Guest Post: Waterford Half ...by Pat Walsh

 ** Waterford Half **

It was a tough one. Haven’t done this for so long I wasn’t sure what to expect or how strong I would be. I was hoping by memory or years of experience that maybe I would get through it. I survived. Yes the Annual Christmas feed of pints can be tough going after running a Half-Marathon. Let us hope normal service has been resumed on the running and social scene. Oh and there was a race on yesterday as well.

Waterford Half Marathon was back after a 3 year gap and it was good to go there again. So much has changed in the running landscape but fair play to all concerned for hosting this event. Well done to all who helped as stewards or water-stations or any one of the tasks needed to host a big race. We missed the post race Blaa and cuppa as it gave us a chance to meet up with other runners and I know I missed meeting so many friends yesterday.

There was a late route change and in my humble opinion as someone who has ran this race many times on many different routes that this was my personal favourite. Well done to all who took part. I always feel it is a great run to finish off a Year. If I can run 13.1 the first Saturday of December then maybe next Year might not be too bad and I can dream on. 

Thanks to my own PWR crew for the fun and laughs, you were all super. Thanks to Sheila for running with me and minding me…! I do want to thanks anyone who said hello and had some lovely comments on my page and posts. I do appreciate it as at times I wonder about relevence.

Thanks to my friends in  Saturday Road Runners  who ran the race, hugs kisses and smiles were in abundance. Pity about the crew at miles 12 at the Holy Cross pub… (joke)

Few weeks left this year and make the most of them. If in doubt just go for a run.

#pwr

Notice: Newmarket 5k road race - Sun 11th Dec 2022

This popular 5 km road race is coming up in the town of Newmarket in North-West Cork on Sunday the 11th of December 2022. This is a fast 5k course and gets a good turnout every year. The race starts at 1pm.

Entries HERE

The race HQ is at the Hi-Lands and as you can see below, there are lots of generous prizes on offer.

From Duhallow AC... "Clubs 25th anniversary race 1997-2022 

Race HQ - Hi-Land Lounge, Newmarket, Co. Cork

Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 3rd December 2022

Results of the 5k parkruns around the county on Saturday 3rd December 2022. Between the 10  events, there were around 650 participants.

Ballincollig Regional Park: 216 this week, cancelled last week. Long term average 289

.

First 3 men & women...

1 Finbarr O DWYER Male VM45-49 Leevale AC 17:20

2 John O MAHONY Male VM45-49 St Finbarrs AC 17:45 

3 Arnaud BENJACAR Male VM50-54 Liffey Valley AC 18:01

7 Emma DESMOND Female VW35-39 19:41

13 Gail MURRAY Female VW45-49 Belgooly AC 20:07

25 Karen SCULLY Female VW40-44 21:29

Ballincollig results... https://www.parkrun.ie/ballincollig/results/254/

Tramore Valley Park: 124 runners took part in this event. Last week was cancelled. The long term average is 163.

First 3 men & women...

1 Niall KELLY Male VM35-39 17:37

2 Patrick GEARY Male SM25-29 17:59

3 Keelan DESMOND Male SM25-29 18:39

27 Jenny KENNEALLY Female JW11-14 Carrigaline A.C 22:25

32 Sorcha KEARNEY Female VW45-49 St Finbarrs AC 22:51

40 Niamh MORAN Female SW30-34 23:48

Tramore Valley Park results... https://www.parkrun.ie/tramorevalley/results/35/

Glen River: 53 this week, cancelled last week. The long term average is 76.

First 3 men & women...

1 Cathal O'CONNELL Male VM55-59 St Finbarrs AC 19:45

2 Loic GAREL Male VM40-44 19:54

3 Dermot COFFEY Male VM40-44 Raheny Shamrock AC 20:53

7 Derval DEVANEY Female VW45-49 Belpark Triathlon Club 22:12

17 Mags HASSETT Female VW45-49 Douglas Meet and Train 24:45

28 Mary CONNOR Female VW50-54 28:18

Glen River results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/133/

Mallow Castle: 52 finishers this week, 26 last week. The long term average is 67.

First 3 men & women...

