A record crowd of 305 or so turned out for this 4 mile road race near the Marina in Cork City. No doubt if it hadn't clashed with the Cork AAI Senior County Championships, the numbers would have been higher. Just to see how much the numbers have grown of late, here are the number of finishers for the last few years...
2008 = 284 2007 = 272
2006 = 247
2005 = 182
2004 = 179
As for the race itself, the course was a little tricky with large pools of water present due to the heavy rain overnight and the abundance of leaves blocking the drains.
Results....these are now available HERE.
Photos....you can find 312 photos taken by Richard Cronin HERE.
11 comments:
No headphone wearers in the results and yet there were several of these rulebreakers (cheats) in the race.
Safety First
Name and Shame
did the race and did crap - have absolutely no natural fitness but have been plodding away for ages - don't know how to make running easier or faster - help please! I know this is not a direct comment on Sunday's race but I can't find anywhere else to leave my plea for help!
The best thing to do Leonie is join a club (there are many good clubs in the Cork area) and put some structure on your training also you will meet fellow friendly athletes who will advise you free of charge.
Danny Mc Carthy
Midleton AC
I agree with Danny. Its the best way. I was happly plodding away 8min/mile in races before I joined a club. After a couple of years you'll be flying.
I have to add a comment as I have just joined a club and it is fantastic. I was doing the BHAA runs all summer and I was doing around an 11 minute mile and when I went on my own run I wasn't able to push myself any more. However, now that I've joined a club I'm being thought how to get faster (and not just faster but happier!). I would have joined one years ago but I thought that they were solely for the likes of Sonia O'Sullivan and that waddlers like me would have no business in them but there are a few others like me in the club so I don't know why I didn't join long ago. Furthermore there are all ages too and I get as must praise at the end of the night as those running twice my pace. I couldn't recommend it more. The benefits are even more than making you faster. Joining a club has made me like running more. The crowd is so varied it is a lovely social experience too. Furthermore the club I have joined doesn't demand a huge commitment. I only run with the club one evening a week. I am - depending on what I've time for. There are other club sessions though if you were able to commit to more. I'm only in the club a little more than a month and I've noticed a huge difference already. Initially I used get too puffed to participate in the full session and they were really nice about me dropping out and joining back in when I felt ready. This past week I was able to do the full session and I wasn't even always last! Another positive in joining a club is that is doesn't cost that much - way cheaper than a gym and you get the use of a track which is much safer than the road this time of the year. Another benefit to joining a club is that there are more races that you can enter and even the slower runners are encouraged to enter. That is slightly related to another advantage which is that being in a club brings a little bit of a team sport to running (as much as you'd like) which you wouldn't get from running otherwise. I'm sure there are many more advantages but for now, Leonie - definitely you should join a club!!!!!!!
thanks! That sounds like a plan! Anyone know what clubs train on Wednesday or Friday nights? Are all clubs happy to put up with plodders like me or are some more seriuos than others?
thanks! That sounds like a plan! Anyone know what clubs train on Wednesday or Friday nights? Are all clubs happy to put up with plodders like me or are some more seriuos than others?
Hi Leonie,
I don't know if you'll be able to see this comment as the discussion has got old but in relation to what clubs you could join, one is St. Finbarr's who train in the Mardyke on Wednesday evenings from 6pm to about 7pm ish (depending on how long the warm down and chatting takes). I think that Eagle AC is percieved as being the more Elite club in Cork. There is also Lee Vale. They are all city based clubs and there are many other clubs around the county. The other city clubs train in the Mardyke and CIT other evenigns of the week. If you look at their websites you will find more details. St. Finbarrs have many slower runners. http://www.corkathletics.org/Clubs.htm has a list of all the Cork clubs and their training arrangements. Join up!!!
Hi Leonie, John,
I think the last poster must have confused Eagle with another club as the running community in Cork and further afield certainly wouldn’t see Eagle as an elite or elitist club (mores the pity!) - so don't let that put you off checking Eagle out. Eagle meets at the CIT track on Tues & Thurs at 6:40(ish).
Another group may suit you starting off and help you find your feet: Eagle runs a womens Meet&Train group on Mondays, in Douglas (7pm Sharp!), from Douglas Village Shopping Centre (Tesco) doing either 3, 4 or 5 miles, depending on your level. I assure you that pace won't be a problem. Details here: http://www.eagleac.net/content/view/72/61/
You do NOT have to join Eagle to run with this group but we hope that you join the Club, and, if you don't, that you do join another club.
As Danny McCarthy (Midleton AC) said in an earlier comment, "The best thing to do is join a club"... where "you will meet fellow friendly athletes who will advise you free of charge."
John Quigley
Chairman
Eagle AC
www.eagleac.net
thanks - went to St. Finbarrs last week because Wednesday nights is the only one I can do at the moment and am going to stick with it and try to build on my fitness and times. Everyone there was lovely and encouraging which was great. I know that Eagle are very welcoming too as my sister went there and found it a really positive experience. That's one of the other great things about this running craic - the sense of encouragement and community - even a plodder like me is made feel good for getting off my ass and getting out there. Maybe I should start my own rival blog for newbie runners on the Cork scene!!!!
Well Leonie - you were right to go and join a club - I hope you stick with it now - it'll be worth it!
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