Is this the end of the road for the Irish Runner magazine???

I recently checked out the social media feeds for the Irish Runner magazine and I noticed that they have been inactive for months. From what I understand, the last print issue was in July of 2021 and subscribers were told that it was being 'made over' to make it better.

Ian O'Riordan who is the athletics journalist for the Irish Times wrote on Twitter this week that it has gone out of business...

The Irish Runner magazine was started by Frank Greally back in 1981 at the start of the running boom and it has been going for 40 years. It was taken over by Athletics Ireland about 10-15? years ago and in the last few years, it was outsourced to an outside company to produce. From what I hear, that outside company has now stopped publishing it.

Despite it being the official publication of Athletics Ireland, they have said nothing about its demise.

The Irish Runner magazine has played a huge role in the coverage of athletics and running in Ireland for four decades. 

It would be a shame to see it go without Athletics Ireland making an announcement about it and noting the part that Frank Greally and the magazine played in the promotion of the athletics and running in the country.

Update - Fri 15th Oct 2021: Athletics Ireland finally woke up and issued this statement today...

We'll have to wait and see what their 'multimedia strategy' might be. I know some people like to have a physical copy of a magazine in their hand to read rather than on a PC, tablet or phone. If they stop printing a physical magazine, will people pay for a digital product when so much information is already on Facebook and websites?

When I put up this post a few days ago, I thought it would generate more interest than it did. I really did get a sense of general indifference by many people to the fate of the Irish Runner magazine.

Irish Runner editor Frank Greally acknowledged for his contribution to sport

The Irish Runner magazine is the number one publication in Ireland for athletics and running. It was started by Frank Greally back in 1981 and he is still the editor of the publication 33 years later. In an era before the Internet, the Irish Runner magazine was the only real way the general public could stay informed about what was happening in Irish athletics.

At an awards ceremony in Dublin on Thursday, the Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn presented Frank Greally with an award to acknowledge his contribution to Irish sport.

Guest Article - Setting Good Example...West Waterford's Nightime League

The article below was written by John Walshe and appeared in the Irish Runner magazine back in 2005. It is republished here with their kind permission. Even though the article is some seven years old, I believe that it is still as relevant today as it was back then. At present, there are a number of evening winter leagues taking place mainly in east Munster. I have details of these up on the Running in Munster website...just look for the series adverts on the right hand side of the page. These could be replicated in any large town or city in the country with a bit of planning. Evening leagues are suitable for new and experienced runners alike. If you are in a position to help start one in your area next winter, you might give it some thought...

West Waterford's Allrounder League is a proven winner and a template could be copied countrywide.

"We must tell the whole country about this, why can't every town have one?" The enthusiasm of West Waterford AC Chairman James Veale, is palpable as he talks about the sight of 340 runners heading off on a dreary November night around the streets of Dungarvan, reflective bibs shining in the darkness.

The Allrounder Winter League takes place every Wednesday night from early November to the end of February, with just a short break at Christmas, making it 15 weeks in total., Started ten years ago with just seven runners, its phenomenal growth has mirrored that of the West Waterford club itself, playing a significant role in their rise to become one of the most vibrant athletic clubs in the country.
"I suppose a whole combination of things has contributed to making it so successful," muses Veale as he tries to come to terms with the huge organisational input the League now requires. "The coverage in the local newspapers has a lot to do with it. Our two papers here in Dungarvan  - The Leader and The Observer - give two or three pages a week to the club and we also advertise it in many of the local factories."

There is a choice of two distances each week, a 2.7-mile catering for beginners and a 6-mile for the established runners. After the first night, a handicap system comes into operation, with the slowest person each week going off first the following week. First across the line is awarded one point, and so on down the line. The person with the lowest number of points at the end of the league is the winner. After Christmas, both leagues are divided into several divisions to sustain everyone's interest.

"It's just €2 for members of the club each night and €3 for non-members". explains James Veale. "This year, people are travelling from a wide area and now a similar league has commenced in Waterford City, such is the interest."

Dungarvan Sports Centre serves as the league headquarters. Out on the road, up to 20 stewards are required, with another 12 to 15 at the finish looking after car parking and entries and recording numbers and times.

"A lot of the helpers wouldn't be members of the club; some of them having been roped in over the years. They give great commitment - even my own father has been there since day one," says Veale. This year, in the interest of safety, a new long route was devised consisting of a two-mile out and back with a loop around St.Augustine's College in the middle.

