Countdown on to another big weekend
With just four days to go to the sixth Achill Half-Marathon, the final preparations are underway
The Green Dots on the map are the mile markers, with number 13 (orange) being the start and finish line, where the medical tents, tented village, RSA shuttle bus and Elvery’s shuttle bus will be located. The Blue Dots along the routes are the water stations.
Countdown is on to another big weekend
WITH just four days to go to the sixth Achill Half-Marathon, the finishing touches are being applied to what has in itself been a marathon of organisation for the event.
A sub-committee of Achill Event Management, along with all the staff in the Achill Tourism office, have been busy for months planning for Saturday’s event, which is expected to attract up to 8,000 to the west Mayo island. And as the countdown gets under way, Race Director – and Manager of Achill Tourism – Helen Applegarth is confident everything will be to the usual high standards the participants have come to expect in Achill.
“It’s been a hectic few months since registration opened, but we’re happy with the way things have gone and are now looking forward to another memorable weekend in Achill. We’re sure those who participate and those who come to support will enjoy everything that’s on offer,” she said yesterday (Monday).
Registration for participants will open on Friday afternoon at 2pm at the registration HQ in Keel and will remain open until 11pm that night. Participants are asked to bring the confirmation email they received when registering online with them when they show up for pre-race registration.
FUN RUN Contestants are pictured ‘warming up’ for last year’s Achill Half-Marathon. A large crowd is expect to descend on the island for this year’s event this weekend.?Pic: Brian Farrell
The race will start at 11am to the strains of the traditional Achill pipes and to words of encouragement from Mary Davis, who is officially starting the event.
While there may be some traffic delays at the start of the race, there will be plenty of marshalls on hand to move things along as quickly as possible and to offer advice to those who are driving in the area. Warning signs will be in place on the day.
There will be lots to see and do around the HQ arena including exhibits from Elvery’s and the RSA as well as fitness testing from McDonald’s Young Athletics. This is a family day and the village in the Race HQ offers stands from sponsors and charities, as well as exhibits of local arts and crafts, reflexology and holistic therapies.