2019 DEEP RIVER ROCK BELFAST CITY MARATHON on a SUNDAY!!
Great news this week with the announcement at the launch of the 2019 Deep River Rock Belfast City Marathon, that not only would there be a new, faster, flatter route but that for the first time the Marathon would take place on SUNDAY 5th May 2019 in a long awaited break with tradition.
David Seaton Chairman of Belfast City Marathon Organising Committee made the announcement at Wednesday’s launch at the Glasshouse, Stormont Cottages, that the Belfast City Council, the churches and the traders in Belfast City centre had come together with the PSNI, Translink and the emergency services to agree with the Committee that the BCM like all the other big city marathons would move to Sunday. This, he added, would make life easier for shoppers and traders on the Bank Holiday Monday and also benefit the runners who would have the Monday free to relax and recover.
Officials and Sponsors representatives at Stormont launch of Belfast City Marathon
WHAT WAS I DOING THERE?
Well as a low key member of the aforementioned Marathon Committee I’d been invited to several similar events in the past and not been able to attend but when I received the invitation to the 2019 launch the significance of the occasion was too much to resist. So I went along just to see who was going to be there and as well as Radio and TV personalities , Jackie Fullerton and Noel Thompson I had the privilege of meeting Commonwealth Gold Medallist and World Gymnastics Champion Rhys McClenaghan, who is coincidentally the Ambassador for AMH (See below). And a very pleasant and committed young man he is too, and also Shirley McCay a Silver Medallist in the Ireland Women’s Hockey Team which finished as runners- up in the recent World Championship in London.
Joe Quinn and Noel Thompson at BCM 2019 launch
CHARITIES
This year’s official charities are Belfast Arthroplasty Research Trust (BART); Cancer Focus NI; Stroke Association; Air Ambulance NI and Action Mental Health (AMH) so if you feel like helping raise money for one or more of these excellent charities, then take your pick. Though if you know about East Down AC you’ll probably know that the last mentioned is our much valued landlord and we’d appreciate if you chose AMH as your charity to support.
.BE PART OF HISTORY
So now it’s up to you – the RUNNERS. Especially those of you who complained over the years that it should always have been on Sunday and who wouldn’t run it until it was moved etc. etc. It has taken a long time and a lot of hard work on the part of Committee members and City Council officials to reach this milestone so now it’s up to you. Get out there and tell your friends, neighbours and indeed anyone you come across to train and get ready for this historic event, made even more attractive by having a completely new route, starting on Prince of Wales Avenue in the grounds of Stormont Estate with Parliament Buildings as a magnificent backdrop, and finishing in Ormeau Park.
FLAT and FAST??
The new route takes in all quarters of the city and is flatter and faster than ever before – so it’s right up there with the best of the other ones and suitable for PBs galore!. Though on a personal note I have to say that I always enjoyed the long haul up the Antrim Rd, it was a good place to make up some ground on the flat earth specialists. It always made me feel that all those hours running up hills around Downpatrick had not been in vain! Though I won’t miss the boring and featureless, not to mention, spectatorless run along the lough shore from Gideon’s Green and the soul-destroying Duncrue St/Link area which thankfully have been axed. However I reckon it’s only as fast as your legs can get you round it and as your “home” marathon it’s the one to go for. I did my PB there, many moons ago.
RUN FORREST RUN??
You would actually think I was going to run the race itself but unfortunately it is with a heavy heart that I have to admit it will not be possible. I would love to be able to take part in the race itself as I have completed all the earlier versions of the route and with it being on the Sunday too I will certainly be on the verge of tears at just having to watch. But then again I will be involved in assisting at some point on the course so I’ll still get my kicks wherever.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
To cater for all fitness levels, the event will include a Marathon/Wheelchair Race, Team Relay, 8 Mile Walk and Fun Run. An early entry rate will apply until 31st October 2018
ENTRY DETAILS
Entries are NOW OPEN at www.belfastcitymarathon.com via the brand new MyTicket App. Details of the 2019 Marathon route can be found there also.
