New Half Marathon for Dublin 2012

jfh

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Absolutely. I've run the national half the last two years in a row, but if this is the national half next year, I reckon I'll be off to Charleville. By all reports it's a cracking race, with a very strong standard, that ticks all the boxes for runners.

charleville was my fav race this year, super organising & it's 14 euros cheaper than the R&R, also had 1:20 pacer.

TRR

RayCun wrote: »

ffs

They have starting corrals, so could accommodate a separate start. Had to laugh when I saw this


Can't make it to the 5 mile mark in under 80 minutes? Well hop on our bus for a lift to the 10 mile mark, and run in from there!

no way, that's a joke. I bet our cheating friend from DCM will be driving the bus

pconn062 wrote: »

So now both the national half and the national 10k championships have been lobbed in with novelty events (I don't care what anyone says, having the national 10k as part of the Great Ireland Run is a disaster). Bit of a joke really.

I'm not saying the national 10k is perfect but it doesn't bother me it's lobbed in with the GIR but I can see why some people don't like it. I have a few reservations about the rock 'n' roll event though. I actually don't like their model of business and my worry is that they will start up their own marathon to rival DCM. Apparently they tried to buy the rights to stage DCM in the same manner they bought out the Edinburgh marathon.

RayCun

asked on their facebook page (I'll say this for them, they have someone monitoring the page and answering queries quickly. More races should do it)

Is this going to be the national half marathon? If so, will there be a separate start for club members? And will the entry fee remain fixed for club members?

We're currently liaising with Athletics Ireland on this so I will be in touch ASAP with an answer for you. Thanks!

RacoonQueen

I've added a question. Only way I'll do this if it become the national half is if price is significantly lower than €44 big kick in the backside to clubs who've organised it, at their own expense in the past, if a company come in now and start charging an extra 20 - 25 yoyos

tunguska

RacoonQueen wrote: »

So, just looking through the AAI list of championship races for next year and it looks like this bull is going to be the national half marathon.

National half marathon is now listed as "Rock n Roll half marathon championships"
You're having a feckin' Giraffe

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Absolutely. I've run the national half the last two years in a row, but if this is the national half next year, I reckon I'll be off to Charleville. By all reports it's a cracking race, with a very strong standard, that ticks all the boxes for runners.

Ditto. Was gonna do Charleville anyway but now this will be my national half marathon instead.

RacoonQueen

Is Charleville not a bit close to Dublin? Was thinking Longford might be a good substitute?

RayCun

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I've added a question. Only way I'll do this if it become the national half is if price is significantly lower than €44 big kick in the backside to clubs who've organised it, at their own expense in the past, if a company come in now and start charging an extra 20 - 25 yoyos

On the other hand, it's a pain in the arse for clubs to organise the national half - all the hassle of putting on a race, but without any of the income. If it can be run as part of a regular race (regular club race/for profit/race series) that would make things easier, as long as there's a separate start for the championship runners.

Krusty_Clown

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Is Charleville not a bit close to Dublin? Was thinking Longford might be a good substitute?

It seemed to work out ok for: Sergiu Ciobanu, Sean Hehir, Gary O'Hanlon, Maria McCambridge, Barbara Sanchez, etc.

I suppose it really depends on whether or not you are treating is as a tune-up race, or an all-out blow-out, but 4-5 weeks before Dublin seems like a reasonable gap, allowing you to get 1-2 more decent long runs afterwards.

wrstan

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Only way I'll do this if it become the national half is if price is significantly lower than €44 big kick in the backside to clubs who've organised it, at their own expense in the past, if a company come in now and start charging an extra 20 - 25 yoyos

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Is Charleville not a bit close to Dublin? Was thinking Longford might be a good substitute?

I did Longford Half last year and enjoyed it, and I will most likely include it on my calendar for 2013. But it is not a cheap run by any means. If I recall correctly I paid €45 plus the standard booking fee last year. Compare that to the €15 for Ballycotton!

RacoonQueen

I emailed Athletics Ireland about this a couple of weeks ago. They confirmed this evening that this will be the national half.

