Mini Marathon gets international dash
The Jamaican will have their own band of supporters who come from far flung parts of the globe such as Somalia, Congo, Iraq and Kurdistan.
Diana explained: “I am the lead vocalist in a group we have formed here in Limerick called The Melting Pot and the musicians come from many different countries.”
Diana used to do a lot of college athletics in Jamaica.
“But I have not been very active in athletics for some time. When I heard about the mini marathon I jumped at the idea and now I go out most mornings training in the sports grounds at the University of Limerick,” she said.
While she will be saving her breath October 9, to cover the five-mile course, she said the other members of the band will be coming along to give her musical support.
“We have eclectic music and I write some of the material. We have a violinist and a trombone along with Congo drums and Bongo drums. It’s a great sound,” she said.
The band make their stage debut at the Crescent Theatre this weekend.
Over the past few days, Diana has been combining rehearsals with marathon training.
She said: “I do about 12 laps of the track at UL and I am improving on my time all the time.”
Meanwhile entries for the Irish Examiner mini marathon are flooding in.
Paddy O’Connell of Limerick Athletic Club said they are expecting up to 3,000 participants from 15 years of age upwards.
He said: “It will be run over a five-mile route in and around the University of Limerick, starting and finishing on the track at UL.”
He said the Irish Examiner Mini Marathon will help raise in excess of 250,000 for charities.
“Women are coming from all over the country. The Irish Examiner Mini Marathon is now a huge event next to Dublin and Cork.When it started we had 400 participants. Last year we had 1,930 and this year it looks like it will top the 3,000 mark,” he said.
Each runner will receive a special gift bag and the first three home will be presented with Waterford Crystal.
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