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Down Royal Marathon Co Antrim - Oct 24th 2020

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  • 15-09-2020 6:06pm
    #1
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭


    Just a heads up re a marathon, half marathon and 10k we are holding at the Down Royal Race course on Oct 24th.

    Its 4 laps of a flat, safe, road course, 2 laps for the half and 1 lap for the 10k. Getting officially tomorrow and traffic management authorised and passed on Friday.

    It will go ahead as the latest guidance in NI only relates to social gatherings and does not affect competitive sport.

    Its the latest in a series of races we have had at the venue since July 18th, insured and permitted by Athletics NI.

    It will open for entries in the middle of next week once all the paper work is signed off.

    Keep an eye on the FB page for details.

    https://www.facebook.com/ChampionChipIre


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    #2
    healy1835
    Registered Users Posts: 2,181 ✭✭✭healy1835


    Is it AIMS certified?


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    #3
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    Its not AIMS certified as we only put the idea together since the Covid situation kicked in.

    It will be certified as an accurate distance by Athletics NI. Its being measured today by their recognised course measurer and a certificate issued in a few days.

    I have permission from the Police Service, we will get the Traffic Management approved on Friday and the permits and insurance will be coming from Athletics NI.

    It will be the 7th event we will have hosted this summer each one with multiple distances on offer. None were cancelled or postponed. There have been no Covid cases or contacts traced to anyone at the events and we abide by all the Govt guidance on social distancing etc.

    In NI there are no limits on how many can take part but we do have to start in waves over the timing mats to maintain social distancing.

    The previous races have had runners from Wexford, Sligo, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Wales, Scotland, Kent and Isle of Man.


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    #4
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    Entries have now opened for the Oct 24th event. Its fully licensed with permits and insurance from Athletics NI. Its our 8th event since July 18th and there has been NO Covid 19 cases linked in any way to any of the previous events.

    The 3 distances in the morning have separate start areas and locations to assist with social distancing.

    The Marathon is 4 laps of a 10k route, all on roads round the race course, half marathon is 2 laps and the 10k is one lap.

    Use it as your virtual run for Galway, Dublin, London or any other event you have missed out on.

    If its cancelled you will get a full refund.

    The latest restrictions in NI only relate to social gatherings and competitive runs are not affected.

    Enter through this link. https://online.athleticsni.org/ps/event/ChampionChipIrelandRunningSeriesEvent8DownRoyal


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    #5
    MY BAD
    Registered Users Posts: 1,178 ✭✭✭MY BAD


    My club mate is entering it. He was wondering how hilly is the course?


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    #6
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    Elevation as per Mapometer

    Elevation.pdf


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    #7
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    Entries coming in nicely now. 30% are from outside NI. It will be our 8th one since the middle of July and all have been safe and well received.

    Its accurately measured and certified so its one of the few chances to get your GFA time recorded in 2020.

    You can also use it as your virtual run for Galway, Dublin, DUNE etc.

    Tommy Hughes has already signed up to take a tilt at the Over 60s age best for the marathon.


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    #8
    Murph_D
    Registered Users Posts: 10,427 ✭✭✭✭Murph_D


    ChampionChip wrote: »
    Elevation as per Mapometer

    Elevation.pdf

    Not as flat as I hoped. :(


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    #9
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    Well I have good news coming early next week. I have a dead flat road course in the same area which we are going to announce asap once we get it measured on Monday.


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    #10
    The_Geezer
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭The_Geezer


    i take it, this will be on a different date then?


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    #11
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    The_Geezer wrote: »
    i take it, this will be on a different date then?

    Date stays the same at Oct 24th, start times a bit later as we don't have to contend with traffic management, PSNI etc so Marathon about 9am, Half about 9.15am, 10 and 5k at about 1pm.

    If you find the racecourse on Google maps and then look East at the nearest piece of real estate wit enclosed roads etc then thats it.

    All will be revealed mid week once we get the event on Oct 10th closed off.