RayCun

Still waiting for the route, and if there will be a separate start and cheaper entry for the competitors in the national half

RacoonQueen

RayCun wrote: »

Still waiting for the route, and if there will be a separate start and cheaper entry for the competitors in the national half

Yeah I'm going to email back re: cost. Have to double check what I paid last year 20 or 25 and then ask why the cost of participating in the national half has increased by so much...

edit: that wasn't very hard €20 and they're charging €44 at the moment.

TRR

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Yeah I'm going to email back re: cost. Have to double check what I paid last year 20 or 25 and then ask why the cost of participating in the national half has increased by so much...

edit: that wasn't very hard €20 and they're charging €44 at the moment.

20 euro for AAI members?

RacoonQueen

TRR wrote: »

20 euro for AAI members?

Yeah. I paid €20 as an AAI member for national half 2012. Rock n Roll is €44 for AAI members(last time I checked).

statss

Newbie question alert! : if I sign up to a club & pay my fees, does this make me a member of AAI too?

RayCun

statss wrote: »

Newbie question alert! : if I sign up to a club & pay my fees, does this make me a member of AAI too?

Yes. Your club registers you with AAI (who provide insurance etc)

statss

RayCun wrote: »

Yes. Your club registers you with AAI (who provide insurance etc)

Thanks Ray, that's good, paid my fee's there last week.

Krusty_Clown

Just got a mail from Athletics Ireland, promoting the event.

Athletics Ireland SPAM wrote:

*Athletics Ireland members receive an automatic 2€ discount upon registering, simply click the “Half Marathon- Athletics Ireland Members” option.

So the prices, if you are an AAI member are:
€44– 1 November, 2012 – 30 April, 2013
€47– 1 May, 2013 – 29 July, 2013
€53 — at Expo (if available)

Shocking! I also unsubscribed from the AAI newsletter, for sending out this kind of commercial crap.

tHE vAGGABOND

Two whole euro off, BRILLIANT </scarcasm>

Not going near this race, heard a huge amount of bad things about this organisation and other races they run.

pconn062

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

So the prices, if you are an AAI member are:
€44– 1 November, 2012 – 30 April, 2013
€47– 1 May, 2013 – 29 July, 2013
€53 — at Expo (if available)

Shocking! I also unsubscribed from the AAI newsletter, for sending out this kind of commercial crap.

Bollox to that, was looking forward to running my first National half this year after hearing good things about Athenry last year, not a hope I'm paying those prices though.

RacoonQueen

Was just coming on to ask of anyone else got this.

Clubs used to organise this at their own expense for half the price now we get this commercial crap. Shame to want to 'boycott' a race through dublins fair city...

menoscemo

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Just got a mail from Athletics Ireland, promoting the event.



So the prices, if you are an AAI member are:
€44– 1 November, 2012 – 30 April, 2013
€47– 1 May, 2013 – 29 July, 2013
€53 — at Expo (if available)

Shocking! I also unsubscribed from the AAI newsletter, for sending out this kind of commercial crap.

That's a bad joke. Definitely boycotting this one.

If they are worried about organising their own race, surely they could have made the Race series Half the national half instead of handing it over to these cowboys? I suppose it fits with the policy of the national 10k/GIR but at least there you can get a heavily discounted entry fee.

RayCun

What's the betting half the people complaining about the rise in race series prices will be doing this rip-off? :rolleyes::pac:
Charleville or the race series half for me so.

TRR

Would love to run this as it's through the city centre but the price is a serious turnoff. What's the bets the AAI got a serious wedge from the organising company (I think this is a fact), the least they could have done was negotiated a decent discount price for AAI members seen as it doubles as the national marathon. Two euro is actually an insult.

nerraw1111

The €2 is a bit insulting. Either give a discount or don't.

It’s as if they thought “you know those pesky club runners, they won’t be happy to pay €44. Perhaps we should really annoy them and offer a token €2 off.”

