Connemarathon 2010 - All welcome

[Antonio247]

Is there any value posting something on the RW forum (I'm not active there but suspect there will be Connemara threads appearing)? I think Suzie's idea is an excellent one; there's bound to be a number of people unable to injured/ run who'd like to guarantee a return on their steep entry fee. Not sure what the view would be from the organisers; there's always an option to contsact them in case of returned entries too.

We have to get Anlu in

Gracias, EG and Sw. Apparently, it is not allowed to run with another runner´s race number. Actually, I could enter the ultra marathon now but I wouldn´t be allowed to change for the half later. I´ve even written an email to the organisation asking ithem what would happen if I entered this race and did just the first half or thirty kilometres. I wanted to know if the coach stops at Oughterard to pick up ultramarathon runners and if I´d get the T-shirt even if I just do a part of the course but I haven´t got an answer yet. I sent the first email four days ago and the second one yesterday. I could try to do the ultramarathon but I´d have just 7 hours and a half to do 39 miles which is really unlikely I could do. Anyway, it´s been my fault and I don´t really mind being just a spectator although if I got a race number from someone who couldn´t do the half, I´d gladly buy it.

Thakns a lot for your concern.

Antonio

[El Gordo]

Suzie is wondering what sort times we are thinking of arriving in Dublin on 9 April, and leaving Dublin on the Tuesday. I suppose it doesn't matter that much what time we get there as long as we meet up by a certain time. (Which reminds me -- we need a hotel -- it makes sense to all stay in the same place) As for the return, my preference is not to have too early a flight from Dublin so that we don't have to rush back from Galway. Sort of late afternoon/early evening would do me. Of course, there's no reason why we have to go to the airport at the same sort of time though it might be a good idea to get a lift back in the hire vehicle.

Any thoughts?

[Sweder]

Happy with morning flight out/ evening flight back.
Here's what AL have to offer:

EI 235 ex LGW 09/04/2010 ETD 10:40 ETA 12:00 GBP 34.99 + taxes
EI 244 to LGW 13/04/2010 ETD 16:40 ETA 18:00 GBP 34.99 + taxes

There is a later flight currently going for 0.00 + taxes but gets into Gatwick at 22:00 which might a tad late for some.
I'll see what BA have, but bear in mind they're due for some domestic trouble around Easter and we might get caught up in that.
I will not consider Lyin' Air at any price.

[El Gordo]

Thanks. We may go from LHR. As I mentioned to Suzie, Aer Lingus send out regular emails with deals - the next one should cover the dates of our trip. People are obviously free to book whenever they want but I think I might wait just a wee while and see what AL offer.

Agree that BA and RuinAir are to be avoided.

[Antonio247]

Perhaps we should decide which hotel to book in Dublin so that we all could stay in the same hotel.

Some neighbours stayed at The Burlington hotel last summer and they liked it a lot.

WWW.burlingtonhotel.ie

Apparently it is not in the city centre.

Any other suggestions?


Saludos desde Almería

[El Gordo]

Perhaps we should decide which hotel to book in Dublin so that we all could stay in the same hotel.

Some neighbours stayed at The Burlington hotel last summer and they liked it a lot.

WWW.burlingtonhotel.ie

Apparently it is not in the city centre.

Any other suggestions?


Saludos desde Almería

I wasn't ignoring you Anlu, but my answer is that I don't know any Dublin hotels. I have done a few trawls of Tripadvisor. Our problem, such as it is, is too much choice. So let's narrow it down a bit:

Where do we want to stay and how much do we want to pay? I would go for a central location i.e. Temple Bar / Trinity, and paying no more than, what? £75 i.e. about 85 euros? If we can pay less, so much the better but Dublin isn't a cheap city.

If those seem like reasonable aims I'll take aother look. Of course, there is no reason why we have to stay in the same place, but I guess it would make logistics a bit easier. I also need to investigate vehicle hire. Sounds like we need something similar to what we had in Spain this year.

Does anyone else have anything to add on hotel / vehicle?

[Sweder]

Does anyone else have anything to add on hotel / vehicle?

My preference would be for a little comfort before the onward journey. Perhaps a larger/ older hotel? Not outrageous price-wise but not necessarilt bargain basement either.

SP may have more to offer having been there for the marathon. I've never stayed in Dublin and will be like an over-excited child wherever we stay. Sorry, must dash. A kindly lift to the train station waits for no man.

[Antonio247]

I´ve had a look at several hotels and I think this one could be suitable.


WWW.academyplazahotel.ie


It belongs to Best Western. Single room 89 €. Double room 99 €. Early web booking 84.15 €. It is in the city centre and it looks comfortable. I´ve read some reviews at Booking.com and they are quite good in general.

