Preview of the 2011 Dublin City Marathon

Here is some basic info regarding the 2011 Dublin City Marathon.....

From the Irish Independent......A record number of entrants will take part in Monday's marathon.
Organisers are confident that over 14,000 will start, breaking last year's record of 13,257 and the increased numbers will see the introduction of a 'wave' system at the start for the first time. Wheelchair competitors will set off at 9.45, followed by the elite and the under 3 hours 30 minutes categories at 9.50. Runners who expect to achieve between 3:30-4:15 minutes will start at 9.55, and those who don't expect to break 4:15 will start at 10.0.

"It's a system that has worked very well for us in the National Lottery Summer Race Series and will help us iron out the problems at the early race 'pinch' points we have at the bottom of Dawson Street and at the gate into the Phoenix Park," said Dublin Marathon Race Director Jim Aughney.

For the most part, the marathon course remains the same as usual with the start on Fitzwilliam Street Upper and the finish on Merrion Square North. The only change comes at the Phoenix Park, where road works on Chesterfield Avenue (the main road) mean the route will take the North Road and Ordnance Survey Road before picking up the old route at Upper Glen Road.

A popular addition to the race last year were the Spar Cheering Zones located outside the many Spar shops along the route. Spar staff will again extend their support to runners.

Close up of the start / finish area

There are some hills, especially early on in the Phoenix Park. Despite what the graph above might suggest, they aren't all that bad and any bad sections tend to be pretty short.

Dublin...Run the 2011 Dublin City Marathon for charity

This year, Children’s Medical & research Foundation (CMRF) is one of the official charity partners of the marathon and they are calling on anyone planning to run the marathon to do so for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.  CMRF is offering a marathon VIP package which for €300 includes four training clinics with former world champion and Olympian Eamonn Coghlan.  All proceeds from the VIP packages will go to the charity. Below is what the VIP Package contains,

For an upfront payment of 300 euro (to the first 100 sign ups) you will receive the following VIP benefits.
·         Free entry into the Dublin Marathon (value of 70 euro plus)
·         Opportunity to attend Eamonn Coghlan's marathon training clinics in July, August and September and October.
·         Entry into a draw for a free place on our Kilometers for Kids team at the New York Marathon 2012
·         Kilometers for Kids fundraising pack including your running top and Eamonn Coghlan Marathon Training Guide.
·         Free opportunity to get your running shoes on with Fitsquad – Weekly Running Workshops. For more details click on http://fitsquad.ie/inner.php?itemID=2425
·         Goodie bag with discount vouchers for health and fitness


More info....... RUN FOR CRUMLIN
JOIN TEAM EAMONN COGHLAN AT THIS YEAR’S DUBLIN MARATHON
Former world champion and Olympian Eamonn Coghlan today called on runners around Ireland to join ‘Team Eamonn Coghlan’ for this year’s National Lottery Dublin Marathon (31st October 2011) to help raise money for the Children’s Medical & Research Foundation (CMRF) at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin.
The Foundation is an official charity partner of this year’s marathon and aims to raise vital funds for Crumlin hospital and research centre as part of its Kilometres for Kids Campaign. Funds raised will go towards a number of major initiatives including research into childhood obesity as well as the upgrade of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit on St. John’s Ward where children and teenagers with cancer are treated.
To join ‘Team Eamonn Coghlan’ participants should register with the National Lottery Dublin Marathon and then call Crumlin on 1890 507 508 for their fundraising pack which includes a marathon training guide and running top or log onto www.kilometresforkids.ie for further information.
For those who want some extra motivation or want to be in peak condition for the marathon, the CMRF is offering a special VIP package for 100 runners. The VIP Eamonn Coghlan Dublin Marathon package costs €300 and includes four training clinics with Eamonn, marathon registration and a chance to win a free place on Crumlin’s team at the New York marathon 2012. All proceeds raised form the VIP packages will go to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital.

Notes:
About the Children’s Medical & Research Foundation
The Children’s Medical & Research Foundation is the principal fundraising body for Our Lady’s Children's Hospital, Crumlin as well as the National Children’s Research Centre and is dedicated to working to improve the quality of life for this and future generations of sick children.
                               
About the Kilometres for Kids Campaign
Kilometres for Kids encompasses hundreds of walks, runs, marathon, cycles and triathlons all around the country that people can take part in to raise funds for our charity.  The campaign is set to bring in over One million Euros for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and the National Children’s Research Centre in 2011
This year money raised from the Kilometres for Kids campaign will go towards research into the national and international problem of childhood obesity and diabetes as well ward upgrades and the purchase of life saving medical equipment for the hospital.