Thursday 31 August 2017

Weekend Races 1st - 3rd September 2017

Races This Weekend - 25 races so far, see below! Where are you Running?




                                                                                                                               


Here's the list of running races on by county this coming weekend. If there are any that I've missed, just chat a message below and I'll update.


Connaught

Sligo Sunday The ODubhda Challenge 5K 10K Half Marathon Marathon
Roscommon Sunday Ros Go Run 10K Half Marathon

Leinster

Kildare Sunday Mondello Marathon 10K Half Marathon Marathon
Louth Saturday Seamie Weldon Memorial Run 5K    
Wexford Sunday Tintern Abbey Trail Run 5K (trail) 8K (trail)  
Kilrane 5Mile 5Mile    
Meath Sunday Ashbourne Road Race 6K 10K  
Westmeath Friday Streete Parish Park Road Race 5K    

Munster

Cork Saturday Elaine Lehane Memorial 5k 5K
Sunday IMRA, Nagles 18K 18K (Trail)
Waterford Friday Cill Barra 5k 5K
Saturday West Waterford Greenway Half Marathon Half Marathon
Kerry Friday Kerry Way Ultra 200K
Saturday Kerry Way Ultra Lite 60K
Dingle Marathon Half Marathon Marathon
Clare Friday Cooraclare Sept 2k Series, Clonreddan 2K
Saturday Declan Hayes Memorial fun run 10K

Ulster

Down Sunday BK10K 5K 10K
Derry Saturday Moneymore GAC Run 5K 10K
Sunday Waterside Half Marathon Half Marathon
Antrim Saturday Run for the Hills 5K 10K
Sunday Laganside 10k 10K
Donegal Friday CLG Sean MacCumhaills 5K 5K
Fermanagh Saturday Garrison Fiver Miler 5Mile
Stairway to Heaven 7K

Wednesday 30 August 2017

The Irish 3/4 Marathon

The Irish 3/4 Marathon - an essential step on the road to the Dublin City Marathon

If, like me, you are one of 20,000 people signed up for the Dublin Marathon (or the other marathons around the same time) then you are likely dreading the thoughts of your "Long Run". Well, in this post I'll cover 'the answer to your prayers'......The Irish 3/4 Marathon.


This race was first run in 2010 as a way for runners to prepare for the Dublin City Marathon and it has grown in popularity since then. It is 19.6 miles and on 3 weeks before Dublin, so it corresponds with most training plans that recommend doing that distance 3 weeks before the marathon (and the last significant run before tapering). The race is on Sunday 8th October.

I've run this race twice, when preparing for Dublin and for New York (and I'll be back again this year). The mantra of the organisers is not to treat it as a race, but rather as training. And thus, everything is set up in this way. For example the pacers will run 5% slower than your marathon race pace, as that is considered the ideal way to train at this time (you don't want to burn out before the big event).

Atmosphere

All of this creates a unique atmosphere of camaraderie. Nobody is really there under pressure to perform, so are in the mood to just have an enjoyable run and chat to new people along the way. I've spent both my runs there just talking to different groups about how their training has been going and what they expect in Dublin......the miles just fly by. And the alternative (which I've also done before) of doing the long run on your own pales in comparison.



The Course

This race is run on very quiet country roads, but is pretty scenic also. There is no major hills to worry about, just a couple of small climbs over river/canal bridges. It's only an 88m gain spread out over the entire course. Actually the 88m gain is 3/4 of the gain in the Dublin Marathon, which has a gain of 119m (again ideal preparation). Here's the course:


What you get

All finishers get a nice long sleeve tshirt, a medal and running gloves, all pictured below:



Register

This race will Definitely Sell Out well in advance (it has the last couple of years), so if you can see the benefit the race to your training plans, don't leave it to late, register now. Also, keep in mind the price increase on 1st September, so try register on or before Thursday 31st. See you there......here's the link:

Wednesday 23 August 2017

Weekend Races 25th - 27th August 2017

Races This Weekend - 38 races so far, see below! Where are you Running?




                                                                                                                               


Here's the list of running races on by county this coming weekend. If there are any that I've missed, just chat a message below and I'll update.


Connaught

Galway Saturday Claregalway 10K Road race 10K
Craughwell AC Half / Full Marathon Half Marathon Marathon
Mayo Saturday Achill Back To Back Half Marathon Marathon Ultra
The Wild Atlantic 10 Miler 10Mile
Sunday DeCare Dental Sport a Smile Run 8K

Leinster

Dublin Saturday SSE Airtricity Frank Duffy 10Mile 10Mile    
Wild Air Run Malahide Castle 5K (inflatable course)    
Kildare Sunday Round Towers GAA Fun Run 5K    
Offaly Saturday Tullamore Harriers Quinlan Cup Half Marathon    
Kilkenny Sunday Castlewarren Fun Run 3K 5Mile  
Wexford Sunday Oylegate Half Marathon 10K Half Marathon  
Wicklow Sunday Sumo Run Ireland 5K (inflatable suits)    
Meath Friday Tara AC 5K 5K    
Sunday 5K Heritage Run 5K    
Carlow Saturday Tinryland 4 Mile 4Mile    
Laois Sunday St Abbans Parish 10K 10K    
Longford Sunday Longford Marathon Half Marathon Marathon Ultra
Westmeath Sunday Inflatable Colour Run Mullingar      

Munster

Cork Friday The Churchtown 5 Mile 5Mile
Rathcormac 4 Mile 4Mile
Saturday Bantry Bay Adventure Race Adventure Race
Dromahane 5Mile Road Race 5Mile
Sunday Clonakilty Road Race 4Mile 10Mile
CCFC Noelle Feeney Run 5K
Waterford Friday Sanofi 5 Mile 5Mile
Ballinameela 5K 5K
Clare Saturday Fanore Burren Half Marathon 5K 10K Half Marathon
Limerick Friday UHL Charity run 5K

Ulster

Down Friday Magheralin 5 5K
Strangford Festival 10k 5K 10K
Saturday Great East Run Half Marathon Half Marathon
Armagh Sunday Armagh City Marathon Half Marathon Marathon Relay Ultra
Antrim Friday Portrush 5 Mile 5Mile
Crebilly 5K 5K
Saturday Rathlin Run 5K 10Mile
Sunday Storming The Castle 10K
Carnmoney Hill 5k 1Mile 5K
Fermanagh Sunday Little Treasures Playgroup Fun Run 5K 10K