Organised by Davis Events Agency on behalf of Cork City Council

FAQ

General Queries

What roads will be closed and when?

All road closures and the route map will be continually updated on this page https://www.corkcitymarathon.ie/ccm-race-programme-2022/ closer to the time of the Marathon. These closures will be done in consultation and in partnership with Cork City Council and the Guards.

Do you have information for international athletes?

If you have decided to come join us in beautiful Cork for the Cork City Marathon, welcome!
The marathon will take place on Sunday 4th June with registration taking place on Friday 2nd June and Saturday 3rd June.

Overall, the Cork City Marathon course is flatter than most marathons in Ireland. We start at 10 metres elevation and the greatest elevation will be around the 30-35km mark with a maximum of 35 metres elevation.

For information on how to reach Cork, please see this link:
https://www.purecork.ie/plan-your-trip/travel/getting-to-cork

For accommodation options suited to the Marathon start and finish line, please click below:
https://www.corkcitymarathon.ie/accommodation/

For information on the Marathon and the route, please see below:
https://www.corkcitymarathon.ie/the-marathon-2/

If you are trying to decide what else to do while you are in Cork, this website is packed full of suggestions of great places to visit!
https://www.purecork.ie/

If you would like to explore more of Ireland, this website has lots of helpful suggestions and info. https://www.discoverireland.ie/

How can my local business get involved?

For more information about sponsorship and partnership opportunities with Cork City Marathon contact Thomas Monaghan on thomas.monaghan@davisevents.ie.

How can I volunteer?

See our Volunteer page for more info on how you can get involved!
https://www.corkcitymarathon.ie/volunteer/

Where can I find details about the Expo?

Details on the Expo will be published here on the website a few weeks before the race. If you are interested in exhibiting please contact us at ccm@davisevents.ie

Where is there parking?

We encourage everyone to make their way into the city for the Cork City Marathon by foot, cycle or public transport. However, if you do come from further afield and need a parking place on the day, here are city centre car parks:
Paul Street Car Park (multi- storey), North Main Street Car Park (multi- storey), Merchants Quay Car Park, Q-Park Carrolls Quay, Q-Park City Hall, Q-Park Grand Parade, Q-Park St Finbarr’s, Lapps Quay Public Car Park, Park it Here (Grand Parade & St. Patrick’s Quay), Moore Street Car Park, Patrick’s Quay Car Park, Patrick’s Bridge Car Park, and Kent Station Car Park.

What sustainability efforts are being made by the Cork City Marathon 2023?

For Cork City Marathon 2023, we want to create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly marathon. We are passionate about making the earth a priority.

We are committed to reduce our waste, use green suppliers where possible and use environmentally friendly, compostable materials for our race.

This includes:
Water bottles used are made from 88% renewable material (paperboard and sugarcane) and are 100% recyclable.
Compostable disposable cups are used.
All leftover water bottles, food, clothes and goodie bags being donated to local charities and clubs.
Green suppliers used where possible.
Branding is reused where possible each year.
The encouragement of runners to bring their own reusable water packs.
Runners are presented with the option of supporting tree planted in Ireland instead of receiving a t-shirt, which we do in partnership with An Dulra.
All waste materials being separated into non recyclable, recyclable and compostable materials to minimise waste.
The programme and ticketing are digital.
Bio-badges for staff accreditation decompose.

Can I fundraise for charity?

Cork City Marathon is the perfect event to fundraise for a charity that is near and dear to your heart. It’s quick and easy to use. When registering, you can specify that you are fundraising and you can select your chosen charity from the list.

After you have completed your event purchase, an online fundraising page will be automatically created for you.
You can then share your fundraising pages with your friends and immediately start receiving donations.
All funds raised for the charity will be transferred to their bank account in real time using Stripe payments.

If your charity isn’t registered, they are able to register on the EventMaster site.

Are concession rates available?

Concession fees are offered for full-time students and those in receipt of benefit, including:
• Persons on disability pension & dependent spouses.
• Persons in receipt of carer’s allowance.
• Persons in receipt of a State pension.
• Unemployed persons, persons on disability benefit and dependent spouses.
• Lone parents.
• Asylum seekers.
• Students over 18 in full-time education.

To upload proof, please see instructions below:

When you received your registration email, you also got an email to activate your Event Master Account. If you activate or login to your account you can see your tickets/orders. Below your order, you can see a green/blue button that says “Proof of your social welfare status” . Clicking on this, you will be able to upload proof.

Proof can include a student id or a letter or document that confirms receipt of benefit.