1 Tadhg SULLIVAN Male SM25-29 17:26

2 Darragh FROST Male SM25-29 19:34

3 Fanahan MCSWEENEY Male SM25-29 19:55

12 Liz PALMER Female VW50-54 Mallow AC 23:28

14 Johannah MCSWEENEY Female JW10 24:11

17 Nicole O'CALLAGHAN Female JW11-14 25:18

Mallow results... https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle/results/62/

Youghal: The Pobalscoil na Tríonóide 5k parkrun in Youghal got 54 this week, 27 last week. The long term average is 63.

First 3 men & women...

1 Craig HARRINGTON Male SM30-34 Cork Track Club 17:56

2 Micheal CRONIN Male SM30-34 18:33

3 Chris GALLAHUE Male VM35-39 20:58

5 Muirna WALSH Female VW45-49 21:23

7 Saoirse KINSELLA Female JW11-14 23:30

9 Susan DINEEN Female VW40-44 24:35

Youghal results... https://www.parkrun.ie/pobalscoilnatrionoide/results/41/

Macroom Desmense: 38 this week, 24 last week. Long term average is 52.

First 3 men & women...

1 Conor LUCEY Male VM35-39 18:27

2 Jude MURPHY Male JM15-17 19:42

3 Tony DINEEN Male SM30-34 19:45

10 Jennifer RING Female VW40-44 22:30

18 Carmel PURCELL Female VW45-49 West Muskerry A.C. 26:07

20 Marie MCCARTHY Female VW45-49 26:47

Macroom results... https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/results/403/

Clonakilty: 24 finishers this week, cancelled finishers last week. Long term average 37.

First 3 men & women...

1 Mícheál Ó SÉ Male VM40-44 18:34

2 Chris HAYES Male VM35-39 20:08

3 Edward AHERN Male SM25-29 20:12

11 Marian MCCARTHY Female VW35-39 26:51

12 Grainne CROWLEY Female VW45-49 27:00

13 Karin CONNOLLY Female VW50-54 Bishopstown Orienteering Club 29:19

Clonakilty results... https://www.parkrun.ie/clonakilty/results/357/

Glengarriff Woods: There were 54 finishers for this weeks 5k parkrun in Glengarriff Woods. It was cancelled  last week, long term average is 59.

Top 3 men & women...

1 Peter LITTLE Male VM45-49 21:02

3 Cormac WHOOLEY Male SM30-34 21:59

4 Michael MCSWEENEY Male VM50-54 Beara AC 22:11

2 Sophie OSULLIVAN Female SW30-34 21:51

9 Ann HORAN Female VW40-44 23:28

11 Niamh CASEY Female VW35-39 23:47

Glengarriff results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glengarriff/results/274/

Bere Island: 26 this week, 13 last week, long term average of 46. 

First 3 men & women...

1 Ray SMITH Male VM55-59 Kenmare Athletics Club 20:06

3 Declan ALCOCK Male VM40-44 22:54

4 Nigel COOKE Male VM45-49 23:35

2 Michelagh MURPHY Female SW18-19 22:52

5 Laura JACKSON Female SW30-34 24:07

8 Carol HURLEY Female VW50-54 Beara AC 25:44

Bere Island results... https://www.parkrun.ie/bereisland/results/362/

Castlehaven: 16 finishers this week in Rineen Woods. 16 last week. Long term average 29.

First 3 women & men...

Castlehaven results... 

Guest Post: Plan your Year / Season and train for it ...by Pat Walsh

 ** Plan your Year / Season and train for it **

As we close out this year (where did it go?) and pick up our last races, then thoughts turn to next Year.

What do I want? What mistakes have I made? How can I make it a good year and one to remember. Is it short and fast, am I a speedy? Or Is it long Race and a quality finishing time?

Pick the 2 to 3 ‘A’ races you want to do Max,  and structure your training around those. You can't do everything. (Can be hard one to accept..) 

It is NOT possible to peak at 10’s / Half Marathons / FULL while hitting 5k PB’s. If you train hard you can do well in them all but you are not delivering true potential. 

