Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland: Cork Half-Marathon, Blarney - Sun 11th Sept 2011

Monday, August 15, 2011

Cork Half-Marathon, Blarney - Sun 11th Sept 2011

This is a race notice for the Cork Half-Marathon coming up on Sunday, the 11th of Sept 2011 at 11am. This race starts and finishes in Blarney just to the west of Cork City and uses the usual looped circuit to Grenagh village and back.

The race is organised by St.Finbarrs AC, one of the main running clubs in Cork City and this is their flagship event of the year. One of the additional features this year is the inclusion of pacers for those trying for 1:30, 1:45 and 2 hours. As with most big races, they will be using chip timing and finish times will be texted to all competitors after the race.
The race also incorporates the Cork County and Munster Half-Marathon Championships.


The race sponsor is John Buckley Sports, one of the main sports shops in Cork for running shoes and other running related gear.

Entries.......
The Half-Marathon costs €20 to enter before Saturday, the 3rd of September. You can enter by the following means...

Online..........You can enter online HERE

By Post........You will find an entry form HERE in PDF format. Make cheques payable to St.Finbarrs AC. Post the entries to John Buckley Sports, Mulgrave Road, Cork.

Direct.......Probably the easiest option if you are in the city. Just call into the John Buckley Sports store, fill out a form there and then and enter.
You can find John Buckley Sports across the river from the Cork Opera House and his opening hours are Mon-Fri 9.30am – 5.30pm – late opening Friday until 7.00 – closed Sundays.

They also have a website at http://www.johnbuckleysports.com/

20% Off Voucher.........Note also that all runners that enter will get a 20% off voucher for the John Buckley Sports store. If you use the voucher to buy something like a good pair of running shoes which could easily cost €100, then essentially you will have entered the race for free. Obviously, the more you spend, the more you save.
Late entries.........If for some reason you miss the early closing date, you can also enter on the day of the race......cost €25.
Race Souvenir...This year, all entrants will be getting a hat.......just the trick for those long winter runs ;o)

 Full race preview and more details closer to the race date.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is the hat replacing the medal?

John Desmond said...

Yes, the hat replaces the medal that was usually given out.

The hat has two stripes which are highly fluorescent which is good for those dark winter evenings.

Anonymous said...

Will the €20.00 entry cover, Individual race ie. the Bar's Half marathon top 10. The Munster section top 3 individual and also the Munster team section?.

John Desmond said...

The €20 covers St.Finbarrs end of the race...top 10 prizes, category prizes, etc.

There is no charge for the Cork County entry.

There is usually a separate entry on the day for the Munster AAI individual & teams. If you are a member of an athletic club then it might be an idea to contact your club secretary about this.

Anonymous said...

Surely a medal is a much better memento than a woolly hat?!? Seems a daft change. I'm likely to be there regardless anyway. Was well run last year, and I enjoyed it.

John Desmond said...

Hat v Medal? Not really a daft change. It depends completely on the individual concerned. The organisers have been giving out medals for years so a lot of people will have loads of them already.....and lots of people have no interest in medals.

At least a hat has some function.

It's really up to individual preference.

Anonymous said...

I'm with the hat!

Good call.

Many of us have drawers stuffed with t-shirts and rattling with bits of medals... at least the auld hat will come in use during the frosty winter runs.

Anonymous said...

Anyone know if the chips used for timing can be attached if you don't wear shoes with laces, e.g. Vibram Five Fingers or similar velcro fastening shoes??

Cheers

John Desmond said...

As far as I know, the timing chips will come with cable ties which you will be able to attach to the velcro tag.