Dublin Half Marathon

With over 9,000 entrants this year, the SSE Airtricity Dublin Half Marathon is the largest half marathon in Ireland and one of the largest races in the country. Therefore it is interesting to take a look at the changing patterns in the race over the past 10 years, as it's a good representation of how running in the country has developed.

The Numbers

It'll be no surprise to learn that the number of entrants to the Half Marathon have grown steadily over the years. So too have the number of finishers, as displayed below. Actually when you look at 2015 and 2016, it would seem that popularity has increased even further:

Finishing Times

Are we getting slower? Probably not, although the average finishing time (based on chip timing) is a lot longer than 2007, this is most likely down to the fact that the 2,454 finishers in 2007 were probably closer to elite runners (running wasn't as popular). Whereas the increase in numbers up to this year has probably added more "casual runners" (like myself), hence the average times increase, see below:

Running Groups / Clubs - do they help?

This is not an exact science, but I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the performance of people who run in a club or running group against those that do not. There is a natural expectation that the average times of those in running clubs would be faster, because most, if not all, the elites will be members of clubs. At the same time, this balances out, as some of the running groups are targeted at first time runners looking to finish, rather than chasing a time.

• 2016
• Average Time of non-affiliated runners: 02:00:11
• Average Time of affiliated runners: 01:55:35

• 2015
• Average Time of non-affiliated runners: 01:58:24
• Average Time of affiliated runners: 01:53:25

In both years the runners associated with clubs or groups are on average 5 minutes faster than those that are not.

Male versus Female Runners

The increase in the number of finishers over the past 10 years has been heavily driven by more women entering the race. In 2007, 32% of the total finishers were women (just under 800). In 2016, 41% of the total finishers were women (just under 2,900).

Finishers from Groups and Clubs

Finally, for a bit of fun, here's the list of the running groups and clubs with the most amount of finishers this year. I'm not going to compare times here, because really that would be done as a team event, so a bit unfair to retrospectively do it. Here are the top participant clubs/groups:

Top 10 Athletics Clubs

Top 3 Running Groups

Weekend Races 30th Sep - 2nd Oct 2016

Races This Weekend -  20 races so far! Where are you Running?

                                                                                                                               

FEATURE RACE - CORK TO COBH

This week the feature race of the weekend is the long running Cork BHAA road race, the Cork to Cobh 15 Mile.

The route comes out from Cork via the Lower Glanmire Road, taking in the scenic coastal route to Cobh Harbour. It's a pretty flat course, with a hill climb into Cobh, and then a lovely run downhill to the finish in Cobh Town. Entries, just €15 are available via the link below, or a limited amount for €20 on the morning.

LINK TO REGISTRATION

                                                                                                                                

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 1st - Run Galway Bay - 10K / Half Marathon / Marathon

Sligo
Friday 30th - Ballymote Firefly - Night Mile / Team 5K

Leinster

Dublin

Saturday 1st - Simon Fun Run - 5Mile

Kilkenny

Sunday 2nd - Run Conahy - 5K/10K

Longford

Sunday 2nd - Lough Ree Monster Road Race - 4Mile / 10K

Carlow
Saturday 1st - Newtown NS Fun Run - 5K

Sunday 2nd - Hacketstown NS, Break for the Border - 5K / 10K

Meath

Sunday 2nd - Boyne Valley Pink Ribbon Run - 10K

Munster

Kerry
Saturday 1st - Spin South West, Sandstorm - 5K (adventure race)

Limerick
Saturday 1st - Carebright 10K

Cork

Friday 30th - VHI Lust for Life - 5K

Saturday 1st - Rosscarbey Steam Engine - 5K

Sunday 2nd - Cork to Cobh - 15Mile

Waterford

Sunday 2nd - West Waterford AC - Open Cross Country

Tipperary

Sunday 2nd - Canicross Ireland National & Provincial Championships - Dog Running

Ulster

Armagh

Saturday 1st - Run for Austism, H.A.N.D. - 10Mile / Half Marathon

Monaghan

Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd - Monaghan Phoenix AC - Half Marathon / Full Marathon / Back to Back Marathons

Tyrone

Saturday 1st - Jog around the Bog - 10K

Saturday 1st - St Enda's, Omagh Road Race - 5Mile

Derry

Sunday 2nd - Marty Gallagher - 5K

Weekend Races 23rd - 25th September 2016

Races This Weekend -  33 races so far! Where are you Running?