If you fail to produce proof, your registration will be cancelled and no refund will be issued.

General Race Queries

Pre-Race

What time do the races start at?

The Full Marathon commences at 8:30am and the Half Marathon commences at 10:15am. Please note any race start times might change slightly in the next few weeks and we will update any changes here.

Can I participate with a hand bike, buggy or stroller in the race?

No participant may bring baby joggers, prams, baby strollers, buggies, skateboards, rollerskates, rollerblades, hand cycles, hand bikes, unicycles, bicycles or any other wheeled device on the course, except for wheelchairs.

The rarest of exceptions may be given to those with specialist running buggies, who are fundraising for a charity, or those who have had a long-running tradition of partaking in the Cork City Marathon. These rare exceptions are at the discretion of the Race Team and they must be contacted in advance (4 weeks minimum) on ccm@davisevents.ie for permission.

Cork City Marathon Team does not have the capacity to respond to every application received and will follow up only with those applications who have been successful in their application.

Will my race bib and chip be posted out to me?

No, you must collect your race pack, including bib and chip, at registration in Cork City Hall on Friday or the day before the race. If you can’t make it to registration yourself, you may give your registration form (with the barcode) to someone else so they can pick it up for you. Please make sure they know your Date of Birth and your mobile number.

Is there a facility for baggage drop?

Yes, in Cork City Hall on Sunday June 4th, we’ll open from about 7am until about 5pm.

What is the minimum age to enter the event?

The minimum age to partake in the marathon and half marathon races is 18 years of age.
The minimum age to partake in the 10K is 16 years of age with parental/guardian consent.

During the Race

Are (bone conducting) headphones allowed?

It is greatly discouraged to use any type of headphones during the race. A runner who uses headphones is less aware of their surroundings. People with headphones can’t hear people behind them passing them out and can’t hear instructions from pacers and stewards such as ‘to watch the kerb on the left’ etc. It takes away from their concentration. Thus, runners who wear headphones are more susceptible to injury. Therefore we ask all runners to not wear any type of headphones during the race to make the event safer for everyone.

Can I wear a hydration backpack for the race?

Yes, you can absolutely wear a hydration pack when running a marathon or any race. Just remember you want to wear it while training as well, so there is nothing new for you on race day.

More and more runners bring their own hydration backpack, bottles or vests to races now to cut down on plastic bottles – a great way to protect the planet.

Can I bring my own bottle for the race?

Yes, absolutely! Either two small handhelds (one in each hand for even weight distribution) or one handheld will do the trick for shorter run. Flasks are great because they’re there when you need them, and you can stash them when you don’t.

If you only want one, pass it back and forth between hands each mile—it’ll prevent you from developing imbalances and give you something to focus on as the miles tick by..

If you prefer to stow your necessities on your waist, a lumbar pack or belt are ideal. Placing the weight of water on the small of your back in the center is the best place to distribute that weight without throwing off your form. Plus, packs have room to stow your fluids and other fuel or gear you may need such as gels, snacks, or sunscreen.

Another option would be running vest, which is popular among trail and ultra runners.

More and more runners bring their own hydration backpack, bottles or vests to races now to cut down on plastic bottles – a great way to protect the planet.

Will there be pacers?

Yes we will have some brilliant pacers for the marathon to help you.
The Cork City Marathon has a professional vastly experienced team of pacers placed at every 15 minutes starting at 3hours and ending at 5 hours. Some of our Pacers have represented their countries, some are ultra-marathon runners and all have bags of experience. The pacers (at least 2 at each time slot) will run the race at an even pace and finish the race just under their predicted time.

Pacers will generally cross the line 30 seconds ahead of schedule to allow for runners who are struggling over the last mile of the race to get in on time. Pacers pace chip time rather than gun time so don’t panic when you see the clock coming at the finish line the pacer will be pacing according to when they crossed the start line so it’s important to start in the correct area where your pacer is.

Will there be toilets on the course?

Yes, toilets will be available in city hall, close to the start line and at the finish line. We will also have a few on the course, the location will be finalised and announced closer to the event.

Is there chip timing?

Yes, all bibs are time chipped which means your start time will be read when you cross the start line and logged when you cross the finish line. All results will be found after the race on our website and on the app (details on this will be published closer to the race).

Will there be official photographers on the course?

Yes, we are working with Marathon Photos together who will take photos of all finishers. Your photos can be found later through your race number and purchased with Marathon Photos directly.

Where are the water stations?

