Notice: Cork BHAA MTU 5k - Sun 5th March 2023

The Cork BHAA MTU 5k is coming up on Sunday the 5th of March 2023 at 11am. MTU is of course the new name for the CIT in Bishopstown.

The entry fee is just €5 for registered BHAA runners and €10 for non-registered. You enter on the morning of the race.

There will also be a free MTU snood for the first 400 to register on the morning of the race.

Update: 28th Feb 2023... See below for the latest updates including a look at the new MTU arena, decision to donate part of the entry fee to the UNICEF earthquake appeal and a request for donation of good used runners or running tops.

Info from the organisers... All parking will be in the tiered car parks.

Registration/catering & prizegiving will take place in the new MTU Arena. There will be pedestrian access from the tiered car parks.

Shower facilities will be available in the MTU Arena.

The Start of the race will be to the south of the campus.

The Finish will be close to the MTU Arena.

MTU snood for the first 400 to enter

As a result of the changes to the Start & Finish there is one further change on the course. The race usually takes a left onto Uam Var Avenue shortly after the 4km mark. This time it will take a right onto Uam Var Avenue, followed by a left, then onto Rossa Avenue and return to MTU as usual.

There will be no access to the athletics track this year so the course is slightly different.

Other than a few corners and bends, it's still a pretty fast course.

Considering the fact that it's a BHAA event, it's located in the western suburbs of Cork City and ease of access from the N40 South Ring Road, it should get a good turnout.

Race Launch... The official launch of the MTU 5k race took place on 15th February in the new MTU Arena. The first photo (with names shown below) was taken downstairs in the large multi-function hall which incorporates two basketball courts with seating for 400 people. This is where the registration, catering and prizegiving will take place.

At the recent Official Launch of the Cork BHAA MTU 5k 2023 were:

Back row (L-R) Douglas Deane (Student Services, Sponsor), George Bulman (Rubicon, Sponsor), Ronan Daly (Head Caretaker), Maretta Brennan (Race Committee), Sean O Donovan (Extended Campus, Sponsor), Michael Brennan (Race Committee), Cian O Driscoll (Arena Gym), and John Holly (Arena Gym).

Front Row (L-R) Michael Loftus (VP of External Affairs, Sponsor), Mervyn O Mahony (Arena Coordinator) MTU President Maggie Cusack, Brendan Deane (Race Committee) Steven Darby (CAPPA, Sponsor), Breda Kenny (School of Business, Sponsor), Fiona Downey (Race Committee), and Craig Harrington (Athletics Officer)

This second photo was taken upstairs in the gym which overlooks the running  track. Refurbishment is due to start on the track this week and is due to be completed in time for the 70th Cork City Sports on 20th July.

From the organisers again... There is one initiative we are doing this year. We are collecting runners and running tops for Project Espwa (Espwa is the Creole word for Hope), a charity which an MTU staff member is involved with. Information on the charity can be found on www.projectespwa.ie or on the Facebook page Project Espwa.

“Haiti Orphanage Project ESPWA (HOPE) is a fully registered Irish charity dedicated to providing facilities and implementing best practice for disadvantaged children in Haiti. Registered charity number CHY 19799. Charities Regulatory Authority number CRA20077938. Company number 495500”

We are asking participants to donate unused runners or runners that have passed their mileage but are still road worthy. Someone will be in charge of checking the condition of the runners and we do not want to be in a position to reject any runners which are not in a reusable condition. We also asking participants to donate running tops, as with the runners these need to be in good condition – not torn or stained.

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Update 28th Feb 2023... The photo above shows the new MTU arena which has just opened and will be the race venue for the MTU 5k on the 5th of March.

From the organisers... "The MTU Arena is now open next and we are finalizing the preparations for the race on 5th March. The final updates we have are related to two charities.

The race Committee has decided to donate one euro from each registration at the MTU 5k road race to the UNICEF Ireland/Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal. Information on this worthy cause can be found at https://www.unicef.ie/donate/donate-syria/#1

There will be a table, in the same hall where registration takes place, where participants can donate unused runners or runners that have passed their mileage but are still road worthy, as well as running tops which are in good condition. 

The table will be manned by John Cronin, an MTU staff member, who assists in sending containers of aid to Haiti through Project Espwa (Espwa is the Creole word for Hope). Information on the charity can be found on www.projectespwa.ie or on the Facebook page Project Espwa.

John will be checking the condition of the runners and running tops, and we do not want him to be in a position to reject any runners which are not in a reusable condition.

From their website…. “Haiti Orphanage Project ESPWA (HOPE) is a fully registered Irish charity dedicated to providing facilities and implementing best practice for disadvantaged children in Haiti. Registered charity number CHY 19799. Charities Regulatory Authority number CRA20077938. Company number 495500”