Cork Womens Mini-Marathon Race Route and FAQ

                The race starts at 1pm on Sunday September 27th

                    Organised and Hosted by Cork Athletics

Evening Echo Women's Mini-Marathon Flagship Sponsor Logo
Kearys Motor Group sponsor's logo Tipperary Water sponsor's logo Cork Athletic Race organiser logo Evening Echo Mini-Marathon event Facebook page

The Course FAQ

Mini-Marathon 2015

Mini-Marathon Stewards Appeal

The Course

Nominally called a 4 mile race, the course is actually 3.91 miles long and is approx. 145 metres short of 4 miles.
Route map, on MapMyRun.com

Course Video

Fast action view of the course

Mini Marathon Start Area
Starting on Centre Park Road, just after the junction with Mill Road,

0.75 Miles - Marquee Entry zone
0.75 Miles - Marquee Entry Zone


Turn right onto Marina
Turn right, onto Marina, at Lee Rowing Club

1 Mile
The 1 Mile Mark is approx. where the overhead barrier (removed) is, by the slip road down to Pairc Ui Caoimh

Marina, Approaching Blackrock Village
Marina, approaching Blackrock Village

Turn right at Grotto in Blackrock Village
Turn right at Grotto in Blackrock Village, and right again, onto Blackrock Road

2 Miles
By entrance to Eden (old Ursuline Convent)

St Michael's Church, Blackrock
St Michael's Church, Blackrock

Downhill into Ballintemple, approaching the 3 Mile mark
Downhill into Ballintemple, approaching the 3 Mile mark

Turn right onto Maryville
Turn right onto Maryville

Downhill on Maryville, passing CAB, with the 3 Mile Mark on the hill
Downhill on Maryville, passing CAB, with the 3 Mile Mark on the hill

3 Miles
The 3 Mile Mark is on the downhill section on Maryville

Passing Sutton's Coal, with about a half Mile to go
Passing Sutton's Coal, with about a half Mile to go

The Finish Line, by Kennedy Park
The Finish Line, by Kennedy Park
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FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I enter?  
2. Where is the entry desk in Cork    FAQ list
3. Can I enter online?    FAQ list
4. I entered online this week but I never got my number.    FAQ list
5. I lost/forgot my race number.    FAQ list
6. Where do I wear my number?   
7. I haven't entered and don't have a number
8. I haven't entered, I want all my money to go to charity
9. Where do I go on the day?
10.  I intend running, is there a separate area for runners?
11. I intend walking, but I want to get away early. Can I start at the front?
12. What is the Route?
13. How long is the race?
14. Are there water stations along the course?
15. Are there toilets on the course?
16. What medical backup is there?
17. What if I see a medical emergency?
18. Will there be traffic on the course?
19. What happens when we finish?
20. When will the results be available?
21. Can I bring my dog with me?
22. Can I bring a buggy or stroller?
23. Can I use roller blades/skates/scooter/etc?
24. Can push a bed or similar?
25. May I wear an IPOD, MP3 player or similar.

1. How can I enter?
You can enter
a) on-line on the Evening Echo Mini-Marathon website, up to Thursday evening, Sept 25th
b) at the Mini-Marathon entry desk, upstairs in Debenham's Department Store, in Patrick's St/Merchant's Quay, Cork, up to 8pm on Thursday evening, Sept 25th
FAQ list

2. Where is the entry desk in Cork
The Mini-Marathon entry desk is upstairs in Debenham's Department Store, in Patrick's St/Merchant's Quay, Cork and is open until 8pm on Thursday evening, Sept 25th
FAQ list

3. Can I enter online?
Yes, until Thursday evening, September 25.  See the Evening Echo Mini-Marathon website
FAQ list

4. I entered online this week but I never got my number.
Numbers were not posted out for entries received after Tuesday 23rd Sep.  You must collect your number form one of the desks on Victoria Road and Mill Road, on Sunday morning.
FAQ list

5. I lost/forgot my race number.
Go to one of the desks on Victoria Road and Mill Road, on Sunday morning
FAQ list

6. Where do I wear my number?
Wear your number on your FRONT. This is essential to ensure that
a) Your details can be recorded quickly after you finish
b) You can be identified in photographs
c) Most importantly, that you can be identified rapidly in the event of a medical emergency.
FAQ list

7. I haven't entered and don't have a number
If you don't have a number, you will NOT be admitted to the start areas.  If you join in somewhere along the course, you will NOT be covered by the race insurance, and will be taking personal liability for any mishap you may cause.  After you finish you will NOT receive a finisher's medal or goodie bag.
If you are involved in a medical emergency, we will not know who you are and will not have your details.
FAQ list

8. I haven't entered, I want all my money to go to charity
This event costs a lot of money to organise, however the event organisers, Cork County Board, Athletics Ireland, maintain the entry charge at a low rate, significantly below that of most other similar events.  There are many "hidden" costs that you  may not have considered; Insurance entrants in this event are covered by insurance - anyone who has not entered will not be covered.  Portaloos, barriers, including transport for these, security personnel, medical services, race numbers, pins (yes - you may only use 4, but some 50,000 pin are required @ approx. €15 per 1,000), phone & postage, race flyers, information leaflets (distributed to houses and businesses along the course), signage, public address, race radios and many, many more costs.  No Athletics Ireland official or steward receives any money from this event - all time and services are provided free of charge.  The big winners in this event are the various charities chosen by the charities themselves - approx. €1.5 million will be raised for charity this Sunday - all of which will be given directly to the charities by the participants. So, if people didn't pay their entry fee, it would not be possible to cover the costs of organising and running this event and the big losers would be the charities.
FAQ list

9. Where do I go on the day?
This year, there are two separate pre-start holding areas; one for runners and another for walkers.