There will be 14 water stations across the course. On the course map and programme, you will be able to see their locations. These details and materials will be shared closer to the event.

Can I or any children join the runner on the course or on the finish line?

Under no circumstances can anyone not registered or any child join the course. It is in our best interest to keep everyone safe and by doing this injury to both runners and children will be difficult to avoid.

Post Race

Are there shower facilities after the race?

No, there are no shower facilities after the race.

What are grounds for disqualification?

We want everyone to have a fun, fair and safe experience.

Disqualification can be enforced should anyone:

Deviate from the official run route
Behave in an unsportsman/womanlike manner
Display antisocial or disruptive behaviour towards fellow runners, spectator, volunteers or race officials
Refuse to follow race officials’ instructions
Publicly urinate or be publicly intoxicated
Tamper with the integrity of the race e.g. tampering with timing chip/switching racing bibs

Marathon

Is this an official marathon course?

Yes. The Cork City Marathon is certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as a full marathon course. The Cork Marathon is also a full member of AIMS (Association of International Marathons).

Can I walk the marathon?

Yes. Walkers are very welcome to participate. Although there isn’t a separate category for walkers, the course time limit of 6 hours should allow most walkers to cross the finish line. However, please note that in order to facilitate critical road reopenings –

You must reach the Jack Lynch Tunnel (mile 7.2) 2hrs after the start.

You must reach the South Link Road (mile 17.6) no later than 4hrs after the start. Both of these cut-off times are achievable at a pace of about 13.5mins/mile.

6 hours after the start, all roads will be re-opened and anyone left on the course may be asked to move onto the pavements and adhere to normal traffic regulations.

How will I get an official time for my race?

Each marathon participant will wear a timing chip in your race number bib. This will automatically log your start and finish time. Your official race time is gun-to-chip but your chip time will also be listed in the results. The race results will be posted on our website shortly after the race finishes.

Will I receive a medal for finishing the marathon?

Yes! Everyone who finishes will receive a Cork City Marathon Medal.

Cork is a hilly city-how steep is the course?

Overall, the Cork City Marathon course is flatter than most marathons in Ireland. We start at 10 metres elevation and the greatest elevation will be around the 30-35km mark with a maximum of 35 metres elevation.

Will the course be marked in miles or kilometres?

The course is officially measured in miles, so the marking on the day will also be in miles. There will, however, be kilometre marks every 5km for the full marathon course.

Half Marathon

Is this an official half-marathon course?

Yes. The Cork City Half Marathon is certified by Athletics Ireland.

Can I walk the half marathon?

Yes. Walkers are very welcome to participate. Although there isn’t a separate category for walkers, the course time limit should allow most walkers to cross the finish line. After 3.5 hours, roads will be re-opened and anyone left on the course may be asked to move onto the pavements and adhere to normal traffic regulations.

How will I get an official time for my race?

Each half-marathon participant will wear a timing chip in your race number bib. This will automatically log your start and finish time. Your official race time is gun-to-chip but your chip time will also be listed in the results. The race results will be posted on our website shortly after the race finishes.

Will I receive a medal for finishing the marathon?

Yes! Everyone who finishes will receive a Cork City Half-Marathon Medal.

10K Race

Can you run the 10K as a team?

The 10K route can by run in teams from 2+ members. The team leader can register their team name when purchasing their ticket. The additional team members can select their team name when registering.

Will you get a medal and tshirt for the 10K?

Yes, if you cross the finish line, you get a special 10K medal. You can also get a t-shirt or alternatively you can contribute towards tree planting.

Are there prizes for the 10K?

Yes, there will be prizes for individual 10K runners and teams.

What is the 10K route and when will the race start?

The details of the route and start time are still being finalised. We will update the website and social media with these details as soon as they are finalised.

There are several runners in my team. Do we need to fill out a form each?

Yes, the team leader registers first and registers the team name. Then the team members each individually register their details and can select the team name during registration.

How is the 10K event timed?

As with the marathon, your official time is from the starting gun to the chipped finish time. Everybody’s result will be published on the official race result website.

Will there be a water station during the 10K run?

Yes there will be a water station during the 10K run. The location will be shared on the website when the route map is posted online.

When do we register?

Registration is online (link to EventMaster.ie opens in new window) and you should register your team as soon as possible. Members of every 10K team must come to Cork City Hall to pick up their individual race pack. You can only pick up 2 other fellow team mate’s packs.

Will I get a goody bag if I'm part of a 10K team?

Yes

Refunds, Exchanges, Payments

What does my entry fee cover?

