Marathon Mission, together with Athletics Ireland,  will host a squad day on 23rd February at Donore Harriers. Marathon Mission have been the driving force behind improvement in Irish Marathon running for nearly a decade. They have provided support for aspiring Irish marathon runners and have contributed to improved performances both at home in the Dublin marathon, and from our athletes competing around the globe.  Whilst the project has supported the athletes in a variety of ways, a key aspect of the program has been to pull athletes together for regular squad days.

This February the squad day will include workshops lead by Mara Yamauchi. Having clocked 2hr23m12 in London 2009, Mara is the second fastest British female marathon runner behind Paula Radcliffe. Mara has run inside 2m26 on four occasions, taken Bronze in the Commonwealth games 10km and finished 6th in the Olympic Marathon. Mara will provide athletes and coaches with insight into key aspects of her training and development into a World class marathon runner. With the 2020 Olympic coming sharply into focus, the time has Mara spent living in Japan and the three marathons that she ran there will be of particular interest.

The timetable for the day (subject to change):

9.30 am Registration and Introduction

9.45 am Mara Yamauchi to discuss her progression as a Marathon runner

10.45 am Session in Pheonix Park

12.30 am Lunch with Q & A on the mornings talk

1.30 pm Athletics Ireland to outline Selection policy for the 2019 World Championships and offer some guidance towards likely policy for 2020 Olympics pending the IAAF statement due in March on the selection system to be used.

1.45 pm Discussion to lead by Mara on preparing for the marathon Tokyo 2020

The day will also provide Marathon Mission with the opportunity to outline their program.

Athletes that are planning to work towards a marathon and have run the following times in the past 2 years are invited to attend along with their coaches.

So that lunch can be provided, and to ensure that capacity is not reached, please can athletes wishing to attend please sign up using the following form: Register for squad day