Entrance to the walkers start holding area is via Mill Road, off Victoria Road. There will be no restriction to this start area.

Entrance to the runners start holding area is via Centre Park Road, via Victoria Road Roundabout. Only those with runners numbers will be admitted to this start area.

Other roads in the area will be closed off and barriered, with security personnel present.  There will be no access from wither the quay area or Centre Park Road.
Entry to Mini-Marathon start/Holding area
Entry to Mini-Marathon Walkers start/holding area
.
Mini-Marathon pre-start holding area
Mini-Marathon Walkers pre-start holding area
FAQ list

10.  I intend running, is there a separate area for runners?
There is a separate start area for runners. However there are different coloured numbers for runners and walkers and only those with the correct colour will be admitted to the runners area. 

FAQ list

11. I intend walking, but I want to get away early. Can I start at the front?
If you arrive early, you may be able to find a place for yourself at the front of the Walkers start holding area. The runners will start first, followed immediately by those in the walkers enclosure.  Otherwise there may be jostling and pushing.  We want everyone to enjoy their experience.
FAQ list


12. What is the Route?
The route can be seen here, on MapMyRun. the start line is on Centre Park Road, just after Mill Road.  There is a Fast action Video overview of the course.
The race continues east, along Centre Park Road, as far as the Marina, where it turns right and heads east towards Blackrock village. Turning right in Blackrock, at approx. half-way, the route heads back, along Blackrock Road, towards the city, and the finish area.  In Ballintemple, the course turns right into Maryville, passing the 3 mile mark, before turning left onto Monaghan Road and directly on to the finish line.  The course is essentially flat, with only one real, relatively short, drag/hill, coming out of Blackrock village.
FAQ list

13. How long is the race?
Nominally 4 miles, the route is approx. 145 metres short of 4 miles (approx. 3.91 miles)
FAQ list

14. Are there water stations along the course?
The water stations are at the finish area, in Kennedy Park.  For safety (trip/fall hazard) and environmental reasons, there are no water stations along the route.  When you have finished your water bottle, please dispose of it in one off the bins provided, in a public litter bin, or take it home with you. Please respect the environment and the goodwill of those living along the route and in the start and finish areas.
FAQ list

15. Are there toilets on the course?
There will be portaloos
a) On Victoria Road, before entering the start/holding area.
b) On Mill Road, in the start/holding area.
c)  In Blackrock Village, at approx.2 miles
d)  In Kennedy Park, in the zone after the finishing chutes.
FAQ list

16. What medical backup is there?
There is a Medical Plan in place for this event.  There will be several ambulance and first-aid crews along the route.  There will be stationary ambulances
a) In Blackrock Village (manned by The order of Malta)
b) In Kennedy Park (manned by St John's Ambulance Brigade)
A Red Cross ambulance will follow at the rear of the race.
In addition there will be two roving Civil Defence ambulances, along with a Civil Defence jeep.
There will also be several para-medics on bicycles, and a medical doctor will be in attendance at the finish area, in Kennedy Park
FAQ list

17. What if I see a medical emergency?
Each steward on the course has the contact details for the race medical personnel, so contact one of them. In the event of a major emergency, do not hesitate to ring 999 or 112.
FAQ list

18. Will there be traffic on the course?
The route will be closed to traffic, however given the large number of houses and premises opening onto the route, it will not be possible to keep all traffic off of it, but yes, it will, essentially be traffic free. The course will be opened up gradually, after the main body of walkers has passed through.  Stragglers may be asked to use the footpaths.
FAQ list

19. What happens when we finish?
After you finish, you will be directed into one of sixteen finishing chutes in Kennedy Park. This is so that your race number can be recorded in the correct order. If other chutes appear to be going faster, please do not be tempted to change places as that will result in all finishers after you being given incorrect places.  Wheelchair users and similar will be directed to a separate chute on Monaghan Road and will not have to enter the grassy area.  After your details have been recorded, at the end of your finishing chute, you will be directed to the goodie bag & finishers medal areas, where you must hand in your race number to receive your goodie bag & finishers medal.  No Number - No goodie Bag or Finishers Medal!!   There will be Tipperary Water in the finish area.
FAQ list

20. When will the results be available?
The official results will be published in a special souvenir supplement of The Evening Echo, on Sat October 3rd.
FAQ list

21. Can I bring my dog with me?
No.  Guide dogs may be used by visually impaired participants, or other registered assistance dogs.  All other dogs are prohibited for safety and insurance reasons.
FAQ list

22. Can I bring a buggy or stroller?
No.  Buggies or strollers may not be used on the course, for safety and insurance reasons.  There will be approx. 11,000 participants in this event, in a relatively confined space.
FAQ list

23. Can I use roller blades/skates/scooter/etc?
No.  None of these may be used on the course, for safety and insurance reasons. There will be approx. 11,000 participants in this event, in a relatively confined space.
FAQ list

24. Can push a bed or similar?
No. None of these may be used on the course, for safety and insurance reasons. There will be approx. 11,000 participants in this event, in a relatively confined space.
FAQ list

25. May I wear an IPOD, MP3 player or similar.
These are NOT recommended, for safety and insurance reasons.  Why not leave them at home, and enjoy the special buzz and atmosphere of this unique event!
FAQ list

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