The entry fee covers:
– the race
– water stations throughout the race with water and lucozade
– medical support
– Runner’s bib
– Runner’s t-shirt or support to plant a tree & finisher medal
– Goodie bag
– Post race refreshments
– Chip timing for an A.A.I certified race

Can I get a refund, deferment or change my ticket if I can't run?

Your entry fee is not refundable. This includes repeat bookings. Please check your emails and your Eventmaster account to make sure you haven’t booked already before making your booking.

Transfers between categories are allowed once and have to be done before April 14th, 2023. If your booking has been transferred from a previous year to 2023, further transfers are not possible. Any bookings placed in 2023 can be changed by the participant in their Eventmaster account. 

Entries cannot be deferred. The only exception would be due to injury and on submission of a medical cert at least 2 weeks prior to race day for consideration by the marathon team. In this case, entries can only be deferred once. Any applications for medical deferral consideration have to be applied for here (submissions by email will not be considered).

Can I change details of my booking for example my athletic club or tshirt size?

When you received your registration email, you also got an email to activate your Event Master Account. If you activate or login to your account you can see your tickets/orders. In the bottom left, you can see a green/blue button that says “Edit.” If you click that button you can edit details including your tshirt size and athletic club.

Can I transfer my booking to someone else?

Yes, this is possible but we recommend only making a transfer to someone you know (family/close friends) to ensure any financial agreements made are followed. The race organisers are not responsible for ticket transfers or issues encountered between the ticket transfer person and ticket receiver. Please note any payment needs to be done between the original purchaser and the new marathon runner directly.

When you received your registration email, you also got an email to activate your Event Master Account. If you activate or login to your account you can see your tickets/orders. In the bottom left, you can see a green/blue button that says “Ticket Transfer.” If you click that button you can enter the first and last name of the new ticket owner and you can start the transfer. The new ticket owner will receive an email and can confirm to complete the transfer. They can then enter their own details.

The deadline for ticket transfers is April 30th. Ticket transfers will no longer be possible after that time.

Can I change from a Full Marathon Ticket to a Half Marathon Ticket?

Yes, but only before April 14th deadline, you can change from a Full Marathon ticket to a Half Marathon Ticket. Changing of the ticket type will cancel your current ticket and creates a new one with selected ticket type, so please note this cannot be undone. When you received your registration email, you also got an email to activate your Event Master Account. If you activate or login to your account you can see your tickets/orders. Below your order, you can see a green/blue button that says “Change Ticket.” Clicking on this, you will be able to select to change your ticket. Please note there is no partial refund in changing from a Full Marathon Ticket to a Half Marathon Ticket or any other lower value ticket. After April 14th, it is not possible to change your ticket type and no ticket changes can be facilitated.

Can I change from a Half Marathon Ticket to a Full Marathon Ticket?

Yes, but only before April 14th deadline, you can change from a Half Marathon ticket to a Full Marathon Ticket. Changing of the ticket type will cancel your current ticket and creates a new one with selected ticket type, so please note this cannot be undone.
When you received your registration email, you also got an email to activate your Event Master Account. If you activate or login to your account you can see your tickets/orders. Below your order, you can see a green/blue button that says “Change Ticket.” Clicking on this, you will be able to select to change your ticket and the difference in cost to be paid. Please note there is an additional cost in changing from a Half Marathon Ticket to a Full Marathon Ticket due to the difference in ticket pricing. After April 14th, it is not possible to change your ticket type and no ticket changes can be facilitated.

Can I change me Half/Full Marathon Ticket to a 10K Ticket?

Yes, but only before April 14th deadline, you can change from a Full Marathon ticket/Half Marathon Ticket to a 10K Race.
Changing of the ticket type will cancel your current ticket and creates a new one with selected ticket type, so please note this cannot be undone. When you received your registration email, you also got an email to activate your Event Master Account. If you activate or login to your account you can see your tickets/orders. Below your order, you can see a green/blue button that says “Change Ticket.” Clicking on this, you will be able to select to change your ticket. Please note there is no partial refund in changing from a Full Marathon Ticket to a 10K Ticket or Half Marathon Ticket or any other lower value ticket. After April 14th, it is not possible to change your ticket type and no ticket changes can be facilitated.

Can I give my race number to another runner?

No, to protect the integrity of the race and for health and safety reasons, you cannot. Should a runner get into difficulty, the medical team will use the medical information associated with the race number of the runner. However, you can pass your registration to someone else in advance of the race which is explained in this FAQ section.

You can find full Terms & Conditions here