by Sports Ireland.ie The Forest Marathon, held in Portumna is back on the 16th of june 2012. Voted one of the best and most friendly events in Ireland for two years in a row. The forest Marathon has a new marathon start and a much smoother 5k lap in the beautiful Coilte Forest in Portumna.
Entry fee is only €40, and if you just check : www.forestmarathon.com you will definitely sign up !
The most beautiful and special lap Marathon will just take your mind of anything. Coilte Ireland is supporting the event in its 3rd year along with Galway County Councill & Portumna Garda Síochán
For many runners, the completion of a marathon race is a cherrished ambition, but for an intrepid few, 26.2 miles is just not far enough. Races longer that a marathon, or ‘ultramarathons’, have traditionally been seen as the preserve of a sort of athletic lunatic fringe
Our mission this year is to convince many more people that running an ultramarathon, and enjoying the experience, is possible.
On the 16th of June next the signature event on the day will be a 100km race, one of only a handful of such events ever staged in Ireland.
“It’s just such a wonderful location for running that it deserves a unique event. I hope that I can provide Irish runners with the opportunity to challenge themselves to achieve something really special there. Wilth a little care and preparation, races like this are well within the scope of many club runners and triathletes.” Says Sebastien Locteau the race director of the forest marathon.
In conjunction with the 100km race, both a 50km and a standard marathon race will also be held, which provide less demanding alternatives to the 100km race.
“This won’t be like the London or Dublin Marathons, it’ll be an altogether more relaxed atmosphere I’m sure. While I don’t think we’ll have thousands of runners in Portumna, we are absolutely determined to make sure that everything is perfect for those who want to take part”
Each race has been accurately measured By AIMS and AAI accredited measurer and has been given the stamp of approval from the Athletics Association of Ireland in the last few years.
The three races in June assist in raising funds for the local ‘Sign Out’ Portumna Youth Cafe and volunteers from the Cafe will provide assistance to the event organisers on the day and they will Organise a 10km run at 4pm in which all funds will go to the Portumna youth Cafe
We always thought that many more people could take part in events like this than have done so in the past. Our dream is to help them realise what they’re really capable of.
Details of the races can be found at www.forestmarathon.com
“We’ve started with a small field this year but have concrete plans to make this a bigger and better event in years to come.We’re confident that we can grow both the marathon and the ultramarathon races substantially over the next few years. We have a beautiful venue here that we believe will prove attractive to both competitive and recreational runners alike.”
