Running in Cork Newsletter - 2nd February 2024

Running in Cork Newsletter - 2nd February 2024

As we head into February, the evenings are gradually getting longer but the winter isn't over yet. There are signs in the weather computer models for a cold snap in mid-February so we'll have to wait to see what happens with that one. Another four weeks and we'll be into March and we can look forward to the clocks changing then at the end of the month.

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Weekend Weather: If two words could be used to sum up the weather for the weekend then it would be 'mild' and 'overcast'. The Jet Stream is well to the north of Ireland at the moment and it's taking those severe Atlantic storms up towards Norway. 

There is a high pressure system to the south of Ireland near the Bay of Biscay which is keeping a mild westerly airflow over the country for the weekend. That south-westerly airflow is coming in from the Atlantic Ocean so there is no shortage of moisture to make plenty of clouds. There is a chance of misty weather on higher ground with some light rain possible from a weak front over Cork on Saturday. 

Sunday looks like the better of the two days at the weekend. It's going to stay mild with temperatures in the low teens for the next few days. It's very likely that all of the parkruns will probably go ahead.

Weekend events: On Saturday, there is the free 'Run the Line' 5k on the Carrigaline to Crosshaven Greenway at 8:30am and it will be a lot milder than the last event at the start of January. There are of course 10 parkruns to choose from in Co Cork at 9:30am.

The main event this weekend of course is the Dungarvan 10 mile on Sunday. It's looks like it's going to be overcast but mild so pretty much ideal. There will probably be a strong westerly breeze which may be a factor though in the first half. 

IMRA have a trail race up in Bansha Woods in Tipperary and there is a 5k fun run in Lismore if anyone is interested in that neck of the woods. Link HERE. The Bank Holiday Monday seems to be pretty quiet.

There is a selection of events on offer elsewhere as well. As always, see the event calendar... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/p/calendar.html

Parkrun News:

Last weekend... Last week at parkrun in Ireland, there were...141 events & 14,353 walkers, joggers, runners and volunteers.

Ballinlough Junior parkrun cancelled... Due to ongoing works by Uisce Éireann, the Nursery Drive junior parkrun in Ballinlough is likely to be cancelled for the next 6 weeks. The organisers are looking at alternative venues.

Clon parkrun is 10-years old!... It's hard to believe but the Clonakilty 5k parkrun at the Showgrounds will be 10-years old on Saturday. The first parkrun there was held on the 1st of February 2014.

Race News:

Farran NS 5k fun run... The organisers of the Farran National School 5k fun run/walk have been in touch to say that their run this year in Farran Forest Park will go ahead on Thursday 6th June 2024. I think it was held last year early in September. Entry fee and times to be updated closer to the date.

Anne Valley 5-mile Challenge... This is a popular 5-miler in Co Waterford albeit a little hilly. They announced during the week that they will be hold their event on Saturday 13th April.

New date for Stone Mad-Half-Marathon in Blarney... Last week, I reported how the Stone Mad Half-Marathon in Blarney which was due to be held on Sunday the 3rd of March had been cancelled. I was updating the race calendar yesterday and I noticed that the new provisional date for it is Sunday 6th of October 2024 with an entry fee of €40.

IMRA Slí Chorcaí sells out... I had a post up about this IMRA 24km trail race from Kealkill to Drimoleague in West Cork. All 100 places have now sold out.

Calendar update... I added quite a few events to the calendar yesterday. There's plenty to choose from if you're willing to travel. See https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/p/calendar.html

Great Island Cross Cup... Trevor Cummins sends on the following information: "Our inaugural All-Island, Cross-Country Running Event for Great Island Primary School Girls & Boys takes place at Cuskinny Court P24R623 on Wednesday, February 7th from 10:30am. Excitement is building fast, with less than a week to wait for hundreds of local primary school children who will get the opportunity to experience the great fun and unique challenge that is central to the sport of cross-country running. 

