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| First 3-men in the short event in the CUH Charity Triathlon (L-R) David O'Donovan 3rd, Denis Hegarty 1st & Liam Aherne 2nd |
It was a lovely sunny day for the CUH Charity Triathlon in Farran Woods on Saturday 27th May 2023. Between the long and short courses and the two relay event, there were about 120 participants.
Full results HERE
Photos HERE
* Running in the Heat *
What type of session suits best? Is it Tempo, Interval, Long, Short and fast?
Answer..
None of the above.
We live in a Country that on average has over 1200mm of rain per year. Our average daily sunshine levels are low. Heat is something we experience when the fire is lighting and we have our bum stuck in it.
So relax and enjoy it. Run by all means but slowly enough not to come under pressure or overheat. It will pass, it will be cold again, of that there is no doubt.
Get out the shorts, vest and maybe cap and sunglasses and cruise the roads with optimal take up of sun, nature, colours and all that can be seen and enjoyed. Drinks loads of water and don’t forget to carry some with you if you are out for a long time. Smile at fellow runners and spread the joy.
As sure as night follows day… and you must pay tax, then we will be running again in cold inclement weather. So have the cuppa afterwards al-fresco, maybe go for a dip if close to the sea.
There is usually 9.47 days in the year (Met Eireann verified) when we think we are Mediterranean. So embrace the felling, chill the guilt, lose the watch and just move slowly enough to enjoy life and be glad of the fact we can move.
Enjoy the weekend and don’t forget the sunscreen and water.
#pwr
For anyone looking for a race, West Waterford AC are holding their Ardmore 5-mile on Friday 26th May 2023 at 7:30pm. €15 entry on the night.
Details... 26th ANNUAL ROUND TOWER HOTEL ARDMORE 5.
Race number 2 in our series this year takes us to the fast course in the beautiful village of Ardmore. Join us in Ardmore for a great evening's running and thanks to our sponsor, The Round Tower Hotel we will have prizegiving and refreshments after the race.
The entry fee on the night will be €15
Number collection is at Ardmore GAA club grounds (by kind permission).
For this weeks online jigsaw, we have a photo from this weeks Cork BHAA John Buckley Sports 5k road race.
You can find the 96-piece jigsaw HERE
Someone requested a bigger jigsaw so we might introduce a few of those into the mix soon.
As expected, there was a big turnout for the annual Cork BHAA John Buckley Sports 5k road race with 897 crossing the finish line. That's a massive 50% increase on the figure for 2022.
Full results from the BHAA HERE
Full results from Sports Timing with the chip times HERE
Photos....
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Website... https://johnbuckleysports.com/
The organisers of the Cork City Sports have announced that the 2023 edition has been cancelled due to ongoing works of the athletics track at MTU. Over the last few year, things haven't been going well for this athletics event. First of all, it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. It went ahead in 2022 but now it's cancelled again.
The organisers released this statement... " It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of the highly anticipated Cork City Sports World Athletics Continental Tour 2023. This decision was made due to significant delays in the resurfacing of the athletics track at the Munster Technological University (MTU).
The decision to cancel the Cork City Sports Continental Tour was not taken lightly. The organising committee, in collaboration with the MTU, has been closely monitoring the progress of the resurfacing project. Unfortunately, technical challenges encountered by the specialist contractor in achieving World Athletics International Standard Certification requirements have led to significant delays, making it impossible to complete the athletics track in time for the event.
The organisers understand the impact that this cancellation has on the athletes who were eagerly preparing to compete in Cork. We recognise the countless hours of hard work, dedication, and sacrifices made by athletes from around the world. Rest assured, we share in their disappointment and regret any inconvenience caused.
The organising committee, together with the MTU, will focus on completing the resurfacing works as soon as possible track to ensure that the Cork City Sports Continental Tour will return stronger than ever in July 2024."
The Irish Runner 5K was held in the Phoenix Park in Dublin on Saturday 20th May 2023 with 1174 crossing the finish line. It also doubled up as the National 5k Championships.
The first woman was Lizzie Lee from Leevale AC in Cork in a time of 16m 47s.
Full results HERE
Full results HERE
For this weeks online jigsaw, we have a photo by Joe Murphy of some runners at the 2023 Cheetah Run 5k in Fota Wildlife Park.
You can find the 96-piece jigsaw HERE
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| Joe Murphy presenting the ‘Anne Lucey Murphy Memorial Cup’ to Hannah Steeds, the first woman in the 2023 Cheetah Run 5k in Fota Wildlife Park |
Full results HERE
Photos...
1) Mick Dooley has a gallery HERE
One of the main features of this race is the fact that parts of it are off road which help show off some of the nicest areas around Rosscarbery.
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| Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC is the first woman home in the 2023 Banteer 5-mile |
This event was usually held in late July / early August year and it was moved to mid-May for the first time in 2023. The overall numbers jumped from 1,806 in 2022 to 2,059 (+14%) in 2023 so the change of date seems to have been a good move.
