Clonakilty Marathon Preview

Run Clon takes place on 5th December in Clonakilty and incorporates full marathon, half marathon and 10K races. This is the 6th running of the event, that started with just the marathon, but has expanded since. In 2010 the marathon had approx. 200 finishers, last year the marathon had over 400, the half marathon had over 700 and the 10k had nearly 800 finishers. With nearly 2,000 runners hitting Clonakilty, this will be one of the last big running events of 2015.

Route

There are three new routes this year for all the events. In the past, I was put off the event by the fact that the routes were loops of the same course (just something that I personally don't like). They have changed that now, so it will be interesting to see what the new routes will be like.

You are guaranteed spectacular views, as the routes cover some amazing views out over the Atlantic. However, you also need to expect to be tested over some hills and there'll likely be a strong wind from the coast in places (so hide behind some tall people!).

Registration

• Marathon - €60
• Half Marathon - €50
• 10K - €30

The Marathon seems to be good value for money at €60. The Half and 10K may be on the high side, however, unlike a lot of 10k races (and some half's) you get a pretty nice finisher medal and technical top. Registration here.

Race Info

Race start is at the Quality Hotel in Clonakilty and is planned for 9am.

When you arrive in Clonakilty town, take the Bypass Road towards the Quality Hotel, on the N71, parking will be at the showgrounds (beside the hotel).

Race packs and finishing t-shirts can be collected upstairs at the Carbery suite in the Quality Hotel on Thurs 3rd 6-9pm; Fri 4th 10am - 9pm; Race Day 6am - 7:30am.

Weather is usually around 8 - 10 degrees, so bring warm gear!

Other

The atmosphere at this race is always enjoyable, everyone in good spirits. There's also some nice perks that are worth mentioning:

1. You get Clonakilty Pudding - if you don't know what this is, you should enter just to find out!
2. Showers available in the Quality hotel
3. Post Race massage
4. Photo Wall - available after the race for you to get a proper high quality pic that you can then download for free afterwards

Aware Christmas Run

The Annual Aware Christmas Run is a 10K and 5K race around Phoenix Park on Saturday 12th December.

This race has been around a few years, (since 2007 I think, but it's years since I ran it). It attracts reasonably good numbers:

• Finishers 2014 - 10k: 1,150. 5k: 600
• Finishers 2013 - 10k: 1,400, 5k: 500

Registration

This is a pretty expensive race, particularly the 5k, as both distances are €25 to enter. However it is for a worthwhile charity cause, so there's no suprise that it still attracts decent numbers. The organisers encourage people to fund raise or donate (although it's not obligatory) and an incredible €80,000 was raised by the event last year.

You can register on the Fit Magazine website here.

Route

This is a pretty tough, hilly 10k course. There's an early climb around 2k, but the hardest is probably at 9k, when the legs are a bit more tired. However, it is a very scenic route around the Phoenix park, particularly enjoyable for anybody not worried about a time.

A good work-out either way, and for a good cause.

www.aware.ie/

Fields of Athenry 10k

On Saturday 26th December (Stephen's Day), Athenry AC will host the 14th running of the "Fields of Athenry 10k race.

This is one of the most popular 10k races in the country with 1,152 finishers last year.

Course

The course is a loop starting and finishing in Athenry town, mainly run on quite country roads, with the scenic stone walls and fields that give the race (and the song) it's name prevalent along the course.

It's a slow drag at the start, with a testing section around the 4k mark. However, it has a great downhill finish of around 500 metres. This brings you (at speed) under the Medieval Arch in town, a really nice way to finish the race.

Entry

Registration is online only, and will sell out in advance of the race, as has been the case for the past number of years. Last year the race sold out at least 5 days before hand, so you want to enter by early December.

Cost is €20, link to entry here

Hats

Athenry has a unique and slightly quirky tradition of giving each runner a finishers hat. The reason this is unique (I think) is because each year the hat design changes (and is kept secret until the week of the race). See what I mean by having a look at their history of finishers hats here. Anybody have the full collection?

Start of Fields of Athenry

Clontarf Half Marathon & 5Mile

On Saturday 21st of November the 2nd 'winter' running of the Clontarf Half Marathon and 5 mile will take place. I say "winter" because the Clontarf half marathon has been run in July for a number of years now.

Last year was the first year that the organisers added an additional running of the event in November. The November event is cheaper (as they remove the race t-shirt) and also timed relatively soon after the Dublin marathon. The idea being that you will have all the training done, have enough time to recover, and therefore have a good chance of doing a PB.

One of the main selling points of Clontarf is the flat course. An out-and-back course along the Clontarf promenade and Bull Island, including a stretch along the strand, means that this genuinely does not have a hint of a climb......it is dead flat.

I ran this race previously in July a couple of years back. The event is very well attended and organised. They put on plenty of 'nice things' at the finish line (for winter I belive it's soup). My only gripe with the race when I ran it was a poor, generic medal, however they seem to have fixed that:

Don't worry about the sand, it is hard packed, so it won't slow you down.

Registration

The race is likely to sell out soon. There were around 1,300 who completed the half last year in November, expect numbers to be higher this time. (Organisers are guiding circa. 3k across all events on the day).

You have the option to register on Active or Fit Magazine, but Active appears to be cheaper here

The 12K's of Christmas

Having spent too many mornings recovering from a "12 pubs of Christmas" I may make this event part of my new annual routines - "The 12K's of Christmas". 

Organised by The Kildare Town Running & Triathlon Club, this event has a 12k and a 6k race on 12th of December at 12:00. The entry fee is €12 for the 12k or €10 for the 6k. 

So just in case you missed that....show up on the 12/12 at 12, pay 12 and run 12! 

The race starts and finishes at Kildare Town FC and runs around the Curragh Plains. Here's the funky medal / beer opener, which may come in handy over the festive period:

Here's the race flyer:

Preview of the Listowel Half Marathon & 10K

Next Saturday, 14th November, the Kerry Crusaders will host their inaugural half marathon and 10k in Listowel, Co. Kerry. The Crusaders are a sister club to the Clare Crusaders, and their objective is to raise money for disadvantaged children. So the funds of this event will go to kids with special needs.

Registration

Online registration is available on the Run the Kingdom website: click here

Paper registration is available from the Listowel Community Centre.

Cost is €40 for the half marathon and €25 for the 10k.

The race will sell out, so it's unlikely that registrations will be taken on the day.

Course

The half course is flat for the first 5 miles, before you start a small but steady climb. This becomes much steeper after 6 miles, however once you get past 7 miles, it's pretty straightforward (with a nice downhill). Here's the Garmin link to the route.

The 10k is similar, climb in the middle, decsending to the finish, link here.

Entrants

All runners will receive a finisher t-shirt and medal. Here's a picture of the nice medals:

Race Times

The Half Marathon starts at 10. The 10k starts at 10:15.
Number collections will be available Friday and Saturday morning.

Finally, here's the link to the crusaders site and the race flyer:

Race Awards nominations after day 1

Yesterday I launched the Running In Ireland Race Awards for 2015, a series of awards aimed at recognising the best running events during the year in Ireland. All nominees and winners are choosen by public vote, so these are the awards decided by runners (and I think maybe the only awards in the country?).

Well the response yesterday was incredible. 246 people submitted nominations, and I've lost count today! As you can imagine, there was a lot of variety in the nominations, but by far the hottest categories for far are the 10K of the year and the Half Marathon of the year.

There's another 44 days of nominations left, so make sure that your favourite race is in with a shout of making the finals.