Yes, you can start the year on shorter races, get your speed up and then move to longer distances. Perfectly normal, but don’t spend the year chopping from long to short to long. 

Once you know how your training fits together, look for additional races that compliment your ‘A’ races and act as stepping stones towards these main goals. 

Some tips for these races.

Practise pacing. Use shorter distances to run harder if you want long. Use longer races to build stamina if you want short and fast.

Learn to Relax and smile. Enough rubbish in the world. Enjoy your runs. Best results are when you are relaxed and ready for what is ahead.

Practise Negative splits (2nd half faster). Going from it straight from the gun isn’t always the best idea.

Run on Heart Monitor instead of Pace. (Always interesting) Every day is a school day. Run with a friend sometimes and act as Pacemaker for their PB. Enjoy the run and learn from your race stats. Great feeling.

2023 could be a funny year. I’m not a negative person but the decision by Athletics Ireland to add a levy to run races for those not in a club will have repercussions. The decision that all races have to be booked through their authorised partner (who take a premium) will have an effect. Clubs will lose the opportunity to register on the day even for a small race if they need PERMISSION as AI will not be in control. It is encouragement people want, not a slush fund generator that will be distributed without any input from those who contributed. Big Races will be fine as they are costly anyway, it is the small local ones that will suffer.

Enough, I run because I love to, I run where I want to and where I am welcome and loved. I will to continue to follow those rules that have served me well. 

Waterford Half today.  Can’t remember have I run it before…. !!

#pwr

Friday Jigsaw: Start of the Macroom Bypass 10-mile ...Nov 2022

For this weeks online jigsaw, we have a photo from Joe Murphy of the start of the recent Macroom Bypass 10-mile road race.

You can find the 143-piece jigsaw HERE

National records confirmed for Lizzie Lee & Angela McCann for 10k race

The Coillte 10k race in Dundrum, Tipperary is one of the fastest 10k courses in the country and always attracts a high quality field. At the 2021 race, Lizzie Lee and Angela McCann set new national F40 and F50 age records for the 10k distance.

After the race, Dundrum AC submitted the details to Athletics Ireland but it seems to have got missed with all of the pandemic stuff going on. The club resubmitted the information in 2022 and it has been verified this time! 

John Moore of Dundrum AC has just sent on the following report...

National Records confirmed for Coillte 10k course in Dundrum ...by John Moore

Athletics Ireland have confirmed that two national records have been set over the long-standing road race circuit in Dundrum. The two records were set at the annual Coillte 10k road race on the 7 th

July 2021 a race which has been ran every year since 1986.

The first record was set by Cork athlete Lizzie Lee from the Leevale club who set a new national record for the over 40 women’s category when winning the race in a cracking time of 33 minutes 45 seconds for the 10,000 metre (6.2 mile) distance.

The second record was set by Tipperary athlete Angela McCann from the Clonmel club who set a new national record for the over 50 women’s category in a super time of 37 minutes 21 seconds for the 10,000 metre (6.2 mile) distance.

This is a huge plus for the course when you consider there are 32 Irish master women records listed from 5k up to 100k and 10 of the 32 have been set outside the island of Ireland. The course must be specially measured to meet the Athletics Ireland and International Association of Athletics Federations standards. This is done using the Jones Counter/Bicycle method of measurement.

The course has been measured by three different qualified measurers since the measurement system came into place and it was first measured in 1996. Brendan O’Connell Killenaule was the first measurer, and he was followed by Joe Aherne Cappamore with the last measurement carried out by Billy Purcell and Jim Ryan from Two Mile Borris. The club would like to thank all measurers for their help over the years but especially Billy and Jim whose detailed photographic evidence and paperwork streamlined the ratification process.

The timing of the race is also important as this must tie in with the distance and here the club would like to thank Niall O’Sullivan of Premier Timing Systems from Clonmel for his help with having all in order. Indeed, Niall has been timing our races for many years now which we greatly appreciate.

