from Cork City marathon Firstly, apologies for the lack of updates. We’re blaming the Event Manager – don’t worry, she’s got thick skin and can take it! We’re back in business now and will be in contact over the next few days to let you know about final preparations for Monday 1st June.
This year we’re more grateful than ever to have such wonderful support from Bord Gáis Energy and Tipperary Water, in particular. There’s a bit of a pattern emerging with our title sponsors. John Gately, the owner of the Montenotte Hotel and our inaugural title sponsor two years ago, ran the full marathon then and is back to run for a third year. This year’s title sponsor, Bird Gáis Energy, have a fantastic number of teams in the relay including John Mullins, CEO of Bord Gáis, and his brothers. Look out for team 3446, the Mullins brothers, and give them an extra cheer round the course!
Enough chat. Onto what you really need to know about preparations for the day.
The course is identical to 2008. (We haven’t ignored suggestions for changes – there’ll be a significant announcement later in the year.)
The major change you’ll see out on the course this year, however, will be at the water stations. Thanks to Tipperary Water, every one of the 13 stations on the course will have 250ml Tipperary Kidz bottles – the perfect size bottle for ensuring you get enough water on a warm day without the waste.
Registration is at Cork City Hall on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st May, from 10am–6pm.
Remember to bring your ‘confirmation of entry’ sheet with you, to avoid delays.
This year, we’ll have a small-scale Expo with several sports shops and info stands – more details in the next mail.
Race Day – Monday 1st June
Changing Facilities
On race day, the City Hall and the Millennium Hall will be available for changing and leaving your bag for later collection. All bags must have a label (available in the halls) with your race number clearly written on it. Please do not leave valuables in the halls.
Start & Finish Line
The race starts at 9am on St Patrick’s Street. The start area will be zoned into your predicted time for the race – please respect these zones. The race also finishes on St Patrick’s Street.
Timing Chips
This year we’re using a ChampionChip timing system. The chip is a small white plastic disc that you attach to your shoe lace with two plastic ties (provided). Thread one of the ties through each of the two arms of the chip and pull to fasten.
You’ll notice a series of mats stretched across the start and finish line. These cover the wires that register your chip as you pass over the mat. For the relay, the team member who will cross the finish line wears the chip on his/her shoe.
At the end of the race you must return your chip.
There will be a team of de-chippers ready to assist you, if needed. The ties should snap free when you pull the chip sharply, but they may need to be snipped by one of the de-chipping team. If you remove the chip yourself, please place it in one of the bins provided.
The Relay will also be chip timed (see Relay section for details).
Water Stations
Thanks to Tipperary Natural Mineral Water all 13 water stations will have 250ml bottles of water. (Please note that we’re watching the weather forecast carefully over the next couple of days and will adjust the water stations if necessary.) As it stands, the stations are as follows:
1. Blackpool bypass (c. 2.5 miles)
2. Horgan’s Quay (c. 4 miles) – sub-station
3. Lower Glanmire Road (c. 6 miles)
4. South Ring Road (c. 8 miles) – sub-station
5. Ringmahon Road (c. 10 miles) – sub-station
6. Marina, Lee Rowing Club (c. 13 miles)
7. Curragh Road (c. 15 miles) & Lucozade Sports (orange, 330ml foil pack)
8. The Lough (c. 17 miles)
9. Model Farm Road (c. 20 miles) & Lucozade Sports (orange, 330ml foil pack)
10. Model Farm Road (c. 21 miles)
11. Inchigaggin Lane/Carrigrohane Road (c. 23 miles)
12. Carrigrohane Road, County Hall (c. 24 miles)
13. Mardyke, approach to Mardyke Bridge (c. 25 miles)
Finish Line: water & Fair Trade bananas
Course Time Limit
The course time limit is 7 hours. After 6 hours, however, the Gardaí may ask you to move onto the footpaths, but the finish line will stay in place for the full 7 hours. St Patrick’s Street will be closed to traffic for the day.
While the course is closed to traffic, there are some areas where local residents will have to access their homes. Castle Road (at c. 11 miles) and Church Hill (at c. 22 miles) are particularly affected by the race. Please be aware in both these areas that you may encounter some traffic. There will also be some traffic permitted on the course led by a Garda bike or car.
The Jack Lynch Tunnel is a critical link in the city’s traffic network. If you haven’t reached the tunnel by 11.30am, you will not be permitted through it.
Headphones
While headphones are not banned from the race, you are strongly advised not to wear them.
Toilets
There will be portable toilets at the start area, on St Patrick’s Street, and just before each of the Relay Change-over points.
The Relay
There are five relay stages, for teams of two to five individuals. Each team member completes their leg(s) before handing over their team’s wristband (you’ll find that in your race pack at registration) to their team mate at the fixed change-over points.
Registration
At least one team member must register at City Hall on either Sat. 30th or Sun. 31st May, 10am–6pm. There you’ll collect your team’s 10 race numbers. These will have your race number, preceded by the letters A, B, C, D or E. There will be two of each letter, one to be worn on the front, the other on your back.
Timing Chip
NB: the member who is going to cross the finish line MUST wear the timing chip on their shoe. He/She must also wear the race numbers with the letter ‘E’. When you cross the line, your time for the race will be electronically clocked. Your team’s official time will be gun to chip finish.
Please remember that you must return your chip at the end of the race.
Stages
Team members may cover one leg each (in teams of five), or take two or more consecutive legs in whatever combination suits them. The relay legs are as follows:
• Start (Patrick’s Street) to near Silversprings Hotel (c. 5.2 miles)
• Silversprings to Ringmahon Road (c. 5.5 miles)
• Ringmahon to Victoria Road (c. 3.2 miles)
• Victoria Road to Model Farm Road (c. 5.9 miles)
• Model Farm Road to finishing line (Patrick’s Street) (c. 6.4 miles)
Getting to your Relay Changeover
A fleet of Bus Éireann buses will operate through the day to bring you to and from the outlying relay changeover points. The buses will be on a continuous shuttle to and fro. The first and last buses will leave from City Hall at the following times:
Relay Changeover Point FIRST Bus LAST Bus
Silversprings 08.00 08.30
Ringmahon Road 09.45 11.00
Model Farm Road 10.30 13.30
The 3rd relay changeover point is on Victoria Road, a two-minute walk east of City Hall.
The Daniel Kingston Memorial Walkers should gather at City Hall to board their buses at 12.00 sharp. The walkers will set out from Model Farm Road at 12.30.
Team Relay Medals
Each member of all finishing relay teams will receive a medal. However, the team member who crosses the finish line must go over to City Hall to collect the team’s medals. It’s a short walk to City Hall and please note that we will not be posting out any medals after the race.
That’s it for now. Sorry for the long-winded mailing. We’ll be in touch again shortly.
Best wishes
Cork Marathon Office
Email: info@corkcitymarathon.ie
Web: www.corkcitymarathon.ie
Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon, 1st June 2009
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