Calling all Mayo walkers, joggers and runners - Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon entry is now open

The 42nd edition of the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon will take place on Sunday, June 2, in Dublin city centre – and Mayo runners, joggers and walkers can enter now.

Over 20,000 women are expected to participate this year at the event, all setting off at 12.30 p.m. on the day.

The Vhi Women's Mini Marathon is open to anyone who wishes to walk, jog or run the 10km route through the centre of the capital.

Businesswoman Aimee Connolly, disability advocate and public speaker Nikki Bradley, TV presenter and model Katja Mia and health and fitness coach Nathalie Lennon are Vhi ambassadors for this year’s event, and they are calling on women all around the country to join them on June 2 for the largest all-female event of its kind in the world.

To mark the launch of this year’s Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, Vhi commissioned research with 500 female runners to get a better understanding of the link between women’s health issues and how they impact women’s running habits.

The key findings of this research are: 34% of women do not change their running behaviours when menstruating; 43% continue to run but run less when menstruating; 77% of women believe that running makes them feel better while menstruating, with 62% believing that running helps them manage PMS and menstrual symptoms such as cramps and fatigue; 18% stop running altogether while menstruating, with the main reasons cited being as fatigue (62%), lack of motivation (49%), fear of bleeding onto clothing (44%), and feeling bloated (40%).

Other findings conclude that 68% of women who have given birth believe running helped with their post-birth recovery, 61% of women are conscious of issues related to their pelvic floor while running (although three in five say these issues are not enough to deter them from running), and 60% of women who have gone through or are going through peri-menopause or menopause still run or walk as they believe it helps overcome their symptoms, though 14% stopped running or walking as the symptoms made it harder for them to exercise.

You can follow all of the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon ambassadors on their 12-week journey to race day via their social media channels (Aimee Connolly - @aimeeconnolly_com; Nikki Bradley - @nikki_bradley_speaks; Katja Mia - @katja_miaa; Nathalie Lennon - @nathalielennon_).

Between now and June 2, follow @VhiWMM on social media or visit vhiwomensminimarathon.ie for training plans for walkers, runners and jogger as well as nutritious recipes, developed by Vhi ambassador Nathalie Lennon, and much more to support your training journey.

Registration for the event is now open on www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie. Every participant will receive a Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon finishers' medal, and can opt in at registration to receive a Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon t-shirt. Additionally, Vhi members can claim back their entry fee via the Vhi app.

EXCITEMENT

David O'Leary, general manager of the Women's Mini Marathon, shared his excitement for this year's event, saying: “We're thrilled to bring the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon to Dublin’s city centre for the 42nd time. It's not just about the distance or whether you walk or run, it's about women connecting, supporting each other, and making a heartfelt difference.

“With over 20,000 women expected to join us in Dublin this June, we're ready to celebrate the power of togetherness and the heart-to-heart connections that make this event so special.”

Brighid Smyth, head of corporate communications in Vhi, commented: “2024 marks 10 years of Vhi’s title sponsorship of the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, and we are as excited about this year’s event as we were when we came on board a decade ago.

“The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is for every woman, and whether you’re taking part for fitness reasons, to raise money for charity or simply to feel part of something big, it’s such a powerful occasion that you will remember the event for a long time after you cross the finish line.”

Aimee Connolly, entrepreneur and Vhi ambassador, added: “It’s been a privilege to be a Vhi ambassador for the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon since 2022 and I cannot wait for this year’s event. The atmosphere at last year’s event was incredible and being part of a strong, supportive community of women who walked, jogged and ran the sunny streets of Dublin is something I’ll never forget!

“It's exciting to be part of a brilliant group of ambassadors for this year’s event. We’ll all be sharing our 12-week journey to race day and hopefully providing some inspiration and motivation along the way. For training plans to suit your own fitness levels, and simple, delicious recipes to fuel your journey to race day, keep an eye on Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon social media channels and website.”