About a month ago just after the Cork City Marathon, I put up
a post about some of the statistics for the event. In the follow up discussion with the comments that were left, someone made the point that Cork City Marathon should be held on a Sunday instead of the Bank Holiday Monday. Someone also made a very valid point that it would be a lot better from a tourist point of view as well. The June Bank Holiday Monday is a working day in the UK. It would be a lot easier for say UK runners if they could fly in on the Saturday, run the Marathon on Sunday morning and then fly out in the evening.
The point was also made however that the city authorities were unlikely to allow a Sunday Marathon in Cork because of...
a) Traffic
b) Less businesses open
c) Availability of Gardai and
d) Less Rugby/GAA/Soccer matches
In addition, Gardai Traffic Division would not sanction a Cork Marathon on Sundays for all of the above.
Just as an exercise to see how much interest there was in a Sunday Marathon, I put up a poll on the site for most of June.
In total, 279 people took part which is a large number for a poll on the site. As you can see, 91% of those that voted wanted the Cork City Marathon to be on a Sunday. Roughly 4.7% wanted the Bank Holiday Monday and 4.3% were happy with either.
I don't know if it will ever be changed but it certainly sends a very clear message.
Definitely should be on a Sunday. I won't participate again on a bank holiday Monday.
ReplyDeleteIt would make great commercial sense for the city, if nothing else food & drinks on the Sunday night for hungry/thirsty runners, & on a personal note not having to struggle to drive to work on the Tuesday or indeed try to work on the Tuesday, which can be difficult the day after.
ReplyDeletePlease keep it on the Bank Holiday Monday - I'm a pastor and so I work on Sunday mornings, there's also a lot of runners in the congregation and we'd all be really appreciative if it stayed on the Bank Holiday.
ReplyDeleteWas in Waterford last weekend and decided we'd stay the night of the marathon as it was on a Saturday. Enjoyed going around the city in the afternoon and then a meal and a few drinks on the Saturday night.It would definitely mean more to businesses I believe if it was on a Sunday. Not to mention the runner having 1 more day of rest themselves.
ReplyDeleteWe all know the reasons why so many marathons are on Bank Holiday Mondays but if Cork was able to change to the Sunday think of all the people who would consider doing Cork because of that change!
ReplyDeleteAlso,I did the Dingle adventure race a few weeks ago and it was on the Saturday so there wasnt the same laboured trip home after the event, many people stayed around afterwards to mingle and there was a great atmosphere that night in Dingle at the post race bbq!
Cork marathon mightnt be able to run on the sunday but it definitely needs to make changes.
I'm with Dave O' Regan, took part in it this year for the first time and can't see myself doing it again anytime soon nothing to do with the event itself but solely because of the day it's on
ReplyDeleteI agree with a move to Sunday if possible and why not start at 7.30am. Its bright since 4.30 and even the 5hr 30 people would be finished for 1pm. The half marathon could start at 8am elsewhere in the city and join the marathon route. They would be finished before most of the Marathon people are home.
ReplyDeleteThat would free up the city very early but keep people around for the day. I did not do it this year nor will I do it again while it is on Monday. We are all free to make choices and I have made mine.
Have it on Sunday at 8 am and change the course and organise a half marathon on Easter Sunday or Monday and turn it in to a series of races.people enter marathons abroad for 1.fast course 2. PB potential 3. Crowd support and atmosphere 4 scenery 5. All the other little bits like medal t shirt drinks food etc in order of important.There is a reason London Chicago Berlin have 40000 runners.It is because they are flat and fast.New York and Boston are new York and Boston and will always have a crowd.Cork gives the impression on the website that it is hilly and If I was looking at that I'd say no straight away.Half is taking number from full and could provide a decent half marathon in Ireland with real PB potential unlike most of the other half marathons which have category 1 climbs in them!!
ReplyDeleteOk everyone...calm down re Sundays...It ain't gonna happen in Cork (or Dublin for that matter)!
ReplyDeleteSundays are simply not feasible.
In organising ANY race the first thing to look at is the course from points of safety, feasibility and practicality. If those elements can't be satisified, then there no point in even looking at dates or day of the week.
As I pointed out in the previous article (June 8th):
"It's mainly because of
a) Traffic
b) Less businesses open
c) Availability of Gardai and
d) Less Rugby/GAA/Soccer matches (Imagine organising a marathon on a big day in Pairc Ui Caoimh in Cork!! - end of story/show over = no Marathon!)
Gardai Traffic Div. will not sanction Cork on Sundays for all of the above."
wrt these points:
a) Traffic is much lighter on the Bank Holiday.
c) Sunday Garda rosters are significantly smaller.
d) Any sports event along the route would mean re-routing to avoid. Pairc Ui Caoimh, Turner's cross, Musgrave park are obvious points. There's also the pitches in Mahon - the relay changeover point in Mahon would be impossible.
This is a "No Brainer"
On the June 8th thread, several people posted opinions on Cork Chamber of Commerce being likely to approve of Sunday marathons. The opposite is the case. Sundays are much busier shopping days than Bank Holiday Mondays and, in any case, the Chamber representatives have consistently voiced their opinion that the Marathon should be moved out of the city centre completely.
A major reason for avoiding Sundays is that the route passes in front of, or close to, eleven churches. A Sunday marathon would mean, at the very least, rerouting to avoid churches. Hospitals also must be avoided, so rerouting, without making the course very significantly harder, is not feasible.
I'm not going to get into a debate over this matter. It's on Mondays for the reasons stated. If you don't like it, then you don't have to do it!
John Quigley,
Cork City Marathon Course Measurer
AIMS/IAAF Measurer.
Very well said John. Looks like we're stuck with the bank holiday folks, so let's make the best of a lovely marathon.
ReplyDelete