RACE DAY INFO 2022 - Connemarathon

RACE DAY INFO 2022

We hope you enjoy your Connemarathon experience on
April 24th and have included some key information here
          that will help your day run smoothly.

  If you are looking for information that is not in this
      booklet you will find it on the event website.

              www.connemarathon.com

YOUR RACE PACK
In the post...
If you selected postage during registration your race pack and t-shirt have already
been posted to you and you can just make your way to the race buses on Sunday
morning. Do not forget to bring your race bib and baggage label with you!

In person...
If you are collecting your race pack and t-shirt you can do so in Galway or Clifden at
the following times and locations (see the website for maps and directions):

PorterShed, Market Street Car Park,       Clifden Station House Hotel
Galway City (near Saint Nicholas' Church)
Friday April 22nd – 5pm to 8pm                Friday April 22nd – no collection
Saturday April 23rd – 10am to 4pm             Saturday April 23rd – 7pm to 9pm

There is no race number collection on race day.

For the Galway City location find Market Street Car Park and you will see the
Connemarathon signs. Note that this is a different location to previous years and you
should park in a different car park and walk to the building, especially on Saturday as
this is a small and busy city centre car park.

The ultra t-shirt (on the right) is slightly different to the main event t-shirt so make
sure you claim the right one!

Each race distance has a different colour bib:

Half Marathon: blue bibs
Full Marathon: green bibs
Ultra Marathon: orange bibs

   – You must wear the correct bib for your race distance.
   – If collecting your race pack, please check that your date of birth is correct on
     your race envelope (it will be in the format MM/DD/YYYY).
   – Your timing chip is on the back of your race number.
   – Please fill out your details on the reverse of your bib.
   – Wear the bib to the front (safety pins are provided in your race pack – take
     care not to pierce your timing chip).
   – Ultras have a second bib (with no number) which they can wear to the back.
   – A friend can collect your race number for you but will need to know your
     name, date of birth and race distance.

GETTING TO THE START
All participants should take the race buses to the start lines. There is no parking at
any of the race starts. Your bus transfer is included in the race fee and you just need
to show your race number to board the bus. The weather can be very unpredictable
so bring appropriate clothing and make sure you can keep warm before your race.

BUSES FROM GALWAY & OUGHTERARD
Buses depart from the Cathedral car park in Galway City and will stop at the GAA
pitches in Oughterard for pick up. Parking at the car park at the GAA grounds is free
this year (paid for by the event), but the car park will be unsupervised so please park
sensibly and don't block anyone in. There is free parking on Sundays in various
locations in Galway City and limited parking at the Cathedral.

Ultra Marathon
Depart Cathedral car park in Galway City at 7:00am
Pick up at the GAA pitches in Oughterard at 7:30am
Full Marathon
Depart Cathedral car park in Galway City from 8:00am to 8:30am
Pick up at the GAA pitches in Oughterard from 8:30am to 9:00am
Half Marathon
Depart Cathedral car park in Galway City from 9:00am to 9:30am
Pick up at the GAA pitches in Oughterard from 9:30am to 10:15am

BUSES FROM CLIFDEN
Buses depart from the back of the Station House Hotel in Clifden.
Ultra Marathon
Depart at 7:15am
Full Marathon
Depart at 8:45am
Half Marathon
Depart at 9:20am. Half marathon buses travel to Leenane via Letterfrack.
Walkers should be on board the first buses.

BAGGAGE
Half and Full Marathon participants can leave a small bag on the truck at the race
start and pick it up at the finish line. Your race pack contains a baggage label/sticker
which matches your race bib number. Use a distinctive bag that you will easily
recognise.
Please note that the bags will be stored outdoors and it is your responsibility to
make sure that the contents of your bag are kept dry.
After the race you can enter the baggage area to collect your bag and will need to
show that your race number and baggage label match when exiting.
   • Put your post-race clothing in the bag.
   • Stick your baggage label around a strap on your bag similar to an airline
     luggage tag.
   • Place your bag on the baggage truck at the start area no later than 25 minutes
     before your race start. Tip: put your bag on the truck before joining the queue
     for the toilets. Remember which zone* you put it in.
   • Your bag can then be collected at the finish area.

*The space on the trucks is divided into zones, with 6 zones on the half marathon
trucks and 3 zones on the full marathon truck. You can put your bag in any of the
zones, just remember which one as you will find it in the same zone at the finish
area.
Ultra Marathon participants should bring their bags to the designated baggage area
outside Peacockes Hotel after the race briefing.
Half Marathon: zones 1-6
Full Marathon: zones 7-9
Ultra Marathon: zone 10

                         Please don't leave valuable items in your bags.

