Thousands to take part in VHI Women's Mini Marathon
More than 28,000 women are expected to take to the streets of Dublin today for the 43rd annual VHI Women's Mini Marathon.
The 10km race begins at 12.30pm, with the latest edition of the race starting on Fitzwilliam Street and finishing on Baggot Street Lower.
The public is being asked to be aware of road closures throughout the city and particular in the Ballsbridge and Donnybrook area of Dublin as a result of the event and to plan ahead.
Event organisers are advising participants to allow extra time to travel and to use public transport where possible.
The event caters for women who wish to walk or jog for fun while also catering for competitive runners.
An estimated €226m has been raised for charity since 9,000 women took part in the inaugural Women's Mini Marathon in 1983 and over 1.1 million women have entered the event over the last four decades.
The Cork city marathon will also take place this morning with over 10,000 competitors expected to take part.
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Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
Friends go viral for wine breaks during Women's Mini Marathon
Two friends have gone viral after they competed the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon all the while sharing a bottle of wine, a couple of BuzzBallz and having a twerk break. The beloved women's only race took place on June 1, with thousands of women taking to the streets of Dublin for a range of important causes. 28,000 tickets were sold for the main event, with virtual mini-marathons taking place the day before. Two friends have gone viral after they competed the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon all the while sharing a bottle of wine, a couple of BuzzBallz and having a twerk break. Pic: Nicole Ivory Rogan/ TikTok Two of the thousands of women who took part in the event were friends Nicole and Nicole, who shared clips from the exciting day, which saw them making a dash into Spar for an impromptu break while they got their hands on a bottle of wine. Bringing social media users along for the race, Nicole Ivory Rogan shared a clip from the coffee machines at the Spar which was on the route of the race, shortly after the 5km mark. 'We took a break, and we got wine in Spar,' she explained, as they poured the Sauvignon Blanc into large paper cups. @nicoleivoryrogan2 I don't know how that escalated so quickly but what a ball! . . . . #fyp #foryoupage❤️❤️ #viral #mounjaro #vhi #marathon #sunday #womensminimarathon #sundayfunday ♬ original sound – Nicole Ivory-Rogan The girls continued with the race, sharing more snippets as they hit the sixth kilometre as well as a quick dash into Tesco for a 'refill.' By the seventh kilometre, the friends had acquired a whistle as well as a couple of BuzzBallz. 'This is getting easier, suddenly,' Nicole said, with the pair giggling. Bringing social media users along for the race, Nicole Ivory Rogan shared a clip from the coffee machines at the Spar which was on the route of the race, shortly after the 5km mark. Pic: Nicole Ivory Rogan/ TikTok Sharing clips as they got to the eight kilometres, the friends branded the race 'so easy' as they joked they thought they were only at the second kilometre. They then took an quick twerk break before getting stuck into the final two kilometres of the run. A TikTok of the girls' race experience was shared via TikTok with Nicole admitting: 'I don't know how that escalated so quickly but what a ball…' By the seventh kilometre, the friends had acquired a whistle as well as a couple of BuzzBallz. Pic: Nicole Ivory Rogan/ TikTok Social media users took to the comments obsessed with the craic, with many sharing that they had seen the duo during the race. One said: 'Omg I saw you lol [laugh out loud], I thought it was coffee and I was thinking that's such a slay lol.' Another added: 'This is my kinda marathon.' A third commented: 'The only way to numb the pain of those legs.'
