TEMPERATURES ARE expected to hover around a comfortable 14 to 15 degrees today for the 40,000 plus participants in the annual women’s mini-marathon in Dublin, as well as the 8,000 runners taking part in the Cork city marathon.
The Dublin race begins at 3pm at Fitzwilliam Square, but given the size of the field some women will not have reached the starting point before others cross the finish line at St Stephen’s Green.
Women of all ages will be taking part, many to raise money for charitable causes. Last year, when it is estimated almost €14 million was raised, the oldest participant was Eileen Field (93) from Bray, Co Wicklow.
Among this year’s celebrity participants will be former Miss World Rosanna Davison.
A number of streets will be closed from 6am today in preparation for the event including St Stephen’s Green East and Earlsfort Terrace. St Stephen’s Green South, Merrion Square, Lower Leeson Street, Fitzwilliam Street, Fitzwilliam Place and Hatch Street will be closed from 8am followed by the closure of Kildare Street and St Stephen’s Green North from 12.30pm.
Motorists can also expect traffic diversions along the 10km mini-marathon route as participants move through Mount Street, Northumberland Road, Lansdowne Road, Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Merrion Road, Nutley Lane, Stillorgan Road from Belfield to Donnybrook, Donnybrook Village, Morehampton Road and Leeson Street.
Several Dublin Bus routes will alter to facilitate the marathon while seven stations on the dublinbikes scheme will be closed.
Weather forecaster John Eagleton of Met Éireann said it was going to be a mostly dry day in Dublin, though skies may cloud over in the afternoon and “there might be a spot of rain”.
The chances of rain are higher in Cork, where this year’s Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon kicks off at Patrick Street at 9am. “It will be fairly dry but you couldn’t depend on it being totally dry there,” Mr Eagleton said.
The Cork event also includes a half marathon which starts on the Ringmahon Road at 11.30am and a team relay event, which also starts at 9am, offers runners, joggers and walkers of all distances an opportunity to take part in the marathon without having to complete the full 42.2 km (26.2 miles).
Irish Olympic silver medallist and Cork native Sonia O’Sullivan will be on the starting line having made the journey from Australia for today’s event.