 A good road surface is also important to help athletes get fast times and here the club would like to thank Tipperary County Council and their local Area Supervisor Pat Fitzelle for his help over the years in maintaining the circuit. Dundrum Athletic Club would also like to thank Tipperary County Council for a huge road upgrade on a one-kilometre stretch of the circuit just before covid lockdown. To also thank the local councillors especially Declan Burgess for their help in getting this crucial work completed.

Sponsorship of the race in which the records were set is also important to help keep the event going year after year and to this effect the club would like to thank all the local businesses for their continued support. To the semi state company Coillte a special thanks for been the main sponsor of the race since 2003.

The road race circuit is very popular consisting of two laps and an ideal circuit for spectators to watch a race at different locations by walking less than 100 metres. It is a regular venue for County and Munster championship races and indeed has held an All-Ireland championship in the past. It is also the venue for the clubs annual BK5K road race every May.

Race Director John Moore who has been involved in organising the Coillte 10k race since the first race in 1986 would like to thank all the volunteers who give of their time every year to help at the event. Also, to congratulate the two record holders Lizzie and Angela and here looking forward to some great racing over the iconic circuit in the years to come.

John Moore - Dundrum AC

Dungarvan 10 mile entries open on Thurs 1st Dec 2022...

The John Treacy Dungarvan 10-mile road race will be held on Sunday the 5th of February 2023 and now is the time to look at some key dates. 

Thursday 1st December 2022: Entries open for athletic club members. You will need your AI membership number for this. The entry fee is €30 and there may be additional registration fees.

The entry link is via Event Master - Enter HERE

Thursday 8th December 2022: Entries open for everyone. The entry fee is again €30 but non-club runners will have to pay the new Athletics Ireland 'One-Day Licence' which costs an additional €2.

Entries will remain open until the limit of 3,750 is reached.

***

History & Analysis... The first thing is not to get in a panic about entering. In 2019, all 3,000 places were snapped up in 3-hours. 

In 2021, entries opened a week early for club runners with the non-club runners entering a week later. Even with that, it still took 27-hours to fill all 3,000 places.

This year, the numbers of entries has gone from 3,000 up to 3,750. Despite the impression some people might give, the vast majority of runners out there are not members of an athletics club.

As long as you're ready to enter on the morning of the 8th of December then you should have no problem getting in.

Training Programme: For anyone interested, I am currently running a training programme which started a few week ago. If anyone is interested in a shorter programme at a reduced price then let me know. We only have 9-weeks from the 4th of December so we don't have much time to work with. Info in this previous post HERE.

Statement from West Waterford AC... "31st annual John Treacy Dungarvan 10 Mile.

Club members online entry opens this Thursday 1st December. Race date Sunday 5th February 2023 11am start.

As and from December 1st entries will open for the 31st Annual John Treacy Dungarvan 10 which will be held on Sunday February 5th 2023, start time of 11.am.

This race is a permitted A.A.I. event and once again this year we will open on Thursday 1st December to AI club members.  You just need your Life Membership number to enter.  Remaining places will then go on offer on the 8th December.

 The entry fee for this year’s race is €30. 

The race has grown year on year and is a pre-entry race which will close when 3,750 entries have been reached.

 All race numbers will be posted out the week prior to the event, and there will be strictly no entry on the day. 

The prize fund for 2023 is €6,000"

Website... https://www.westwaterfordathletics.org/dungarvan-10-mile/

Results of the Macroom Bypass 10-mile & 5k - Sun 27th Nov 2022

With the new Macroom bypass opening on the 8th of December, the local club West Muskerry AC organised a 10-mile and 5k road race on it today before it opened.

In the 5k race, there were 187 finishers while there were 138 in the 10-mile. 

Considering it's probably a one off and unique event, I thought the 10-mile would have got more runners as it's not every day you get to run on a new bypass. The opening date for the bypass was only announced relatively recently so that may have been a factor.

