The many positive aspects of Women’s sport were to the fore on Monday as more than 40,000 runners took part in the Flora Women’s mini marathon around the streets of Dublin.
Thankfully the weather was kinder than it had been the previous day for Formula One enthusiasts and race winner Linda Byrne will hardly have noticed her return from three weeks of warm weather training in Portugal.
Byrne won the race in a time of 33:29, one whole minute faster than when she first won the race as a 23 year old in 2010.  This was her final competitive race befor taking to the streets of London in two months time for the Olympic Marathon.
This was the 30th year of what has become the world’s largest women only race and raised an estimated €10 million for a variety of good causes.  Just as importantly it raises the profile of physical activity for women.
Surveys in Britain reveal that only one in five women or girls does enough physical exercise to be of benefit to their health.  The training for this event, as well as the Cork Marathon held on Monday will have prompted many tens of thousands to get involved in sport.
The challenge now will be to harness the feelings of health and achievement and turn more of yesterday’s competitors into sportswomen in whatever code or discipline they find engaging enough.