Evening Herald-Supplement
Tuesday 5 June 2012
Sinead Fagan
This year the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Having started in 1983 with 9,000 women running, over that time, the event has developed into the biggest of its kind in the world, with over 40,000 women taking part each year.
A total of 800,000 women have completed the run over its 30 year history but just 18 of those women have run in every single race.
It was taking part in the first mini marathon back in 1983 that kick-started a love affair with health and fitness for Betty Behan from Cherrywood.
“Getting involved in that first run gave me the bug to try other things,” recalls Betty, who now trains with Patricia Craddock-Smith at Blackrock Athletic Club.
“I do a lot of jogging and walking, but I especially love hill walking”.
SPECTACLE
Betty has watched the event grow from its infancy into the incredible spectacle it is today.
“It’s so vast now compared to what it was that first year. It’s great that so many people are involved; whether they want to walk, jog or run, and all the spectators cheering everyone on makes it a really fun experience.
Rosemary Phipps from Irishtown started running the race on her own all those years ago, and as time progressed her sisters joined her.
Over the years she has run seven Dublin Marathons and the Boston Marathon once.
Rosemary has managed to fit in all 30 of the women’s mini marathons owing to careful prioritizing.
“I never plan a holiday until I’ve run the Women’s Mini Marathon each year! She says. “I even ran when I was pregnant!”
It was to be a poignant event for Rosemary this year, as she will run with her sister Marian, and four other sisters as well as a large group of her extended family to raise funds for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).
They are running in memory of Marian’s son Andrew Finn, who died suddenly two years ago, sadly leaving his wife, Nicola and unborn son, Cillian behind him.
Margaret McBride from Galway, is also one of the anointed 18.
“I really can’t believe that it’s been 30 years, it’s so wonderful,” she says.
“I love doing it, the atmosphere is so incredible.
“Each year I hope that I’l be around for the next one, I just couldn’t bear the thought of missing it!
“I really want to thank the organizers for doing such a great job over the last 30 years, and congratulations to everyone who took part in the race”.