The Bogtrotters Marathon, 24/7/10

big mce

3 stars (average)

I also really enjoyed it. I did the half and thought overall the race was ran very well except for waiting for the bus at the half way for over an hour. Some-one said to me that a large number of people supposed to do the full dropped out at the half way point hence the miscalculation with the buses. (Don't know how true this is?)

Don't understand where people got lost? Where was it? I thought the route was great and running through the bog added an extra challenge.

I will defo be back next year.

Aimman

I didn't mind the hills, although they were a bit of a challenge, but the stony road through the bog after the 9 mile mark was awkward to run along. Spent more time concentrating on dodging potholes and rocks.

The marshy bog after mile 20 was ridiculous, myself and sarsfieldrock were frog jumping for most of it, and all of us on that section had to give up and just walk for parts of it.

The start and end were fine, the stations were well stocked with bottles of water, but I don't recall seeing any energy drinks along the way and only one bowl of jelly babies and that was in the 2nd half of the run.

Thankfully, the marshals were in force when I got to the turns, but I couldn't believe it at the end when I heard the leaders went off course. I always though they had support for the leaders all the way.

Had to muster up a sprint finish at the end, because one of the local runners decked out in the Roscommon colours was challenging for my place. I wouldn't let him have it.

I probably wont be in a hurry to do it again, because if I want hills and remote places, I'll run the Donegal Mooathon, the scenery is better to look at.

rovers_runner

Sounds like an interesting day out. People should have known it wouldn't be dull when it's on in Ros. Anyone who quit without reason should have been made walk back to the start/finish. The event said bog did it not ?

SnappyDresser

3 stars (average)

Very surprised to hear all the negative comments but one mans meat is another mans poison...
I thought the course was interesting, very challenging, tough, very hard hills. No one should expect a PB. All that can be expected is a good day out. Found the marshals helpful and plenty of water and jelly babies etc. Ok, the leaders ended up running much further but it did not change the outcome of the race only their time. These guys do these races for the cash and prizes so dont feel too sorry for them.
I have done Longford, Connemara and now Bogtrotters and I found this race as challenging as Connemara. We have to allow a certain level of disorganization for 1st timers out in the bog and while going the wrong way is inexcusable, it was the leaders and eventual winners anyway.
Would I do it again? Would deffo and I would hope they dont make it easier. If we want flat fast marathons we go to Berlin, Amsterdam, London....

TheRoadRunner

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

A Oisin suggested, I must have had a very bad racing line.

Or you need to read your Garmin 405 manual to make sure it is configured correctly

Krusty_Clown

1 star (terrible)

i008787 wrote: »

Very surprised to hear all the negative comments but one mans meat is another mans poison...
I thought the course was interesting, very challenging, tough, very hard hills. No one should expect a PB. All that can be expected is a good day out. Found the marshals helpful and plenty of water and jelly babies etc. Ok, the leaders ended up running much further but it did not change the outcome of the race only their time. These guys do these races for the cash and prizes so dont feel too sorry for them.
I have done Longford, Connemara and now Bogtrotters and I found this race as challenging as Connemara. We have to allow a certain level of disorganization for 1st timers out in the bog and while going the wrong way is inexcusable, it was the leaders and eventual winners anyway.
Would I do it again? Would deffo and I would hope they dont make it easier. If we want flat fast marathons we go to Berlin, Amsterdam, London....

Before I missed the turn I was in 6th. Afterwards? I don't care. I lost all interest in anything but hitting the finish line. It didn't just affect the elite runners.

xebec

2 stars (poor)

Anyone know which timing chip company it was today and if the results will be put on the web? Checked Red Tag Timing but no sign...

RacoonQueen

Precision timing.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

Sort of glad i missed this bad enough running 36 miles but 30 miles:eek:

The Hammer

Have been reading the postings on the Bogtrotters marathon. I was talking with two full marathoners and two
half marathon people from the race who gave me the low-down on the race.

I think a few points summarises what they were saying:

1. The terrain of the course was very mixed - tarmac roads, bog roads, rocky paths, grass tracks. Most of the full/half marathon competitors understood this - so it is probably not fair to critise the race because of this. From what I understand there was a very swampy dangerous section at 24 miles with holes and cuts - regardless of the off-road nature of the marathon the people I spoke to thought it was a bit dangerous at this point on the course - legs are tired, concentration is getting weak, etc.

2. Gerry Forde was competing as the only wheelchair competitor - again from what my friends said there was simple NO WAY that he could have negotiated some of the terrain. Gerry is one tough competitor but the course at 24 miles would leave it absolutely impossible from him to get through. People cycling bikes in support of athletes had to walk their bikes over this. The Gardai told one of my friend's g/f that they needed to break out their 4X4 to get through this section and then actually avoided it and took a detour.

