Location:

Achill Island, County Mayo

Details:

Achill Marathon, 1st July 2006

On your marks! Saturday 1st July is the date of the 2006 Achill Half Marathon, a new event which is open to all comers. For registration details, please visit www.achillmarathon.com.

The course of the half-marathon will begin and end in Keel, taking a route along the foot of Slievemore mountain and passing by the two Blue Flag beaches at Dugort before returning via Bunacurry and River past Keel lake to the finish line in Keel village.

The course has been approved by the AAI (Athletics Association of Ireland) and this is the description supplied by ActiveEurope.com:

"the course is difficult in areas but overall relatively easy to complete - you can anticipate one of the most beautiful runs in the world with breath-taking views along the way. Participants can view their completion times on-line hours after the race."

All runners in the Achill Marathon will receive a unique glass souvenir which has been custom designed for the event by glass artist Killian Schurmann. He will also design and make the winners prizes for the marathon.

The Achill Marathon will be the main fundraising event this year for the new charity Silent Masses, which aims to 'speak up' for people unable to speak up for themselves. (Find out more from the Silent Masses Web site).

Full details of the Achill Marathon, including how to register, are available on the www.achillmarathon.com Web site.