The half-marathon this year went pretty well and it was nothing like the fiasco of 2016. The only issue perhaps was the level of congestion near the Atlantic Pond and the merger with the marathon field on the Marina. I'm not sure a whole lot can be done about this though. It might be nice to have the merger on a nice wide road like the South Link Road but that's easier said than done.
The changes this year resulted in an extra hill in Ballyphehane by Tory Top Park. It was short enough but it was still an extra hill.
Doing the half marathon, the climb in Farranlea Road didn't seem too bad but those doing the marathon might have a different opinion on it.
The winner of the 2017 Marathon was Chris Mocko from San Francisco, a city that is twinned with Cork City.
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| Chris Mocho of San Francisco, winner of the 2017 Cork City Marathon. Photo by Gearóid Ó Laoi |
Marathon...
1 Chris Mocko 02:26:42 M (1) MS (1) Olympic Club ...€1000
2 David Mansfield 02:29:20 M (2) MS (2) Clonliffe Harriers ...€900
3 Gary O'Hanlon 02:30:19 M (3) M40 (1) Clonliffe Harriers ...€800
4 Eoin Sugrue 02:33:01 M (4) M40 (2) ...€700
5 Peter Mooney 02:33:04 M (5) M35 (1) Inverse Ireland ...€600
6 Paul Stephenson 02:33:28 M (6) MS (3) ...€500
7 Colin Merritt 02:34:03 M (7) M45 (1) ...€400
8 Alex O'Shea 02:37:36 M (8) M40 (3) St Finbarrs AC ...€300
9 Niall O'Riordan 02:38:28 M (9) M35 (2) Bruff ac ...€200
10 Alan O'Shea 02:38:44 M (10) M35 (3) ...€100
23 Jill Hodgins 02:48:17 F (1) F40 (1) ...€1000
56 Nollaigh O'Neill 03:02:28 F (2) F45 (1) Leevale AC ...€900
74 Joan Ennis 03:07:32 F (3) F50 (1) Grange Fermoy AC ...€800
82 Dolores Duffy 03:09:52 F (4) F45 (2) Watergrasshill AC/ Marathon Club Ireland ...€700
89 Sorcha Kearney 03:11:10 F (5) F40 (2) St Finbarrs AC ...€600
93 Christine Kinsella 03:13:04 F (6) F40 (3) Templeogue AC ...€500
105 Rachel Stokes 03:15:02 F (7) F35 (1) Kerry Crusaders&MCI ...€400
118 Ellen Hanley 03:16:32 F (8) F40 (4) Grange Fermoy AC ...€300
119 Bonnie Averbuch 03:16:45 F (9) FS (1) ...€200
145 Orla O'Rourke 03:20:36 F (10) F50 (2) Ballymore Cobh AC ...€100
Results... https://www.myrunresults.com/events/cork_city_marathon/2072/results
Half-Marathon...
1 Peter Samba 01:07:47 M (1) MS (1) Dunboyne AC ...€500
2 Sergiu Ciobanu 01:07:48 M (2) MS (2) ...€250
3 John Meade 01:13:26 M (3) M35 (1) St Finbarrs AC ...€200
4 Luke McCambley 01:14:03 M (4) MS (3) ...€150
5 Kevin O'Leary 01:14:08 M (5) MS (4) East Cork AC ...€100
7 Claire McCarthy 01:16:34 3742 F (1) F40 (1) ...€500
13 Grace Lynch 01:18:57 F (2) FS (1) Iveragh AC ...€250
37 Fiona Santry 01:24:09 F (3) FS (2) East Cork AC ...€200
68 Maebh Fenton 01:28:48 F (4) FS (3) Dooneen AC ...€150
72 Mags Dempsey 01:29:15 F (5) F40 (2) Tracton AC ...€100
Results... https://www.myrunresults.com/events/cork_city_marathon/2072/results
Photos....(Updated Wed 7th
1) There will be 7 albums going up on the Running in Cork Facebook page. These are mostly taken near the one mile and three mile mark in the marathon.