                                                                                                                               

NEW: FEATURE RACE

For the first time, I'm experimenting with a Feature Race for the week, and this week it's the Brendan's Running Club Naas 10K.

This is the 3rd year that this race has been run, and it will raise money for the Jack and Jill Foundation. Last year 500 runners took part, raising €5,000 for Jack and Jill. This year there's a new route, which will go through town and cover the Grand Canal.

LINK TO REGISTRATION

                                                                                                                                

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 25th - Sligo Coast to Coast - 10Mile / 5K

Galway
Saturday 24th - NUIG Charity Run - 8K

Saturday 24th - Slieve Aughty Challenge - 30K / 60K Adventure Race

Sunday 25th - SCCUL Sanctuary - 5K

Sunday 25th - Sunshine Run - 5K

Sunday 25th - Cummer NS - 5K

Sunday 25th - Loughrea AC, Grey Lakes Road Race - 10K

Mayo
Saturday 24th - Clew Bay Half Marathon / 10K

Leinster

Louth
Sunday 25th - Wildwood Wild Run Festival - 10K

Longford

Saturday 24th - Senior Cross Country Races

Carlow
Sunday 25th - Carlow Half Marathon / Mini Marathon / 5K

Kildare

Sunday 24th - Donadea Forest Fun Run - 5K

Saturday 24th - RunaMuck Challenge - Adventure Race

Saturday 24th - Athy Lions Club Charity Race - 10K / 5K

Sunday 25th - St Farnans Road Race - 5K / 10K

Sunday 25th - Brendan's Running Club, Naas Town - 10K

Wicklow

Sunday 25th - Greystones - 5K

Dublin

Saturday 24th - SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon Series - Half Marathon - Nominated Half Marathon of the Year

Sunday 25th - Rathfarnham AC - 5K 

Meath
Saturday 24th - SOSAD Charity Run - 5K

Munster

Kerry
Saturday 24th - Killarney 10Mile Road Race

Saturday 24th - Tralee 24 hour / 12 hour / 6 hour - endurance race

Sunday 25th - Tralee CBS - 5K / 3K

Limerick
Sunday 25th - Adare to Survive - 8K

Cork

Saturday 24th - Hope for Faith - 5K

Saturday 24th - Wild Atlantic Way Fun Run - 10K / 4K

Sunday 25th - Cork Women's Mini Marathon - 3.8Miles

Waterford

Sunday 25th - Vadrafjord Fun Run - 5Mile

Tipperary

Sunday 25th - Tiperrary Womens Mini Marathon - 10K

Ulster

Donegal

Saturday 24th - Mooathon - 10K / Half Marathon / Marathon

Antrim

Saturday 24th - Run Mucker Run - 5K / 10K Adventure Race

Derry

Saturday 24th - Keith Reid Memorial - 10K

Down
Saturday 24th - Bangor Aurora - 10K

Arches and Pronation

One of the most discussed topics among runners is 'finding the right runner', and I regularly get asked questions about this. It's almost impossible to tell somebody what type runner would be best for them, as there are a lot of factors (running style, width of your foot, body weight, the level of cushioning each runner likes, etc.).

The easier of the guides to give to people is how their foot arches will affect their foot strike, and therefore what type of cushioning / support they should look for.

