Follow up on the Womens Mini-Marathon...Sun 27th Sept 2009No doubt there was another huge turnout for this charity walk/run which took place in dry weather conditions. From a runners point of view, I hear that there was no provision yet again this year to let the fast runners get to the front and let them start ahead of the walkers. Last year, people had to climb over barriers to try and get into position for a fast start.
Q.....Were you there? What did you think of the start? As a road race? The overall event?
Click on the Comment link below and give your opinion...
Looking at the comments already posted, it would seem that it was similar to last year....
Photos and Results....... (Updated 5th Oct 2009)
If there are any photos, I'll put the links up here if I get them.
1) There is a gallery of almost 600 photos up on the Eagle AC website.
2) There is a seperate gallery of 239 photos HERE.
As regards results....for the last 2 years, they have a supplement in the Evening Echo later in the week with a list of all participants. They only give the finishing positions and times for the top 100 women.
There was no regular mile markers, and the organisers could have asked walkers to hang back and leave off the runners. I won't bother again. They should go to a Ballycotton race and see how a "Premier Road Race" is run.
ReplyDeleteI too spent most of yesterday saying 'never again'. There were some runners left ahead of the barrier to warm up yesterday- I was standing for a full hour behind the barrier and could not warm up at all. THe mile markers seemed to be out of synch. It needs to be called a charity walk, end of story, it does not facilitate runners.
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ReplyDeleteI got into town for 12 and I was by the gates, at the start for 12.20 as I wanted to be near the front. I was so frustrated to see all these walkers push their way up the front only for them to be a total inconvenience to anyone who was trying to run it.
Being honest the start was so badly organised I didn’t even know the race had started?????? They opened a gate to bring us down the road a bit and the apparently we had started???????? For me it drove me mad because I didn’t know where to start my watch and my time was totally out of sink. Between trying to get past the walkers and not knowing where the organisers were starting the race from I can say that there was probably a minute and a half added to my time because of it.
I know its not somewhere you want to go to do a good road race having done all the ballycottons, and I do admire all the ladies that took part for the fantastic causes, that cannot be taken from them but I will not be doing it again - this race does not accommodate for runners and it probably never will. As the previous writer said there wasn’t even mile markers????
Yes I saw no mile markers either. As far as I can remember there is meant to be the 1st mile there on marina, but I didn't see it. After that I didn't see anymore. Premier race it isn't. When you go to a race you want to be as least stressed as possible and enjoy the event, but i tell you its not a race you can enjoy and not get stressed over how its going to start and whether you allowed do your strides.I heard they couldn't care less if none of us runners were there yesterday anyway because its a money making event.
ReplyDeleteThis year we all approached from the Monaghan road side and stayed on the main part of central park road a bit up from the barriers down the side road which were holding all the walkers and some runners back. They had their photo shoot and then they pulled back the barriers and let some people out the side so they came up and started going in to the front of us, which made no sense. That is also a safety issue to be addressed also if there are walkers then allowed in front of the runners. Its not rocket science to know that you shouldn't go up the very front if you know you are not going to be running fast times or running at all and only going to be passed just up the road etc...
What a disaster. I planned to run the race and was left to battle with buggies, dogs, barriers,you name it. It was shockingly badly organised. There was not even a starting gun and we were all forced to pass through a 2 metre wide gap in a metal fence at the start line like sheep into a pen.It was dangerous. There was a distinct lack of stewarding. It makes me seriously wonder where the €12.00 entry fee goes. With 10,000 participants, thats a nice €120,000.00 profit for the "organisers". I wont be bothering in future.
ReplyDeleteI pushed to the front as far as I could get but still ran past a buggy in the first few seconds. Madness.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fantastic event that raises a lot of money for charity but it really should be renamed a 'fun run'.
I agree with the previous comment too - the 'mile' markers were a joke - '1 & 3/4 to go' as opposed to seeing '2' and '3' as you'd expect.
Gorgeous day for it though!
It was very disappointing that yet again there was no provision to let the runners off ahead of the walkers. Based on previous years' experience I arrived early enough and managed to get fairly close to the front but even then there was still women with buggies there! The start was totally chaotic and it's unfair on the women who want to run the 4 miles. It's a fun day out and it's great for future generations to have the small kids out in their buggies but its a pity that the start hasn't been organised better for the runners. Hopefully, it will be different next year.