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    #12
    The_Geezer
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭The_Geezer


    Thanks for that. Just to clarify as I was going to do a recce of tge course this weekend. Is the original route now scrapped? Tia


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    #13
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    The_Geezer wrote: »
    Thanks for that. Just to clarify as I was going to do a recce of tge course this weekend. Is the original route now scrapped? Tia

    Yes original route is no longer in use and you cant access the new route without permission.

    We will measure it on Monday and then release the details plus the name of the sponsor we are working on at present.

    Hoping to have a 7km lap so it will be 6 laps for the full marathon distance, dead flat, traffic free, handy to the A1 and M1 and a slightly later start time to make getting there less of an issue.


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    #14
    The_Geezer
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭The_Geezer


    Cheers. Looking forward to it


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    #15
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    The Down Royal Festival of Running is still gong ahead on Oct 24th but we have moved locations just round the corner to the iconic Maze Prison site and re branded as the Lisburn Festival of Running. Course was officially measured on Monday with Tommy Hughes in attendance to offer his thoughts on the layout. Its a 5.5k lap, flat as a pancake, smooth tarmac roads, no traffic. Tommy is going for the age group world record over the marathon distance and its the ideal location for it, just needs the right weather conditions.

    There have been no cases linked in any way with any of the running events in NI so I am confident the event will go ahead even if tighter restrictions are imposed on indoor locations and team sports like no spectators.

    If it is called off you will get a full and immediate refund. The latest event is this coming Saturday at Down Royal and will go ahead as planned.

    https://online.athleticsni.org/ps/event/ChampionChipIrelandRunningSeriesEvent8Lisburn


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    #16
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    We had our latest event at Down Royal yesterday, went off without a hitch, and we had a usual group of friends from ROI who came along and stayed safely distanced and ran their races.

    The deadline to get a t shirt guaranteed in your size and a medal on the 24th is 9am on Monday coming. We had enough medals for everyone at the Shanes Castle event just about. We probably will have enough t shirts for entries up to Friday next but its not certain after Monday when I put the order in.

    The marathon and half are on the same time in the morning so you would be running along with about 200 runners round a 5.5k lap if you do either of those and they start are in separate locations with loads of room to socially distance.

    The 10k and 5k are later in the day to reduce the numbers on the route at any one time. I'd expect about 200 in each but the 10k is at 1pm and the 5k at 2pm to allow the 10k runners to finish and disperse.

    We have plans in place to have more races at Down Royal and Maze over Nov and Dec so if the 24th is out for you I will post later in Oct re those planned dates.


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    #17
    rovers_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭rovers_runner


    ChampionChip wrote: »
    We had our latest event at Down Royal yesterday, went off without a hitch, and we had a usual group of friends from ROI who came along and stayed safely distanced and ran their races.

    The deadline to get a t shirt guaranteed in your size and a medal on the 24th is 9am on Monday coming. We had enough medals for everyone at the Shanes Castle event just about. We probably will have enough t shirts for entries up to Friday next but its not certain after Monday when I put the order in.

    The marathon and half are on the same time in the morning so you would be running along with about 200 runners round a 5.5k lap if you do either of those and they start are in separate locations with loads of room to socially distance.

    The 10k and 5k are later in the day to reduce the numbers on the route at any one time. I'd expect about 200 in each but the 10k is at 1pm and the 5k at 2pm to allow the 10k runners to finish and disperse.

    We have plans in place to have more races at Down Royal and Maze over Nov and Dec so if the 24th is out for you I will post later in Oct re those planned dates.

    With respect your group from ROI are taking the f*cking piss mate.


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    #18
    mloc123
    Registered Users Posts: 9,454 ✭✭✭mloc123


    rovers_runner wrote: »
    With respect your group from ROI are taking the f*cking piss mate.

