The countdown has now well and truly begun to this years Strabane Lifford Half Marathon and 5K family fun run and walk which takes place this Sunday.
After a hugely successful inaugural event held last year, organisers are expecting upwards of 1,000 participants to take to the streets of the border towns, the only such cross border race of its kind in the region (with lovely medals afterwards!)
The 5K event will precede the main Half Marathon race, with the 5K starting at 11am and the big race starting at 12pm. In many respects, this event is also a race of the bridges, with the event traversing the three bridges over the Mourne and Foyle rivers as it weaves its way from Strabane into Lifford and Ballindrait before returning along the canal into Ballymagorry and finishing up again in Strabane.
Last years event attracted much favourable comment from participants, and while the atmosphere, organisation, and support received considerable praise, the fast, flat nature of the course also helped many to lifetime bests over the distance. The event is also unique to the North West, with the race the only such event taking place on both sides of the border.
The cross border and cross community nature of the event is also symbolised through this years specially designed medal keenly sought after both by Half Marathon and 5K participants. The medal depicts the ‘Let the Dance Begin’ sculptures which now stand tall at the old Camels Hump checkpoint crossing and which now symbolise peace, reconciliation and community regeneration.
The partnership approach to the event sees the newly formed Derry City and Strabane District Council join forces with Lifford Athletic Club to plan and organise the event and where a top quality race can be expected again this year.
This race is ideally positioned in the race calendar and will serve as perfect preparation for anyone planning to run the Walled City Marathon at the end of May. While the Half Marathon is the main focus of the event, the 5K run and walk is also expected to attract huge numbers of runners, joggers and walkers over the shorter distance.
At only €20 for the Half Marathon and €6 for the 5K, technical t-shirts, specially designed medals, chip timing, pacers, a €3,500 prize fund and much more, this represents one of the best value events around.
On Line registration is available on the Athletics Ireland and Athletics NI web sites with postal entry also available. Further information is available on the Strabane Lifford Half Marathon Facebook page or contact Aiden Lynch at Strabane District Council on 048 71 382204 or Brendan O’Donnell on 086 6007847.
