The full results can be seen HERE
Photos............
A small selection of 55 photos of some of the faster runners finishing are available on the St.Finbarr's AC website
Did you take part? What did you think? Leave a comment by clicking on the Comment link below
33 comments:
Despite only seriously running for the last 9 months, you begin to bulid up a dossier of must runs in your first year. The Cork Half Marathon was my first of experience of this run and teh hype is justified, a "must do" race for Cork to Cobh and Dublin. I found it well organised and well done to the Barrs AC and John Buckley Sports.
A very well organised race again this year. Weather conditions were far cooler to last year which made for a great run. I think this is still a very demanding half Marathon with a slight incline from the start all the way to hill in Rathduff. The hill didn't seem as tough this year.
Very well organised ( except for the water station at chees factory )
Thanks to a Mary and Margo for pushing me all the way up the hill to Grenagh . Each year my time improves . Looking forward to next year already . Next year I think it would be a good idea to have the finishline in the square in blarney with bands and bouncy castles !! Agree ? or not ? It will get more spectators and runners ! Eoin
great race and well organised, delighted to see bottles of water being given out this year as well as the paper cups which can be very had to drink from on the run. well done to the organisers
I have to say Well done to St Finbar's on a brilliant race. Organisation was fantastic.
The weather was kind to us too this year.
My second time running this race and it's a joy to run.
Felt no guilt eating those lovely cakes afterwards. :-)
Well organized. Great value. Great atmosphere. Will do it again next year.
yeah, a good race.
My first time too.
I found it quite hard going with the long drag up the almost never-ending hill.
and the saddest thing was to have to lose all that height so quickly.
Running down hills that steep isnt very nice, nor easy on the knees.
And what a great crowd of support in Grenagh, with all the kids and families out to cheer us on.
Nice too, to see water bottles, and if possible maybe paper cups rather than plastic ones as the plastic ones crack when they are squeezed.
Well done to St. Finbarre's AC, John Buckley Sports and all who helped in holding such a fine event.
I will be back again next year.
:)
Dissappointed by the poor coverage by the examiner. They didn't even mention it in yesterday's paper despite being one of the most important road races in the region.
Any idea why they didn't cover the race..
Any photos John?
I dont do a lot of road races, but has the rule on non-wearing of Ipods/headphones been abandoned?
Well done to all concerned, great organization, thank you.
Well organised race and a great course, the only thing I can complain about if that if you weren´t in the fastest group of runners, then you didn´t get a water bottle, only a plastic cup and you didn´t get a banana at the end as they were all gone when I finished, would´ve been nice if everyone had the same hydration and eating experiences
fait was a really well organised race and there was a good buzz around in the morning. it was my first time doing the race, and thought that hill would never end.
i will do it again next year.
but i would have to admit that although i am not the fastest i was disappointed at the end...to only get a plastic cup of water. i didnt get any fruit either. well done to the fast runners who enjoyed all the fruit and other things that i missed out on. thats not taking from the effort with the tea, sandwiches etc
My first time and I was warned about the hill. It didn't seem too bad after all the talk. Great buzz, well organised.
With lots of "blogging" talk about commercial marathons and prices, it was good to see a local running club host a road race with Chip times, stewards, water and lovely cakes afterwards. For €25, well worth the day out.
Take a bow all concerned.
Well done to St.Finbarrs and all involved in organising the race. It was my first half marathon, really enjoyed it, well organised and a great value at 25 euros.
Such a contrast to the scandalous money being charged for alot of non club half marathon the country.
Keep up the good work!
A great race and very well organised. The sun disappeared just before the start. A very tough race.
Only complaint would be lack of bottled water and fruit for the slower runners at the finish.
Well organised. Well done to all
Thank you v much. It was a well organised race. The only criticism would be the plastic cups! It is impossible to drink from them while running. Bottles are the only solution. Small ones. Well done to everyone, runners and stewards.
I finished towards the end of the field, but well within the advertised time limit. There was no fruit or water at the finish line. I walked back to the HQ, where all the refreshments were gone. So I then went to a nearby garage shop and bought myself some badly needed refreshments. Slow joggers should be treated the same as the AC runners, provided they meet the specified time limit.