The times at the finish are recorded by Noel O'Doherty; no mean feat with over 70 runners a minute coming in at the peak. The results are compiled on computer, with handicap times deducted from finishing times. Full results appear on the club's website and in the local papers within a week.

It was back in 1994 that Tony Ryan first established the Allrounder Winter League. "I remember we used to meet at the Dungarvan Crystal Centre and had seven runners the first night, increasing to around 23 by the end of the winter. The format was the same as today, culminating in the Mystery Tour and prize-giving night."

The famous Mystery Tour was another of Ryan's innovative ideas. "On the last Friday in February we head off on a bus tour to a pub, the destination of which is known to only two people. Here we present all the various prizes for the league, including the leading people in each of the divisions.
"The key to the success of the Winter Leagues is that people realise you don't have to be a good runner to take part. Also, the handicap system gives everyone a chance of actually finishing first."
"If some body like the Irish Sports Council started one of these in every county in Ireland, in ten years time you could imagine the impact it would have," concludes Ryan.

It's certainly a suggestion that maybe John Treacy, Chairman of the Irish Sports Council and one of Tony Ryan's contemporaries from his own juvenile athletic days, should consider.

Guest Article - Race Series........by David O'Dwyer

The following article appeared in a recent issue of the Irish Runner magazine and is published here with their kind permission...

Guest Article - Race Series.......by David O'Dwyer
Much has been written about the current “running boom” but it is only when you take a closer look at the grass roots can you see the origins of the boom and more importantly if the boom will last. The “race series” is not a new phenomenon but it is something that has really caught hold in the areas of East Cork and West Waterford. This in part may explain why these two areas are leading the way in terms of road running in Ireland when it comes to attracting people into the sport.

East Cork encapsulates a number of pro-active Senior Athletic Clubs and of course there is the efficient machine that is Ballycotton Running Promotions. Indeed Ballycotton Running Promotions claim to be the promoters of the original road racing series in Ireland. Their Summer Series of four races has mushroomed in popularity over the past couple of years where the average entries for each of the four races are in excess of 400. The series has been on the go for over 30 years and the main reason for the recent upsurge in popularity is that if you complete the series then you gain guaranteed entry in to the famed Ballycotton 10.....(Please note that this was the case. There is no guarantee that it will be correct for 2011...John Desmond)

East Cork AC has held a Winter Series of seven 3k races for the past 12 years. This series started off as an event for members only in an attempt to liven up the Tuesday night speed sessions. Over the past couple of years this series has grown almost too big to handle for a Tuesday night session with the numbers competing now regularly in excess of 150. On a cold wet and windy Tuesday winter night this is quite remarkable. Even more so when you consider there are no prizes given out on the night. The only reward is a long sleeve T-shirt if you complete 5 of the 7 scheduled events.

West Waterford AC also hosts a Winter League and Spring/Summer Series. These events are held on grass and road and offer a variety of events to all standards of runner. The club has shown to be innovative in its approach to hosting events that are attractive to the beginner as well as the more seasoned athlete. Staggered start times and an option to run 3, 4 or 5 laps of the cross country course are just a couple of the ideas that have proved to be so successful. Both the Winter League and Spring/Summer Series have had the same sponsors since 1994 with some events attracting in excess of 300 competitors.

The club also holds members only events and this helps to harbour a real camaraderie among members. In total there are in excess of 50 events organised by the club so there is always something to aim for. According to club chairman Tony Ryan, this is one of the reasons why the club attracts so many members. Tony states that the foundation of the success though is the very strong committee that the club has in place. The committee includes both runners and non runners and this ensures that the needs of the members are being met by the club.

Innovation seems to be the name of the game in Dungarvan where the club is based, a prime example being the latest idea which has become affectionately known among members as the “Breakfast Club”. This is where a group of mainly female members go for a run after dropping off the kids to school. West Waterford AC also has a thriving juvenile section but it is good to see that the adults are also being well catered for.

There are other similar race series around the country, Mayo and Galway spring to mind. Limerick is the latest to catch on to this idea where a series in UL has been taking place this winter. There are probably other series around the country that are just not that well known. The most famous series of course in the Adidas Dublin Marathon Series of 5 mile, 10 mile and Half Marathon races that are held in the lead up to the Dublin Marathon. This has proved to be a great platform for attracting new Marathoners.