Odd that AAI are behind it. In a recession. During a running boom.

wrstan

Excuse the contrarian view, but I don't really understand the outrage. Entry for the Longford HM in August is currently €43 and from my memory there's a couple of sneaky quid slapped on top of that as a so called booking fee. I was surprised last year at how pricey it was and how little comment that provoked. As an aside, I really enjoyed Longford last year and plan to enter again this year.

nerraw1111 wrote: »

The €2 is a bit insulting. Either give a discount or don't.

I defnitely agree with that view, if you're going to give a discount give one that's worth the effort.

menoscemo

wrstan wrote: »

Excuse the contrarian view, but I don't really understand the outrage. Entry for the Longford HM in August is currently €43 and from my memory there's a couple of sneaky quid slapped on top of that as a so called booking fee. I was surprised last year at how pricey it was and how little comment that provoked. As an aside, I really enjoyed Longford last year and plan to enter again this year.

It's just that the national Half would normally cost €20. I raced Longford myself but it was my own decision as it fitted my Marathon plan. It just seems like the AAI are selling off the national half to the highest bidder (an overseas one too). If they don't want the hassle of organising their own race there are plenty of exisiting and cheaper Irish races they could fit the national half into (Race series half, Charelville etc).

ultrapercy

wrstan wrote: »

Excuse the contrarian view, but I don't really understand the outrage. Entry for the Longford HM in August is currently €43 and from my memory there's a couple of sneaky quid slapped on top of that as a so called booking fee. I was surprised last year at how pricey it was and how little comment that provoked. As an aside, I really enjoyed Longford last year and plan to enter again this year.




I defnitely agree with that view, if you're going to give a discount give one that's worth the effort.

yes but the Longford marathon is a commercial race(with a substancial prize fund) you can choose to do it or not. The national half is a national competition that should be accessable and afordable to members, the governing body should ensure this but that is not the case.

Krusty_Clown

Exactly. The issue is not with the race itself (though I have my own issues with the race), but rather the AAI's alignment with a large, commercial, non-Irish, expensive, mickey-mouse race for our national half marathon competition, which is in direct competition with existing half-marathons that are funded and run by Irish clubs.

I cannot understand why the AAI didn't consider the Charleville Half marathon for the national half. Charleville is run by an Athletics club (North Cork AC), costs a far more reasonable €30 to enter (before any potential AAI discounts), is a fast course, and is already attracting a high standard of club runner. The race takes place approximately 5/6 weeks before the national marathon, so is a natural fit.

RacoonQueen

wrstan wrote: »

Excuse the contrarian view, but I don't really understand the outrage. Entry for the Longford HM in August is currently €43 and from my memory there's a couple of sneaky quid slapped on top of that as a so called booking fee. I was surprised last year at how pricey it was and how little comment that provoked. As an aside, I really enjoyed Longford last year and plan to enter again this year.




I defnitely agree with that view, if you're going to give a discount give one that's worth the effort.

I think the issues have already been listed. The national half normally costs €20 to enter, this is currently TWICE that.

Clubs have organised this race previously at their own expense and received no portion of the entry fee. Reportedly.

They're taking the piss.

ger664

Also Charleville is AIMS certified. It must really sicken clubs like this who go to the bother of organising and running good events to have the AAI overlook them and give the national half to external for profit organisation.

tunguska

I was gonna keep quiet, not moan and just do the feckin race..........until I saw the price. 42 bills is ridiculous considering it was 20 for a great race in athenry last year. Dont wanna be a drama queen or anything but I cant run this race, a line has to be drawn at some point. Wonder what Athletics Ireland got for selling us out? Heard the last lad got 30 pieces of silver.

TRR

tunguska wrote: »

Wonder what Athletics Ireland got for selling us out? Heard the last lad got 30 pieces of silver.

I heard a figure!!!!!!!

