Record entry for runner challenge

A record entry of over 2,300 runners is to take part in Sunday’s adidas Irish Runner Challenge – the first of the series in the Phoenix Park.

In its fourth year, organisers said it has exceeded expectations and entries have grown by 60% since the first race back in 2002.

Jim Aughney, adidas Race Series director, said runners could still enter on the day.

“We closed postal entries on Monday and then we had another huge volume of entries over the past few days online. We will allow entries on the day between 8am and 9am at Race HQ in Castleknock College, so we expect a lot more entrie on the day, if previous years are anything to go by,” he said.

Last year’s winner of the woman’s race Pauline Curley of Tullamore Harriers will race again as will former national cross-country champion Peter Mathews.

The race is seen as a warm up for the marathon and entries for it are up on last year already. The race is to be launched later today.

Mr Aughney added: “It is vital for the survival of the marathon that we continue to grow the Irish entry to the race.

“There appears to be a new Irish running boom taking off right now and the marathon challenge is very inviting for a lot of the new wave runners.”