How Arches affect Pronation

Pronation is the way your foot rolls inwards when you run or walk. It occurs at the joint below the ankle, the subtalar joint. Different arch types will typically lead to different pronation types. For example if you have a very flat foot, you are more likely to Overpronate. Here's the summary guide:

How to tell what type of Arches you have (the Wet test)

Typically you can go into a "good" running shop and they should be able to judge your foot strike to determine whether you underpronate, overpronate or are neutral. However, there is a simple test that you can do at home which will tell how what type of arches you have (and give you a decent guide to your foot strike), it's called "The Wet Test"

Fill a basin of water and place a piece of (dark) paper beside it. Step into the water with your bare foot, then step onto the paper and off again. Look at the footprint you leave to give you an indication of the arch type you have. Here's the guide:

Finding the Shoe to suit your foot

As alluded to earlier, your pronation type is only one indicator of what you might need from a running shoe. You will also need to test for shoe width, toebox space, general comfort, etc. However, most running shoes these days will come designed for a particular pronation type. And if not, a good running shop will be able to guide you.

Some examples:

I have always been an Underpronator, and found the Asics Cumulus range ideal for me. I started running in Cumulus 11's, but they have recently released the Cumulus 18's, which I haven't tried yet.

I also have the new Asics FuzeX (reviewed here) mainly for Neutral Pronation, which I use for training (but keep my Cumulus for longer distances).

Finally to complete the range, Asics just released their latest version of the Gel Kayano range, 23. This would be one of their best known runners for Overpronators (but I've never tried these):

http://www.asics.com/gb/en-gb/gel-kayano?c=1-23

In fact most running companies now have different ranges depending on the level of pronation you have, e.g. mild overpronator versus severe overpronator. Here are some more examples:

Overpronator runners:

• Nike LunarGlide
• Mizuno Wave Paradox
• Saucony Omni

Underpronator runners:

• Nike Zoom Vomero
• New Balance 1080

Neutral Pronator runners:

• Brooks Ghost
• Adidas Supernova

Finally - Most Important

The wet test is really just a simple "home method" to indicate your arch type. Really, you want to speak to an expert, and probably do a full gait analysis (where you can gauge the strike of your foot during movement, rather than standing). Usually a good runners shop can do this for you. At some point next week, Sean from @runningmatters_ on Twitter will post more detailed information.

Weekend Races 16th - 18th September 2016

Races This Weekend -  20 races so far! 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

Roscommon
Saturday 17th - Cuisle 10K

Sligo
Sunday 18th - The O'Dubhda Challenge - 10K / Half Marathon / Marathon

Leinster

Kilkenny
Saturday 17th - Medieval Marathon - 10K / Half Marathon / 30K / Marathon

Sunday 18th - JJ Reddy Danesfort Run - 5K / 10K / Half Marathon

Sunday 18th - Richie Young Memorial - 5K

Carlow
Sunday 18th - Presentation College Carlow - 5K

Kildare

Sunday 18th - Guide Dogs - 5K

Sunday 18th - Liz McDonnell Run - 5K

Wicklow

Saturday 17th - Women's Adventure Race - (24.5K Adventure Race)

Wexford 

Saturday 17th - Kilmore AC - 10K 

Dublin

Sunday 18th - Malahide Castle - 5K

Munster

Cork

Saturday 17th - Carriganima Fun Run - 4Mile

Saturday 17th - Grenagh - 5K

Sunday 18th - Charleville Half Marathon

Sunday 18th - Run Forest Run, Clonakilty - 5Mile

Clare

Sunday 18th - Cathal Torpey Charity Run - 5Mile

Tipperary

Saturday 17th - MMRA Loop de Loop - Half Marathon / Marathon / Ultra Marathon (all Trail)

Sunday 18th - Moyne AC - 5K

Ulster

Derry

Saturday 17th - University Ulster, Coleraine, Boom 10K

Saturday 17th - Templemore Sports Complex - 5K

Apple Watch - Apple and Nike launch perfect running partner

Apple launched its latest version of the Apple Watch, Series 2, by reviving the huge partnership with Nike to create the "perfect running partner".

What are the changes?

• Two times brighter display
• Water resistant up to 50 metres
• A powerful dual core processor
• Siri Commands
• Strong integration with the Nike Run Community

As this is the smartwatch, the GPS tracker, Heart Rate monitor, Weather, and Stopwatch are already built in. Apple are clearly aiming to tap into the huge running community that Nike have assembled with the Nike+ Run Club. However, with their water resistant watch, I wonder are they also looking to take in the triathlon/ironman communities.