ENTRY FEES
MARATHON (UNREGISTERED RUNNERS)
Early Rate (ends 31st Oct) ………………………………………………£40
Middle Rate (ends 28th Feb) ……………………………………………£55
Final Rate (ends 12th Apr) ………………………………………………£65
MARATHON (REGISTERED RUNNERS)
Early Rate (ends 31st Oct) ………………………………………………£38
Middle Rate (ends 28th Feb) …………………………………………..£53
Final Rate (ends 12th Apr) ……………………………………………..£63
TEAM RELAY
(Teams of 5 in either All Male, All Female, or Mixed Categories)
Early Rate (ends 31st Oct) ………………………………………….£100
Middle Rate (ends 28th Feb) ……………………………………….£120
Final Rate (ends 12th Apr) ………………………………………….£140
RELAY LEGS
Leg A. Stormont Castle to Ormeau Park- — 6.9 miles
Leg B. Ormeau Park to Boucher Road — — 3.9 miles.
Leg C. Boucher Road to Falls Road ———- 4.5 miles.
Leg D. Falls Road to Duncairn Gardens —- 5.2 miles.
Leg E. Duncairn Gardens to Ormeau Park — 5.7 miles.
So why not get a team together if you’re not up to marathon distance yet and let them pick which leg they want to do? It couldn’t be easier. And get your entries in early to save some money – you can always donate the extra £s to you chosen charity?
TEN MILE RACE IN MAGHERAFELT “worth going back to”
Carmel Tumelty was the only EDAC runner who participated on home soil over the weekend when she travelled to Magherafelt for the Tafelta AC 10 mile race and was happy to record 1.36.38 as it was her first competitive outing following a break from running/training. It was made all the sweeter when she was awarded the prize for finishing 2nd in the Female Over 45 category. The race was organised by Tafelta AC and it was their 1st race since they formed in 2016 starting and finishing at Meadowbank Sports Arena. The course itself was a tale of 2 halves – the 1st was relatively flattish with a few bumps in the road and the 2nd was full of climbs with sharp down hills but all in all it was a great event. Carmel and husband Francis were fulsome in their praise for the organisation of the race and the post race refreshments and also that the £800 pot of prize money which extended to 1st & 2nd in all Masters age groups was great for those runners who wouldn’t normally get close to winning a prize. Francis finished 9th overall in 1.02.26 which was good enough to take 2nd place prize in the M45 category. Their final word on the event? It’s definitely a race we would go back to. So there’s one for the future for all those looking for a race somewhere different.
BERLIN MARATHON
Chris Smith travelled a little further than Carmel, to Berlin to be precise, where his presence frightened Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge to run the 26.2 miles faster than anyone else has ever done before, clocking 2.01.39. He still looked full of running at the finish line. Not to be outdone Chris too set a new PB, crossing the line in 3.29.01, which knocked over 4 minutes off his time in Dublin last October. So well done to him.
And while it’s still fresh in your mind, Chris, why not stick in your entry for Belfast 2019 now and go for an even faster PB? Or to everyone else reading this why not buy your husband/wife/partner/son/daughter/mother/father or even your worst enemy an entry now?? And save yourself some money if you do it now? Now there’s novel Christmas present idea!!
Chris Smith after the Berlin Marathon on Sunday 16 September 2019
Joe Quinn
17 September 2019
PS – My fellow scribe Alison Carroll has been sunning herself in Nice since last Thursday but she assures me she has not been idle all the time as she had to support husband Paul who was competing in an Ironman triathlon and who in spite of recent injuries which affected his training completed the event, which culminated with a Half Marathon run, in 5 .02.41. This placed him 120th overall out of 2278 and 14th out of 334 in his O/45 Age Group, which by any standards is a superb effort but given the heat which is a significant feature in the South of France at this time of year, it’s much better than that. Well done Paul & Alison as No.1 supporter.