Liz Woodman, Nurse, Runner and Bucket-lister Working as a Neurology/Neurosurgery paediatric nurse at Miami Children’s Hospital is a job that Liz Woodman loves and with a schedule that allows her to run she had decided that her personal bucket-list would include running three marathons. Little did she know that it would lead her all the way home to the Sionnach Relay in Sligo, Ireland.
Liz, originally from Co. Donegal, is based in Miami, Florida and was ready to fulfil her ambition with the Miami 2010 Marathon when a huge earthquake hit nearby Haiti two weeks before her race. As a qualified nurse, Liz knew she had to go and do what she could to help the people of Haiti but it meant her own dreams had to be set aside indefinitely. On her return to the USA she successfully completed a number of Ragnar Races with her team and as fate would have it, met the Sionnach representatives at the Ragnar Relay Miami to Key West in Florida. As Liz recalls. “I had decided that I needed to run a race out of State and when I met the Sionnach team and heard all about the event in Sligo, I knew immediately that I had to go home and do it”.
The Sionnach Relay is Ireland’s first fun overnight relay race and takes place in Sligo in July 2014. Forming part of The European Town of Sport calendar, The Sionnach Relay will be accepting 2400 runners (300 teams of 8 runners each) and is actively recruiting international teams as well as Irish participants. The focus is firmly on fun and runners of all fitness levels are welcome to take part be they running enthusiasts, corporate team-builders, creative fundraisers or fun runners seeking an enjoyable weekend with friends. The Hub of the race will be at The Institute of Technology, Sligo where there will be camping space, live music, massage, yoga and various other activities to enjoy when not out running. Teams are being encouraged to think creatively with prizes available for Best Team Name, Best Costumes and Best Team Tent. During the night runs the intention is to Light Up Sligo with glow sticks, lights and anything else that runners and teams can dream up.
Liz describes herself as a non-serious runner and with her training plan underway, her ambition is primarily to finish the race, enjoy the Sionnach festival atmosphere and to have fun with her team – calling themselves Who’s idea was this – before going on to enjoy her extended holiday at home in Ireland. As well as raising funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Liz and her teammates are also planning to fundraise for the Crumlin Children’s Hospital which has significant personal resonance for the group.
If like Liz, you are seeking to challenge yourself, have fun and raise much-needed funds for great causes, Sionnach entry is currently open. Runners can either enter as a complete team or link up with other individual entrants via the Sionnach Facebook page and on twitter @sionnachrelay. You can also check out the informational video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv1-JZ569zM&feature=youtu.be