Running Community

I had recently covered the changes to the Nike+ Run Club, which haven't gone down too well (nike-running-app-changed-for-worse). But I think ultimately Apple want to tap into the motivation and coaching plans, and most importantly the social aspect. If runners start comparing training with each other, then it ultimately leads to more sales (similar to the way Strava took off).

The Future

It's hard to see Apple/Nike taking over the GPS watch market. However, if new runners / fitness enthusiasts already have a smart watch, then why would they need to buy a GPS watch. So is this how sports watches are going to evolve? Perhaps

Apple Watch Series 2 goes on sale this Friday 9th September, with anticipated availability in Ireland at the end of October. Pricing in the US will be $369 for the 38mm and $399 for the 42mm watch.

Weekend Races 9th - 11th September 2016

Races This Weekend -  33 races so far! 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 10th - Clarinbridge Oyster Marathon - 10K / Half Marathon / Full Marathon

Saturday 10th - Barnaderg - 10K / 5K

Sunday 11th - Clifden Lifeboat 10K

Mayo
Saturday 10th - Charlestown 10K

Sunday 11th - Ballyglass - 10K / 6K

Leinster

Laois

Friday 9th - Kilcavan Run - 5K

Louth
Friday 9th - SOSAD Run for Life - 5K

Saturday 10th - Dromiskin Fit Club - 5K

Kildare

Saturday 10th - Tony Donoghue Memorial - 10K

Saturday 10th - Pfizer Newbridge - 5K

Westmeath

Saturday 10th - Flatline Athlone Half Marathon - Nominated for Half Marathon of the Year

Sunday 11th - Leg it for LARCC - 5K

Wicklow

Saturday 10th - Kilomarathon / 10K

Wexford 

Saturday 10th - Oulart - 10K / 5K 

Offaly

Sunday 11th - Clareen - 10K / 5K

Carlow 

Sunday 11th - Palatine GAA - 10K / 5K

Dublin
Sunday 11th - Canicross, Corkagh Park - Cross Country with Dogs

Munster

Limerick
Friday 9th - Mooreabbey Milers AC - 4 Mile

Waterford
Friday 9th - Sanofi - 5Mile

Cork

Friday 9th - Buttevant Running Club - 5K

Saturday 10th - St. Finbarrs AC, John Buckley Cork City 10 Miler

Saturday 10th - Kildorrey Harriers - 5Mile

Sunday 11th - Cork Autism Blue Balloon Run - 6K

Clare
Saturday 10th - Cooraclare Midnight Mile - 1Mile

Sunday 11th - Scariff - 10K / 5K

Tipperary
Sunday 11th - Clonmel AC, Kilsheelan - 10K / 5K

Ulster

Cavan

Sunday 11th - Killinkere GFC - Half Marathon / 10K / 5K

Armagh

Saturday 10th - Tannaghmore - 10K

Antrim

Saturday 10th - East Coast AC, Larne - 10K

Tyrone
Saturday 10th - Sperrin Harriers, O'Brien Challenge - 26K / 10Mile / 3K

Derry

Saturday 10th - CCU Altnagelvin Hospital Run - 10K / 5K

Saturday 10th - Surf N Turf, Benone - Half Marathon / 10K

Down

Sunday 11th - Micky Annette Memorial Run

Canicross - Cross Country Running with your Dog

Do you enjoy running with your dog? Would you like to be able to race with him/her? Well now you can do that and more, check out Canicross Ireland.

Canicross Ireland are a dog club that organises cross country running with your dog, bikejoring and scootering competitions and events throughout Ireland and they are looking for members who are interested in getting out and keeping fit with their dogs.

The first event is coming up this weekend, on September 11th in Corkagh Park, Dublin. There will be a fun dog show that is being judged by Pete the Vet along with some canicross, bikejoring and scootering demos and of course, the chance to have a go and try out some equipment and chat to some club members.

If you want to get in touch with Canicross Ireland, here is their Facebook Page

Also, here's the event page for this weekend on Facebook