The Cork marathon kicked off at quarter past eight in the morning, with subsidiary races of half-marathon and 10km also taking place. At half past twelve, the Dublin mini marathon started, which is recognised as the largest all-female event in the country. Road closures were enforced around the start and finish line until 7pm, affecting areas such as Fitzwilliam Square, Merrion Square and Baggot Street.
Contrasting with the bank holiday relaxation, numerous individuals took part in the Cork marathon earlier today, followed by participants in Dublin’s mini marathon. Over 20,000 women are predicted to join the 10km race in various capacities – running, jogging, or walking. Streets on the immediate perimeter of the mini marathon’s start and end lines were blocked off from 4am and will continue to remain restricted until 7pm in the evening.
Included in these closures are places like Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square, and Baggot Street. Nonetheless, other areas such as St Stephen’s Green and Leeson Street will be open from 5pm. Certain sections of Donnybrook and Stillorgan will be inaccessible until 4pm. Weather forecasts indicate highs of 21 degrees with extensive sunshine and a scaled-up UV index rating.
Our Southern Correspondent, Barry Roche reports from Cork: More than 10,000 eager runners assembled at the starting point of the Cork City Marathon this morning, launched by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy. He extended his best wishes to participants across the full marathon, half marathon and 10km races. With a temperature registering around 13 degrees, wheelchair athletes John McCarthy from Dunmanway and Jerry Forde from Blarney led the throng of full marathon runners. Launched from Patrick Street at 8.15am, thousands of participants gathered at Patrick Street, moving on to Merchants Quay and prepared to embark on the path that would take them through various city suburbs including Tivoli, Mahon, Blackrock, Ballyphehane, Bishopstown, and finally loop back home via Carrigrohane Street.
A considerable amount of praise was bestowed upon the participants, backers and numerous volunteers who have consistently ensured the success of Cork’s marathon, by the city’s lord mayor. The Cork City Marathon is a significant annual event, with individuals committing months to training, whether running the full distance, half marathon, or 10km, asserts Mr McCarthy.
For many years, the event, which the Cork City Council organises, has been eagerly awaited by the city’s residents. Much recognition is due to the volunteers, including those from CUH, Order of Malta, Civil Defence and more, whose efforts make the marathon a triumph every year. The impressive sense of unity and camaraderie amongst participants and supporters always stands out to me, said McCarthy, stressing the marathon’s role in bringing together a large community within Cork City.
The enthusiasm of Cork City Marathon’s race director, Eamon Hayes, was equally evident as he paused to assess the event after the final runners had set off. He proclaimed this year to have had the largest turnout yet. He highlighted the vibrant ambiance in the city, despite the cool beginning of the race, which was expected to heat up as the day progressed. He assured that, provided the runners stayed hydrated and utilised the available water stations, there shouldn’t be any issues.
The initial Women’s Mini Marathon held in Dublin in 1983 witnessed participation from 9,000 people. Interestingly, it was not rare to see some males participating, disguised as females during these initial stages. But this trend has significantly dwindled over time.
The mini-marathon isn’t just a casual race or a fun run; it’s also an instrumental charity drive. Since its inception, over a quarter of a billion euro has been generated for numerous charities across Ireland and even abroad. Around 60% of these participating runners fundraise for a charity.
One of the unique aspects of the mini marathon, unlike typical road races, is the zero pressure on participants to perform exceptionally or finish within a certain timeframe. All that is required is for participants to be physically capable of tackling the 10k distance, regardless of whether they choose to walk, jog or run. They can do so in active wear or while enjoying an ice cream cone – the choice is theirs. Each participant who crosses the finish line, irrespective of their time, is considered a winner and awarded a keepsake medal to recognise their effort.
This year will see the incorporation of a team of pace experts who will be setting the pace for finish times of 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 minutes. This will assist participants in keeping pace and attaining their aim of a certain finish time.
Approximately a quarter of participants are categorised as elite runners, with joggers comprising 49% and walkers making up 26%. The fastest finishing time record for the marathon is currently held by Sonia O’Sullivan, who completed the race in 31:28 minutes. Most of the women partaking in the marathon fall in the 25-45 years age bracket, with the youngest entrants being 14 years old whilst the oldest participant this year is a commendable 93 years old.
Approximately 15 women have participated in the Women’s Mini Marathon consistently since its commencement. The marathon requires the help of 900 volunteers to ensure its smooth execution. The theme for the 2024 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is heart to heart, chosen to recognise the courage it takes to sign up for the world’s largest women’s event and the resilience required from registration through to crossing the finish line.
The theme also honours the numerous charities dear to the participants, for which significant amounts of money are raised annually. Primarily, it represents the heartfelt conversations and shared experiences that occur along the course of the race.
The inaugural women’s mini marathon in Dublin took place in 1983, attracting 9,000 participants. It wasn’t rare to see men dressed as women competing during the initial days of this event, though this trend has subsided with time.
The mini marathon is more than just a race or a fun-filled run; it also acts as a large-scale charity drive. Since its inception, the event has raised over a quarter of a billion euros for charities both in Ireland and globally. An estimated 60% of the participants take part with fundraising for a charity in mind.
What sets the mini marathon apart from traditional road races is the lack of requirement for participants to perform exceptionally or maintain a specific race time. The only expectation for the participants is to be fit enough to walk or jog throughout the 10k run while being in full running gear or even eating an ice cream. Every participant is considered a winner and is given a commemorative medal as a token of their accomplishment.
This year will witness the addition of an experienced pacing team to guide the participants in maintaining their pace and achieving their intended goal time. These pacers will conduct 40-, 45-, 50-, 55-, and 60-minute finish times.
Of the participants, around 25% are deemed as elite runners, whereas 49% are joggers and the remaining 26% are walkers. The fastest completion record stands at 31:28, held by Sonia O’Sullivan.
The main participant demographic is women aged between 25 and 45, though participants as young as 14 and as old as 93 have also taken part this year. It’s worth noting that 15 women have consistently participated in the women’s mini marathon ever since it began.
To successfully conduct the marathon, it requires the support of around 900 volunteers. The theme for the 2024 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is ‘heart to heart’ – not referencing the TV programme, but rather the courage or ‘heart’ required to register for the world’s largest women-centric event, the motivation to keep pushing from training up until the finish line, the charities close to participants’ hearts, and especially the heartfelt conversations and moments that occur throughout the marathon journey.