Galway Woman's Mini-Marathon (GWMM) - http://www.galwaysimon.ie/news.asp?ID=59

1st Anne Marie Higgins (Tuam AC) 40.23

2nd Elaine Walsh (Athenry AC) 40.33 - well done, girl!

3rd Eimear Butler (Unknown) 41.22

They each won 12 month memberships to the NRG gym in Galway.

See attached PDF with a full race result...

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Maria Hehir's short race report - many thanks to the good lady and welcome back onto the road!

Last Tuesday the doctor said to me that I could start back running but I was to take it easy - I had developed exercise-induced/runner’s asthma earlier in the year. That's exactly what I did when I took part in the first Galway (West of Ireland) Women’s Mini Marathon last Saturday. It was in aid of the Galway Simon Community, who helps combat homelessness in this area.

So I headed off to Southpark early that morning. The day was not as warm as the previous few, thank god, and there was a lovely breeze blowing. Boy, it was great to be back in the buzz of it all, to see so many familiar and new faces as we went to collect our race numbers in the Fr. Griffins-Eire Óg GAA club house. The anxious faces of those taking part in their 1st 10k after competing in this year's 5k series, others talking about their predicted times, how they did in last week’s Annaghdown 10k, checking the race route, the queue for the loo, or should I say looking to find a loo without a queue.

The colours of Athenry AC were well represented in Elaine, Maire Treasa, Maeve, Sinead, Fiona, Bridget, Grainne & myself. We lined up alongside 360 other ladies. At 11.45 AM we set off from Southpark. For the first 1km I was running alongside Maeve but I knew I was pushing myself too hard and pulled back during the second km. Mary Treasa, who was also making a welcome return, passed me along the prom. The course was very flat until the 3km mark, where we turned up Threadneedle Road, with an incline along Kingston Road, turning left downhill onto Knocknacarra Road, and back along the Prom to finish in Southpark, where we all received lovely t-shirts & medals water and oranges.

The girls were all happy with their times and I have to say even, though I didn’t do a great time, it was a great feeling to have finished it and felt good. Well done to Fiona & Bridget who completed their first 10k and to all others who participated in it.

I would like to express a word of thanks to Barry McCann and all involved in this event: it was very well organised with plenty of water stations. Even though the roads were open to traffic there were plenty of marshals and officials on the route and at all junctions. This is a welcome addition to add to the local road race calendar. The only thing missing, as I heard a few people say at the start, was an anthem to start the race.