Women's Mini Marathon, Dublin

The Women's Mini Marathon is an annual road race conducted for charitable purposes. The event takes place each June bank holiday weekend in the city of Dublin, Ireland.[1] Despite the event's title, it is not a true marathon race as the circuit is only 10 km long. Since the current title sponsor is the Irish insurance company Vhi Healthcare, the event is also known as the VHI Women's Mini Marathon. It is the largest women's event of its kind in the world.

Women's Mini Marathon, Dublin
DateSunday of June Bank Holiday Weekend
LocationDublin, Ireland
Event typeRoad
Distance10km
Primary sponsorVhi Healthcare
Established1983
Course records31:28 (2000)
Sonia O'Sullivan
Official siteDublin Women's Mini Marathon
Participants25,480 (2019)

In 1983,[2] 9,000 women entered the inaugural event. The event grew in popularity as women took more interest in their health and fitness. In 2014 it reached a record attendance when over 41,000 women participated. One million women have entered the event over its 36 years.

Hundreds of charities are also involved. In 2019, it is estimated that €7.8m was raised on the day for charities, bringing the total raised, since the race started, to over €225m. Participants decide themselves which charity they will support. It is the largest one day charity event in the country.

History

A small group of male athletes gathered in the Mill House in Stillorgan in 1983.[3] They concluded that an all-women's race would be suitable for increasing female participation.[3] The Evening Press were named as sponsors and Dundrum South Dublin Athletics Club as the host club.[3]

Several Irish women's distance runners have taken part in the race. Catherina McKiernan recorded her first of four wins in her autobiography, Running for My Life, saying: "I enjoyed every moment of it. The crowds were more incredible that I expected, and it was just something I always wanted to do."[3]

In recent years, charities have used online services such as Facebook, Twitter and podcasting to promote their involvement.[4]

Sponsorship

The race has had a large list of sponsors through its history. VHI is the current title sponsor and intends to continue its association with the race until 2021.[5]

From the beginning, a Dublin evening newspaper has promoted the race, acting as its media sponsor.[5] The Evening Herald took over this role from the Evening Press in 1996 when it went defunct in 1995. In 2001, it was known as the Tesco Ireland Evening Herald Women's Mini-Marathon.[6] For the 2003 race, the Herald and Nike were the only sponsors.[5] Other sponsors have included Elverys, Citroën and Newbridge Silverware.[5] From 2004 until 2014 it became known as the Flora Women's Mini Marathon. The Order of Malta is involved on the day.[5]

Preparation

The 3 June 2018 VHI Women's Mini Marathon moved to a Sunday event. 30,000 women lined out for the race. It was won by Lizzie Lee in a time of 34 minutes and 18 seconds. The 2020 VHI Women's Mini Marathon was due to take place on Sunday, 31 May 2020. However, due to Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland, the event was postponed and later cancelled. A a Virtual Women's Mini Marathon was instead planned for the Autumn.

To prepare for the event, over 2,200 crash barriers are set up at the start, finish, on the course and in the Reunion Area around Merrion Square. Approximately 110,000 paper cups are laid out at the water stations which supplies over 34,000 litres of water for the participants, and some 250 toilets are ordered in for the day. Over 1000 race stewards and personnel are on hand to ensure that the event runs smoothly on the day.

Notable winners

Multiple time World Cross-Country silver medalist Catherina McKiernan won the event in 1998, 1999 and 2004. Sonia O'Sullivan won the event in 2000, months before she went on to win the silver in the Olympic 5000m.[6] O'Sullivan's time of 31m 23s set a record which has yet to be beaten in this race. Kenya's Magdaline Chemjor won the 2001 edition. Lizzie Lee won the event in 2018 and later went on to win the Irish National Title and finish third outright in the Dublin Marathon in October that year.

Recent years

2000
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Sonia O'Sullivan Ireland31:28Record time
Magdaline Chemjor Kenya?
??

The 2000 mini-marathon was the 18th running of the event.

Sonia O'Sullivan won the race, in a record time of 31 minutes and 28 seconds.[6] Magdaline Chemjor from Kenya finished in second place.[6]

2001
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Magdaline Chemjor Kenya?
Sonia O'Sullivan Ireland33:26
Valerie Vaughan Ireland?

The 2001 mini-marathon was the 19th running of the event and took place on 4 June. More than 31,000 females took part in the mini-marathon.[6]

Magdaline Chemjor from Kenya won the race.[6] Sonia O'Sullivan finished in second place inside 33 minutes and 26 seconds, later announcing her intention to not contest any track races that summer, including the World Championships in Canada.[6] She claimed that the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, at which she won a silver medal, had tired her "mentally and physically" and that she wanted "to take a good rest", having been "suffering from illness all too often" that year.[6] Valerie Vaughan finished in third place inside 34 minutes.[6]

2004

The 2004 mini-marathon was the 22nd running of the event.

It raised a total of €9 million for charity.[7]

2005
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Sonia O'Sullivan Ireland33:07
Pauline Curley Ireland?
Annette Kealy Ireland?

The 2006 mini-marathon was the 23rd running of the event and took place on 6 June. Over 40,000 females took part in the race.[7]

Sonia O'Sullivan won the race inside 33 minutes and 7 seconds.[7] Pauline Curley from Tullamore finished in second place.[7] Annette Kealy from Malahide finished in third place.[7]

2006
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Pauline Curley Ireland35:04Second victory
Niamh O'Sullivan Ireland35:18
Orla O'Mahony Ireland35:41

The 2006 mini-marathon was the 24th running of the event and took place on 5 June.

