By Bradas McDyer
It’s time to get registered for the Charles McGuinness memorial 10k road race.
This year’s event will take place at 12:30pm next Sunday, September 8th.
Growing steadily in popularity, 2013 promises to be the biggest and best yet! We are delighted to have this year’s race included in the Donegal Athletic Board Grand Prix. The route will be the same as last year registration details will be posted shortly.
The event was renamed in 2011 and The McGuinness family from Ard Patrick in Glenties are delighted that Charles, their son and brother will be remembered in this way every year.
It is a small tribute to a young man taken from this life in 1985 at the age of just 16, a young man whose athletic fervour for football, cycling and running to name just a few sports has left memories that will continue to inspire those who remember. Indeed when Charles last ran the original race in the 80′s he came home first with brother, Jim in second. It’s just our way of saluting someone who was even crazier about physical fitness and competition than we are.
The route will see the participants start about 500 metres out the Station Road (Fintown/Letterkenny side), then travel into and up the Main Street, out the Ardara road for a kilometre before turning left into the wonderfully scenic, Meenahalla.
From here you continue along the southern flank of The Big Glen of Glenties onwards over The Navy Poet, Patrick MacGill’s “Braes of old Strasala” before dropping down to follow the glen back down into town, with a finish on the bridge.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/121748567 is a link to a course map with a profile of the inclines and declines. Drag your cursor along the red profile line to see the elevation related on the map.
The course is considered quite fast, flat with only a few short inclines between kms four and five (don’t blow a gasket!) There’s a nice downhill as a reward immediately after.
The final 4.5kms are really fast with just two, much shorter rises just after the 9km marker. A nice downhill will see you power the last 500 metres to the adulation of your fans and festival goers.
The Annual Harvest Fair float parade starts shortly afterwards, but don’t worry as you will have plenty of time to enjoy the refreshments and the awards ceremony before the fun of the fair kicks off!
The event is open to all, runners and walkers as we love to see people attempting this fun family event!
If you don’t fancy competing maybe you’d like to help with marshalling!
For more info call me Bradas or Tracy on 086-3530537 or 086-1065173
All proceeds from the event will go to The Irish Heart Foundation.
For more go here:
https://www.facebook.com/charlesmcguinness10k?ref=hl