Results & Photos of the Echo Women's 6km mini-marathon - 20th Sept 2026

First place finish for Niamh O'Mahony

The Echo Women's 6km mini-marathon was held on Sunday 20th of Sept 2026 on a dry and overcast day. There 3280 finishers this year which is down about 18% on last year.

As far as I know, there was no increase in entry fee this year and the weather was fine so there's no obvious reason for the large drop.

The first woman home was Niamh O'Mahony of An Ríocht AC who was clear of the rest of the field by 45-seconds. Niamh was also the first woman home in the Ballydesmond 5k on Friday evening, just two days earlier.

The next four finishers all finished with a three second window.

Top 10 women...
1 Niamh O'Mahony An Ríocht AC 20:29
2 Hannah Smith Leevale AC 21:14
3 Sinead O'Connor Leevale AC 21:16
4 Lizzie Lee Leevale AC 4. F F45 21:17
5 Orla Drumm Cork City AC 21:17
6 Evita Volginaite Glanmire AC 21:33
7 Lucy O' Sullivan Millstreet AC 22:27
8 Emma Fitzpatrick Leevale AC 22:33
9 Grainne Murphy Leevale AC 22:35
10 Linda Kelly Watergrasshill AC 10. F 23:20

Full results HERE

Photos...

1) Derek Costello has the following galleries...

part 1   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1658371959625269&type=3
part 2   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1658379599624505&type=3
part 3   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1658386342957164&type=3
part 4   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1658392889623176&type=3
part 5   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1658398372955961&type=3
part 6    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1658406062955192&type=3
part 7    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1658414129621052&type=3
part 8    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1658421619620303&type=3
part 9    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1658427452953053&type=3
part 10  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1658432649619200&type=3

2) Joe Murphy has the following...

a) Pre-race b) Start 1 c) 

Results & photos of the Cork women's mini-marathon - Sun 22nd 2024

The annual Echo women's mini-marathon in Cork City was held this year on Sunday 22nd of September 2024 on what was a overcast but mile day.

Top 5 women...
 1 Sinead O'Connor Leevale AC 17:18
2 Lizzie Lee Leevale AC 17:28
3 Lisa Hegarty Leevale AC 17:32
4 Holly Carroll Blarney Inniscarra AC 17:45
5 Carol Finn Leevale AC 17:56

Full results on the MyRunResults website

Photos to follow...

Reminder: If you did this event then it's really important that you return any sponsorship to your chosen charity. Despite fact that the organisers took in about €100,000 in entries, none of that goes to charity.

The charities really depend on the participants to send on their own sponsorship.

Photos... (Updated Mon 3rd Sept 6am)

1) There are about 800 photos up on the Running in Cork Facebook page.

a) Album 1 of 10

b) Album 2 of 10

c) Album 3 of 10

d) Album 4 of 10

e) Album 5 of 10

f) Album 6 of 10

g) Album 7 of 10

h) Album 8 of 10

i) Album 9 of 10

j) Album 10 of 10

2) Derek Costello has the following photos... 

Part 1  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1030906752371796&type=3

Part 2  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1030912939037844&type=3

Part 3  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1030919252370546&type=3

Part 4  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1030925215703283&type=3

Part 5  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1030931125702692&type=3

Part 6  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1030936302368841&type=3

Part 7  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1030942505701554&type=3

Part 8  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1030948262367645&type=3

Part 9  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1030953249033813&type=3

Part 10 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1030958855699919&type=3

Mini-marathon winner Sinead O'Connor is chased all the way to the finish line

Results & Photos of the Echo Women's mini-marathon - Sun 17th Sept 2023

The Echo women's mini-marathon was held on Sunday 17th Sept 2023 on what was an overcast but dry day. A total of 2664 runners and walkers crossed the finish line this year, a drop of 8% on the figure for 2022.

The first woman was Lizzie Lee pictured above in a time of 17m 19s, just 7-seconds ahead of Hannah Steeds in second place.

Top 5 women...
1 Lizzie LEE Leevale AC 17:19
2 Hannah STEEDS Leevale AC 17:26
3 Amy POLLMANN-DAAMWN An Riocht 17:43
4 Carol FINN Leevale AC 17:44
5 Michelle KENNY Leevale AC 17:48

Full results HERE

Photos...
1) There are 8 albums up on the Running in Cork Facebook page....
a) Album 1 of 8

b) Album 2 of 8

c) Album 3 of 8

d) Album 4 of 8

e) Album 5 of 8

f) Album 6 of 8

g) Album 7 of 8

h) Album 8 of 8

2) The Snapper has several albums at Pairc Ui Chaoimh...

a) Album 1

b) Album 2

c) Album 3

3) Joe Murphy has several albums...

a) Album 1 - Front runners

b) Album 2

c) Album 3

d) Album 4

e) Album 5

Numbers... A post event article in the Echo claimed the following... "The annual Mini-Marathon got underway at 12 noon on Kennedy Quay and between 4,000 and 5,000 people participated in today’s event."