Looking through the results, there is a large number of runners from Cork.
** Racing **
Lot of comments on various social streams about races and numbers attending. Are they up or down, what is happening? I’m only writing a personal post of my opinion.
Races are too dear.
15 to 20 to run a 5k to 5ml is excessive.
DCM is over 100 and some City half are in the region of 65.
Every race run by a club think they are the best race, but when there is one in every village by all the clubs in a short space of time, then they cannot all be supported.
Running numbers are down and club membership is down.
Triathlons and adventure races are currently offering an attractive alternative.
Clubs cannot compete with the big commercial races as they are profit making and have the promotional expertise to make their race the ONE to DO.
Charities have latched onto runners as a possible fund raising cause but there is a limit on this and every worthy cause cannot be supported. Golf Classics were the charity go-to a few years ago and that died a death. Races for charity cannot be taken for granted.
Take fuel prices and maybe and overnight stay and then wonder how attractive is any race.
Some things to consider.
Category prizes when there is only a few competitors. There are category winners with no other competition. I’m old, Im Happy, just show me the start line and a cuppa. Clubs could generate more profit by reviewing the whole category stuff.
A city marathon might seem excessive but when people plan for months and make a weekend of it, then the actual price of the race is only a part of the equation.
Support charities but runners are not the only fund raising means.
Fact
10 euro gets you a run with buddies and a cuppa and food afterwards. For many that is their weekend since Covid and they are happy.
Time is also a quantifiable commodity… Even if the price and occasion is right some people cannot commit to the overall time to do a short race.
An evening short race can take 3 hours of your time. Some love this whole social stuff (me included) but not everyone is as lucky and free time is a valuable commodity.
There are only so many runners with limited budgets. Don’t take non-attendance at your race only a reflection of where we are now.
That is it…Comments welcomed as long as they are respectful
Did a 13 today after the hols. Stuck to the couch. Homer Simpson Arse Groove being generated. Thanks to my own crew for the help.#SpecialPeople
#PWR
This 5-mile road race organised by Mount Hillary AC is coming up in the village of Banteer to the west of Mallow on Sunday the 14th of May 2023 at 10am.
Entries HERE
Just a reminder that the Banteer 5-mile is coming up next Sunday 14th May. You can also enter on the morning of the race.
Full results HERE
For this weeks online jigsaw, we have a photo from the Dungarvan 10-mile last February.
To solve this 88-piece online jigsaw, click HERE
There was a good turnout of 368 runners for this years Cork BHAA Pfizer 6-mile road race on what was a nice sunny evening. As can be seen from the chart above, it was the 3rd highest number for this event.
In 2022, this race was cancelled so the 2023 race numbers should be seen in the light of pre and post pandemic. Nearly all races dropped in 2022 after the pandemic with a modest rise for 2023.
The 2019 race was at the end of wet day so that would have lowered numbers back then, this is especially true for a race where you enter on the night rather than pre-enter online. We probably shouldn't compare 2023 to 2019 but to the general numbers in the few years before the pandemic. Taken in that light, the 2023 numbers are good.
The Cork BHAA is independent of Athletics Ireland and there is no need to online entry with the extra fees or the costs of a one-day licence. People just look at the weather, turn up on the night and put €5 or €10 into the biscuit tin.
The fact that the BHAA races are now some of the cheapest to enter on the race calendar must surely have something to do with the good numbers.
Full results HERE
Photos...
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| Race winners Michelle Kenny & Shane Collins |
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| First 3-men |
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| The Mt Hillary girls at the Slieve Luchra Trail race |
In a previous post, I outlined how there were new 2km junior parkruns in the pipeline for Togher, Mallow and Dunmanway. This week, Cork Sports Partnership announced that the Dunmanway event will be starting soon. The venue is at the race field which I believe is at the western edge of the town.
Junior 2k parkruns are for 4-14 year olds and they are held at 9:30am every Sunday morning. All events are free.
As of May 2023, there are four Junior 2k parkruns in Co Cork... Ballincollig, Ballinlough, Gurranabraher and Cobh. Dunmanway will be number five.
It may well act as a seed event for other junior parkruns in West Cork. If a weekly junior parkrun in Dunmanway is a success then why not in Bandon, Clonakilty, Skibbereen or Bantry?
If anyone would like to volunteer or help out at this new event then send an email to matt DOT shields AT parkrun DOT com
For more info on parkrun, visit their website... https://www.parkrun.ie/
If you want to visit any of the existing 5k or 2k parkruns in Cork then follow the links on the parkrun Cork page.
This free timed 5k on the Carrigaline to Crosshaven Greenway was held on Saturday the 6th of May 2023.
There should be more timed 5k runs coming up at 8:30am on the first Saturday of the month over the Summer months.
It had been due to take place on Friday 19th May 2023.
The organisers have said it will be back on the calendar again in 2024.