17 counties represented at inaugural mullingar half marathon
The final countdown is on as we are now less than a week until the inaugural Mullingar Half Marathon, which is being run in aid of Childline.
The interest in the event has been fantastic and more than 50% of counties are represented at last count – that’s 17 different counties – and the organisers expect that to rise in the coming days.
The race starts at 11am from the town centre on March 17, St Patrick’s Day. The race HQ is the Annebrook House Hotel and registration is there that morning (9-10am) and the night before (8-10pm).
Would-be participants can still enter at www.precisiontiming.net and www.mullingarhalfmarathon.com.
However as the rate of entries begins to accelerate, people are asked to enter online as soon as possible to avoid possible disappointment.
There is still a special online entry of €30 (€40 on the day). All online entrants will receive a technical T-shirt along with a goody bag including their medal.
The race is shaping up to be a great event and a fantastic start to the St Patrick’s Day’s festivities. The course is flat and fast and runs through scenic bogland before a fast second half along the Royal Canal and finishing in the town park.
The event has received much attention from RTÉ presenters like Kathryn Thomas and John McGuire and will have ‘Marathon Men’ Gerry Duffy and Ken Whitelaw leading out the participants on the day.
Maurice Looby Fitness has guided a group of his runners through a 10-week training plan and the organisers are expecting PBs from that group and others.
Proceeds from the event are going directly to Childline to help maintain their listening service for children up to the age of 18. The Childline phone service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and receives more than 1,800 calls a day.
These are answered by volunteers and staff who are trained to listen and understand young people. Young people contact the service for a wide range of reasons, such as physical abuse, mental health, bullying, sexuality, everyday chat.
Due to funding difficulties, Childline’s night service is under threat.
The Mullingar Half Marathon has received excellent sponsors from a number of prominent businesses in Mullingar and beyond and the chamber of Commerce has arranged hotel deals for people running in the event (see website).
Participants and their friends and families are also invited to the post-race party on St Patrick’s evening in Annebrook House Hotel.
You can ‘like’ the Facebook page (search for ‘Mullingar Half Marathon’) and follow the event on twitter (@Mullingar_HM) to keep up to date with the news running up to the event