...a) Pre-Race on Patrick's St (Album 1 of 7)
...b) Bridge near 1m mark - Opera House (Album 2 of 7)
...c) Bridge near 1m mark - Opera House (Album 3 of 7)
...d) Near the 3 mile mark on the Quay (Album 4 of 7)
...e) Near the 3 mile mark on the Quay (Album 5 of 7)
...f) Near the 3 mile mark on the Quay (Album 6 of 7)
...g) Near the 3 mile mark on the Quay (Album 7 of 7)
2) Andy O'Rourke Photography has 5 albums ... #1 ... #2 ... #3 ... #4 ... #5
3) Joe Murphy of Eagle AC has a gallery HERE
...3 to 3:30 outside the Kingsley Hotel
4) Kieran Minihane has 1000+ photos mostly of the finish line HERE
5) Ger Broderick has a gallery HERE
6) Adrian Foley has 827 photos split over 7 albums...
...a) Mahon Relay Changeover and start of South Link Road (Album 1 of 7)
...b) Start of South Link Road & Washington St (Album 2 of 7)
...c) Grand Parade (Album 3 of 7)
...d) Grand Parade (Album 4 of 7)
...e) Grand Parade (Album 5 of 7)
...f) Grand Parade (Album 6 of 7)
...g) Grand Parade (Album 7 of 7)
7) Donal O Caoimh has a large gallery of photos from the Dunkettle Roundabout HERE
8) Chris Martin has a small gallery HERE
9) Richard Peyton of The Galway Cow has 10 galleries. Taken by the bridge at the end of the Mardyke. ... #1 ... #2 ... #3 ... #4 ... #5 ... #6 ... #7 ... #8 ... #9 ... #10 ...
Red FM interview with Jill Hodgins...winner of the 2017 Cork City Marathon...
Red FM have another video clip here...
CHRIS MOCKO TAKES VICTORY IN THE 2017 IRISH EXAMINER CORK CITY MARATHON
-Over 7,500 participants crossed the finish line on Patrick Street in this year’s Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon -
Sunday 6th June, 2017: For the first time in 11 years, participants took to the starting line today for a Sunday Runday, as they took part in the momentous Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon. With 24 different countries and 47 nationalities represented, over 7,500 participants took to the streets of Cork. With numbers up nearly 10% on last year, this date change proved extremely popular among athletes with almost 1,400 marathoners, a record entry in the half of over 2,600 runners and 700 relay teams, encompassing the all-import Youth Challenge teams, taking part.
After a phenomenal run right from the off, Chris Mocko (31), coming all the way from Cork twinned city San Francisco, in commanding fashion took his 1st Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon win with ease in 2:26:43, just over three minutes clear of runner-up, and the first Irish runner to cross the line, David Mansfield, Clonliffe Harriers, who finished in 2:29:20.
After quitting his job in the technology industry in Silicon Valley to focus on his passion for athletics full-time, Chris now adds the Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon win to his impressive CV, which includes victories in the San Francisco Marathon, Oakland Marathon, and three wins in the Napa Valley Marathon.
Speaking with great excitement and pride crossing the finish line in spectacular fashion with a limbo under the finish line ribbon, winner Chris Mocko commented, “I didn't sleep the entire time I was here as I was jet lagged, but it all came together this morning and it was a beautiful race, gorgeous course and the people were just so supportive throughout. It was amazing, they were all shouting ‘Go Captain America, Go USA’, so hopefully I represented the Stars and Stripes and the Olympic Club well today. I decided to do the Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon because my club in San Francisco, the Olympic Club, sent me an invitation from the Mayor of San Francisco and whenever you get an invitation from the Mayor you have to accept it! The Cork City Council have really looked after us. This is a first for me to do a marathon outside of the states and to travel this far. I've done a couple in the West Coast, California, the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon and in terms of performances this is one of the best ones so I'm pretty happy about that. It was kind of a mental battle with the wind and I was wearing tights and had no sunglasses so was sweating but I made it through and I'm really happy.”