ReplyDeleteHave been doing this run for last 3years and I am wondering is it not possible to divide the runners from the walkers,using different sticker colours or barriers or stagger the starting times. Know its for fun but its imopssible to get through the walkers if your a runner...
ReplyDeleteThis was definitely not a road race. After the unclear instructions, we ended up walking for five minutes before realizing that the race had actually started and were not being brought to an official starting line. And, the mile marker signs were inconsistent, and inaccurate. It threw us off a few times throughout the run. Serious runners need not apply for this race.
ReplyDeleteBut, as an event, it was brilliant. To have that many women participating in an event for charity was just great. But, absolutely not a venue to find out if you can run your best time.
it was my first run, enjoyed it but did think it was very unorganised for runners and they should have been left to the front
ReplyDeleteevery year it's the same, so we must either put up with it or leave it off our preferred runs list. This is primarily a fund raiser for thousands of women who are doing it in a good cause, so really, the competitive runners should perhaps give them a break
ReplyDeleteIt was diabolical.They would not let last years winner in they told her she would have to go back around with all the walkers a pure disgrace.They have no concept of running or officiating road races.they should take a leaf out of the Dublin mini-marathon or look at the way they run the bhaa or John Walshes Ballycotton.a pure joke if they continue this way they should just market it as a walk.
ReplyDeletewould a start on a wider street help?
ReplyDeleteThis is not well run very amateurish no respect for people who want to run.In the dublin mini-marathon they cater for the people who prefer to run.If Sonia had decided to run would they have stopped her.Their attitude stunk as well.Will not run again charities will lose out.They should look at Dublin or the bhaa or ballycotton races to see how they treat runners.the ballycotton races are run on small country roads and there is no problem with the organisers or stewards because they enjoy everything that is good about our sport.
ReplyDeleteI want to add my voice to that of many, many disgruntled women runners. Each year we see runners being facilitated less and less. The 'race' is more like a free-for-all (due to no fault of the participants). The time has long passed for Cork AAI to decide whether it wants a race or a charity walk.
ReplyDeleteI understand that the Race Committee have said that it is "a charity walk". If that is the case, let them come out publicly and say so (it would really be like saying that the emperor has no clothes) - we all see it that way anyway!
Points:
There were no proper mile marks on Sunday. I believe that there was a 3/4 mile to go sign, but, apparently the rest either weren't there, or couldn't be seen.
The number of club runners taking part is dropping each year, in spite of more women joining clubs.
In addition to the missing mile marks, the event is not 4 miles.
The AAI County Board is always lamenting the small number of women taking part in it's regular races. What do they expect? They put on this event but make no allowance whatsoever for their own members taking part in 'Munster's Premier Race' I think they reap what they sow.
The event is stewarded by club athletes but women athletes from these same clubs are not facilitated in any way. This is a lose-lose situation and is not sustainable. Furthermore, each year, less peoplke are volunteering to assist on the day.
Finally, there are major health and safety issues relating to the start of the event. Has any risk assessment been carried out? I sincerely doubt if any meaningful one has been done. These days, the Gardai look for Safety Statements, Method Statements and Risk Assessments for even the smallest race. I find the start of this event beyond comprehension.
Either this is a race or it isn't - IMHO, it is a charity walk, with a minority runners.
...and...well done to those who did manage to get a good run in on Sunday.
It was my first time entering the mini marathon this year...as it is such a hugely talked about event i expected a large amount of organisation to accomodate al involved...this was certainly not the case..i am personally not bothered in any way because i wasnt doing it for the time or anything...
ReplyDeletehowever when i got to the end and saw i had done it in 56 minutes i was very pleased wih myself..but this was short lived as i was ushered in between two ropes and told to wait for my time to be logged...as we were standing there in a long queue they decided to open up another line which a number of people behind us ran in....this could have been managed differently as to give people the place they deserve...
if you leave a comment please make sure facts are right Last years winner wasnt present What a pitty people dont follow the instructions they are given prior to the race This race doesnt just happen It is an expensive event to put on and thank God most people appreciate the effort
ReplyDeleteSorry it was the second place runner from last year but what does it matter badly organised event every race in the World caters for the so called elite runners I guess the Cork mini marathon is a 3rd world race as far as a race goes sort it out for next please and don't make excuses.
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