Sunday brought one of the most anticipated events of the Irish athletics calendar, with the Great Ireland Run taking place in Dublin's Phoenix Park.
The 10km run serves as the national championship in the event, and the occasion brought over 2,000 runners to the park.
There was controversy after the race's conclusion, however, as it was discovered that a mistake on the route had sent runners along the wrong path in the early stages of the event, cutting roughly 1.5km off the drafted 10km race distance.
Though Athletics Ireland would go on to issue an apology to participants for the unexpected 8.5km distance, many runners who thought they had claimed personal best times in the 10km were naturally disappointed in the aftermath of the Great Ireland Run.
Great Ireland Run farce sees race fall 1.5km short of 10k distance
In a statement, Athletics Ireland said:
Athletics Ireland and the event organiser Dublin City Harriers wish to apologise to all participants for the unforeseen circumstances that led to today’s Great Ireland Run (incorporating the national 10k championship) being less than the specified distance.
Athletics Ireland will continue to engage with the race organisers on the matter and update national 10k championship participants when further information becomes available.
Reports suggest that confusion among runners and officials around the 3km mark of the race saw runners sent in the wrong direction, skipping a loop of roughly 1.5km distance in the process.
To add insult to injury for the runners, the diversion inadvertently sent them on a steep uphill course.
For many participants, the results of the run had brought great joy, as they saw personal best times roll in in the 10km distance. After the farce of the miscalculation became clear, many runners took to Twitter to express their disappointment.
The Great Ireland 8.6k. 🙈 not only was the distance cut short but we had to run UP that frickin hill #thegreatirelandrun #athleticsireland pic.twitter.com/aEi4JfLVB5
— annemariecurran (@missiscurran) April 16, 2023
The (Not So) Great Ireland Run - I crossed the finish line at 8.5k. Human error apparently - but disappointing nonetheless https://t.co/U6INBpubFF
— John Meagher (@johnmeaghermuso) April 16, 2023
Was really proud about finishing the Great Ireland 10k run this morning in under 50mins. Then found out a steward made a mistake and we actually only ran 8.6km. Still a personal best. #TheGreatIreland8.6Run 😅 pic.twitter.com/pp0bTk01x4
— Ken Finnegan 🇮🇪 🏳️🌈 (@KenFinnegan) April 16, 2023
(Not so) Great Ireland Run this morning. What should have been a 10k ended up being an 8.6k due to stewards sending people the wrong way 🙄 Still, the record books will show I pb’d my 10k time and that’s what matters 🤣 pic.twitter.com/dsN1ekgCNE
— Ian McCabe (@ianomccabe) April 16, 2023
I've been keeping it quiet but I'm actually a phenomenal 10km runner 🤫😄 36.03
( Great Ireland run 86% edition)
sure these things happen.. no one was shot after anyway pic.twitter.com/MlFyKUuhTn— Brigid ag Rithallaigh 🌱 (@brigidrithilly) April 16, 2023
Shambles of a great Ireland run this morning. Yous will have to refund everyone. I didn’t sign up for a half arsed 8km!
— Cathal (@Cathalg56) April 16, 2023
One runner also took to Twitter to criticise the course of the Great Ireland Run over safety concerns in the closing stages of the race.
The layout of the course saw slower finishers having to navigate faster runners crossing the track after having finished the race, in order to collect medals and bags.
Utter farce at The Great Ireland run today. A lot will be said about the elite race debacle but the contempt shown by race organisers for safety at the back of the race has left me angry and upset. @irishathletics @DublinCityHarriers @sportireland . Slow runners count too🏃♀️ pic.twitter.com/PkX1Y5xQhS
— Joan Ryan (@joaneryanh) April 16, 2023
It is deeply unfortunate that an event as beloved as the Great Ireland Run ended in such farcical scenes on Sunday, and no doubt more comment is to come in the weeks ahead.
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