With this win under his belt, Chris Mocko now has his sights firmly set on a 100 mile ultra-race back in the USA.
In warm conditions, with the sun shining down on our athletes, the first female over the line, taking her first Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon win was Cork local Jill Hodgins in a time of 2:48:18. Having taken part in the Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon, Jill was thrilled to come back this year and take victory on home turf. Jill took a strong lead right from the start and cruised home an unbelievable 14 minutes ahead of reigning back-to-back female winner, Nollaig Hunter.
Jill, the 40-year-old female winner from Douglas Cork commented; “This was my second time competing in the Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon, I competed 3 years ago and finished third so it's lovely to cross the finish line now with a first. I am absolutely thrilled as it's a culmination of about a year of hard graft. I am elated to have finished, just like everyone else running today, and delighted to have won. I've been lucky enough to win another marathon in Seville but it's very special today on home ground”.
Relay
1st – Leevale Lads, 2:21:32
2nd – Simply Suits, 2:28:46
3rd – Leevale Legends, 2:33:30
Youth Challange
Colaiste 2, 3:13:33
St. Catherine’s, 3:29:36
Colaiste 1, 3:37:36
52 comments:
I think one has to be fair here and give credit to the organisers for a excellently run marathon, half marathon and relay. The course is a tough but fair one. Well done.
This was my final year running in the Cork City Marathon. I was running at 3hrs 38mins marathon pace as I approached the Marina. The point where the half marathon joined the marathon route. The major problem that I encountered was the road been blocked by much slower runners road. Which led to jumps up and down off footpaths, which is something you certainly don't want to be doing after 15miles.
I fully appreciate that the half marathon needs to be part of the event, to make money. However it should not join the route so early after the half has begun. The runners simply weren't thinned out at this point, leading to a lot of frustrated runners.
Huge credit due to organisers, stewards and volunteers who helped to make this a day to remember.
I participated in the Marathon and whilst obviously it was tough going,the course was superb with amazing support all along the route.
Not even the charming group of teenagers who did their best to intimidate runners right on 10 Mile Mark could take from my enjoyment of the event-It spurred me on if anything,so THANKS for that whoever you were!!
Sunday Runday certainly a great idea in my view and I really liked the new finish, even with aching limbs!
Roll on 2018!
Well done to all runners who took part yesterday. Conditions were tough in the heat (at least I thought so) so fantastic effort by all.
About 20 miles in I was compiling my email in my head to try to convince the organisers to start the race an hour earlier!
Didn't run but went to watch the finish with my kids. Great atmosphere on Patrick st. Well done to the organisers and all runners who took part.
Looked to be a brilliant event didn't compete thus year just spectating, I would have just one small gripe from a viewing point, I think it's extremely unfair on full marathon participants to encounter so many half marathon and relay runners in really difficult areas .would it be possible to have different finishing areas close together. It would probably bring costs up but make it a far more enjoyable running experience for all and spectators wouldn't be wondering it was full marathon half marathon or relay runners they were watching.
I think every participant needs to be reminded that walkers have to keep on the far left and not walk 4 people deep. This is simple running etiquette and it is sad to see so many walkers obstructing the course.
I definitely felt like the introduction of the half runners to the course was too early/sudden yesterday. Theres an option there to keep the two separate for the length of the marina by splitting the road and I think that would make a difference.
Great day out! The move to Sunday is not only wise economically for the event but also for the city. Nice to have the rest up today.
only 3 comments. normally you get 80 or 90 comments, sure sign it went well ;-) Still think it's held at the wrong time of year though
I also was running at 3hrs 38mins marathon pace and found the congestion when the half joined the full marathon runners badly timed. Half marathon runners were running at a slower pace and this in turn caused a lot of side stepping and weaving just to keep pace. It shouldn't be too difficult to work out the optimum starting time for the half marathon.
