I wasnt sure how this race was going to go as I wasnt feeling well, but I finished! Nice to run through the park and some parts of Dublin. Great support and bands playing at every mile which was great to keep you going. T shirt was ok, medal was good. Lots of post race goodies to grab on the way out which was good. Great pacers at the end encouraging runners to get in front of them before their time passed which was nice. Good atmosphere and a fun day out.

I’d heard good things about the Rock ‘n Roll running series and the reviews of the Dublin race also seemed to be positive. Main thing people complained about was that they had to get back to the start with busses after they’d finished. When I looked at the course for this year the start and finish were both at the Royal Hospital so that seemed to be sorted out. I did notice they’d also changed the rest of the course, but having never been to Dublin, I didn’t really think about it much. Turns out they had to change the route, because the Pope would be coming to Dublin two weeks later and therefore we weren’t allowed to run through the park.

Race Packet pick up was really easy. In the centre of town in Trinity College with clear markings where you had to go. Picking up my bib and t-shirt were also easy.

The Royal Hospital was pretty easy to reach on race morning. But the bag drop was a bit chaotic. For some reason the bag drop was based on the first letter of your last name instead of equally divided by race number. This caused some confusion, because when the lines got long you couldn’t really tell which letter you were actually queuing up for and it also meant that some lines were much longer than others. 

There were 14 corrals, but there wasn’t that much time before the 10k would start after the half, so they decided to let several corrals go at once. We ran along the Guinness factory and soon after we left the city and ran past Phoenix Park, but we never went into the park.

Around 8k into the race there was a very steep hill. So steep that there was no running involved, everyone around me was also walking. And this hill basically went on and on. After which we turned around at roughly the 13 kilometre mark. The route then went along the river for a few kilometre until we ended up back at the same steep hill, just on the other side. So, most of the route went through the middle of nowhere and after the race you can’t really say that you’ve seen Dublin. I’ve heard more runners say afterwards that they didn’t get the time they wanted or that they found this the hardest half they’ve ever done. I also expected more live bands on the course. Rock ‘n Roll promises that there’s a live band every mile, so technically there should have been 12 bands. But I’ve only seen 7, of which two where just speakers next to the course.

All in all a bit disappointed. I’ve heard good things about the Rock ‘n Roll races and also about the race in Dublin. I’ve also heard it’s taken the organisation a long time to clean up the route. I don’t mind the organisation using bottles, personally I actually prefer them over cups, but it would be better to use smaller bottles and have enough bins to discard them in. But during the half there were hardly any bins. 

Would I run this race again? Maybe. If they change the route back to a course that is flatter and where you get to see more of Dublin, then I might give it another try. 

The half marathon route takes you along the river and through Phoenix Park to the finish - it’s a lovely route but uphill virtually all the way and so it’s one of the tougher courses I’ve run. Having said that it’s also one of my favourites as the course is varied and the park is very beautiful.

I've not been running long (4 months) and this was my second 10K, and first overseas run. Everything about this race was fantastic- it was slick, well-organised, a beautiful route, and really good fun. The app was a lovely touch. Friends could follow your progress and you received your official time (subject to verification) seconds after finishing. Runners received beautiful medals too. I'd run this race again in a heartbeat :)

The RocknRoll series of marathons are always good fun. Whether it's the enormous medals, imaginative t shirts or interesting courses, it's a great day out for seasoned pros or first timers. This being my 7th half with the Liverpool RnR marathon under my belt I'm probably somewhere in between. I fancied an 'abroad' run and this being the closest, I thought a mini holiday and run would be nice. 

I took part in the 5km AND half which which both had shuttle buses laid on to get from and to the start which was a nice touch and a way to get involved in the excitement of other runners. Of which there were many, and according to the website hailing from 20 different countries!

So the 5km...this started and ended in the largest park in Europe, Phoenix Park. Beautiful wildlife, sprawling countryside and lots of deer! It was an absolutely gorgeous run, and perfect preamble to the half marathon the next day. It's fair to say the 5km is 'undulating' as they like to say, but with views like this you can't complain and I managed a 24 min time whilst still getting an eyeful of the scenery.

A celebratory pint, a wander round the city, a carbed up dinner and n early night and I was ready for the half marathon. 

This was an early start (for me!) at 830 but it was a gorgeous morning at the 3arena overlooking the river. Despite the city start, it was a picturesque way to start your run. As everyone started off it took awhile to get into your stride with the crowds however as we ran along the Quay, past the bars and pubs with the crowds and bands, it was a nice place to get caught up in. 

Past the Christ Church Cathedral, Museum of Modern art, Royal Hospital and home of Guinness (obviously!) this was basically a sightseeing tour with music at every mile. Acoustic, folk, blues, rock and all there to give high fives to the runners. Even the Garda were there in uniform high hiving the runners (including me). 

We then ran the long road alongside Phoenix Park which was probably the hardest section as it was coming up to 7/8 miles when you needed a boost. However that boost came in the way of Powerade, gels and entrance into the gorgeous aforementioned Phoenix Park. Despite the hills (I mean 'undulating course'!) in the city, it got your legs used to the course in the park. In fairness, the saying 'what goes up, must come down' was never truer as whatever struggle your quads and calves took getting up the little inclines, always gave you a little slope to happily slide down as you were staring at deer/trees/Guinness sign.

With another marathon on the horizon I took this slower than usual so had a bit of gas in the tank at 10 miles and managed to recognise the 5km course as this finished.

The deceptive last mile has the last .1 turning right where you can see the finish line in the distance. As I (mentally) burst the tape at 2hours and 4minutes, I got my massive medal, t shirt and a bountiful selection of crisps, bananas, cereal bars and a pint of non alcoholic Erdinger free with the tag on your running number.

All in all a cracking city/country/sightseeing run and one is happily do again and again.

We were a group of 13 from our running club who flew to Dublin specifically for this race.

Arrived in good time at the start, around 8.15am and it was nice and quiet. The baggage lorries were well organised and could walk straight up with your clear bag. Plenty of portaloos which were not too busy at that time but did inevitably get long queues nearer to the start time.

Corrals well signed and no policing, so really you could start where you wished. They set three Corrals off at a time.

The course is a nice mix of city and park. I would have preferred a bit more around some of the town centre landmarks such as Molly Malones statue and trinity College, but appreciate that this is probably easier said than done. You enter Phoenix Park at about mile 8 with a hill, and stay there for the rest of the race. Very pretty and scenic.

Course is a little sparsely supported in some places but I don't mind a bit of peace and quiet to gather my thoughts.

Good quality medals, t shirts and very well organised at the end of the race.

Would do it again  without a doubt.

I absolutely love the Rock n Roll Marathon Series. They are great value for money and I would love to be able to do more of them but limited by there only being four across Europe. 

There was nothing to complain about with this race, it started in the City and finished in the biggest Park in Europe which was very scenic. 

Loved it!