This race will still sell out regardless but hopefully enough AAI members will boycott it to send a message to the AAI that this is not acceptable.

ecoli

Number of issues with it for me

1) The "discount" is a bit of a disgrace as this will be the difference of the booking fee for most events and I think they would probably recieve more grief over that figure than they would have if they didnt offer any discount

2) I think the move is bad for the sport in this country in general. Why not align with an event that will actually contribute to the sport. Look at how much good has come from the Marathon Mission and the funds provided as a result of this race which is also a for profit race. The RnR are a global brand which takes money out of the country.
Of the money recieved by the AAI I wonder how much will be redistributed to either HP or grass routes level? If it goes to some use fair enough but the way I see it the sport (and the economics of the sport) will suffer as a result of this relationship

3)The cost is going to price a fair few club runners out of their National Championship. This in itself is bad enough

TRR

Im going to try and get all aai members to boycott this race and then turn up myself and claim a national title. Result

RayCun

another update

Currently finalising the fees for National Half Marathon Championship athletes. The €2 discount is for all AAI members who register for the race as individuals, not the Championships. We will have an update for you in relation to this ASAP so stay in touch. Thanks.

RacoonQueen

RayCun wrote: »

another update

I think they read boards

Why would they have sent out the email yesterday and tell us that it was going to be the national half marathon championships and NOT mention that?

dingonerd

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I think they read boards

Why would they have sent out the email yesterday and tell us that it was going to be the national half marathon championships and NOT mention that?

Just got same back from RocknRoll Dublin on twitter

€2 discount is for all AAI members who enter race as indiv.Finalising fee for National 1/2 Marathon champs w/ AAI.More info soon.

Amateurish

RacoonQueen

dingonerd wrote: »

Just got same back from RocknRoll Dublin on twitter

€2 discount is for all AAI members who enter race as indiv.Finalising fee for National 1/2 Marathon champs w/ AAI.More info soon.

Amateurish

I enquired about this with organisers months ago and with AAI more recently and was fobbed off. Does make you wonder if feedback from here might have forced a rethink?

Why send out an email yesterday announcing the half marathon championships are partnered with this race if entry for the half marathon champs is not yet open?

ThePiedPiper

I think there's a language breakdown with our American friends. I've translated it for everyone using special software.

"We thought that those Irish runners would be so happy to have a half marathon that they wouldn't give a $h!t if it was a rip-off, now we acknowledge that we're going to pi$$ off the AAI members and better try to cover our asses to pretend that we hadn't finalised the details".

dingonerd

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I enquired about this with organisers months ago and with AAI more recently and was fobbed off. Does make you wonder if feedback from here might have forced a rethink?

Why send out an email yesterday announcing the half marathon championships are partnered with this race if entry for the half marathon champs is not yet open?

Feedback must have had some sort of influence. Why announce a (miserly) €2 discount for AAI members who enter the race and then decide at a later date that they will have a different price for AAI members for the same race.

RacoonQueen

They've updated facebook

Good news from Athletics Ireland!Entry to the National Half Marathon Championships will be fixed at €25 (as part of the Rock n Roll Dublin Half Marathon). Details on how to enter will follow shortly.Thanks

Boards wins.

average_runner

RacoonQueen wrote: »

They've updated facebook



Boards wins.

Why is it like getting blood from a stone in getting information from organisations in Ireland

Krusty_Clown

RacoonQueen wrote: »

They've updated facebook
Boards wins.

Great news (though I reckon I'm still off to Charleville (stubborn and bitter )).

ThePiedPiper

I might actually consider doing the race now. €25 is decent value, and the novelty factor might make it interesting.

average_runner

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Great news (though I reckon I'm still off to Charleville (stubborn and bitter )).

Maybe they will have good rock band at the finish with some good beer!

I accept AC/DC!!

nerraw1111

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=193hOTS5xUI

dingonerd

RacoonQueen wrote: »

They've updated facebook



Boards wins.

Nice one!

Got this from the yanks on twitter earlier (@RnRDublinHalf for those of you who loiter on twitter)

Rock'nRoll Dublin ‏RnRDublinHalf
@dingonerd Entry to the National 1/2 Marathon Champs will be fixed at €25 (as part of RnR Dublin).Details on how to enter to follow

dingonerd

TRR wrote: »

Im going to try and get all aai members to boycott this race and then turn up myself and claim a national title. Result

Looks like your cunning plan has been blown out of the water!!

tHE vAGGABOND

Only 3 or 4 entries per club or elites only or something