I did my 1st cork city half marathon and really enjoyed . As was posted congestion at the marina when merging with the full. It did not effect me as much but i suppose anyone running a marathon and trying to do a good time was caught up . May be have the half Marathon an hour earlier at 10 o clock so that would spread out runners a bit. The course even with the changes was positive . A tough course but it was enjoyable. It was lovely to see the roads and streets full of people cheering and giving out jellies and oranges , Many thanks to those lovely people and kids . It was a well organized event. Well pleased it was on a Sunday . Recovering today. I hope it continues on a Sunday. There was plenty water stations all around which was fantastic as it was quiet warm. Well done to all the volunteers and water crews for an exceptional job . The organizers well done . Will hope to do ti again next year.
Does anyone know if the runner who collapse and split his head open on north Main Street is ok? Paramedics were at his side within a minute on bikes so great credit goes to them. He lay motionless till the ambulance arrived maybe 10 minutes later. Hope he is ok. Well done also to the spectators who placed him in the recovery position so quickly and notified the emergency services.
Cork marathon organisers and volunteers take a bow. Brilliantly stewarded , loads of drink stations this event can now go onto be a big success . Hopefully Cork will attract a multiple more marathon runners , as I was about 20 mins ahead of starting half ran most of the marathon on my own , it was fine but with company you can drive each other on .Some brilliant support on route thanks to all
I found it a tough day too to be honest due to the conditions. I did the full and was anticipating that Farranlea road would break me, but I was well broken by then from the headwind out on the Mahon walkway!! The conditions just didn't suit me, and you can't organise the race for that. I found the second half of the race very warm despite the cooling wind and I struggled badly with the headwind. Was there a water station missing? I might have missed it but I don't think I saw a water station from Blackrock Castle until the Lee rowing club - wasn't there supposed to be one on the old railway line somewhere?
I'd echo the poster above and have been having the same thoughts lately too regarding the 8am start. It works well for the National Half in Dublin and would probably help with issues around road closures. I didn't get into trouble with the half merger ( i was passed by the leaders around Albert Road) and was glad of the crowds of half marathoners otherwise I would have had a long lonely road home!!
As for the half merger - would it be possible to map a route that starts at the marathon start and follows the marathon route until Penrose Quay and then over the bridges to merge with the full at the Sextant?
No complaints here, just comments and suggestions.
First time competing in a marathon and I hated it and loved it!! The whole experience was excellent, well done to everyone involved. Joining the half gave me a big boost and mile 16 was my favourite.
Hopefully the small number of comments suggests most runners had a good experience. Worst congestion for half marathon seemed to be entering the narrow gravel lane before the merge with the marathon. Coming into Patrick street from opposite direction to usual seemed to work well as there was a great buzz for the last few hundred yards. New hill at Ballyphehane was ok for half marathon but probably a lot tougher for full. Volunteers and spectators great as always and big thanks to all who gave up their time to make the day happen
There was only 3 comments because I was off editing photos! :o)
Just a comment on the conditions. I ran the Limerick half in the same time about a month earlier. I certainly found that I was more dehydrated after the Cork event. Probably a combination of heat, sunshine and wind.
One obvious solution to the merging of the half and full fields is to let the half off in waves. Might be easier said than done though. I know the half in Limerick was done like this as the course itself was pretty narrow.
I've ran marathons across Europe and the world and the Cork Marathon is as well organised as any of them; always has been (apart from the Half Marathon hiccup last year).
Regarding the issues of too many people on the road the same can be said of the New York and Washington marathons-- two of the biggest events in the world where anyone who isn't an elite athlete is basically jogging for the first 10 miles.
Hats off, thumbs up and I hope to be back next year.
///A
There was a water station between the half way mark and the rowing club on the railway line before you went under the little tunnel beneath skehard road
Brilliant marathon, take a bow organisers, volunteers, stewards and of course all competitors. Weather not the worst but warmer than I would have liked. My 12th marathon overall and 1st time doing Cork. Loved the quieter start compared to the very busy and squashed big city marathons. Nice fair route and fairly comparable to Dublin in my opinion. Easy to access City Hall for Expo and bag drop from the brilliant Park and Ride facility. Couldn't find fault with CCM even if I really tried. Will definitely consider returning in the future if the aul' body is up to it.
