Marathon club ireland are back at lilliput this saturday
Some of the race directors at Marathon Club Ireland were so impressed with the facilities at Lilliput on Lough Ennell when they were involved in two events there last year that they’re returning for another one this weekend.
It’s on this Saturday, January 24, and there is a marathon plus a half marathon, the latter a first for the club, and something they have introduced to encourage more participants.
Vincent Guthrie explained to the Westmeath Examiner that Marathon Club Ireland is an “all inclusive club” and they are expecting in the region of 100 runners for Saturday’s marathon, about 30 in the half, plus at least two wheelchair competitors.
“We have a four-loop course at Lilliput, we have AAI permits, so everyone is fully insured, and entry is only €20 to keep it affordable,” said Vincent.
There are start times on Saturday to suit various abilities: 8am, for people who expect to take from four and a half hours upwards, 9.30am for people coming in at around 12.45pm to 1.30pm, and 10am for the half marathon, “so we should have everyone finished by around 2.30pm”, said Vincent.
The wheelchair users who have confirmed their attendance are Jerry Forde, from Cork, who will be doing his “302nd or 303rd marathon”, and Team Kerr, who, according to their website are “an assisted running team [from Annahilt, County Down] consisting of Dad (David), Mum (Sandra) and the main man, Aaron”.
Noel McEnteggart of Marathon Club Ireland came across the Lilliput course during ‘Denzil’s 12 in 12’ (Denzil Jacobs ran 12 marathons in 12 days in 12 counties in Leinster to raise €25,000 for Irish Autism Action and Saplings School in Carlow, last summer) and the race organisers were so impressed that they ran an event there in November, and now they’re back for another one.
The four-lap course includes a water station, with snacks and first aid, and the marathon distance runners will be passing it several times, so it is a course layout well suited to beginners. The Order of Malta will be also be present.
Marathon Club Ireland will hold their AGM after the races on Saturday, and Vincent said “thanks to Franky Wright for the use of the facilities”.
For more on the club, which was formed by Ray O’Connor in Galway six years ago and now has some 300 members, see Facebook, marathonclubireland.com, and if you are new to running, don’t feel too intimidated by the likes of members Dave Brady or Brenda O’Keeffe, who have, respectively, run 104 and 74 marathons in a calendar year!
Michael Murphy from Kilbeggan is race director on Saturday: contact his co-director Vincent Guthrie on 087 947 8821, and if you intend taking part, be there 40 minutes before the start of your run.