As you can see, 2014 was the second best year and only slightly down on 2013. The overall numbers are still very healthy even if the numbers in the marathon dropped.
The second graph below which again was compiled by Peter shows the numbers in each event...
The big change in recent years is the increasing popularity of the half-marathon. As can be seen from the first graph, the numbers overall are much the same but more people seem to opting for the half-marathon now instead of the full. The drop in the full marathon isn't huge...maybe around 200 or so but still a very definite shift.
The numbers in the relay didn't show any real dramatic change. In 2014, there were still around 600 relay teams which is higher than it was back in 2012.
I also had a look at the number of women taking part in the full and the half...
It shows no significant change although the percentage of women in the full was up this year. You could probably safely predict that in 2015, about 20% of the field in the full will be women and that figure will be around 43% in the half.
Interactive Results......Tadhg Murphy has put together a very good database of the 2014 Cork City Marathon results. You can see how you did in comparison to others with a graphical display to show how big the gaps were. Click HERE
Largest Teams.....In Tadhg's results, you can also check the number of runners that took part from each club. There is a slight error in that some of the pacers didn't have their club names recorded in results.
In the full marathon, Eagle AC had the highest number of finishers with 20 taking part. Watergrasshill were second with 15 which is remarkable considering that they are a new club. I think St.Finbarr's AC had at least one person pacing the full so they were 3rd with 14. Both Clonmel AC and Marathon Club Ireland had 9 each.
In the half-marathon, Eagle AC had 40 members, St.Finbarrs AC 34, Watergrasshill AC 19, Youghal AC 18 and Leevale AC 14.
In the Relay event, it's hard to make out exactly which clubs are entered due to the names used. Eagle AC had five teams, Togher AC had two, Leevale AC had two, CIT AC had two with others like East Cork AC with one team taking first place.
And the future??....Going forward, the numbers in the half-marathon look as if they will continue to grow. After the mess in 2013 with the buses and the lack of timing mats at the start, the 2014 event seemed to be a great success. Starting near the city centre makes so much more sense and it makes things a lot easier for those taking part. It wouldn't be any great suprise to see it go above 2000 finishers next year.
The relay it seems will probably stay much the same. There are a huge number of people that would find even the half-marathon too hard and the relay is the event of choice for them.
That leaves the full marathon. What is its future? Obviously a lot of people from Cork will want to do a marathon in their home city so there is probably a limit as to far it could drop. Another factor these days of course is just the number of other marathons on. For example, Waterford now has its own marathon and some of those who might have considered traveling to Cork before can now stay at home and do their own event. The same could be said for Kerry and if you consider all of those factors, it's probably not suprising the marathon numbers have dropped. If I had to guess, I'd say around the 1000 mark is possibly the new figure for numbers in the full marathon in Cork.
Comments & thoughts???
13 comments:
I ran 4 relays in Cork from 2007, but then decided to do the full marathon for the past 4 years.
I struggled this year and last, and would consider doing the half marathon next year.
I love the course, but the full marathon is just so demanding. Having said that, it's a great achievement to complete the full marathon, and not everyone can do it.
It would be great to see the numbers increase.
I think this year was the best in terms of organisation and support. Plenty water stops (unlike 2 years ago), lots of sponges and support along the route.
The change of the half marathon was a definite improvement - the old merging near Blackrock Castle was a distraction.
Keep up the good work - see you in 2015.
Great analysis. let me start my saying a huge thanks to the organisers of this years event, and a special thanks to all the supporters along the route (especially the kids providing the jelly sweets). My view, for what its worth, is that the full marathon numbers will increase in the coming years. reason being, I, like thousands of others (if the BHAA and local race events are anything to go by..) only took up running 2 years ago, and this year was my second half marathon (ran Killarney last July), but myself and my 3 running buddies are going to enter the full next year in Cork, simply because we have been building up to it! I'm sure there are many more like us; this is why I feel the full marathon numbers are set to increase in coming years. Running is the new Rock n Roll :-)
Is there any reason why the Marathon has to be run on the bank holiday in June. Could it be moved forward to the May Bank holiday. As per previous years the temperature inceased by a few degrees plus the humidity was up. Its slightly unfair whn you have most of your training done in cooler months
I think it is the wrong Bank Holiday weekend. If it was May then chances of cooler weather. You train for months in cool temp but the possibility always exists, and has happened, that the weather turns warm for the Race day. Then months of training and planning possible times go out the window. Dublin in contrast you train in the Summer to run in the cool of the Autumn. Also Sunday would seem to me to be a better day, allowing for recovery on the Monday and for more people to stay around the night of the race. You wait / hang around all weekend for it and straight back to work the following day
any chance they might reduce the cost of the Full ? , most of the money is made on the half or relay - charge 40 for hte full and more might take the plunge
Maybe there are logistical reasons for holding the marathon on a bank holiday monday but it seems to make no sense from a runners point of view in terms of travelling and recovery. Dingle and Clonakilty run their marathons on a saturday.
