Jelly babies favourite snack of Runners Jelly Babies emerged as the favourite snack of runners at a water station, in a recent survey by The Bogtrotters Marathon on Facebook. Social media is allowing the race organizers keep in touch with the preferences of their participants but the variety of opinions can be bewildering! T-shirts or medals, cotton or high-tech, mile markers or kilometre markers, etc etc. The excitement of a new rural marathon, and the fun element embodied in the name, is attracting both new and veteran runners to register for this full, half and relay marathon, taking place very soon on 24th July 2010 in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. The course has been designed to showcase the beautiful hidden bog landscape of east Co. Roscommon – it is flat/undulating with a few sneaky hills, is largely on tarmacked roads and bog/farm tracks and has been measured and approved by the Athletics Association of Ireland.
It starts in Strokestown Park House at 9 a.m. and finishes there too. Registration is online at www.thebogtrottersmarathon.ie or by post with downloadable form and the fee includes a medal, T-shirt, water, changing facilities, baggage storage, buses for half marathon and relay stages, pre-race yoga warm-up session, post-race massage & chiropractic care, free foot & gait analysis, concessionary entry to Strokestown Park House, walled garden and Famine Museum, free entertainment on the Friday night with The Bogtrotters Sessiún and free pass for two to The Bogtrotters Bash on the Saturday night in the Percy French Hotel with popular band David and Blue Tax.
Also on the day there will be a Family 1k Fun Run at 11a.m. in Strokestown Park, with face painting and bouncy castles too. Yoga taster workshops will run during the afternoon for free but donations are welcome for Bothar, the designated charity of The Bogtrotters Marathon. Bothar are Livestock Aid specialists, establishing families in micro-farming units by giving them the living gift of a farm animal. Fundraising forms can be obtained by emailing events@bothar.ie. People can also choose to fundraise for their own charity of choice or for none at all.
Prizes have been sponsored by Bog Standard who do stylish giftware with a quirky Irish twist, including candles, soaps and Irish linens; by the Roscommon Chocolate Company, local artisan chocolate makers; by Healthy Beings, the local health food shop in Strokestown; and by Heatons Sports World.