Training partner for The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon is announced

Irish family-owned health food retailer Nourish has been announced as the training partner for The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon 2024, which takes place on September 22.

The partnership is announced, as Nourish gear up to launch two new stores in Cork later this year.

Nourish’s mission is to provide their customers with the best natural products to live a healthy life – from healthy wholefoods and plant-based options to protein and vitamin supplements.

They will open their second Cork store in Dunnes Stores on Patrick Street in August and another one in Dunnes in Douglas later in the year, bringing to three the number of stores in Cork.

They have had a presence in Cork since 2018 when they opened a flagship store at Dunnes Stores in Bishopstown.

Founded in 1986 by Derek and Yvonne Kelly with a shop on the north side of Dublin, from humble beginnings, Nourish has grown to having 19 outlets across Ireland, 14 of which can be found in select Dunnes Stores locations.

With Odhran Kelly as Manager Director, it is now a second-generation family business, with 38 years of experience as a health food retailer in the Irish market.

The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon training programme will run in The Echo for eight weeks, from July 24.

Nourish feel their values align perfectly with The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon, in the promotion of health, community and knowledge for leading a healthy lifestyle.

Their stores are a great place for participants to find products to help with training prep and recovery for the mini-marathon. Nourish also embraces diversity in communities, and its friendly well-trained teams are there to help customers make informed decisions - about what to buy for their day to day health, as well as mini-marathon training.

Odhran Kelly, MD of Nourish, said: “We are delighted to partner with The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon this year. We’re looking forward to sharing our love of health and nutrition in some upcoming articles in The Echo, and we’re really excited to just play a small part in what will be a great community event here in Cork.

Our team in Bishopstown are looking forward to chatting to mini-marathon participants about their upcoming challenge. We have a really great team here available to advise participants on any health goals they have.

Editor of The Echo and EchoLive.ie, Grainne McGuinness said: “ The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon is one of the most important days of the year for us, and we start preparing for it months in advance. So we are thrilled to have Nourish on board as training partner to help participants prepare too.

“We are delighted that registration has opened so early this year. We have seen huge uptake in recent weeks, so we know there are many walkers and runners out there who are already getting ready for the big day in September.

“For anyone who has yet to register, why not do so now? We will be working with Nourish to provide participants with all the information and support they need to take part in the Mini Marathon, at whatever level they wish.

The Mini Marathon is one of the most joyous days of the year in Cork city, which celebrates the talent of some of our best female athletes while also raising millions for charity. 

"We are counting down the weeks until September 22, we hope to see you there!”

HOW TO TAKE PART

Registration is open for The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon.

Now in its 43rd year, the event is hosted by Cork Athletics.

It raises approximately €1.5m for charities each year, and is one of Cork city’s best-loved sporting and social events.

The 5km event will take place on September 22 at 1pm.

The race route is the same as the last with one change, the start line stage will be positioned on Kennedy Quay. Once the race starts, the route proceeds down Kennedy Quay and onto Victoria Road, then turns left onto Centre Park Road, and down the Marina, turning right into Páirc Uí Chaoimh and proceeding around the Blackrock end of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, on the outside, up between the all-weather pitches, and then turning right into the gated GAA car park, and left after about 100m, into the new Marina Park and up towards the bandstand, then left and back down again in front of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. After the racers have gone past the all-weather pitches, turn right toward CAB, and then from there continue straight up Monahan Road and finish in Kennedy Park.

Keep an eye on the Mini Marathon Facebook page and website in the coming weeks for updates.

Participants can register at https://www.echolive.ie/minimarathon