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tens of thousands take to streets on rainy bank holiday weekend
Tens of thousands of people ran, danced and smelled the roses yesterday on rainy Bank Holiday weekend. In Dublin, more than 28,000 women took to the streets yesterday in what is being hailed as the most successful ever Vhi Women's Mini Marathon. The sold-out event, now in its 43rd year, reached its maximum capacity in record time. The iconic race drew women from every corner of Ireland, with participants travelling from all over the country for what is now one of the largest all-female events in the world. It was won by Grace Richardson from Kilkenny City Harriers in a time of 34 minutes and 17 seconds. Participants of all ages, abilities and fitness levels came together under this year's theme, 'Championing Womankind' – a celebration of the strength, resilience and support that women bring to every step of their journey. Among them were first-timers, seasoned athletes, and a dedicated group of women who have taken part every year since 1983. The youngest participant was just 14, while the oldest was aged 89. The organisers claimed the shift in demographics this year was a new development, with a surge in younger women taking part. This is a trend that the organisers credit in part to the rise of social and community-focused running clubs across the country. Organisers are expecting to raise millions of euro for charities and they revealed that the event has raised more than €255million since it began in 1982. The 10km event began at Fitzwilliam Square, with runners, joggers and walkers making their way through the heart of Dublin. The runners were cheered on by thousands of spectators who lined the streets along the route. New for 2025 was the launch of Race Day Live, a one-hour TV-style programme broadcast live on screens at the start and finish areas. The show celebrated the elite field of athletes battling it out at the front, and offered live coverage as the race unfolded and was available on YouTube Live feed. After crossing the finish line at Lower Baggot Street, each participant was awarded a medal to commemorate their achievement. Across the finish line in second place was Claire Fagan from Mullingar Harriers AC followed by Jessica Craig of North Down AC. Sinead Kane from Le Cheile AC placed first in the Visually Impaired category. David O'Leary, race director of the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon said this year's race was one of the best ever. He said: 'The 2025 Vhi Women's Mini Marathon has been one of our most exciting yet. 'From the sheer number of participants to the new innovations and incredible stories we heard in the lead up to and today, it truly captured what Championing Womankind is all about. 'Congratulations to every woman who took part, and thank you to our amazing volunteers, our dedicated sponsors, An Garda Siochana, Dublin City Council and all our other stakeholders, and of course, our title sponsor Vhi.' In Cork, the city's marathon was won by Chris Jeuken from Co Clare, while Evelyn Twomey was the first woman to finish the race. Jake O'Regan and Niamh Allen won the half-marathon and the 10km men's race was won by Fearghal Curtin, with Hannah Steeds winning the women's 10km. The marathon had 550 international participants from over 26 countries. More than 1,000 volunteers helped organise and supervise the event. Also in Dublin yesterday thousands turned out for the Bord Bia Bloom Festival in the Phoenix Park to see the spectacular garden displays and sample the food onoffer. The festival, which kicked off last Thursday, continues today from 9am. Elsewhere in the capital the Forbidden Fruit Festival kicked off the country's summer music with Underworld headlining the main stage at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham. In the midlands the Kilkenny Bike Fest was in full swing yesterday with dozens of events around the country aimed at encouraging a new generation to embrace cycling for health, fun, and sustainable travel.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
The best photos as close to 30,000 women turn Dublin purple for Mini Marathon
28,000 women turned the streets of Dublin purple on Sunday for the 2025 VHI Women's Mini Marathon. The event, now in its 43rd year, is more popular than ever, and spots on the starting lineup were sold out in record time. With a theme this year of "Championing Womankind", women came from all over the country to run in the race. The youngest participant was just 14, while the oldest was aged 89. The race was won by Grace Richardson from Kilkenny City Harriers in a time of 34:17, with Claire Fagan from Mullingar Harriers AC finishing second in 34:35. Sinead Kane from Le Chéile AC placed first in the Visually Impaired category with her time of 44:26 in the 10km event. iDonate, the event's official fundraising partner, reported a massive total of over €2 million and counting, bringing the cumulative amount raised by the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon to well over €255 million since its inception in 1982. David O'Leary, Race Director of the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon said: 'The 2025 Vhi Women's Mini Marathon has been one of our most exciting yet. "From the sheer number of participants to the new innovations and incredible stories we heard in the lead up to and today, it truly captured what Championing Womankind is all about. "Congratulations to every woman who took part, and thank you to our amazing volunteers, our dedicated sponsors, An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council and all our other stakeholders, and of course, our title sponsor Vhi.' Laurna and Evilin celebrate with a hug after finishing the race (Image: ©INPHO/Ben Brady) 1 of 12 Participants celebrate finishing with their medals (Image: ©INPHO/Ben Brady) 2 of 12 A participant celebrates whilst running through the finish line (Image: ©INPHO/Ben Brady) 3 of 12