3. Half Marathon - anyone finishing in under 1:50 in the half marathon were left up to 35 minutes waiting to be bussed back from Roosky to the Strokestown Castle - the bus ride added another 20 minutes or so. There was NO PROVISION for carraige of changes of clothes etc for those doing the half. So most had to sit in their wet drowned gear on the bus and shiver to keep warm. Surely this logistical issue could have been analysed beforehand? Half marathons which finish this far from the start area never work.

4. Route Mixup - the big talking point yesterday was the farcical goings-on at about the 21 mile mark where the leading 6 men and Lucy Brennan and the leading relay team were running back and forth up the Strokestown to Roosky road trying to see which direction they were supposed to be going. This included runners like Segiu Conibanu and Ravis Zakis. Apparently no stewart was in place - no arrow sign had been put in place either because they had assumed that a stewart would be there. This was the only stewarting problem of the entire race but caused confusion and a lot of anger and disappointment. I think it is a bit harsh of one of the posters above to say that they are "elites and only do it for the cash" - from the results I heard Segiu Conibanu won it and was probably never in doubt. So the others probably knew this also but does it mean that it should be dismissed when they run another 2 - 4 miles extra? The people in the top 10 of this race suffer in the final 10km as much as any of the other competitors.

5. From reports at the finish line the race director disappeared when news of complaints from the (1) half marathon finish area of delayed waiting for buses and (2) the chaos at mile 21. Running (pardon the pun) away from the problem when it is happening is not the solution. Understandably she was very upset as the race she had been planning and working on for several months was falling down around her. She may not have a running background and may have overlooked issues that us runners would place at spot number one on a list of priorities for organisation of a race. *

Overally Bogtrotters is another on the list of new marathons/half marathons. There was a good friendly feel to it - my friends told me this. It lacked a bit of big-race atmosphere but then again you cannot just plant big-race atmosphere and have it on tap for these races. There are many lessons to be learned. A tough course is one thing - marathon people are a tough breed and live for challenges. As word spreads about the race it might take a mightly dose of convincing to draw a crowd next year.

Longford is the small town marathon template. Copy that and your new startup marathon won't go too far wrong.

Slogger Jogger

It goes to show the logistics that are needed in order to make a race work. One thing not working can have drastic results.

There's been some notable 1st time events this year that have worked well. Two that I ran in were the Plod and the Enniscorthy half. You can't have enough marshalls out on the route really and its imperative that the organisers either have a running background or have someone on board who has so that the needs of the runner are accomodated in every aspect of the race.

Aimman

It's a pity the results are not available yet. I would have thought that with chip timing, results would be quicker to publish.

I had forgotten about trying to get a wheelchair through that marshy stretch at the 24M mark. Must have been a nightmare.

hot to trot

2 stars (poor)

I enjoyd most of this. I did think the second half was considerably worse than the first half as regards safety of terrain. I strained my calf on a bad wobbly bit on the way but such is life.
The civil defense 4wd jeep got stuck on the grassy cut through track and it took ages to get it out. I managed to squeeze past but I couldn help wondering about Jerry in his chair- he would have been safer to turn around at the half way mark and just double back to the start . I hope he wasnt left stuck in the middle up to his hubs in muck, or toppled over , such was the incline. He is something else though isnt he. Such an inspiration.

One concern was the lack of medical /first aid on the route. If you got into bother , you were a long way from help . Matters like this are as important as stewarding, in that a twisted ankle on a bog road was a long hobble to civilization.
MIght go back next year , depending on what it is on around the same time.
Liked the medal even though you had to go look for it .

RacoonQueen

Results are up on their site now. Even a four hour marathon would have had me as 5th woman. If I hadn't got lost like Krusty.

Krusty_Clown

1 star (terrible)

I finished 19th. If I hadn't got lost (but the lead pack had), I would've finished 3rd at training run pace.

Teddy2

3 stars (average)

This was my first half marathon so I cannot compare it to anything, however I really enjoyed it. It was challenging but I presume this what drives people to do marathons?? I thought that the varied terrain made it very interesting and the bog track gave my feet a bit of a rest from the tarmac roads.

As far as I know people got lost because a marshal and the corresponding sign went missing before the race...so i suppose the problem was relying on unreliable people.

Relay marathon was a good idea and makes it more accessible for more people!

Krusty_Clown

1 star (terrible)

hot to trot wrote: »

I enjoyd most of this. I did think the second half was considerably worse than the first half as regards safety of terrain. I strained my calf on a bad wobbly bit on the way but such is life.

I didn't realize you were doing this one. Would've gone looking for you to say hello! I wasn't wearing my Boards singlet, as it was supposed to be a training run (I reserve the Boards singlet for the races!). Hope the calf's ok.