Many of the Series’ detailed above have been taking place for a number of years. There has been little or no official input from Athletics Ireland – this is not a criticism but perhaps the governing body could learn some lessons from these organisers. There is no reason why such events cannot take place elsewhere in the country. Some excellent work is being done by the Regional Development Officers with regard to attracting the young kids into the sport but let’s not forget about the adults. There is no point in getting the kids interested if there isn’t a whole lot there for them when they get older.

Guest Article....Race Entries - Value for money?
On a recent post after the Ballycotton '10', I raised the question of why Ballycotton Running Promotions could organise a major 10 mile race race for €15 yet some other Half-Marathon events are charging €40, €50 or even €60!! With that in mind, I am reprinting an article here by David O'Dwyer of East Cork AC on the subject of race entry fees. This appeared in a recent issue of the Irish Runner magazine and it is re-printed here on this website by kind permission of Frank Greally, the editor of the magazine. 


Race Entries.......Value for Money?........by David O'Dwyer
A hot topic of late is the price of race entries and how they can vary so much between comparable events around the country. What are the criteria that determine the entry fee for a race? Are competitors being adequately catered for? Are athletes getting value for money? All of this of course depends on what the primary aim of the race organiser is. Is it to provide a quality race or is it to make money?

 

 

This dicotomy is probably responsible for the significant difference in entry fees between comparable events. How else can the entry fee for say a Half Marathon in Cork vary from as little as €20 to as much as €60 for a Half Marathon elsewhere in the country? To add further to the discussion the race with the cheaper entry fee often offer a better deal to the athlete, not just in terms of prize fund but in overall organisation.

 

 

Many of the long standing races are hosted by athletic clubs or organisations with the proceeds of the race going directly back into the sport in some shape or form. Two examples of these would be the Dungarvan 10 hosted by West Waterford AC and the Ballycotton 10 organised by Ballytcotton Running Promotions. The entry fee for these races is €20 and €15 respectively. These are two of the more popular high profile 10 mile races that are well attended and well organised. Despite the relatively modest entry fee there is still a substantial prize fund that caters for the top 10 finishers and also the top 3 in most masters’ categories. Team prizes are also well catered for. It would be hard to argue that these races don’t offer value for money.

 

 

In the past few years many ‘new’ races have appeared on the race calendar. Apart from having impressive looking websites the other common denominator among these new races is the high price of the entry fee in comparison to some of the more established races such as those mentioned above. In many cases the prizes on offer are minimal with only the top 3 finishers catered for and possibly only the first in each masters’ category catered for. The team prize seems to be overlooked in many of these races. 

There are no doubt expenses to be covered by race organisers and in some cases this will be required without a main sponsor on board. The obvious expenses would include the overall prize fund, chip timing, the provision of portable toilets to name a few. The goody bag for all finishers is now almost expected for anything above a 10k with finisher T-shirt, a medal or mug, a drink and other goodies to be included.

According to John Walshe of Ballytcotton Running Promotions the main reason for increasing the entry fee of the Ballycotton 10 race up to €15 is to cover the provision of chip timing as there is no longer a main sponsor on board. An additional cost for the Ballycotton 10 that most other races wouldn’t have is the provision of buses to transport runners to and from the race. If Ballycotton can do all of this and more for as little as €15 then why are other races charging so much more?

Most road races these days will state that they have an official ‘AAI permit’. Does this give them carte blanche to charge what they please? What does the AAI permit mean anyway? It appears to be offering an air of credibility where it may not be deserved.

 

 

The fact that these new races are attracting large fields means that there is an obvious need for them. It could be argued though that the large numbers that are entering some of these races are being charged over the odds are not getting value for money. This may be generalising but the majority of the entry fields are made up of people who are new to the sport and are not members of an athletic club. Unfortunately in many cases they are slow to join an athletics club as they are seen by some to be for ‘serious or competitive runners’ only. They still need an outlet for their training effort and want to complete a race and these races sell themselves as an experience as opposed to a pure race. This is their big selling point. Fair play to the savvy entrepreneurs who have spotted this niche market but are people being taken advantage of? In a time of falling prices in the economy isn’t it time for the price of race entries to follow suit?

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Do you agree with David's article? Have you taken part in any of those events charging high entry fees? Was it worth it? Would you enter again? Click on the 'Comment' link below and give your opinion.

(By the way, the Running in Cork website got in excess of 18,000 hits in the month of March 2010 so your opinion will be seen!!............John Desmond)