Thousands of runners who have signed up for the 2023 Irish Life Dublin Marathon will begin their training journey in the coming weeks.
Completing the 26.2-mile distance will be one of the most remarkable feats of physical endurance many of them will ever take on. During the traditional 16-week training block leading into race day on Sunday the 29th of October, they will pave a path to improved health, gaining significant positive benefits for their physical, mental, and social well-being.
“Taking on the Irish Life Dublin Marathon can be transformative for your overall wellness, from when you start training until you cross the finish line,” said Niall Moyna, Professor of Clinical Exercise Physiology in DCU’s School of Health and Human Performance.
“Each training session elicits immediate benefits that significantly impact your health. As a form of cardio exercise that’s easily accessible, running is one of the most straightforward ways to get the important benefits of exercise.”
Those benefits exist for all runners, regardless of whether they choose to take on the marathon distance, target the Irish Life Half Marathon or sign up to the Irish Life Summer of Running Series (5 mile, 10km and 10 mile).
The payback of running doesn’t just stop at improved fitness, there are lots of advantages to be gained from putting one foot in front of the other. These include better sleep quality, improved mood, caloric expenditure, and managing of blood sugar levels.
Committing to regular training also produces more permanent changes referred to as the exercise training response. These include improved heart and lung function and body composition. Changes in the structure and function of many organ systems in the body reduce the risk of an array of diseases, including Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease as well as helping to manage anxiety and depression.
“At Irish Life, we want to help people take care of their health and wellbeing, so that they can enjoy a better life today and into the future,” said CEO Declan Bolger.
“We understand the phenomenal health benefits running can bring to people’s lives, and I would encourage everyone, of all abilities to sign up for the Irish Life Dublin Marathon Summer of Running Series.”
One of the runners who will experience those benefits is radio and TV broadcaster Carl Mullan who was announced yesterday as an ambassador for the 2023 Irish Life Dublin Marathon.
“I signed up in November after watching the 2022 Irish Life Dublin Marathon. I was envious of everyone taking part because I just know how great the buzz of it all is, as I ran a few marathons in my 20s. Now that I am in my 30s, I want to prepare for this one properly.”
“I am looking forward to training for it, as I always enjoy my runs, and with the headspace, I’ll often come up with my best creative ideas during them. Plus, there’s those post run endorphins.”
Carl will be joined by Q102 breakfast show presenter Venetia Quick, who ran the 2022 Irish Life Dublin Marathon in memory of her late husband and to raise funds for the youth mental health charity, Jigsaw.
“I found the experience on race day extremely moving, there were so many running in memory of those they had lost, as well as charities close to their hearts.”
“Venetia will be running the 2023 Irish Life Dublin Marathon to raise funds for the Gavin Glynn Foundation, which assists families with all the logistics and financial aspects of travelling overseas for specialist cancer treatment not available in Ireland.
Expert running coach Brendan Hackett will be supporting Carl and Venetia with their training plans to prepare them to complete the 26.2-mile distance.
“The most important focus for runners should be on the time they can commit and training at a level that will result in incremental benefits without causing too much undue stress on the body,” he said.
Runners can sign up for the Irish Life Summer of Running Series and the Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon at IrishLifeDublinMarathon.ie.
