Monday’s Dublin City Marathon has attracted over 14,000 participants.  A similar number will attend the Expo at the RDS on Saturday and Sunday to learn more about how they will complete this years and prepare for next year’s race.
On Monday though they will run without the watchful eye of TV cameras, and without a title sponsor.
The National Lottery withdrew from its involvement in the race in May, despite its success and it was too short a time frame, particularly in an Olympic year to find a new headline sponsor.
Doubts are being quietly expressed that if a supporter is not found that next year’s race may be under threat.
The Dublin Marathon has been a long standing success and 4,000 of the runners on Monday will have been attracted from overseas.  That in itself produces a significant economic windfall for the city.
It has perhaps though been overshadowed to a degree by the success in recent years of the Flora sponsored women’s mini marathon in june, the largest event of its kind in the world.
Participation in running is at an all time high and there are many well organised events, many under the auspices of Athletics Ireland that are either bringing new entrants to the main event, or perhaps diluting its hold over that community.
Those taking part will include many who have the potential to support the race next year and beyond, if the package is right.  In tough economic times, major deals are a long time in the planning.
The hope for the organisers of this year’s event must be that next year’s sponsor will either be running or watching the event unfold with a view to seeing how their brand might utilise its appeal in the future.
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