from Cork City Marathon Entry Fee Increase
Online fees increased by €10 on Tuesday 31st. We’ll accept the lower entry fee by post until the end of this week. After that, if you don’t enclose the correct fee, your entry will be returned to you.
You can download a copy of the entry form at www.corkcitymarathon.ie. Sponsors
Earlier in the month, we welcomed Bord Gáis Energy as title sponsors for 2009. As part of their support for the event, we’re delighted with our new marathon logo.
Associated Charity
The Irish Cancer Society is our associated charity for this year’s marathon. You don’t have to enter for a charity, but if you haven’t already got a favourite cause we’d ask you to consider fund-raising for the ICS. CallSave 1850 606060 or email ccm@irishcancer.ie for further information.
Water and Energy Drink
We’re still in talks with potential water and energy drinks sponsors. We appreciate that it’s important to train with the energy drink that will be provided on the day, so we will get that info to you as soon as possible. We’re also aware that the 500ml water last year resulted in a lot of wastage – doing our best this year to secure 250ml bottles for the course.
Course
The 2009 course will be identical to last year’s. We had hoped to cut out half of the Carrigrohane Road, but to find the mileage back along the course would have brought the city to a stand still. The course committee will look at other options for next year.
Relay
Since the course will be the same as last year’s, the relay changeover stages will also remain unchanged. Detailed information is available on our website.
Looking for a Team?
Leisureworld Cork is operating a Buddy System for those of you who want to take part in the relay but don’t have a team. Team co-ordinators Shane Simcox, at Bishopstown 021-4346505, or John Hegarty, at Churchfield 021-4397868, will match runners into teams of similar ability, and with runners that want to cover a similar distance.
Teams can then meet each other at the Leisureworld venues to train, or take part in some of the advice workshops that will be helping runners prepare for the big day.
Relay Buses
For the last two years, we’ve had to rope everyone from the Fire Service to unsuspecting members of the public in to taxi late arrivals from City Hall to their relay changeover positions. None of that this year!
We’ll be publishing a first-and-last bus timetable online shortly. The buses will do a continuous shuttle from City Hall to the outlying relay points. However, if you miss the last bus…you’re on your own.
Timing Chip
This year we’ll be using the ChampionChip timing system. The major difference between it and the system we’ve used for the last two years is that you must return the chip at the end of the race. Many of you will be familiar with the ChampionChip or similar systems. (Anyone who took part in Ballycotton 10 this year will have used the same system.) For those who aren’t familiar with it, the chip is a small white plastic disc that’s attached to your shoe lace by two plastic ties. Once properly fastened, the ties that secure the chip are sturdy enough to withstand any amount of running. At the finish line the chip must be removed from your shoe and placed in one of several bins we’ll have for collection. We appreciate that after 26 miles you mightn’t feel much like bending down to remove your chip, so of course we’ll have a team in place who’ll do that for you, if needs be. When your race is over the chip can be easily snapped off your lace, provided that it hasn’t been tied too tightly.
Please note that we’ll be charged for any unreturned chips, so we ask for your cooperation in trying to retrieve all chips used on the day.