Oisin11178

3 stars (average)

hot to trot wrote: »

I enjoyd most of this. I did think the second half was considerably worse than the first half as regards safety of terrain. I strained my calf on a bad wobbly bit on the way but such is life.
The civil defense 4wd jeep got stuck on the grassy cut through track and it took ages to get it out. I managed to squeeze past but I couldn help wondering about Jerry in his chair- he would have been safer to turn around at the half way mark and just double back to the start . I hope he wasnt left stuck in the middle up to his hubs in muck, or toppled over , such was the incline. He is something else though isnt he. Such an inspiration.
One concern was the lack of medical /first aid on the route. If you got into bother , you were a long way from help . Matters like this are as important as stewarding, in that a twisted ankle on a bog road was a long hobble to civilization.
MIght go back next year , depending on what it is on around the same time.
Liked the medal even though you had to go look for it .

Yeah i saw you at the start and thought i could have a chat at the end but didnt see you. Well done on the race:D

hot to trot

2 stars (poor)

I saw Oisin and a few of the lads, always great to see them . Didnt know you were going either Krusty.
Calf muscle still very tender but not limping as much today. Fingers crossed I will be able to run in two weeks. tore a small portion where the inner calf muscle goes into the achilles. Bah. Still. I have a pulse:D

Oisin11178

3 stars (average)

Whats on in 2 weeks htt?

hot to trot

2 stars (poor)

Was going to give Belfast a go to and see how I got on , as I currently stand, and then prepare properly for it next year to improve and progress. But dont tell Krusty;)
I had entered for the kilomathon but wont be up for it now.
That is if I can get this damn thing to heel quickly , otherwise I will be doing nought.

Krusty_Clown

1 star (terrible)

hot to trot wrote: »

But dont tell Krusty;)

I can hardly talk. Three marathons and an ultra so far (though technically it's two marathons and two ultras ), with another three marathons planned for the rest of the year.

hot to trot

2 stars (poor)

I did 5 and a short ultra but I promise I will do speedwork and hills once I recover from this.;)
I know after Barcelona , I said I would cut back but I find anything other than at least a marathon distance uninteresting. I couldnt motivate myself for 10k's etc.
YOu will have to give me the talk again, when you next see me.:D

Oisin11178

3 stars (average)

hot to trot wrote: »

I did 5 and a short ultra but I promise I will do speedwork and hills once I recover from this.;)
I know after Barcelona , I said I would cut back but I find anything other than at least a marathon distance uninteresting. I couldnt motivate myself for 10k's etc.
YOu will have to give me the talk again, when you next see me.:D

All the best up in belfast. Ill be rooting for you:D

Aimman

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I wasn't wearing my Boards singlet, as it was supposed to be a training run (I reserve the Boards singlet for the races!).

Was it yourself that was wearing No.10 and flew past me around mile 20, just after the forest trail and asked me if I was enjoying the marathon run?

Krusty_Clown

1 star (terrible)

Aimman wrote: »

Was it yourself that was wearing No.10 and flew past me around mile 20, just after the forest trail and asked me if I was enjoying the marathon run?

Nah, I was wearing 40 (red and white singlet). I thought I ran with you for a bit at the start of the bog section, but it must have been SarsfieldRock.. Oops. Got the Boards usernames mixed up.

sarsfieldsrock

1 star (terrible)

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Nah, I was wearing 40 (red and white singlet). I thought I ran with you for a bit at the start of the bog section, but it must have been SarsfieldRock.. Oops. Got the Boards usernames mixed up.

Yep. that was me. But it was just before the bog road at 23 miles. That piece of track (?) wrecked my head. It looked like a right of way that had just had the grass cut after 20 years of non use. You could not run in it without risking injury as you could not see the footing. I had been going along fine up to that but lost the plot a bit after I had to pick my way through that.
Apart from piece I didn't think the rest was that bad. The hills were rough but you got to go down them as well.
I did have the Boards singlet on. No 47.

Aimman

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Nah, I was wearing 40 (red and white singlet). I thought I ran with you for a bit at the start of the bog section, but it must have been SarsfieldRock.. Oops. Got the Boards usernames mixed up.

Ah, we might have been running for a little while so, because Sarsfieldrock just passed me with a couple of people right as I was entering that bog section, and then ran with him for a while once I caught back up. I was wearing a blue top, but not a Boards one (waiting for the Boards Technical Top thread to get sorted out to buy one,:rolleyes:)

I just checked the marathon photos and I must have got the numbers wrong anyway, No. 10 finished in 4:40 so it obviously wasnt him that went passed me. Ended up getting snapped in 22 pictures, probably the biggest sighting of me in history, haha. Tempted to get one of the finishing photos keeping yer man off my heels.