Get Heart Healthy for the 2009 Flora Women’s Mini Marathon
Organisers of the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon are calling on ladies all over Ireland to lace up and take part in this year’s event in a bid to encourage everyone to become heart healthy for 2009, whilst raising valuable funds for Irish charities.
The details for the 2009 Flora Women’s Mini Marathon were announced earlier today, Wednesday 25 February. All those planning on taking part can start entering online at www.florawomensminimarathon.ie from tomorrow, Thursday 26 February. The event is taking place on Bank Holiday Monday, 1 June.
“We’re putting the challenge out to all women around the country to consider running, walking or jogging the 2009 Flora Women’s Mini Marathon. Taking part in an event like this is an ideal way of keeping fit and becoming heart healthy. When times are tight, the only investment one needs to make is in a good pair of running shoes and to follow a training regime and diet that suits your lifestyle,” said Niamh Lennon, Brand Manager, Flora.
“Not only is the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon a perfect vehicle for us to inspire people to take care of their hearts, it’s also an excellent way in which to raise much needed money for charity,” she continued.
Since it’s inception in 1983, when 9,000 entrants took part, the 10k event has grown in popularity and stature to become the biggest all-women’s event of its kind in the world, attracting over 40,000 participants each year. In previous years the event has been won by acclaimed athletes such as Sonia O’Sullivan, Catherina McKiernan, Pauline Curley, Marie Davenport, and last year, Annette Kealy.
Flora is encouraging women all over Ireland to get involved in the race as part of its campaign to support and encourage heart health awareness and a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. The need for people to relook at their lifestyle and consider how fit and healthy they really are is something that became evident to Flora following the completion of an Irish Sports Council (ISC) report in 2007.
The study, which was commissioned by the ISC, examined the impact of participation in the Flora Women’s Mini-Marathon on physical activity behaviour in women. Results show how important it is for women to be more conscious of their health, fitness and their general heart health. A total of 11,205 completed the survey and it found that 90% of those taking part train beforehand; although almost 60% of the respondents only started doing some training three months before the event. When looking at the results from the survey, it is clear that the challenge for 2009 is to get more women exercising more regularly.
Pat Coyle, Chairman of the Women’s Mini Marathon Committee added, “2009 will mark the 27th year of the Women’s Mini Marathon, and the sixth year that Flora has been involved as title sponsor. Not only has Flora’s support to date been invaluable to the success of the event, their sponsorship is thriving and I’m delighted that Flora recently announced they will continue to sponsor the event until 2012. The Flora Women’s Mini Marathon attracts a record number of entrants each year, and as a result, an unprecedented amount of money is raised for charity, so I hope everyone will get into the spirit of the event for 2009 and sign up to take part.”
Charities from every county in Ireland are the biggest winners from the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon. Since the event began in 1983, over €123 million has been raised for Irish charities, making it the biggest single day charity event in Ireland. In 2008, it is estimated that over €14m was raised, which proves just how popular the event is.
For further information, log onto www.florawomensminimarathon.ie