5k - Top 3 men & women...
1 113 Johnny Collins Kilkenny City Harriers A.C. M 0:16:26 0:16:27  
2 125 Cillian Mac Namara Leevale A.C. M 0:16:51 0:16:52  
3 151 Adhamh O Leary St. Finbarrs A.C. M 0:16:56 0:16:57  
10 467 Rachael O'Shea F 0:19:22 0:19:23  
14 314 Éanna Duff F 0:19:42 0:19:44  
18 154 Saoirse Twomey West Muskerry A.C. F 0:20:23 0:20:25

5k results

10-mile - Top 3 men & women...
1 399 Derek Griffin M 55:31  
2 419 Brian Murphy M 55:45  
3 415 Michael Herlihy North Cork AC M 57:06
9 455 Carol Finn F 1:03:17  
10 264 Clara Ryan Midleton A.C. F 1:03:28  
20 234 Joe Donovan Togher A.C. F 1:08:55

10-mile results

Photos...

1) Joe Murphy got some nice photos...

...5k - Album 1 & Album 2

...10 Mile - Album 1, Album 2, Album 3 & Album 4

Results of the Clonakilty Marathon, Half-Marathon & 10k - Sat 26th Nov 2022

 

Due to some flooding on the course near the coast, the marathon in Clonakilty was cancelled this year. The half-marathon and 10k however though did go ahead with just over 1400 runners crossing the finish line.

When you consider that it was wet and windy and that half of the 5k parkruns in Cork were cancelled on the same day, 1400 plus runners is a big turnout for an event in West Cork. If the weather was fine then it would have been obviously larger.

A few days ago I posed the question if €50 for a 10k race was too expensive... link here

Well, there were 525 finishers in the Clonakilty 10k so perhaps €50 isn't too expensive despite what many people think.

The one thing I noted about the 10k results is that only 20 runners ran under 45 minutes on what is a reasonably good course. It suggests that the faster club runners gave this one a skip but there were many more runners who were more than happy to enter.

Half-Marathon... Top 5 men & women...

1 Tudor Mircea MOLDOVAN Clonliffe Harriers M MS 426 1:13:21
2 Alexander WALLACE St Cocas AC M M40 312 1:13:32
3 Danny MULLINS M MS 1377 1:16:22
4 Simon NOLAN Bandon AC M MS 296 1:17:05
5 Niall SHEIL St Killians AC M M40 1632 1:17:38
1 Carmel WARD Raheny Shamrock AC F F40 313 1:30:36
2 Jean LUCEY F FS 352 1:31:12
3 Sinead RIGNEY F FS 1851 1:31:53
4 Mary O'SHEA Gneeveguilla AC F F40 1743 1:34:40
5 Karen WALSH F F40 1754 1:34:44

Full half results HERE

10km... top 3 men & women...

1 Garrett LORDAN Clonakilty Road Runners M 2215 (33:40) 33:43
2 Tadhg O SULLIVAN Bweeng Trail Blazers M 2573 (34:09) 34:13
3 Connor MCCRORY Bweeng Trail Blazers M 2227 (37:45) 37:49
8 Catherine MURPHY Eagle AC F 2602 (40:34) 40:35
15 Suzanne PURCELL F 2390 (42:31) 42:35
17 Jackie CARTY Kilmore AC F 2490 (43:27) 43:27

Full results HERE

Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 26th November 2022

Results of the 5k parkruns around the county on Saturday 26th November 2022. Lots of cancellations this week. Between the 5 remaining events, there were around 106 participants.

Ballincollig Regional Park: 202 this week, cancelled last week. Long term average 290.

First 3 men & women... CANCELLED

Ballincollig results... 

Tramore Valley Park: 170 runners took part in this event. Last week was 263. The long term average is 163.

First 3 men & women... CANCELLED

Tramore Valley Park results... 

Glen River: 56 this week, 78 last week. The long term average is 76.

First 3 men & women... CANCELLED

Glen River results... 

Mallow Castle: 26 finishers this week, 45 last week. The long term average is 67.

First 3 men & women...

1 Ronan MOYNIHAN Male VM40-44 Crusaders Athletic Club 18:34

2 Tomás KIELY Male JM11-14 North Cork AC 18:44

3 Maurice O'BRIEN Male VM40-44 20:54

6 Eadaoin BOAG Female JW15-17 21:41

10 Aoife MCSWEENEY Female SW20-24 24:54

15 Clodagh BENNETT Female VW40-44 29:11

Mallow results... https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle/results/61/

Youghal: The Pobalscoil na Tríonóide 5k parkrun in Youghal got 27 this week, 62 last week. The long term average is 64.

