All about it. The Bogtrotters Marathon is a new marathon event taking place in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon on 24th July for runners /walkers of all abilities. It includes a full, half and relay marathon and goes from Strokestown to Rooskey and back on the minor roads and bog tracks. The course is flat/undulating with a few sneaky hills and has been measured and approved by the AAI.
It starts in Strokestown Park House, home of the Famine Museum, at 9 a.m. and finishes there too. The roads will be closed until 5 p.m. Although the first place prizes are designed to attract elite athletes the relay option means that anyone who can run or walk 3.5 miles, which is the shortest distance, can participate. The other distances are 4, 5, 6 and 8 miles approx. Registration is online at www.thebogtrottersmarathon.ie or by post on downloadable forms from the website. The fee includes a medal, T-shirt, water, changing facilities, baggage storage, buses for half marathon and relay stages, yoga warm-up session, post-race massage, concessionary entry to Strokestown Park House, walled garden and Famine Museum. There will be a kids Fun Run, face painting and a bouncy castle on during the day. Weekend adult entertainment will include The Bogtrotters Sessiún on the Friday night and the Bogtrotters Bash on the Saturday night. The charity partner is Bothar, who 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.