Saludos desde Almería

Antonio

[El Gordo]

I´ve had a look at several hotels and I think this one could be suitable.


WWW.academyplazahotel.ie


It belongs to Best Western. Single room 89 €. Double room 99 €. Early web booking 84.15 €. It is in the city centre and it looks comfortable. I´ve read some reviews at Booking.com and they are quite good in general.

Saludos desde Almería

Antonio

Good man, Antonio, that looks just right.

I have booked and paid for M and I at this hotel for the Friday night, April 9th. I had a look at Tripadvisor and the various deals. In the end I opted to go through hotels.com and got a double room (no breakfast) for £72.00. You may be able to shave off something if you look around enough but that rate will do me nicely.

Sounds like a well-regarded hotel and right in the city centre.

Thanks again, Antonio. See you there!

[Antonio247]

I´ve had a look at several hotels and I think this one could be suitable.


WWW.academyplazahotel.ie


It belongs to Best Western. Single room 89 €. Double room 99 €. Early web booking 84.15 €. It is in the city centre and it looks comfortable. I´ve read some reviews at Booking.com and they are quite good in general.

Saludos desde Almería

Antonio

Good man, Antonio, that looks just right.

I have booked and paid for M and I at this hotel for the Friday night, April 9th. I had a look at Tripadvisor and the various deals. In the end I opted to go through hotels.com and got a double room (no breakfast) for £72.00. You may be able to shave off something if you look around enough but that rate will do me nicely.

Sounds like a well-regarded hotel and right in the city centre.

Thanks again, Antonio. See you there!

Thanks a lot, EG. I´ve also booked through Hotels.com for only 75,65 € the single room, taxes included. You´ve made me save nearly 15 €. I owe you a drink.

Best of luck with your injury, EG.

Antonio

[suzieq]

I've booked my room as well. Now I just need to book my flight!


Suzie

[Sweder]

Aye, booked a double for that night, same deal as EG.

Flights
Aer Lingus looks a good bet: out on 9th April GBP 35.00 pp, return 0.00 pp (plus taxes)
Departures at 08:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 16:00 (all same price)
Returns at 12:40 (GBP 5.00) and 20:40 (0.00) - others available but more expensive.

Let me know what you think; I'm tempted to go ahead and book these today to grab the low fares.
There are of course other airlines out of LGW but I cannot speak of them without breaking out in hives.

Suzie will you fly via London or direct into Dublin?

[Seafront Plodder]

Yep, I've booked same hotel.

Got last available room apparently.

[Seafront Plodder]

Perhaps I should warn you that it's Claire's birthday the day after the race.

She's already requested 'no bumps', but hasn't ruled out a spot of bar-surfing.

[Seafront Plodder]

Incidentally what day are you guys thinking of coming back?

Tues 13 or Wed 14?

[El Gordo]

Perhaps I should warn you that it's Claire's birthday the day after the race.

She's already requested 'no bumps', but hasn't ruled out a spot of bar-surfing.

Is she climbing the mountain with us? Or is the "no bumps" request a cryptic message that she won't be?

[El Gordo]

Incidentally what day are you guys thinking of coming back?

Tues 13 or Wed 14?

I had presumed the Tuesday. Would be nice to stay til the Wed but....

I'll check with the boss this evening.

[Seafront Plodder]

As much as I'm in favour of staying there until the liver packs up, Claire favours coming come back on Tuesday as she wants to see kids around her birthday time (huh women.....never understand 'em)

[suzieq]

I'm flying to London on April 8th and flying out of there on April 14th - really early! I'm not happy about that, but it was a fairly cheap flight so guess I can't complain. So I'm definitely flying back to London on the Tuesday. Would actually like to get in at a reasonable time so that I can go out to my favourite place for curry. If you guys want to take a late flight back that would be ok - I'm sure I can catch a train or bus back to Dublin.

Suzie

[Sweder]

There's plenty of flights back, just some are 'free' (taxes only) whilst others are GBP 35.00 pp.
Cheapest are midday and 8.40 pm (lands around 10 pm so too late for curry). It makes sense if possible to travel back together. Not sure on the journey time from our digs back to Dublin - over to you on that one EG - but I'm guessing we'd have to leave pretty early on Tuesday morning to make the midday flight.

Here's a useful page with details of registration (Galway Marriott Friday Saturday Midday to 7 pm) with facility to check your race number. No numbers or chips will be sent out in advance or available at the start on raceday - we must collect from the Galway Marriott on Saturday night.