First 3 men & women...

1 Micheal CRONIN Male SM30-34 20:31

7 Daniel MOLINUEVO Male VM40-44 25:43

3 Ian MURPHY Male VM50-54 24:50

2 Claire MURPHY Female VW50-54 24:47

4 Saoirse KINSELLA Female JW11-14 25:07

5 Deirdre ANSBRO Female VW40-44 25:24

Youghal results... https://www.parkrun.ie/pobalscoilnatrionoide/results/40/

Macroom Desmense: 24 this week, 45 last week. Long term average is 52.

First 3 men & women...

1 Padraig SHEAHAN Male VM55-59 Millstreet Athletic Club 21:37

2 Rafal SZULHAN Male VM45-49 21:59

3 Richie FITZGERALD Male VM50-54 23:49

8 Maretta BRENNAN Female VW55-59 Volunteers parkrun Club (Unofficial) 27:33

11 Colette RYAN Female VW55-59 Douglas Meet and Train 28:32

15 Lisa DAVIDSON Female VW45-49 Forth Valley Canicross 30:53

Macroom results... https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/results/402/

Clonakilty: 38 finishers this week, 30 finishers last week. Long term average 37.

First 3 men & women... CANCELLED DUE TO THE CLON MARATHON

Clonakilty results... 

Glengarriff Woods: There were 82 finishers for this weeks 5k parkrun in Glengarriff Woods. It was 62  last week, long term average is 58.

Top 3 men & women... CANCELLED

Glengarriff results... 

Bere Island: 13 this week, 32 last week, long term average of 46. 

First 3 men & women...

1 Michelagh MURPHY Female SW18-19 22:46

4 Mags O NEILL Female VW45-49 Beara AC 29:46

5 Edel MURPHY Female VW55-59 31:01

2 Breandan MURPHY Male SM20-24 25:17

3 Ian SLOYAN Male VM40-44 27:09

7 Tadhg HOBBS Male JM15-17 32:35 

Bere Island results... https://www.parkrun.ie/bereisland/results/361/

Castlehaven: 16 finishers this week in Rineen Woods. 16 last week. Long term average 29.

First 3 women & men...

1 Shane HURLEY Male VM35-39 23:40

3 Declan RICE Male VM40-44 27:29

4 Jon BOYCE Male VM40-44 Beeston AC 27:42

2 Catherine AIREY Female SW25-29 Highgate Harriers 26:25

5 Eva O'KEEFFE Female SW20-24 27:59

6 Anne-Marie GREEN Female VW55-59 29:05

Castlehaven results... https://www.parkrun.ie/castlehaven/results/282/

Ballincollig 5k parkrun cancelled - Sat 26th Nov 2022

 After a short respite, the Ballincollig 5k parkrun is cancelled again due to flooding.

Friday Jigsaw: Charleville Half-Marathon No2

For this weeks online jigsaw, we have another photo from the 2022 Charleville Half-Marathon.

This one has 126-pieces and you can find it HERE

€50 for a 10k road race... How much is too much?

I was updating the race calendar recently with all types of entry fees for the various distances on offer. The one event that really stood out was the 10k race as part of the Clonakilty marathon with an entry fee of €50.

The entry fee for this years Clonakilty marathon was €70 and it was €60 for the half, both kind of par for the course in terms of prices for these kinds of distances.

Their 'mini-marathon' is a 10k race which at €50 is roughly double the price of other similar races of this kind of distance. Not only was it €50 but there was an additional 'transaction fee & postage' which probably brought the total cost up to around €55 for a 10k race!

To me, it seems very expensive but maybe it's not for others?

I could play devil's advocate here and suggest the following...

1) The dry fit tops... I've done the Clonakilty marathon several times and they gave out a fine long sleeve running top for the race. I've used mine for training and with all of the washes, they never seemed to fade or degrade. They mightn't be from a brand like Nike or Asics but they seem pretty good.

