Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland

Friday, January 08, 2010

Proposed changes to the Cork City Marathon route for 2010...
It looks as if there will be some major changes to the route of the Cork City Marathon & Relay on the 7th of June 2010. Click on the map above for a larger version...
The RED dots show the new route
The GREY dots show the old route

As you can see, the early stages are still the same....start in the city, a loop out around Blackpool, down the lower road, through the tunnel and up into Mahon. When the route gets to the end of Mahon, instead of running past Blackrock castle, it now turns right onto a public walkway right next to the river. After a big loop, this joins the old Cork to Crosshaven railway track which is now a walkway. Up and over a narrow footbridge over the South Link Road and then along a long straight walkway until you re-join the old route near Pairc Ui Chaoimh on the Marina.

The next proposed change is to get rid of the loop around the Lough. Some of you might remember that this section caused problems last year when some of the relay runners ended up taking the wrong shorter route due to poor stewarding.

And the next change gets rid of the hills out near Ballincollig. Because of the extra long loop near Mahon, the route is now able to turn right just after the Tennis Village on the Model Farm Rd and onto the Straight Road. This elimates the long drag from Inchagaggin out to Nangles Nursery which is a welcome change.

The final change is that the route now goes along the Mardyke instead of the Western Road.

It's probably too early to say that this is the final route as it is subject to change. Some additional information with photos from John Quigley is now available on the Eagle AC website.

If you would like more info on the 2010 Cork City Marathon & Relay event then click HERE.

5 comments:

John Dunphy said...

Looks like those changes if implemented will be a bonus to everyone,Many of us would be very familiar with the change by Blackrock castle as alot use it as a training run and this is also part of the Esb 5K held by the BHAA early in the year,i very much welcome the change turning right after the tennis club to head for the straight road wonderful idea many will be very grateful i'm sure if implemented.

John Dunphy
Eagle A.C.

Anonymous said...

I like the change to the Model Farm Rd / Carrigrohane section, I found this section tough this year, especially the long drag up after the old tennis village. The announcement of this news makes me worried though as I need to get back training as soon as I can :)

Anonymous said...

It will be interesting to see how this effects the relay changeovers, will it either allow for a more even 5 sections, or else allow for a changeover at exactly half way, which would suit teams of 2? We'll see! I agree with the 2nd posting here, it suddenly seems to be looming all too soon!

Anonymous said...

I'm a big believer in using events like this to show off a city so using the railway which is a nice public amenity is a good thing. I think the same about that bit of the course at the end of the mardyke over to the North Mall.

Anonymous said...

I'm not entirely sure about the motive to have less hills. Surely they're integral to any Cork route?!? And seperate the men from the boys!!!!