Calling all walkers, joggers and runners! The 42nd event takes place on Sunday 2nd June, in Dublin City Centre on the June Bank Holiday weekend.
· A Vhi survey on women’s walking and running habits and motivations finds:
o Over three-quarters of women believe running helps them feel better when menstruating
o 68% of women who have given birth believe running helped with their post-birth recovery
Register now on www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie
A group of inspiring women came together today in Dublin to officially launch the 2024 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon. The 10kmevent, now in its 42nd year, will take place on Sunday June 2nd at 12:30pm. Over 20,000 women are expected to participate this year and the event is open to all those who wish to walk, jog or run the 10km route through Dublin City Centre.
Businesswoman Aimee Connolly, disability advocate and public speaker Nikki Bradley, TV presenter and model Katja Mia and health and fitness coach Nathalie Lennon are Vhi ambassadors for this year’s event. They are calling on women all around the country to join them on the 2nd June for the largest all-female event of its kind in the world.
To mark the launch of this year’s Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, Vhi commissioned research with 500 female runners to get a better understanding of the link between women’s health issues and how they impact women’s running habits. Thekey findings of this research are:
Running and Menstruation
· 34% of women do not change their running behaviours when menstruating
· 43% continue to run but run less when menstruating
· 77% of women believe that running makes them feel better while menstruating, with 62% believing that running helps them manage PMS and menstrual symptoms such as cramps and fatigue
· 18% stop running altogether while menstruating, with the main reasons cited being:
o Fatigue (62%)
o Lack of motivation (49%)
o Fear of bleeding onto clothing (44%)
o Feeling bloated (40%)
Running Post-Birth
· 68% of women who have given birth believe running helped with their post-birth recovery
Running and Pelvic Floor Issues
· 61% of women are conscious of issues related to their pelvic floor while running, however 3 in 5 say these issues are not enough to deter them from running.
Running and Menopause/Peri-Menopause
· 60% of women who have gone through or are going through peri-menopause or menopause still run or walk as they believe it helps overcome their symptoms
· 14% stopped running or walking as the symptoms made it harder for them to exercise
You can follow all of the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon ambassadors on their 12-week journey to Race Day on June 2nd via their social media channels below:
Aimee Connolly – @aimeeconnolly_com
Nikki Bradley – @nikki_bradley_speaks
Katja Mia – @katja_miaa
Nathalie Lennon – @nathalielennon_
Between now and June 2nd, follow @VhiWMM on social media or visit vhiwomensminimarathon.ie for training plans for walkers, runners and jogger as well as nutritious recipes developed by Vhi ambassador Nathalie Lennon, and much more to support your training journey.
Registration for the event is now open on www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie. Every participant will receive a Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon finishers medal, and can opt in at registration to receive a Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon t-shirt.
Additionally Vhi members can claim back their entry fee via the Vhi app!
David O’Leary, General Manager of the Women’s Mini Marathon, shared his excitement for this year’s event, saying, “We’re thrilled to bring the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon to Dublin’s city centre for the 42nd time. It’s not just about the distance or whether you walk or run; it’s about women connecting, supporting each other, and making a heartfelt difference. With over 20,000 women expected to join us in Dublin this June, we’re ready to celebrate the power of togetherness and the heart-to-heart connections that make this event so special.
Brighid Smyth, Head of Corporate Communications in Vhi said, “2024 marks ten years of Vhi’s title sponsorship of the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, and we are as excited about this year’s event as we were when we came on board a decade ago. The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is for every woman, and whether you’re taking part for fitness reasons, to raise money for charity or simply to feel part of something big, it’s such a powerful occasion that you will remember the event for a long time after you cross the finish line.”
Aimee Connolly, entrepreneur and Vhi Ambassador said, “It’s been a privilege to be a Vhi ambassador for the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon since 2022 and I cannot wait for this year’s event. The atmosphere at last year’s event was incredible and being part of a strong supportive community of women who walked, jogged and ran the sunny streets of Dublin is something I’ll never forget!
It’s exciting to be part of a brilliant group of ambassadors for this year’s event. We’ll all be sharing our 12-week journey to race day and hopefully providing some inspiration and motivation along the way. For training plans to suit your own fitness levels, and simple, delicious recipes to fuel your journey to race day, keep an eye on Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon social media channels and website!”
*Research with 500 female runners of all ages conducted by 3Gem on behalf of Vhi between Friday 16th February and Friday 23rd February 2024.
About Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon
The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is now in its 42nd year. The first Women’s Mini Marathon began in Dublin in 1983 with 9,000 entrants, it has grown in popularity and the event now hosts over 20,000 women on the June bank holiday weekend. Women from across the 32 counties of Ireland, U.K. and Europe take part each year to raise vital funds for their chosen charities and causes.
The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is a world-class sporting event and is dedicated to helping women across Ireland to achieve their fitness goals. The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon has become an important part of Irish culture and a celebration for Irish women aged 14 and over. The event caters for women who wish to walk or jog for fun while also catering for competitive runners. It is not only women who have benefited from the event, but charities are also the big winners. The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is the single biggest charity fundraising event in Ireland. An estimated €226m has been raised for charity since its beginning in 1983. All charities benefit as it is the women themselves who decide who they will support, and many local causes gain vital revenue from the event.