Kevin Murphy (BellaVista Hotel), John Paul Curtin (Garvey’s SuperValu, Cobh), Trevor Cummins (Meet Director) & pupils from schools participating in the upcoming Great Island Cross Cup

Each of the six primary schools on the island will battle it out at Cuskinny Court on Wednesday, February 7th, to become the very first winners of perpetual cups which are being generously sponsored by BellaVista Hotel (Girls) and Garveys SuperValu Cobh (Boys). Individual honours will also be up for grabs on the day, courtesy of Gold, Silver & Bronze medals kindly provided by Bardsley Developments. The race is on to see who will be crowned as Kings & Queens of The Cross."

In Other News:

Fitbit customers say devices unusable after update...  Fitbit users say a software update issued by the fitness-tracker firm in December 2023 has left their devices unusable... BBC News

English marathon runner carrying fridge get stopped by police... See story HERE 

Training Programmes: I'll have training programmes for the Cork Half-Marathon starting soon. Options are 16-weeks from the 12th of February and 14-weeks from the 26th of February. More info ...

https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/training-programme-for-2024-cork-city.html

If you're doing your own thing for the marathon, you'd really want to start planning now. If you're doing the half then you have some time yet.

Couch to 5k... I'll be introducing an easy online Couch to 5k programme soon for anyone who wants to start off and get running for the Summer.

Countdown Timer...

Limerick Marathon - 5th May 2024 - 13 weeks

Cork Marathon - 2nd June 2024 - 17 weeks

Waterford Marathon - 23rd June 2024 - 20 weeks

Some of the posts on the Running in Cork blog over the last week:

Friday Jigsaw: Glen River 5k parkrun - Jan 2024... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/02/friday-jigsaw-glen-river-5k-parkrun-jan.html

Guest Post: IRISH 10-MILE RANKINGS - End 2023 ...by John Walshe... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/02/guest-post-irish-10-mile-rankings-end.html

Notice: Ballintotis 4-mile road race - Thurs 18th April 2024... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/02/notice-ballintotis-4-mile-road-race.html

Over 4000 runners take part in Raheny 5-mile last weekend... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/over-4000-runners-take-part-in-raheny-5.html

Video: A BLOODY LONG RUN - EPISODE 2 ...by Beau Miles... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/video-bloody-long-run-episode-2-by-beau.html

Tramore Valley Park 5k parkrun as Gaeilge - 3rd Feb 2024... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/tramore-valley-park-5k-parkrun-as.html

Results & Photos of the IMRA Ballyhoura Moonlight Trail Races - Fri 26th Jan 2024... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/results-photos-of-imra-ballyhoura.html

Guest Post: Clonakilty Parkrun Celebrates 10 Years ...by Niamh Ryan... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/guest-post-clonakilty-parkrun.html

Notice: Cork BHAA MTU 5k - Sun 3rd March 2024... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/notice-cork-bhaa-mtu-5k-sun-3rd-march.html

Guest Post: KATE VEALE WINS AI INDOOR GAMES 3k IN FASTEST TIME IN THE WORLD FOR 2024 ...by James Veale... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/guest-post-kate-veale-wins-ai-indoor.html

Results of the Clonakilty 5-mile - Sun 28th Jan 2024... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/results-of-clonakilty-5-mile-sun-28th.html

Guest Post: Still crazy after all these years... Pat Walsh... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/guest-post-still-crazy-after-all-these.html

Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 27th Jan 2024... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/results-of-5k-parkruns-in-cork-sat-27th.html

Running in Cork Newsletter - 26th January 2024... https://corkrunning.blogspot.com/2024/01/running-in-cork-newsletter-26th-january.html

Paid Subscribers & Additional Content: A list of all the running events in Cork for the next 4-weeks is going out to the paid subscribers on Substack today.

And finally...

If anyone wants to get the Running in Cork Newsletter by email, you can subscribe for free on Substack... https://runningincork.substack.com/

If you want to support the blog and get additional content then you might consider becoming a paid subscriber.