START TIMES
9:00am – ultra marathon starts at Maam Cross
9:30am* – full marathon walkers start at Lough Inagh
10:30am – full marathon starts at Lough Inagh
11:00am* – half marathon walkers start at Leenane
12:00pm – half marathon starts at Leenane
*These starts are for participants who have registered as walkers and who will walk the entire course.

DURING THE RACE
All race distance markers are given in miles. Water (330ml cartons) and Lucozade
Sport (LS) (in cups, weather/wind dependent) are provided at:

Ultra: miles 5, 10, 13 (+LS), 16, 19, 22, 26 (+LS), 29, 32, 35 (+LS), 37
Full: miles 3, 6, 9, 13 (+LS), 16, 19, 22 (+LS), 24
Half: miles 3, 6, 9 (+LS), 11

Ultra participants can have their own nutrition at any 3 water stations. Small easily
identifiable bags of items are handed in at the race briefing and transferred to your
selected water stations. Clothing left on the course will be donated to charity.

If you need to drop out of the race please inform the nearest marshal or ask a fellow
competitor to alert the nearest marshal. We will get you back to the finish area.

CARTONS & GEL WRAPPERS
IMPORTANT: Please drop your water cartons, gel wrappers and any other on
course rubbish at a water station or at mile markers only. Please do not throw
anything in ditches or along the side of the road.

MEDALS
There are three different medals for the three different race distances and the colour
of your medal should match your race bib. You receive your medal at the finish line!

AFTER THE RACE
After you've soaked up the atmosphere of the finish area and have your medal and
goody bag, head to the baggage area to collect your bag, relax for a while and start
making your way to the buses.

PEACOCKES HOTEL
Peacockes is now an accommodation centre to house Ukrainian nationals who have
come to Ireland. This is currently their home so please do not enter the hotel for any
reason. We are grateful to be able to use the grounds of the hotel as normal.

GETTING HOME
Competitors will be transferred by bus from the finish area to Oughterard, Clifden
and Galway throughout the afternoon. One bus will return to Leenane via Clifden.
There is no timetable for the buses. When one is full it leaves and another one pulls
up. You won't be waiting long.

SPECTATORS
Spectators are very welcome at the Connemarathon (note that there is no parking at
the finish area). Spectator bus tickets must be booked in advance online. Tickets
include the return journey from either Galway, Oughterard or Clifden to Maam Cross
(the finish area).
   • The park & ride facility departs Galway Cathedral at 11am, Oughterard at
     11:20am and Clifden Station House Hotel at 11am.
   • The cost for the return journey is €15 per adult and €10 per child.
   • Spectators may use the same coach as participants on the return journey.
   • Buses will go from Maam Cross (finish area) to Oughterard, Clifden and
     Galway City throughout the afternoon after the race.

How to Book Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online at www.connemarathon.com/spectator-info/
One recommendation is that spectators walk the two miles to the top of the ‘hell of
the west’ where support is most welcome by the weary participants. Bring plenty of
clothing - the weather can turn nasty in this beautiful place!

AFTER PARTY
Congratulations, you did it! If you are staying in Galway head along to The Front
Door for the official after party where you will find great food and a 15% discount!

LATE CHANGES, LOST BIBS...
If you wish to switch distance on the Friday or Saturday of the race weekend or if you
have lost your race bib, there will be a fee of €10 to issue a replacement race
number, timing chip and baggage label. This can be arranged at the times and
locations given above in the 'Your Race Number' section. Please pay with cash. This
money will be donated to Cancer Care West.

MORE INFORMATION
If you are looking for information on pacers, course profiles, accommodation, etc.
you will find it on the event website: www.connemarathon.com.

DEFERRALS & TRANSFERS
It is no longer possible to defer an entry to 2023 or to transfer a race number to
someone else for any reason.

RACE MERCHANDISE
We will have a selection of Connemarathon jackets, t-shirts, hoodies, beanies and
bags for sale at registration on Friday and Saturday (in Galway only, not Clifden) and
then again at the finish area.

There are limited numbers and sizes available so if you already have your race
number but are interested in purchasing some merchandise we recommended that
you still go to race number collection in Galway. We will have a SumUp card reader
but the WiFi can be poor in some areas of Connemara so please have cash if this is
possible.

CONNEMARATHON 2023
We haven't confirmed a date for 2023 yet but will do so soon. Check the website and
Facebook page in the weeks after this year's event and let's do it all again!