Record numbers for marathon

IT’S going to be thirsty work, as runners are set to consume 80,000 litres of water when they pound the streets of Cork for the June Bank Holiday marathon.

More than 8,000 people are expected to take part in this year’s event, which will be sponsored by Tipperary Water.

Lord mayor of Cork Councillor Donal Counihan said teams of up to five people can run the marathon, so anyone with a little bit of training can take part. “We’ll have more than 1,000 relay teams running for all sorts of reasons. They’ll be helping a myriad of charities. It makes for a superb atmosphere on the day with teams cheering their last leg runner home to the finish,” he said.

He was also delighted that Tipperary Water “had crossed the border” to join the event.

“Last year was the first marathon in Cork in 21 years and this year we expect more than 8,000 runners between individuals and relay races,” he said.

Director Marie Cooney said as a family-owned Irish company, with a depot in Cork, Tipperary Water was delighted to be involved.

“We are looking forward to keeping the thousands of runners hydrated at 11 water stations along the route,” she said.

The route has been kept as close to the city as possible to ensure maximum spectator involvement, but it will feature a leg through the Jack Lynch Tunnel.

It will start and finish on Patrick Street.

The Champion Sports Cork City Marathon is also being supported by Cork City Council, which has pledged to back it for five years.