Just a quick word of praise for the 3 hour pacers, they were absolutely brilliant going up north main street encouraging and dragging as many lads with them as they could. Inspirational
Starting an hour earlier would make a difference for those running the full. An hour less in the warmest part of the run.
Would echo the comments about the congestion at the merge but it is hard to think of a solution that works for runners, spectators, and road closures.
What about starting the half in Pairc Ui Caoimh and merging at Albert Road or by the Elysian?
Weather wise this year certainly worked better having on the Sunday as would not have liked to be facing into to it in today's rain
I found the weather to be perfect , I did the Cork half marathon when it was much hotter and got very sun burnt , I also have done it when it was pouring rain none stop the whole course and got a chest infection afterwards, this was ideal for me. Although I didn't get a pb , it was by far my most enjoyable half marathon. Well done to all who organised the event, I was very impressed with the amount of water stations throughout the course. I know people will disagree with me here but I really enjoyed the hills, it keeps it interesting , funny enough my fastest miles were where the hills were. Very impressed with it all. Only negative would be being stuck in "running traffic" for my first two miles which slowed me down. I look forward to participating again next year and might even try out the full marathon !
I was the person that asked about the water station on the old railway line, so thanks for your answer. I must have just totally forgotten about it!
Now, I like to waste a bit of time very now and then using one of those route planners to plan out routes for long runs and so on. I spent a bit of time messing around with one this evening and came up with this for the half. Obviously, these things aren't 100% accurate, but they give you a good idea to within a couple of hundred metres.
Start the half on the South Mall. Follow the course for the full then - Parnell Place, Merchants Quay, Lavitts Quay, up around Blackpool and back into town, Camden Place, Patricks Quay, the over Michael Collins and De Valera Bridges to join up with the full course on Albert Street by the Sextant - It's a much wider place to merge the two races.
The problem with this will be road closures, but I think this problem would be mitigated by an earlier start. It's around 10.3 miles from the sextant to the finish line - can 2.8 miles not be found around the City Centre with a start on Patricks Street - those streets are closed all day aren't they? You could even start them together - but that would bring it's own problems with potential for full marathoners to go off course and maybe the marathon leaders potentially running into the tail end of the half.
Again - these are suggestion and not criticisms. I love these races and just want to seem them improve and grow stronger over time.
As for the weather - I'd have preferred today. Running in the rain never bothers me, and I prefer racing in it in the summer (if it's not too heavy) because it keeps me cool. It might as well have been raining yesterday with the amount of water I threw over my head!! This just goes to prove you can't please everyone.
Great event. Not sure why people say its hilly. Have done most marathons in Ireland and this shows up as the flattest on my gps watch. Seemed that way too. very few hills.
loads of water stations. Sunday is key though it can never return to a Monday after a success like this year. well done all.
I think the issue with the hills wasn't so much their height and length but where they came on the course. The climb from Victoria cross to the high point on model farm road was the finish of my 3:30 aspirations!
hats off to the organisers, supporters and runners. it was a great race. every step from collecting the gear on Saturday to collecting the medal on sunday afternoon and everything in between. the new route was challenging but good. I loved the new finish up north main st, Washington st and pana. really good support from everyone helped us get home. hopefully the day change will help this race get bigger and attract more top class athletes as well as plenty more ordinary folk like ourselves.
thanks and well done to all
Ran the half and loved it. The start of the new route is much better, keep it like that. I do feel sorry for the full runners when we join them and like the idea above of keeping them in different lanes when we merge, at least up until Centre Park Road. Great support, plenty water stops and the finish was better too. Overall, an excellent day out really - Well done to all concerned....
Really enjoyed the half marathon. I felt so sorry for the marathon runners in that heat. I was pouring water over myself non-stop. I agree with the suggestions to change the half marathon route, and/or start time, due to the congestion. Overall, a great day. Well done to the organisers and volunteers.
Was a spectator this year having ran in 2015. Loved the atmosphere this year.
