Almost 4,000 people representing 47 different nationalities will join 10,600 Irish participants at the starting line on Monday 27th October for the 35th SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon.
Among those runners, joggers and walkers will be elite runners challenging for the overall or national titles, wheelchair athletes, people aiming to improve on personal bests and first time participants just hoping to make it around the course; but all sharing one common goal, to be part of the Dublin Marathon 26.2 club.
Reigning champion (and Irish National Champion) Maria McCambridge is back defending her title, and is favourite to retain her National Championship title, with Barbara Sanchez and Breege Connolly the most likely to cause her trouble on the course. Esther Wanjiru Macharai, Scola Jepkemoi Kipooa both from Kenya and Russian Marina Kovaleva are the main contenders to be the first woman home overall. With Séan Hehir not defending his titles, the Men’s National Championship looks set to be contested between Moldovan born Sergiu Ciobanu and Offaly’s Barry Minnock. 2004 winner Lezan Kimutai is back competing this year and aiming to claim the Over 40’s title, while another Dublin regular Aleksei Sokolov will expect to challenge for the title he last won in 2007, with Russian Dmitry Safronov possibly shading it as favourite to be first over the line.
In addition to the title and prize money, both Irish National Champions will receive free electricity for a year courtesy of race sponsors SSE Airtricity.
Jim Aughney, SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon Race Director said “We believe it’s a real positive for us to have a small elite field back for 2014. It’s important in terms of how Dublin is positioned against the other leading European and World Marathons and our ability to do this is all due to the support from our sponsors SSE Airtricity. We are thrilled to have Maria back defending her title, she has been a part of Dublin for so many years now and we are hugely proud of what she has achieved both in the Race Series and the Marathon. We would of course have loved to have Séan back to defend his title, but we believe he has made the right decision to rest right now and allow his body recover in advance of what should be an exciting 2015 for him.”
The marathon route has changed this year due to the Luas works in Dublin City Centre. The route will start on Fitzwilliam Square as normal, but it will run along St Stephen’s Green towards Meath Street, Lord Edward Street and Parliament Street, taking in the City Hall and Dublin Castle – two well-known Dublin landmarks before entering the quays and moving towards the Phoenix Park. After leaving the park, the runners will enter Fingal, the first time the race will pass through all the councils in Dublin. The remainder of the course is similar to other years although the race will not finish with a lap around Trinity College and back up Nassau Street to Merrion Square as usual, but will finish from the other direction, coming up Mount Street Lower towards Merrion Square just past the junction with Holles Street.
Of course, the Marathon is not just about the elite field. The majority of the over 14,600 taking part this year will be running for a myriad of personal reason, from personal bests, personal feats, charities and in memory or to honour of people who meant a lot to them.
One of the 14,600 is 83 year old John Collins, of the County Club Athletics Club in Limerick, who will be running his 30th and last consecutive marathon when he takes part in the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon on Monday. To mark his last ever Dublin Marathon he will be joined by his daughter Fiona, his grandson and members of his running club, the County Club Athletics Club.
For inspiration to anyone daunted by the thought of completing 26.2 miles, Joseph Clifford will be pushing his brother Ciaran in a specially designed wheelchair around the 26.2 mile course. Greystones man Joseph is running to show that people like Ciaran, who have intellectual disabilities; both benefit from and love to be included in society and in sporting events.
Joseph said “If I'm being honest I don't think I would have ever had the same motivation to run any distance if it wasn't for Ciaran. He makes it easy really as it’s our way of doing something together that both of us love and enjoy. He is the driver - in every sense of the word - and I am the engine."
Sinead Kane, a visually impaired athlete with just 5% vision is hoping to complete the 26.2 miles with the aid of her guide on the day and raise money for Childline in the process.
The Hughes Family from Mayo have 31 members at the start line on Monday in the hope of smashing the Guinness World Record for the ‘most family members to compete in a marathon’. This is the 30th anniversary since eight of the Hughes brothers broke the record back in 1984 and now the extended Hughes Family, including three of the original eight brothers, are aiming to reclaim this title.
Stephen Wheeler, MD, SSE Airtricity, will be one of the 14,600 people setting off from Fitzwilliam Street on Monday. “Having run last year’s SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon, I know the tremendous pride and elation one feels when you cross the finish line, so I’m looking forward to joining the almost 15,000 people setting off from the start line for this year’s race. As a company committed to supporting sport in the community we understand the massive energy that has been generated through hours of tireless training which has propelled the thousands of runners, with the support of their families and friends, to this moment. That’s why we’re proud once again to be the official sponsor of the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon 2014.”
“Of 14,600 plus participants taking part, everyone has a personal story to tell, and this is at the heart of what makes Dublin such a great Marathon” said Race Director Jim Aughney. “We aim to ensure that everything, from the course itself to their welcome on the finish, is a positive experience for them. But it is the support around the course from friends and family, but especially from all the people of Dublin who year after year get out and cheer people along, that makes Dublin stand out from other marathons. It’s the wonderful crowds and support from everyone along the route that makes the difference and keeps people motivated all the way to the finish line”
Friends and families of runners will also be able to monitor their progress this year via the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon live tracker – which can be accessed via the website or Facebook page.
The 2014 SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon gets underway from Fitzwilliam Street Upper at 8.50am (Wheelchair) and 9am (main field) on Monday 27th October and 26.2 miles later, the runners will eventually see the welcome sight of the finish line in Merrion Square North.
For full course details and information on road closures check out www.dublinmarathon.ie or www.facebook.com/dublinmarathon