Bank Holiday Monday, 4th June 2007, will see Cork City host its first Marathon since 1986. The race will incorporate a wheelchair category and a Team Relay Event, in which teams of between two and four runners will compete in the 26-mile, 385-yard (42.195km) course. The race will set off from the South Mall at 9.00am, covering a single circuit of the city’s suburbs through Blackpool, Sunday’s Well, the Carrigrohane Road, the Lough, Skehard Road, Mahon, the Marina, South Main Street and Washington Street, to finish on the South Mall. The Event Manager, Gina Johnson, said _This will be an exciting sporting event for athletes. We want to see everyone in the city and suburbs on the streets to support the runners._ The event organisers include Cork City Council, the Cork Chamber of Commerce, the Cork Business Houses Athletic Association (BHAA), the Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI), the Gardai, the Health Service Executive, Bus Eireann, the Hotels Federation, Leisure World Cork, the City of Cork Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) and the Media Sponsor, the Evening Echo. It is anticipated that five thousand entrants will take part in the first year of what is set to become an annual date in Cork’s busy social, sporting and community diaries. Tying in with the Ocean to City race on June 2nd, the Marathon will make a great sporting weekend in Cork. Launching the event, Cork’s Lord Mayor, Cllr. Michael Ahern, invited groups of friends, families, colleagues, businesses, clubs and community associations to keep fit and healthy by participating in the Team Relay Event. A veteran of Cork City marathons himself, he encouraged those interested in running to get on their shoes and start a training programme. He also stressed the need for people to train carefully and seek medical advice if necessary. The BHAA (www.corkbhaa.com) and the AAI (www.corkathletics.org) organise programmes of road races throughout the year and some of these could be useful rehearsals for the Marathon. Leisure World will also be assisting members with their training programmes for the Marathon at their Bishopstown and Churchfield centres. Registration for the Marathon will begin in January 2007. The website will be active shortly and will be developed over the next few weeks. Further information is available from the Event Manager at: Cork City Marathon, City Hall, Cork Tel. +353 (0)21-4924170 Email: info@corkcitymarathon.ie Website: www.corkcitymarathon.ie