I don't care what St Finbarr's AC charge, but I want some basic refreshment when I get to the finish.
My first half marathon.brilliant course like the part getting the hill out of the way first,well organised lots of water stations good and nice medal at the end.also the food was great
thanks to every1
Just a few comments re: water bottles / plastic cups etc
As far as I can remember there were five water stations - 2 with bottles. Thats a lot of water stations for a half marathon and its unreasonable to expect the organizers to provide 5 bottles of water plus one at the finish for over 600 runners. They ran out of water bottles at the finish and were reduced to plastic cups (plastic cups of water are standard issue at most of the races I attended over the summer).
Its impossible to know how many runners are going to turn up on the day, more than half the entry entered on the morning of the race, hence it very easy to run of of stuff at the finish. There was however a great spread of food available for ALL runners in the GAA clubhouse. I gave a lift to the GAA club house to the last finisher and I did see her later with a plate of food and a drink. There were people busy in the kitchen all day (after the tables were cleared) and if a finisher did not make themselves known there's not much you can do.
I'm sorry Caitriona what ever about no bottles of water at the water stations (most runners will normally take only a mouthful anyway) but after running 13 miles on a very warm day fluids are essential. ALL runners should be treated equally. I feel the refreshments at the end could have been better.
It was a very well organised event and enjoyed it.. looking forward to next year already.
First time doing this race, I loved the route and atmosphere around the race. Marshalls were very encouraging on route which is lacking at other races. Couldn’t fault the water points or food, less water points and more bottles would be better for hydration.
I didn’t notice a timing mat at the start line, how was my start time registered with the chip timing ??, Did my official time start at the gun?. If this is the case, why have chip timing if there's no way of recording each runner as they cross the start line. Just wondering if anyone else noticed this or maybe there was a mat and I didn’t notice. Looking forward to next year
Firstly, appologies for remaining anonymous, I feel like a coward by not putting my name to any comment, I am a member of a running club, but the sentiments expressed in my comments are my own. I am responding to another anonymous comment which read as follows "I don't care what St Finbarr's AC charge, but I want some basic refreshment when I get to the finish." What stands out from this comment are the three words "but I want", this is where I feel our running communinty have lost sight of what is important to us. St. Finbarrs AC, yet again, hosted a fantastic race, they got all the important aspects of the race right, which are, a safe accurate, well marshalled, well timed race, and they had the results up on their website on the same evening. The race head quarters were perfect, with ample parking, and good organisation. In my opinion, if you are lucky enough to get food, a shower, a medal, a tee shirt, a goody bag or whatever else, then be happy, and consider it as a bonus. You turn up and pay your money to run a road race, if you want to turn up and be fed, I'm not so sure a road race is the place to go. Cork runners are spoilt, with the amount of races, and the quailty of the quantity of catering supplied after, which is all good, but, it is not some sort of entitlement, it's a bonus. I know only too well how hard the St. Finbarrs members worked to organise this race, how they give up their own free time, and still you have someone whinging about not getting fed. Why doesn't that runner do like I and many others I know do, bring your own food / drink, have it with you, and in the unlikely event that you don't get fed, you'll be able to look after yourself. Remember, it's a road race, whether you're racing, training or just jogging around, it's still remains a road race, not a food fest. I could easily go on, but I'm sure you get the gist."but I want" what have we become.
Reply to Caitriona regarding "if a finisher did not make themselves known there's not much you can do".
As per my earlier comment, I can assure you that I asked at both the finish line and at the HQ, could I have a banana and water. None was available. I was informed that they were all gone. I have no doubt that I could have ordered a sandwich at the HQ kitchen. The point is that slow joggers were treated differently to the AC runners. That was my direct experience. Suggesting that the entry numbers were difficult to predict is a bit glib, given that there was 550 finishers last year and there has been an increase in jogging and running nationally. THe 610 finishers was hardly an exceptional number to predict in that context.
