Athletics track in Letterkenny under water...Nov 2015

Earlier this year in July, there were a number of high profile races on the athletics track in Letterkenny, Co.Donegal including a steeplechase race where three Irish women qualified for the Olympic Games...Kerry O'Flaherty, Michelle Finn & Sara Treacy.

Fast forward to November and the track is now under water. The photo below shows the Danny McDaid Track at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny and what it used to look like...(notice the yellow arrow on the left)...

This is the view from where the yellow arrow is after all the recent rain...

Whether its just need some cleaning or if there is more longer term damage remains to be seen. If the water gets under the track surface then they could be in right trouble.

Letterkenny AC are based there.

Australian to run from Mizen to Malin in August 2015

Simon Chodziesner from Australia is planning to run from Mizen Head to Malin Head during the month of August 2015.

From his support team........Simon’s biggest drive is his next big challenge and his passion for using his running to raise funds for charity. Through the Mizen to Malin challenge, Simon hopes to raise money for two charities close to his heart:
Friends of Letterkenny General Hospital - the local hospital where Simon's Donegal family have been well cared for over the years [ http://www.friendsoflgh.ie ]; their current project is the Friends of LGH Onconolgy Bus.

If you wish to support this worthwhile charity….
●    Online at: www.iDonate.ie/mizentomalin2015
●    Sponsorship cards: email: simonmizen2malin@gmail.com
●    Loose change: bucket collection on route

He is starting from Mizen Head in West Cork on Saturday 1st August and hopes to finish 18 days later in Malin Head at the Northern tip of Donegal on the 18th of August.

He also welcomes runners to join him for part of the route and to keep him company.

You can read more at http://www.mizen2malin2015.com/

He also has a Facebook page HERE

New attempt on Malin to Mizen record...

On the 22nd of September, Mimi Anderson from the UK will attempt to set a new record by running from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in Cork in less than four days. The current record was set by Sharon Gayter back in March 2012 when she ran from Malin to Mizen in 4 days 1 hour 39 minutes and 55 seconds. Over a year of planning and preparation has gone into this new attempt. As she is going for a Guinness World Record, there will be an official starter and finisher and the crew will have to keep a detailed log book, get witness signatures along the way and of course lots of photos and videos.

Mimi Anderson has the current record for the fastest time by a female for running from John O’Groats to Lands End in the UK  (840 miles in 12 days, 15 hours, 46 minutes). She is also the record holder for the furthest distance covered on a treadmill in 7 days by a female (403.81 miles).

Mimi will start from Malin Head in Donegal right on the point at 6am on Saturday, the 22nd of September and the plan is to finish under 4 days later at Mizen Head in West Cork - at the lighthouse. The route is: Malin Head, Carndonagh, Malin, Derry, Bready, Strabane, Ardstraw, Drumquin, Enniskillen, Swanlinbar, Ballinamore, Cloone, Longford, Outskirts of Athlone, Cloghan, Borrisokane, Nenagh, Drumbaun, Hollycross, Charleville Banteer Macroom Kealkill, Bantry, Toormore, Goleen, Finish at Mizen Head.

Sharon Gayter from the UK sets new Mizen to Malin record...

Ultra distance runner Sharon Gayter from the UK arrived at Malin Head in Donegal on Thursday morning to set a new Mizen to Malin record. Having set out from Mizen Head in Cork  at 7am last Sunday morning, it took 4 days, 1 hour and 39 minutes to run the length of Ireland. That is roughly 21 hours faster than the time of 4 days 23 hours that Jen Salter set in June 2011 when she ran in the opposite direction from Malin to Mizen.

Gayter is a holder of several distance records including a 7 day treadmill record set last December.