Pauline Curley from County Offaly won the race inside 35 minutes and 4 seconds.[8][9] It was her second victory in this race.[10] Niamh O'Sullivan from County Kerry finished in second place in a time of 35 minutes and 18 seconds.[10] Orla O'Mahony from Raheny finished in third place in a time of 35 minutes and 41 seconds.[10]

2007
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Marie Davenport Ireland33:14
Rosemary Ryan Ireland?
Pauline Curley Ireland?

The 2007 mini-marathon was the 25th running of the event and took place on 4 June.

Debutant Marie Davenport from County Clare won the race inside 33 minutes and 14 seconds, later declaring her interest in representing Ireland at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[8] Rosemary Ryan from Limerick finished in second place.[8] The 2006 winner, Pauline Curley, finished in third place.[8]

A total of €14 million was raised for charity.[5]

2008
RankAthleteCountryResult
Annette Kealy Ireland
Pauline Curley Ireland
Siobhan O'Doherty Ireland

The 2008 mini-marathon was the 26th running of the event, which was won by Annette Kealy.

RTÉ television editor Mary Butler, from Dún Laoghaire, took part via her wheelchair after sustaining a chipped ankle bone day earlier.[2] She was pushed along by newsreader Eileen Dunne and news editor Pat Brennan.[2]

A total of €14 million was raised for charity.[5]

2009
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Rosemary Ryan Ireland34:36
Pauline Curley Ireland35:41
Annette Kealy Ireland36:04
4Siobhan O'Doherty Ireland36:27

The 2009 mini-marathon was the 27th running of the event and took place on 1 June. It was part of a weekend of events taking place in the country which included the Cork City Marathon and the Volvo Ocean Race in Galway.[1][11][12] 40,374 females took part in the event, the sixth consecutive year that the 40,000 barrier was broken.[5][9] A record-breaking 280 charities registered to take part.[4]

Spectators included Desperate Housewives actress Dana Delany, whilst participants included RTÉ personalities Síle and Gráinne Seoige, model Glenda Gilson and former Xposé presenter Lorraine Keane.[13] 85-year-old Maureen Armstrong from Thurles, County Tipperary, was the race's oldest competitor.[13]

Rosemary Ryan from Limerick was the winner in a time of 34 minutes and 36 seconds, completing the race over one minute quicker than the 2008 winner.[9] Pauline Curley from County Offaly finished in second place, one minute behind Ryan.[9] Annette Kealy from Raheny finished in third place.[9] Siobhan O'Doherty from County Tipperary finished in fourth place.[9]

A total of €15 million was expected to be raised for charity.[5]

2010
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Linda Byrne Ireland34:29
Maria McCambridge Ireland34:31
Teresa McGloin Ireland34:36

2011
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Caitriona Jennings Ireland35:28
Siobhan O'Doherty Ireland35:31
Aoife Talty Ireland35:54

2012
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Linda Byrne Ireland33:30
Siobhan O'Doherty Ireland35:09
Barbara Cleary Ireland35:11
4Fiona Roche Ireland35:18

2013
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Siobhan O'Doherty Ireland34:20
Fiona Roche Ireland34:43
Maria McCambridge Ireland35:00

2014
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Barbara Cleary Ireland34:07
Maria McCambridge Ireland34:29
Catherina McKiernan Ireland34:38

2015
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Maria McCambridge Ireland34:03
Ann Marie McGlynn Ireland34:42
Catherina McKiernan Ireland34:46

2016
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Siobhan O'Doherty Ireland34:30
Natasha Adams Ireland34:33
Sarah Mulligan Ireland35:28

2017
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Ann Marie McGlynn Ireland33:55
Laura Shaughnessy Ireland34:27
Catherina Mullen Ireland34:54

2018
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Lizzie Lee Ireland34:18
Laura Shaughnessy Ireland34:30
Siobhan O'Doherty Ireland34:54

2019
RankAthleteCountryResultNotes
Aoibhe Richardson Ireland34:35
Catherina Mullen Ireland35:01
Breege Connolly Ireland35:13

Television coverage

Setanta Sports have broadcast race highlights each year since 2005 to 2015 and each year the event is featured in all national media broadcasters.

See also

References
  1. "Bank holiday bursting with range of events". The Irish Times. 30 May 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  2. "Granny goes distance to keep marathon spirit alive, alive-o". Irish Independent. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  3. "It's the June Bank Holiday and here come the girls". The Irish Times. 30 May 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  4. "Fundraisers set the pace". Evening Herald. 2 June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  5. "Huge numbers again for Mini Marathon". Evening Herald. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  6. "O'Sullivan won't run in World Championships". RTÉ. 4 June 2001. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  7. "Sonia wins mini-marathon". RTÉ. 6 June 2006. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  8. "Davenport wins Mini-Marathon". RTÉ. 4 June 2007. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  9. "Ryan claims Women's Mini Marathon". RTÉ. 1 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  10. "Curley wins second mini-marathon". RTÉ. 5 June 2006. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  11. "Sunshine likely for holiday weekend of marathons, music and festivals". The Irish Times. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  12. "Tall ships, short breaths, long stems". The Irish Times. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  13. "Ladies prove they can take the heat". Irish Independent. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
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