    But the rules don't apply to me... Doing no harm... Kept a safe distance... Blah blah


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    #19
    The_Geezer
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭The_Geezer


    Have enter the marathon, just wondering what way aid stations will work now we are in covid times


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    #20
    Eamando1981
    Registered Users Posts: 10 ✭Eamando1981


    Hi Championchip

    with regard to future events in Nov & Dec do you think any of these will be full marathon distance?

    Thanks


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    #21
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    The_Geezer wrote: »
    Have enter the marathon, just wondering what way aid stations will work now we are in covid times

    As it stands we cannot provide water etc ourselves but we will have tables at the end of the lap for you to place your water bottles on and use as required. The start, finish and the car park are in an area 100m apart so you can easily get your stuff sorted before the off.


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    #22
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    Eamando1981 wrote: »
    Hi Championchip

    with regard to future events in Nov & Dec do you think any of these will be full marathon distance?

    Thanks

    Planning to have another full marathon on December 29th in the Prison Heritage site.


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    #23
    The_Geezer
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭The_Geezer


    ChampionChip wrote: »
    As it stands we cannot provide water etc ourselves but we will have tables at the end of the lap for you to place your water bottles on and use as required. The start, finish and the car park are in an area 100m apart so you can easily get your stuff sorted before the off.

    Or a supporter allowed to hand water supplies??????


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    #24
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    Yes a supporter is fine to hand out supplies.


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    #25
    SeeMoreBut
    Registered Users Posts: 797 ✭✭✭SeeMoreBut


    Still going ahead after the new restrictions announced?


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    #26
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    The key phrase that was used is (except for allowed outdoor sporting events where the relevant number for that will continue to apply). There is no change in the status of the events as they are very very low risk so will proceed unless other external factors preclude this like a travel ban.


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    #27
    py
    Registered Users Posts: 1,532 ✭✭✭py


    ChampionChip wrote: »
    The key phrase that was used is (except for allowed outdoor sporting events where the relevant number for that will continue to apply). There is no change in the status of the events as they are very very low risk so will proceed unless other external factors preclude this like a travel ban.

    Are you turning away runners that are travelling from ROI given they shouldn't be leaving their county?


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    #28
    rovers_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭rovers_runner


    Can this thread be closed, it's a piss take at this stage.


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    #29
    ChampionChip
    Registered Users Posts: 309 ✭✭ChampionChip


    py wrote: »
    Are you turning away runners that are travelling from ROI given they shouldn't be leaving their county?

    I am not the Garda or the PSNI and thus would not try to control what someone else chooses to do. Besides it would be impossible to stop anyone from travelling and some of the runners registered to a club in ROI actually live in NI.

    "Can this thread be closed, it's a piss take at this stage."

    I'm in favour of healthy debate and exchange of ideas, facts and beliefs but most of all free choice, as long as that free choice is exercised responsibly. The events we have held to date have been highly praised for the way we have conducted them and how safe people felt at them, that's why the numbers are growing each time.


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    #30
    mloc123
    Registered Users Posts: 9,454 ✭✭✭mloc123


    Even Mourne Skyline have cancelled their race now.

    I would argue the reason numbers have grown is due to the fact you are the only people willing to profiteer when all other race organisers are acting responsibly and cancelling races.


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    #31
    SeeMoreBut
    Registered Users Posts: 797 ✭✭✭SeeMoreBut


    ChampionChip wrote: »
    I am not the Garda or the PSNI and thus would not try to control what someone else chooses to do. Besides it would be impossible to stop anyone from travelling and some of the runners registered to a club in ROI actually live in NI.

    "Can this thread be closed, it's a piss take at this stage."

    I'm in favour of healthy debate and exchange of ideas, facts and beliefs but most of all free choice, as long as that free choice is exercised responsibly. The events we have held to date have been highly praised for the way we have conducted them and how safe people felt at them, that's why the numbers are growing each time.

    But you are not discouraging people from taking part who will break local restrictions to take place. Lets say a cluster happens due to race goes ahead because you let everyone from everywhere attend. Would you feel guilty? Or you just happy to see the cash coming in?

    Race should be postponed


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