Preview of the Run in the Dark in Cork City...Wed 14th Nov 2012

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After huge demand for the 2012 event, entries for this race are now sold out! In a change from last years run, this year it's on in the centre of Cork City itself rather than down on the Monaghan Road / Centre Park Road circuit.

First a few major points!
1) This is not your normal 5k / 10k road race! There are a lot of narrow roads to navigate to say nothing of pedestrians, bollards, steps and other street furniture. This is not a race to set a new personal best time. It's a charity run and a unique chance to run around the streets of Cork City at night. Keep that in mind.
2) Wear bright clothing and if you have a hi-viz running top then wear it.

So on to the course.....

The Clarion Hotel is approx 600m from the start line

The course consists of a 1.55 mile loop........2 laps for the 5k and 4 laps for the 10k. There are supposed to be well over 1,000 runners taking part so it's going to be a busy evening.

The race starts and finishes on the Grand Parade.....
 

A nice wide start but with the big numbers, it might feel quite crowded. Then it's left onto the South Mall where the field will have a chance to thin out a bit. At the end, it's left again onto Parnell Place.....

Now things get interesting. Roughly 700 metres after the start, there is a sharp left onto Maylor Street.......
There are two issues here......
1) This is the first bottleneck of the race and those running slower than 7 min per mile pace may find the field really slowing here.
2) Note the bollards!! In a crowded field, you are NOT going to see these. Be aware of where they are.

Then at the end, it's out onto Patrick's Street...
Here the road widens again giving the field a chance to thin out a bit more. After 140 metres, it's right onto Academy Street. Another 140 metres and it's left onto Paul Street....

Coming at roughly 0.76 miles, this is the second serious bottleneck. As you can see from the photo, it's a narrow pedestrianised street and these is likely to be major congestion here.

Note! Watch out for pedestrians here! Someone may walk out of a building here and be completely unaware that there are 1,000+ people running past!

Note that Paul Street isn't without it's hazards either with several bollards waiting to catch out the unwary...

......and the last piece of Paul St isn't any better....

At the end, the course turns right onto Cornmarket Street and the road opens up again...

It's doesn't last long however because after 160 metres, it's left onto Kyle Street.....

Another bottleneck with lots more bollards. After that, it's left onto North Main St...

Note there a few bollards near the end and then it's left onto Washington Street...

........and then left onto the Grand Parade...

....and around the corner onto Patrick's Street......

There should be plenty of space along these stretches for overtaking.

The next section turns right onto Prices Street.....
It's relatively clear of any obstacles....just watch out for pedestrians.

Right onto Olivier Plunkett St.....and again, more bollards!

Then it's left onto the Grand Parade and that's it...one loop done! It's two loops for the 5k and 4 loops for the 10k.

Note that over a relatively short loop of 1.55 miles, the faster runners on their second lap will soon start lapping slower runners still on their first.

Overall.......it is what it is.....a unique run through the heart of Cork City, not a 5k or 10k road race and it should be treated as such. There are likely to be several sections where runners may well end up walking as they try to funnel into a narrow space. Considering the number of street bollards and the potential of pedestrians crossing the course, runners need to be extra vigilant on this one. Enjoy the run and forget about your time.

For more details on the event, check out this earlier post or the event website.