From a personal point of view, having half and relay runners finishing at the same time as marathon runners seems to take away from the achievement of doing a marathon. But perhaps others dont feel that way. Starting the half and full at the same time would solve the problem. One poster referred to the cost of the marathon and that has to be a factor for many who might otherwise run it.
It definitely has reputation has been a hilly marathon - which of course it isn't. Plus the threat of heat puts many off
For many doing one marathon a year, Dublin is the goal, while those who aim to do two a year will have a Spring Marathon in March/April i.e London, Paris, Rotterdam etc.
I think it would be great to have a second 'Big Event' Marathon akin to DCM in the Spring.
I loved this year's Cork Marathon (Brilliantly organised) but agree with comments that having it on the Sunday would suit a lot more people and would surely be better for businesses without people not having to work the next day etc.
main reason I dont do the full is the fact that its run on the monday and the weather uncertainty. saturday would be ideal and gives people time to relax on saturday night or go out on the town and celebrate. back to work the next day and being unable to enjoy the bank holiday weekend is a real negative. plus theres the odd chance it will be hot so time goes out the window. april or may would be ideal.
Hello I did the full this year and enjoyed it. I have asked the same question as of others of running the cork city marathon on a Sunday. The answer I got was is that they would love to do it but can't because of all the Church's on route. I think there is at least twelve church's en route of the marathon course.
Great analysis, again i would mirror the same thoughts of many moving the Marathon to Saturday or Sunday would be more appropriate, it keeps people in the city for possibly an extra night spending welcome money in the already struggling business & Hotels.
I completed my second full marathon this year having opted for the easier half last year, but there is no other way to go for personal achievement & self belief than doing the full, you get a sense of underachievement by completing the half after already completing the full. Full again for me next year, all going well.
Again i couldn't fault the organisers, besides a slight hitch with my race number on Saturday, there was ample water stations, support was great and also the names on the bib were a great idea. Keep up the good work.
Agree on a possible change of route to mix things up a little.
This would be a possible new route.
Start as per the current route out to the Leitrim Street and down MacCurtain St until the Tivoli Roundabout. Double back from there and in through Horgans Quay. Across the bridge at Andersons Quay and down through Centre Park Road to Blackrock Castle. Follow the current route on the walkway and old railway line to the Atlantic Pond and in through Monaghan Road. Back down the South Terrace, George’s Quay and Sullivans Quay. Up Barrack Street and follow the Bandon Road until the roundabout at the end of the Model Farm Road. Back in through the Carrigrohane Straight and in through the Mardyke, through Dyke Parade and Finish on the Grand Parade by the Library.
It’s a crude measurement on gmap pedometer but it works out at around the 26 mile mark.
The straightroad would be a slog but would at least dispel the myth of the current route being a hilly one. Only hills and drags I can see here are coming into the Blackrock Castle, the start of Barrack St and on the Model Farm Road.
A different course might appeal to people and shake it up a little.
Good idea Jonathon. I like it - any one got other suggestions? Maybe throw it up on the blog. Different people put in their suggestions and John D could put it to a vote and see which is the most popular suggestion? It's a marathon for the people so why not let the people decide?
I'm doing some research on the Cork marathon from a medical side of things,
Does anyone have the number of registered runners for the:
Marathon
Half
Relay events
I have the number of finishers:
Marathon = 1089
Half = 1868
Relay = 617 (Teams)
Just not the number of people who registered, I'm trying to work out the % of each distance who require medical attention on the day.
Cheers,
Cian
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