MAYOR of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor John Boyle, has urged local runners to act now to claim their spot in one of the most popular athletics events of the season, the Strabane Lifford Half Marathon.
The cross border event returns to local roads on Sunday May 12th and with entries capped at 1,200 runners it is once again expected to sell out well before that date.
It is organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council in association with Lifford Strabane Athletics Club with support from the Department for Infrastructure, Donegal County Council, PSNI and the Garda.
Mayor Boyle said the Strabane Lifford Half Marathon has been one of the key reasons for a local boom in running in recent years.
“I am delighted and proud that Council are again hosting this major athletics event for a sixth successive year along with our partners at Lifford Strabane Athletics Club,” he said.
“We have witnessed a real surge in the numbers running locally and one of the main reasons for that is there are so many well organised events for local people to choose from.
Festival and Events Manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council, Jacqueline Whoriskey, warned local runners that the event will sell out and to act now to secure your start line spot.
“The Strabane Lifford Half Marathon has grown in popularity each year and has developed a strong reputation as an efficiently run and friendly event to take part in for all levels of runner.
“With a registration fee of just £23 it is also one of the best value events on the local athletics calendar and that fee includes chipped timing for each competitor, a free event t shirt, finishers’ medal and goody bag.
“It is well scheduled to act as a preparatory run for the Walled City Marathon in June but many runners also choose it as their first ever Half Marathon after completing the recent Glenmore and Walled City 10 mile events and the Ballyliffin Coastal Challenge in April.
“As we have seen from the Omagh Half Marathon on Saturday April 6th selling out in record time, demand for places in athletics events is at an all-time high so act now to claim your place by registering online.”
All Half Marathon entrants must be 18 or over on the day of the race which starts at 9:30am on Sunday May 12th from Meetinghouse Street in Strabane and will finish at the Melvin Sports Complex running track.
Registrations for the Strabane Lifford Half Marathon are open now at www.derrystrabane.com/SLHM and will close on April 21st or before that if the quota is reached.
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