from Ciaran Byrne With less than five weeks to go until the Wicklow Hospice Seven Day Seven Marathon Challenge runners, walkers and joggers are busy training for this unique challenge. Although this is called the “Seven Day Seven Marathon Challenge” there are many ways of participating. Days one and seven (7th and 13th July) take place in Bray, starting and finishing near the Martello Hotel on the seafront, while days two to six (8th – 12th July) start and finish in the grounds of beautiful Avondale House and Forest Park near Rathdrum.
Both courses consist of four laps of approximately six miles or ten kilometres, so for those who are interested in the 10K distance one lap covers this. A half marathon consists of two laps, a three-quarter marathon three laps, and the full marathon four laps. Participants can complete any distance, any day, on one or more days including all seven if they so wish. Some participants have chosen to start with a 10K, attempt the half marathon later on in the week and even the three-quarter marathon towards the end of the week. Others want to stick with the half marathon option wile others have various combinations of distances over the week. For anyone who is thinking of taking part in October’s Dublin City Marathon, this is an ideal opportunity to sample long distance running in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, while at the same time raising much needed funds for the Wicklow Hospice Foundation.
At the moment there is no online facility to register although entry fee, or sponsorship in lieu of the fee can be paid through www.mycharity.ie/events/wicklowhospicesevendaymarathonchallenge. Hard copies of the registration form are available to download from www.wicklowhospice.ie or from the facebook page: 7 day 7 marathon challenge, or from Avondale Sport and Leisure, Rathdrum, and the hospice shops in Arklow and Wicklow. You can also contact Bill Porter on 0404-43250 or email sevendaymarathonchallenge@gmail.com for further details. The latest date for registering is 26th June.
There will be a complimentary T-shirt for everyone registering and a specially commissioned finisher’s medallion for everyone who completes a challenge every day. So get out there and start training – it will be an opportunity to participate in a very unique sporting occasion this year, to make new friends, to get some exercise and at the same time to raise funds for Wicklow’s Hospice.
Come on and join in!