2) The medal... Not really my thing but the Clon organisers do seem to go to some trouble to make it a special item to mark the occasion rather than some generic thing.

3) The buzz... Between the marathon, half-marathon and 10k, there is a buzz about the event in Clonakilty with all the people taking part. Some people like the buzz of a big event.

4) Weekend away... Some people might be doing the 10k as part of a weekend away. Maybe their friends are doing the full or half and the 10k suits their needs perfectly. Add in the cost of accommodation and meals and the race entry fee is soon only a small part of the overall cost.

It's easy to be critical of race entry fees if you're a regular at road races but for someone else, this race might be a one off. For a busy person on a good salary, €50 to take part in a sporting event might be no big deal.

In the USA, high entry fees for road races like this seem to be the norm and it does seem to me that we are heading in that direction. In 10-years time, will €50 for a 10k road race in Ireland be the norm?

In 2023, we will have the introduction of the new 'One-Day Licence' which will add €3 for non-club runners in events with Athletics Ireland permits. This is bound to increase the upward pressure on race entry fees.

At the end of the day, it's up to race organisers what they want to charge and it's up to runners to decide how much they are willing to pay. But €50 for a 10k road race still sounds very expensive.

The question remains... How much is too much???

Cork BHAA calendar for 2023 announced

The Cork BHAA have released their provisional calendar for 2023 and there are 18 events listed. That is up from the announcement of 14 events for 2022 about a year ago. It's now pretty much back to business as usual.

There are all the usual races... the UCC 10k makes a return, the popular PwC 5k is on again and there is the usual busy Summer of evening races.

The one that I noticed has changed is that the Defence Forces have gone from 5k to 4-miles.

They have the Cork to Cobh 15-mile listed for October but I can't see it going ahead with the current traffic levels.

The list is provisional so there are bound to be some changes.

Dates and time may change

Sun. 8 January 11.00 am ESB Cross Country Challenge 5km Beaumont Park, Blackrock

Sun. 22 January 11.00 am BHAA Dupont-IFF 5km Little Island

Sun. 12 February 11.00 am Janssen Pharmaceuticals 6km Little Island

Sun. 5 March 11.00am MTU 5km MTU (formerly CIT), Bishopstown

Sun. 2 April 11.00am UCC / Carmel Lynch Memorial 10km Lee Road - Straight Rd cct

Wed. 19 April 7:30pm PWC 5k 1 Albert Quay

Wed. 26 April 7.30 pm Stryker 4 Miles Community Centre, Carrigtwohill

Wed. 10 May 8.00 pm Pfizer’s 6 Miles Ringaskiddy

Tue. 23 May 8.00 pm John Buckley Sports 5km Marina

Wed. 14 June 8.00 pm Musgrave S&S Club 5km Cork Boat Club

Wed. 28 June 8.00 pm DePuy Synthes 4 Miles Ringaskiddy Community Centre

Wed. 19 July 8.00 pm Gas Networks Ireland 5km Cork Boat Club

Wed. 02 August 8.00 pm Novartis 5km Ringaskiddy

Wed. 16 August 8.00pm Defence Forces 4 mile  Ringaskiddy

Wed. 30 August 8.00pm Cork Mental Health Staff 5k Little Island Community Centre

Sun. 1 Oct 8 am BHAA Cork-Cobh 15 Miles

Sun. 20 Nov 11.00 am Cork BHAA TBC

Sun. 17 Dec 11.00 am Cork Simon Christmas Run 5km Blackrock Hurling Club, Blackrock

I'll update the race calendar with the Cork BHAA events for 2023 and if there are any changes, I'll update it.

Results of the Cloyne Commons 4k - Sun 20th Nov 2022

The first race in the Cloyne Commons 4k series was held on Sunday the 20th of November and attracted a large field of 294 runners.  

Top 3 men & women...
1 Aidan Noone Leevale AC M 12:38
2 Tony Forrestal Midleton AC M 12:41
3 Keith Kelly Youghal AC M40 12:56
33 Vicky Spiteri Midleton AC F35 15:16
42 Analise Hutch East Cork AC F 16:00
48 Eileen Leahy Midleton AC F 16:17

Full results below...