17 January 2013

Tralee Marathon 2013 - 8 weeks to go!

Preparations for the first "The Kerry's Eye Tralee International Marathon" are in the advanced stages. 
All the information is
on the official Tralee Marathon website:
www.traleemarathon.com and 
on Facebook
There's still enough time to register and get some training done.

Below is some information that may be useful for runners and walkers and not covered on the official website. 


Routes for both Full and Half Marathon are confirmed and many local  runners are taking this opportunity to train on parts of the course.
The route for the Full Marathon will bring the participants from Tralee, starting at Wetlands (9:00am) to Ardfert (6miles/10K), Barrow (golf course)(10miles/16K), Churchill, Fenit (pier)(15miles/24K),Spa(19miles/30K) and Blennervillle, finishing back in Tralee.

First hill worth mentioning comes at mile 3 (just past Ballyroe Hotel) and after that you are just cruising for the next 3 miles all the way to Ardfert, home of St.Brendan's Athletics Club, first of many photo shoot opportunities. Left turn in Ardfert and flat road to the split section (approx.7.5miles)when Full Marathon participants will turn right to Barrow and Half Marathon participants will go straight ahead to Spa. 
Please pay attention to signs and marshals on route at this point!
 Just before Barrow, there will be approx. 3 miles in and out section and this may be the toughest challenge on course. To get to turn around point at Barrow golf course, you will have to ascent 60m in over 1.3km including approx. 300m (steep) hill at mile 10. Choice of running or walking this hill will depend on individual approach. View of the sea from top of the hill is spectacular (recommended as second photo opportunity).

On the way back from turn off point, there is a time to recover as the next 2 miles are down or flat before gradual climb to Churchill. The next (and the last) serious hill (approx. 500m) is at around half way point at 13 miles. Great spot to take a picture of Barrow hill across the bay.
Second half of the marathon should feel a bit easier, nice gradual descent (in and out section again) to Fenit pier (take picture of St.Brendans statue) and more or less flat road all the way to Tralee with small hill (at 18 miles) before Spa. There is last gradual climb, after mile 20 just before Tralee. Nothing worth  mentioning except for the fact that after 20 miles of running every little pile of rocks looks and might feel like Everest. From mile 22 all the way to finish line is down or flat, so if you have anything left in the tank, this will be the time to use it. 

You may want to have a quick pit stop to take a snap of Blennerville windmill before crossing the finish line and collecting your well deserved medal in Tralee.

Half Marathon route follow Full Marathon from Tralee to Ardfert but with starting point at High Street (9:20am) and splitting at 7.5miles from Full Marathon route going straight to Spa when both routes are joined again.
Good news is there are only 2 hills on the Half Marathon route: first at mile 3 (just past Ballyroe Hotel) and next after split from Full Marathon at 8 miles mark. Both hills are approx. 1km. 
It looks like there will be another split in Tralee town where Half Marathon participant's go directly to finish line and Full Marathon taking right turn to Blennerville before turning back to Tralee. 
Please pay attention to signs and marshals on route at this point!

Short summary:
Race is chip timed (Sports Timing.ie) with timing tag attached to bib.
Open for walkers.
Net time used - start counting when crossed start line not from the gun. 
Cut off time - 6 and half hours, no time will be recorded after 3:30pm.
Official County Kerry Half & Full Marathon Championships for members of athletics clubs in Kerry.
Water(Celtic Pure) stations will be placed every ca.3 miles (5K).


Sport gels (Squeezy) and Isotonic drinks on route.

Distance will be marked in miles, AAI permit granted.
Start time: Full - 9:00am, Half - 9:20am


No mp3/phone players allowed for safety reasons.

Entry: Half - 50, Full - 60

Closing date for on-line entry: 28 February 2013, no entry on the day.

Pacers for Full Marathon:3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00hrs

Will this be the new PB routes? Half Marathon most definitively. Full Marathon will be more challenging. What other people thinks? Leave you comment. 

1 comment:

  1. if the marathon is coming by Ballyard that is a nasty incline so close to the finish at around 25 miles.Perhaps 300-400 metres of a decent gradient.

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