Everything you need to know for Sunday's Echo Women's Mini Marathon

THE Echo Women’s Mini-Marathon is set to take place tomorrow, Sunday, September 17, starting on Kennedy Quay at 12 noon.

This year’s Mini-Marathon is debuting a new route due to works taking place at the Marina but will finish as usual by Kennedy Park. The race distance has also dropped from the usual 6km to 5km.

The 2023 Echo Women’s Mini Marathon is the biggest event of its kind in Munster and is suitable for everyone, with women choosing to run or walk depending on their fitness level.

Between 4,000 and 5,000 people are expected to participate in the annual event.

Parking is limited on the day and traffic is restricted in the area near the race start, so it’s recommended that people park elsewhere and make their way down to the start line.

This year, runners, joggers, and walkers will be asked to choose a zone to start from and they will be labelled with numbers. Each zone represents a predicted finish time for the 5km distance.

Those expecting to finish the race in less than 24 minutes will enter zone 1, 24-32 minutes zone 2, and so on all the way to zone 7 for those with a predicted finish time of more than 50 minutes.

Your last chance to register for this Sunday's Echo Women's Mini Marathon!

Join the thousands of women who will be participating in this fantastic event. Registration closes at 5pm tomorrow, September 16.

Register now https://t.co/DISePFckqL pic.twitter.com/js5rTLV3M1

— EchoLive.ie (@echolivecork) September 15, 2023

These zones will be marked on the road leading to the start line and are being used for two main reasons — to ensure everyone’s safety, and to ensure a smooth start to the race for everyone.

NEW ROUTE

The new route will start in approximately the same area as before, but on Kennedy Quay.

It will take in Victoria Road, Centre Park Road, and the Marina.

Runners will go as far as the slip road down to Páirc Uí Chaoimh, around the Blackrock End of the stadium, and then go right at the gated GAA car park.

They will go left again in about 100m, out another gate and into the new Marina Park, and back left towards Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

At that point, the participants will be going in both directions, with barriers in between them.

At the end, runners will continue straight up Monahan Road and finish by Kennedy Park where they will be ready to celebrate with their friends, family and fellow participants.

The main focus of the day is charity, with thousands of people looking to raise much needed funds for local causes.

Cork woman marks her 80th birthday by doing The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon https://t.co/u7toyK7JqB

— EchoLive.ie (@echolivecork) September 13, 2023

Each year, thousands of euro is raised for local, national, and international charities and organisations.

Any participants who didn’t receive their race number in the post this week, can collect it from the desk near Goldbergs on race day which will be open from 9.30am to 11.15am.

There is still time to sign up to the mini marathon. Online registration at echolive.ie/minimarathon is still open until 5pm on Saturday, September 16.

People will also be able to register on race day at the registration desk which will be positioned near Goldbergs Bar. The cost is €25 for an adult and €15 for a child.