Just one point which needs to be improved on I think
In the last mile or so by what I know as the Cooperage in UCC there is a lip in the road where the entrance is. Had to pick 2 fellas up off the ground after tripping on this and at that stage they were lucky they could continue. It was very dangerous and you could see someone being more seriously injured as at that stage they are exhausted.
Other than that was a great spectacle!
I ran the marathon this year and actually enjoyed when we merged with the half. Gave me a bit of a boost. It definitely was a little congested for a minute or so but with over 10 miles to go its didn't matter. I was running 3.30 pace too so I met the bulk of them. Very well organised and plenty of drink stations along the way. Fair play to all who came out and supported and forked out their own money for oranges and jellies etc along the way. That guy with the hose near the Rendezvous was much appreciated. The hills on the 2nd half were tough given it was a warm day too but marathons arent meant to be easy i guess. Were the mile markers a little off? Watches were beeping well in advance of each marker.
One suggestion i think marathon runners deserve a separate finishing zone. ie divide the finish into two. It would feel more of an achievement coming to the line not competing with a relay runner for example.
I think the GPS watches were a bit off because of the tunnel. At least mine was anyway. That hose down on the climb to model farm road was very welcome!
The post above about splitting the finishing zone in two is a great idea. I ran a marathon in Hartford Connecticut where that strategy was used and it seemed to work well there.
Regarding the watches beeping before the mile markers. This comes up in every race, but just happens to be more obvious during a marathon due to the length of the race. GPS watches are meant as a guide only and will never be as accurate as properly measured course. In Cork, the tunnel will throw things out as well. Did you run the racing line? Most people don't - they take corners wide, they follow the bends in the road instead of running the tangents, they run wide to overtake people etc. This coupled with GPS inaccuracies will mean your watch will nearly always read greater than 26.2 miles at the end of marathon, which in turn means your watch will beep earlier and earlier before the mile markers as he race progresses. In the 4 marathons I've run my watch has measured 26.6, 26.4, 26.3 and 26.4 miles. If your going for a time you're better off basing your splits on the mile markers than what your watch tell you. If you look at the big City Marathons like Berlin or London they will have a line painted on the road which is the racing line.
I wasn't expecting the 3 hour pacers to switch at half way, there was a lot of messing around with changing over of balloons also which didn't help my focus. I was thinking here are two new lads with fresh legs joining in mid way - my momentum faded from then and dropped back. Is it normal to switch pacers in Marathons like this?
with regard to anonymous post on 3 hr pacers. I would suggest that if 3 hrs was a realistic goal for you on the day, you should have been well able to deal with a small bump in the road half way around. Its not uncommon for pacers to share a 3 hr marathon. there would not be a lot of sub 2:45 standard runners out there putting up their hands to go out and run a sub3 marathon at the start of the summer racing season. No matter how good a runner you are, a sub3 will require a couple of weeks recovery.
I have done the 3 hour pacing for the last 2 years .The 3hr pacers 3 years ago got me over the line with a sub 3 pb ( again st finbarrs boys ). So i always wanted to give back what i received that day. Plus i,m pure cork and we like to look after our visitors to this great race and city :)
Regarding the changeover of pacers yes this does happen only for the 3 hours as its difficult to get sub 3 hour pacers for the complete race . It also ensures confidence that the run is evenly paced from start to finish. On the balloons point, yes I agree ,that was a bit messy, as previously 4 balloons were given out for the 3 hr pacers.This year there were only 2 available at the city hall on pickup ? I,m hoping to be doing the 3 hr pacing again next year and will ensure there are 4 balloons. The 2 early pacers run with the 2 new halfway pacers for 2 miles so as to ensure a smooth rhythm and changeover. I,m sorry this effected your race as unfortunately due to change of course this year the halfway point was very tight with mud on either side and barriers nearly on the path at one point which made balloon change very awkward.I hope you come back to us next year. Its a great race and overall very well run.