This is way more than the actual number of 2,664 recorded by the chip timing company crossing the finish line.

The numbers for the Echo Women's mini-marathon are shown above and there has been a dramatic drop since 2019.

Not so long ago, the entry fee for this event was down around €10. Now it's €20-€25 which is a lot considering the participants get nothing like a dry fit running top and none of the entry fee goes to charity.

Over the years, the participants of the Echo Women's mini-marathon have generated millions for charity. By contrast, the organisers give nothing to charity.

I suspect a lot of women are questioning the point of paying €20-€25 for an entry fee when they can just do a run for free and give that money to a charity instead.

Organisers of Echo Women's mini-marathon shorten course after huge drop in numbers

In 2022, the numbers taking part in the Echo Women's mini-marathon event dropped a whopping 56%... see this previous post. This year, the organisers have now reduced the course from 6kms to 5kms in length.

The 6k course used to go down the Marina to Blackrock and then back up the Blackrock Rd. The new 5k course stays mostly on the Centre Park Rd and Monahan Rd and in around Pairc Ui Chaoimh which means that the Marina and Blackroad Rd can stay open to other users.

The new 5k course has a number of sharp bends which is usually a bad idea when there are a lot of people taking part but the field should have thinned out by the 2km mark so it shouldn't be an issue.

Note that this is a commercial event and none of the proceeds go to charity. If you're doing it, consider making a donation to your chosen charity.

Results & photos of the Evening Echo Womens mini-marathon... Sun 16th Sept 2018

There was the usual big turnout for this years Evening Echo Womens mini-marathon on Sunday the 16th of Spet 2018. There was just over 5,800 people taking part on the course which is just under 4 miles, a drop of about 5% on last year.

The Evening Echo mini-marathon website claims there was 8000 last year but the results clearly show it was just over 6,100.

As always, if you did this event then make sure you return the sponsorship card for your chosen charity. Your entry fee does not go to charity so it's important to return those funds.

1 Michelle FINN Leevale AC
2 Anna REDDIN Crusaders AC
3 Martina KIELY St Finbars AC
4 Carol FINN Leevale AC
5 Rosaleen MACKEOWN Leevale AC
6 Breda GAFFNEY Mallow AC
7 Linda O'SULLIVAN Watergrasshill AC
8 Rachael O'SHEA West Muskerry AC
9 Joan ENNIS Grange Fermoy AC
10 Anna O'NEILL Doheny AC

The full results are HERE

Photos to follow... (Updated Mon 11pm)
1) There will be 7 albums up on the Running in Cork Facebook page...
...a) Near the 1k mark
...b) More near the 1k mark
...c) Finish (front of the field)
...d) Finish (second batch)
...e) Finish (third batch)
...f) Finish (fourth batch)
...g) Finish (fifth batch)

2) Adrian Foley has 3 galleries...
...a) Near Blackrock church
...b) Near finish 1
...c) Near finish 2

3) Joe Murphy has 2 galleries...
Album1 and Album 2

4) Outside Shots has a gallery HERE 

Cork runner Lizzie Lee wins the 2018 VHI Womens 10k mini-marathon in Dublin

One of the biggest  if not the biggest running events in the country is the annual VHI Women's mini-marathon in Dublin. This year it was held on Sunday the 3rd of June and attracted a huge field of roughly 30,000 women.

The title this year is heading back to Cork after Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC won the race in a time of 34 min 18 secs. Siobhan O'Doherty from Tipperary finished 3rd while Leevale athlete Sinead O'Connor finished 7th in 36:25.

1 Lizzie Lee LEEVALE A.C. 00:34:18
2 Laura Shaughnessy DUNDRUM SOUTH DUBLIN A.C. 00:34:30
3 Siobhan O Doherty BORRISOKANE A.C. 00:34:54
4 Ciara Hickey BROTHERS PEARSE A.C. 00:35:32
5 Linda Byrne DUNDRUM SOUTH DUBLIN A.C. 00:36:01
6 Úna Britton KILCOOLE A.C. 00:36:12
7 Sinead Connor LEEVALE A.C. 00:36:35

Full results


Photo : Gearóid Ó Laoi

Results & Photos of the Evening Echo Women's mini-marathon...Sun 24th Sept 2017

As always, there was a huge turnout for the annual Evening Echo Women's mini-marathon with just over 6100 finishers. The race was won by Laura Crowe of An Ríocht AC in a close contest with Michelle Finn.

First eight...
1 Laura Crowe An Ríocht AC
2 Michelle Finn Leevale AC
3 Michelle Kenny Leevale AC
4 Rosemary Ryan Dooneen AC
5 Sinead Kevany Midleton AC
6 Niamh Roe Leevale AC
7 Rosaleen MacKeown Leevale AC
8 Carol Finn Leevale AC

Results >> The full results are up on the MyRunResults website

Photos...(Updated Mon 25th Sept 2:20pm)
1) There will be several albums going up on the Running in Cork Facebook page
...a) Just after the start
...b) Finish - 1 of 7
...c) Finish  - 2 of 7
...d) Finish  - 3 of 7
...e) Finish  - 4 of 7
...f) Finish  - 5 of 7
...g) Finish  - 6 of 7
...h) Finish  - 7 of 7
2) Photos from Mick Dooley
3) Photos from Doug Minihane
4) Photos from Ger Broderick 

Results & photos of the Evening Echo Womens Mini-Marathon

Thousands of women took to the streets of Cork today for the annual Evening Echo Women's Mini-Marathon.

