‘Impossible is Nothing’ for Dublin Marathon hopefuls

FOR anyone who has never run, or even walked a marathon, and would like to do so — the 25th Anniversary adidas Dublin Marathon on October 25 provides the ideal opportunity.

As well as the hospitality, fun and back up service that makes this Irish showpiece of distance running an event apart, everyone will be helped with advice and all the preparation necessary to achieve the objective.

The adidas Dublin Marathon Roadshow will be on tour from April 28, when it sets up at the City West Hotel in Dublin before travelling to Galway on May 9, Cork on May 12 and Limerick on May 26.

A team of experts, including coaches, marathon runners, a nutritionist and a physiotherapist will be in attendance to speak on all topics of interest to the runner, jogger and even the walker and access will be free.

To fine tune the preparations, the adidas Race Series will again help participants with their build up to the event with three races in the Phoenix Park the adidas Irish Runner 5 mile on July 4, the Frank Duffy 10 mile on August 21 and the BHAA Dublin Half Marathon on September 18.

And the organisers have teamed up with Runners World to provide in-depth training information through their website www.adidasdublinmarathon.ie where a variety of training programmes will be available online as well as training tips and nutrition advice.

Paul Moloney, Senior Sports Marketing Manager of adidas Ireland, insisted at yesterday's launch at the Mansion House that there will be no better time to debut.

"Here at adidas we have just launched a year long brand campaign entitled 'Impossible is Nothing' and I believe that there is no better example of people achieving the impossible than in the marathon," he said.

A former scholarship student at Providence College, he finished 19th in the junior race at the world cross-country championships in Glasgow in 1978 when John Treacy also returned from Providence to win the first of his first senior titles. And he was ninth in the Dublin Marathon in 1983 a race Treacy would win 10 years later.

"The adidas Dublin Marathon is not just about elite athletes," he said.

"It's about anyone who has a pair of runners getting out there, beating the odds and proving that nothing is impossible and that's the challenge we are laying down to the people of Ireland for 2004.

"If you have ever had even the smallest inkling in the back of your mind that one day you might run a marathon then make it this year." This year the prize fund will top €95,000 and will attract more than 5,000 overseas competitors bringing another 2,000 supporters with them and is estimated to generate €10 million for the City of Dublin.

"The Marathon is not just a great sporting event, it is a fantastic opportunity to put Dublin firmly back up there with the leading city marathons in the world."

And it will be a day of particular celebration for several athletes who have completed all 24 marathons to date.