Mile markers on course?
Does anyone know if there are markers on the course at each mile to let you know how far you've run/have to go?
The course has been accurately marked each year for all the races, even the ultra. Very important I'd agree....
Thanks for that. I had visions of not knowing how far I had to go, and losing the will to live!!
Hi Crowie,
It wont be the mile markers or lack of them that make you lose the will to live...It will be the sight of that 2 mile hill, miles 11 and 12, and me disappearing up it.
Haile
Brave words my "Ethiopian" friend. The only way You'll be zipping past me is in ambulance on way to coronary care!!
Today I heard on Belgian radio that the Irish metric system changed.
Will there be km markers ? It would be much easier for me running my first full marathon.
Hi Erik,
Km's miles metres or inches it is all the same distance, A LONG BLOODY WAY!.
My worry is if it is measured in "normal miles" (or K's!) or IRISH MILES, because my mother who is Irish (from Nenagh, Co Tipp) has a saying that one of her Irish miles is worth two of mine, now then as I am doing the ultra that is very worrying indeed!!!!!! :?
Good look anyway on your debut, just take youe time and enjoy it!
One thing for you to note especially coming from Belgum, there are things called hills, thats H.I.L.L.S. so I sudject you look this world up and be prepared!
Only kidding matie, have a good one
:D
Hi all - Could you anaswer this question
When you have run 25 miles in a marathon - Does the last mile include the extra 385 yards?
Hi Seamus,
The answer is no (as a rule) there is always a 26 mile marker than you only have the 0.2 to go.
When you've done it give yourself a huge pat on the back because it is an achievement and a half!
We have 13 miles marked for half marathon and 26 miles marked for the full. The Ultra's have to do a bit of maths (which gets hard after about 35 miles...), as they have to share their markers with the Marathoners... ie Mile 5 in the marathon is mile 18.1 in the ultra. So the 26 mile marker in the Marathon becomes the 39.1 mile marker in the ultra.
I hope I've confused you all enough!
Ray
Thanks a lot Ray!
Apart from the jelly beans, banananana'zzz, gels, spare socks and undies and beer we have to carry in our bumb-bags we now have to add a bloody calculator too! :D
Hi Ray
Will the ultra runners know when they have done exactly a half marathon, then exactly a marathon, as these points presumably would not be exact whole miles. For example, do you mark the point when the marathoners have done 13.1 miles or will there just be a 13 mile marker and we guess the .1? I am probably being a bit fussy, but I would like to be able to make a mental note of what time I did each of the three half marathons in.
Also, will each mile be marked for the first 13 miles of the ultra, before it reverts back to 1 mile, 2 miles etc for the rest of the way?
I am thinking that when we get to the first 13.1 miles, that would be where the marathoners started from so maybe the start markers would still be there for us to see, and then the same at the point where the half marathoners start from?
I am sorry if this all sounds confusing, but on the day my brain will be so busy telling my legs to keep moving, that it won't be capable of sorting out the mileage situation too! Dasher Shane - if I can keep up with you, can I borrow your calculator, or even better, you press the buttons and tell me the answers!
Happy running!
Jelly Bean
Last year it was easy to spot the full marathon start and that's the completion of an ultra-runner's first half-marathon. The halfway point in the full marathon was also marked and that's the second half for the ultra nutcases and if you stager to the end that the third. The marking plans might sound complicated but in fact they're fairly clear on the day.
For someone more used to racing Km's - why not put together a little Miles -> Km's calculator and pin it to your shirt or write a few quick conversions on the back of your race number to use as a reference during the race. Lot's of marathoners will carry pace charts as wristbands and you could also do one of these for Miles - Km's conversion.
Mick.
On second thoughts I think I'll just turn up and follow everyone else!
It sounds far to confusing to me but basically it is quite simple:
1) We set off 1st.
2) Somewhere along the way we will run through the full marathon start which will mean that we have ran 13.1 miles.
2) Further along the way we will run through the 1/2 mar start which means that we will have ran 26.2 miles and ..........
3) When we are told to stop running (or crawling!) we will have ran 39.3 miles and have finished and finally.......
4) We all go off to the pub and get bladdered! WONDERFUL!
:twisted:
Thanks Mick.
One thing not mentioned above. The first 13 miles in the Ultra are marked and each mile after that is also calculated for you. So the Mile markers in the Marathon say..... Mile 14 and under in a different colour it will say ULTRA 27.1 (I'm a designer, so trust me, you'll see it!)
Another bonus as Mick pointed out above is all three half marathons are well marked. The start line for the Marathon will be an obvious marker to look out for and we also have a Half Way Marathon Marker (an Ultra's 26.2). You won't go wrong.
Ray
Ok, I'll put together a Miles Km calculator AND I'll run some Belgian hills next weeks. Hope to run 3 hours and 45 minutes on my first full marathon. That's 11,25 km/hr. But in miles ?
Ray,
Have you ever considered numbering the mile markers backwards (i.e. miles left). That way all 3 races can share markers without difficulty. I know from my own experiences that what I do when I see a mile marker is work out distance left. I'm not at all bothered by distance passed.
I'll wait and see what everyone else says about that one. I see where you're coming from (or how long you've left :D ) but tradition may win out on this one...
Ray
Anonymous wrote:Ray,
Have you ever considered numbering the mile markers backwards (i.e. miles left). That way all 3 races can share markers without difficulty. I know from my own experiences that what I do when I see a mile marker is work out distance left. I'm not at all bothered by distance passed.
Yes thats a good idea, but can we also have it counting up for the rest of us :lol:
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