Sold out signs up as Tullamore half marathon becomes national championship

MUCH earlier than normal sold out signs have gone up on the annual Tullamore Harriers' half marathon following its designation as the national championship.

It means that a record number of athletes will run the course from the Charleville Road out to Mucklagh, to Ballincanty Cross and back into the Tullamore Harriers stadium via Killurin. The event takes place on Saturday, August 26 with the start time brought forward to 10am to help athletes avoid potential heat later in the day.

The half marathon is once again sponsorsed by Bord na Mona and has won a national reputation since first taking place in 2014 – the teams compete for one of Tullamore Harriers' most revered prizes, the Quinlan Cup.

The numbers participating have grown considerably since then – Tullamore's central location in Ireland, a fair but testing course and the professionalism of the host club have all been factors in this.

Now the decision of Athletics Ireland to make the event their national half marathon championship will further raise its profile for both elite and more ordinary competitors.

Bord na Mona came on board as title sponsors last year while the support of several other businesses is instrumental in the successful running of the event.

Along with the National Championships, the Bord na Móna Tullamore Harriers Half Marathon is also the host race for the Leinster and Offaly Half Marathon Championships, which also provides the opportunity to claim a provincial and county half marathon medal. Kilkenny Athletics County Board are also using this event to serve as the Kilkenny Half Marathon Championships too.

The race was launched last week with Bord na Mona represented by Sharon Doyle, Head of Human Resources, Brendan Kelly, Renewable Manager Commercial Manager and Ger Breen, Head of Land and Habitats.