Organisers are hoping the Donegal marathon will get big numbers.
Preparations for the Donegal Marathon are now on the home straight!
This Sunday sees the first competitive marathon to be staged in Donegal in over thirty years.
The committee are delighted with the response of the public to this sporting initiative, which will see the event field a far greater number of participants than the initial target figure.
Committee member Brendan McDaid stated, “It’s been really great to see this event gather momentum throughout the preparatory process, and we are delighted to announce that numbers have now exceeded 650 participants when we set ourselves a goal of 500. When you look at the achievements of our Donegal athletes in the recent European Championships, and couple that with the enthusiasm shown towards the Donegal Marathon, it gives you a perspective of just how healthy the interest in running is in this county”.
Gardai and race marshals will be working together to ensure the safe passage of participants through the town for the initial loop of Letterkenny. Traffic delays will be kept to a minimum where possible but diversions will be put in place to accommodate the runners between 10am and 11am while runners cross the town.
We expect runners to be cleared from the Town by 11.15 am approximately so all internal routes in the town should return to normal thereafter.
There will also be traffic management in place at Oldtown Bridge until we clear the runners and traffic will be diverted via the Leck Road.
The other main route is the Newmills road where residents will be encouraged to use a circular route to access town, turning out left and crossing at Newmills or Rashedog as opposed to driving back into Oldtown area to meet runners. We will have marshalls on this route as well as race in progress signs.
Competitors can register on either Saturday afternoon or on the morning of the event. Registration is between 12 pm and 6pm on Saturday or alternatively Sunday morning in Aura Leisure Centre, Letterkenny before the race starts.
However, it is advisable that all competitors register well before the starting gun to give themselves plenty of time to prepare mentally and physically. There has also been a great response to the committee’s call for volunteers for the day and it is hoped that the people of Donegal will turn out in great numbers to support all the participants.
Road closures will be in place for the event and once again, the committee wishes to acknowledge the support of the public and apologise for any inconvenience caused by the measures.
The committee would also like to stress that this is a community event that wishes to engage as many of the people of Donegal as possible. In addition to the marathon, the Aura Leisure Centre will play host to a free Family Fun day, which is being organised as part of the One Donegal Programme, which will take place between 12 noon and 4pm on the same day.
Entertainment will include Bazooka Dave; Happy Phil; The Evil Minion & the Minions’ Motorised Car; Circus Stilt Walking/Juggling; Balloon Artistry; Magic Show; Fire Eating; Uni-cycling and Penny Farthing. There will also be Madagascar themed entertainment in the form of Marty the Dancing Zebra; Alex the Friendly Lion; Melman the Hypochondriac Giraffe; and Clown Jeca.
If that is not enough, there will also be a Bouncy Slide, Bouncy Obstacle Course, two Bouncy Castles and a DJ belting out all your favourite hits to keep the party in full flow as we cheer home our marathon competitors. Yes folks, Sunday 24th August is a day not to be missed in Letterkenny. For further information go to www.donegalmarathon.ie
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