkrun as a shakeout with a good runny buzz. Could do the last part of it at race pace.

TFBubendorfer · 23-05-2019 8:45am

purelike wrote: »

Could do the last part of it at race pace.

Don't!

deisedude · 23-05-2019 10:21am

Itziger wrote: »

Ah, Jaysus, nobody would be racing a 5k the day before a marathon!!! I'm sure Opus was just highlighting this as an option for a light jog. This Park Run needs a bit of TLC as well as the numbers are low.

Give it a go, folks.

I know its fairly obvious advice but just in case!

Itziger · 23-05-2019 1:58pm

deisedude wrote: »

I know its fairly obvious advice but just in case!

Fair enough!

The absolute only alternative to a pure 5k of easy stuff would be to chuck in a few 50 metre strides in the last km. Maybe 4 or 5x50 metres. Otherwise, joggedy jog all the way.

rainbow kirby · 23-05-2019 4:04pm

SwordsRunner wrote: »

You don’t think a parkrun the day before would sap the energy out of your legs a bit too much?

I would nearly always do a parkrun the day before a race, but do it at a very easy pace.

SwordsRunner · 24-05-2019 8:30am

rainbow kirby wrote: »

I would nearly always do a parkrun the day before a race, but do it at a very easy pace.

Might try it. I have never run the day before a marathon; even a mile. What’s the worst thing that could happen?

Itziger · 24-05-2019 10:52am

SwordsRunner wrote: »

Might try it. I have never run the day before a marathon; even a mile. What’s the worst thing that could happen?

You go over on your ankle, it swells up badly and you can't run the next day.

Cork City Marathon 2019

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