RE: change over of the 3hr pacers at the half way point. As one of the 3 hr pacers assigned to run the first half of the marathon I'm surprised to see the comment about "messing around with change over of ballons". The balloons were changed over on the run between 13.1 and 14 miles, myself and Paul continued on to approx. mile 16 to give the new pacers a chance to adjust to the pace and settle in. The strategy clearly worked as we were on target at halfway and a good number of runners came home just under 3hrs with the pacers at the finish. Ken Devine.
Can someone tell me who was the person with the camera at the far side of the pedestrian bridge after the Mardyke. Is he/she putting up their photos???
Great marathon, maybe starting the half someplace else and joining at a later stage will spread out the half runners a little more.
I was probably one of those two. Thanks so much for your help & lashing on the bio-freeze. Thanks again for your help. Really enjoyed the marathon. I'd say the "hills" are really "pulls" - although they were tough, are inevitable in most marathons.
Yeah totally agree about having separate finish lines, keep the marathon finish on Patrick street and perhaps the half on Grand parade or something like that. Not knocking the half marathon finishers by any means as it really adds to the occasion and generates great revenue but it is called the Cork City Marathon.
Haven't heard of it done before but think it's a good idea for the most part. The pacers might have been worried about the heat and hilly nature of the second half so they took no chances, can see how it would have been outputting in fairness if you didn't know it was happening.
Ref the 3 hour pacers. There aren't too many people that can run 3 hours comfortably for a marathon. It also takes a lot to recover from. It's a lot easier to find guys that can do half in 90 minutes and to share the load.
Disagree with comments above about 3 hour pacers and the switch over being problematic or convoluted. I was in the group attempting a 3 hour marathon on Sunday but didn't quite make it falling short by 3 minutes. I thought the pacers were great, full of chat and common-sense in the first half and then full of encouragement in the tougher sections around ballyphehane, farranlea and beyond. I stayed with them until 22 miles and they gave me every chance to hang on but unfortunately I faded and fell off. All 4 of them in my opinion did an excellent job and I thought their handover was quite smooth and clever in that all 4 of them ran together for 2 miles to ensure transition of watches, balloons and an assessment of the group etc. Good job lads and thanks for trying to help me make it.
Check out the links from the Galway Cow in the main article
Great organisation and support on what was my first Cork Marathon. I was one of those with sub 3 hour aspirations but found the going too tough (heat especially) around 18 miles in and slowed considerably. Regarding the sub-3 hour pacers, I wasn't aware there was going to be a changeover and did think to myself a few spare balloons wouldn't have gone astray. For what time I was with the sub 3 group however I found the pacers guidance and support was superb and they really helped me along. Well done guys!
Would echo the praise of the pacers. I followed the 3:30 group until I faded after the Farranlea Road section and thought that the support provided was fantastic. They made it like a team and provided great encouragement before any tough sections.
I don't know what your definition of messing is, but I didn't see anything that would have obstructed me from keeping with the group- nor did it.
The lads were absolutely phenomenal, and I'm very grateful for the work they put in to help me get over the line in under 3 for the first time.
The only negative comment is the little bit of a fright I got when one of their balloons popped! Ha
Totally agree i did the half and had an amazing day and added plus got my Pb but like you i think finish should seperate they deserve their glory as the train so hard!well done to the organiser's and everyone who supported, never change the sunday!
Thanks to all the volunteers, great job to all the kids and everyone helping. Well done to the organisers. I did the marathon, for the 7th time consecutively, and look forward to it every year. The return to sports bottles for water is important and must be kept. The changes to the route made little difference, the hill in Ballyphehane is not nice, but it's a marathon and it's supposed to be tough. It's not a marathon for a PB so I say throw a few more hills in next year ;). I enjoyed finishing through North Main street and from the other side of Patrick Street and I hope they keep this too. The marathon medals are great this year.
There was a photographer on the far side of the bridge after the mardyke. However, I'm not referring to the guy from the Galway Cow. This photographer was across the path from The Galway Cow guy, i.e. he was facing the runners on their right hand side. Just as I turned off the bridge a flash went off in my face from about 2 feet away and I'd love to see the photo for comic effect ha
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