A true running legend will be in Ireland this weekend with 1972 Olympic Marathon Champion Frank Shorter lining up in the Run Galway Bay 10K.
He will join 5,000 runners, joggers and walkers for the annual event which takes in a 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon event, starting and finishing at Nimmo’s Pier, The Claddagh.
The full marathon sold out in July, followed by the 10k and Half Marathon which did likewise at the end of August.
Shorter is among the USA’s best known long-distance runners, taking gold in the 1972 Olympic Marathon and silver in the 1976 Olympic Marathon. Also making the trip this year is Irish Olympian Caitriona Jennings who will be chasing her first win in Galway for the Half Marathon.
The event has also attracted the interest of the Irish Cross Country Skiing Team who will, for the second year, take part on their roller skis. Included in that lineup is Irish Olympian Thomas Maloney-Westgaard the Norwegian native with Galway roots who will defend his title as fastest roller skier on the day.
Participants will be travelling in from the UK, Norway, The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, the US and Australia. They will be joined in the line up for the 10k this year by Galway City Mayor Councillor Niall McNeilis and local TD Hildegarde Naughton.
There will also be a 200 strong team from Eir who will participate across all distances in support of their chosen charity, Special Olympics. Special Olympics Ireland CEO, Matt English as well as athlete Aoife Beston will join them on the run.
Another Sport for Business link will be a team of staff from TG4 including Director General Alan Esslemont.
Image Credit: Joanne Murphy, TriTalkingSport
