Dublin's Women's Mini Marathon
| Dublin Women's Mini Marathon | |
|---|---|
| Date | First Monday of June |
| Location | Dublin, Ireland |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | Mini marathon |
| Established | 1983 |
| Course records | 31:28 ( Sonia O'Sullivan, 2000)
|
| Official site | www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie |
The Vhi Women's Mini Marathon , an annual 10k charity road race that occurs each June bank holiday weekend in Ireland is the largest Women's event of its kind in the world.
In 1983, the inaugural event had 9,000 women entering and the event reached a record attendance in 2014 with over 41,000 women taking part. The event has grown in popularity as women have taken more interest in their own health and fitness. A staggering 1 million women have entered the event over its 35 years.
Hundreds of charities are also big winners. In 2017, it is estimated that €9.3m was raised on the day for charities, bringing the total raised, since the race started, close to €210m. The women decide themselves which charity they will support and many local causes gain vital funds from the event. It is now the largest one day charity event in the country. Similar events in the UK and US attract only half these figures.
In 2015 it changed title sponsor to the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon and will be known as such during the sponsorship (Vhi Healthcare)
Those to have won the race include Kenya's Magdaline Chemjor and Irish Olympic silver medalist, Sonia O'Sullivan, whose 2000 record time of 31 minutes and 28 seconds has yet to be beaten. [1][2]
A small group of enthusiastic male athletes gathered in the Mill House in Stillorgan in 1983. They concluded that an all-women's race would be suitable for increasing female participation. The Evening Press were named as sponsors and Dundrum as the host club.
Several Irish women's distance runners have taken part in the race. Catherina McKiernan recorded her first of four wins in her autobiography, Running for My Life, saying: "I enjoyed every moment of it. The crowds were more incredible that I expected, and it was just something I always wanted to do."
...
Wikipedia