I submitted the comment regarding wanting some basic refreshment at the finish line. A banana and water was asked for, but they were all gone. The same was asked for at the HQ, but again they were all gone. The earlier finishers were given a banana and water. Please excuse me, but when you have jogged 13.1 miles, at well over two hours, your want some water and a banana when you finish, and pretty quickly. This is not unreasonable. I don't care what the organisers want to charge for it, but if they say they will provide it, then they should provide it to everyone, not just to the fast runners. I have finished numerous half marathons in Ireland and abroad, and this was the first half marathon were I could not get water and a banana/fruit at the finish. I was not looking to be fed by the organisers, I paid for lunch with my family afterwards in a nearby restaurant, having all traveled from our home over 75 miles away. With respect "basic refreshment" is not lunch, and all finishers should be treated equitably.
Unfortunately I was not able to compete in this race on Sunday last but have always thoroughly enjoyed the event in the past. As a runner all this talk of buns and stuff is a bit embarassing. Food at the end of a race is indeed a bonus. As already metioned many runners will bring their own refreshemnts and the more serious athletes are more inclined to take isotonic preparations afterwards as the effort of a hard race can very often make the stomach a bit unsettled. Let's not losse sight of the fact that this event is about running and it is a race. I am not a member of St. Finbarrs but I know how difficult my own club would find it to stage a fantastic event such as this. So well done to all Da Barrs. Carry on with the fabulous work that you do for the runners of Munster..... Hope to back on the road for next year.
The point about the numbers is important - you cannot predict the amount of bottles / fruit etc a crowd of people will take - some people will take nothing, others several pieces of fruit or more than one bottle. This is not a process that is tightly policed it is as the previous blogger said an extra - i.e the organisers have lots of more important jobs to do concerning the race. I have to agree with the previous blog re: it is a race, food & drink is an extra. I brought a large bag of supplies to the race - including bottles of water, sports drinks, gels, recovery drink and some bars for after the race. I would suggest that if someone knew they were going to be out running for a long time they should be equallably well prepared to handle their post race nutrition and rehydration.
This year was the first year bottled water was available on the course / also the first year with the timing chip - note the price of the race was NOT increased.
To reply to Caitriona
I read on the Examiner the day or 2 days b4 the race that they already had 600 entries! So they expected at least that number. Water at the end is the most important so they should have had enough and maybe forget about all these cakes!! They're no good for us anyway! What about getting a sponsor for the water?
i did this race last week and enjoyed it thouroughly. i am only running since may and so this was another first for me and found it an excellent event well organised and value for money. i find all this talk of bananas and water a bit ott. i wear a fuel belt which was cheap enough and i make up isotonic drink for after the race and water for taking gel packs for during the race. if people are that worried about nutrition and hydration they should prepare better, to quote a hero of mine "fail to prepare, prepare to fail".i must say am a bit disappointed with the lack of pics and video clips.
The number of entries accepted should be limited to what can be managed. Perhaps St Finbarrs will consider this next year for their popular event. A half marathon distance is a long way for slower runners, who are the ones most likely to need a bit of help when they get to the finish.
RE: Irish Examiner claim that there were more than 600 entries two days before the race - don't believe everything you read. The majority of entries were on the day.
Previous blogger comment "I don't care what the organisers want to charge for it, but if they say they will provide it etc" I may be missing something but I think the race was advertised as a Half Marathon - I don't remember any promises of banana etc in the race literature.
OK...perhaps it's time to call time on this Bananagate affair ;o)
Various points of view have been expressed at this stage and there is no point in going back over the same points again.
Reading through the comments, I would guess that the main issue may not be who did or didn't get some fruit at the finish but that slower runners should be treated the same as the the faster ones.
Overall, the Half-Marathon in Blarney seems to have been a well organised race. With 600 odd runners taking part, there are always going to be some small issues.
It's worth remembering that a lot of St.Finbarr's AC members put a lot of effort into organising this race on a voluntary basis. They gave up their time so that others could take part in a well organised race.
Just a question, any photo's available? - remember a number of photograhers during race and at the end and other races in Cork this year posted lots of photo's (no problem if not available) .......
Other than the handful that I have linked to already, I haven't heard or seen any other photos or videos.
A lot of people might have taken photos but unless they put them up on a website like Flickr or Picasa and notify someone then very few people will see them.
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