EVENING ECHO/WOMEN’S MINI-MARATHON

Top 10
1 Emma Murphy (St Finbarrs) 22:03
2 Sinead O’Connor (Leevale) 22:14
3 Aoife Cooke (Youghal) 22:19
4 Andrea Bickerdike (Leevale) 23:23
5 Michelle Kenny (Leevale, F35) 23:27
6 Carol Finn (Leevale) 23:31
7 Margaret Murphy (Bandon) 23:32
8 Sinead Kevany (Midleton, F35) 23:40
9 Louise Shanahan (Leevale, FJ) 24:04
10 Niamh Allen (Cork Varsity) 24:04

Photos...... (Updated 8:38am Tues 27th Sept)
1) Kieran Minihane has loads of photos HERE
2) Joe Murphy of Eagle AC has a gallery HERE ...a bigger gallery HERE
3) Mike O'Grady Photography has a number of galleries... Album 1 ... Album 2 ...

The Evening Echo will have a special supplement in next Saturdays edition with a full list of finishers as well as some photos.

Preview of the Evening Echo womens mini-marathon in Cork...Sun 25th Sept 2016

Although it is advertised as Munsters Premier 4-Mile Road Race, it is in reality a 3.8 mile charity walk/run with a road race at the front of it. If you intend to race it then you need to get to the start early. There are thousands of women taking part and when there are that many people, it is going to be very crowded.

Remember it starts at 1pm.

Course...The start of this race is on the Centre Park Road.

Mile 0-1....The first mile or so is very flat with only a slight uphill around the 0.8 mile mark as the road joins the Marina. This should be a very fast mile as long as you stay clear of the mass of runners/joggers/walkers/prams....etc.

Start of the Marina section near the 1 mile mark 

Mile 1-2.....Dead flat along the Marina. Probably the most scenic part of the run. Again, it should be a very fast mile. If you have started too fast, this is about where you should find out. Pace yourself for the first 2, you can pick it up over the last 2 if you have gone too slow.

Mile 2-3....This section includes the only real hill. There is a nasty pull from the 2 mile mark up to St.Michael's church, a distance of about 300 metres......

Start of the only real hill near the 2 mile mark

You are going to lose some time here. After that, it's reasonably flat with a slight fall downhill into Beaumount about the 2.7 mile mark. Then past the AIB bank and Post office and take a sharp right down Maryville Road. Around the 3 mile mark, there is a very steep downhill section. By far, the hardest mile.

Mile 3-3.8....After the initial downhill section, the remainder of the mile is flat with the finish on the Monaghan Road, near Kennedy Park.
 
....and finally, it is worth mentioning what a significant event this is for the city of Cork. With around 10,000 taking part and many getting sponsorship, it is probably no exaggeration to say that several million Euro will be raised for various charities. For many of those taking part, it may be closest they ever get to any sort of road race.

Update........A bit more detail in this preview HERE

Results & photos of the Evening Echo Womens Mini-Marathon...Sun 27th Sept 2015

As per usual, thousands of women took part in this years Evening Echo Womens mini-marathon in Cork City. The conditions were almost ideal with some occasional sunshine and a gentle breeze.

They usually don't record the finish times of the runners and print out the list of finishers in the Evening Echo during the week with some photos. There will be a lot available online.

The winner was Michelle Finn of Leevale AC who was well ahead of the rest of the field.

1 Michelle Finn (Leevale) 21:26
2 Martina Kiely (St Finbarrs) 22:10
3 Aoife Cooke (Youghal) 22:19
4 Sinead O’Connor (Leevale) 22:38
5 Niamh Moore (Leevale) 23:35
6 Niamh Roe (Leevale) 23:39
7 Carol Finn (Leevale) 24:00
8 Carmel Parnell (Leevale, F60) 24:23
9 Mary Sweeney (St Finbarrs, F55) 25:11
10 Jacinta O’Connor (unatt) 25:20
11 Anna O’Neill (Doheny, F45) 25:26
12 Eiileen Leahy (Midleton) 26:29
13 Mary Dennehy (unatt, F35) 26:36
14 Eimear Tagney (unatt) 26:44
15 Trish Hegarty (Leevale) 26:45
16 Marie Murray (unatt) 26:53
17 Emma O’Neill (unatt) 27:19
18 Eadaoin O’Neill (East Cork) 27:25
19 Jill McCarthy (unatt) 27:36
20 Louise McCarthy (UCC) 28:13
Photos....(Updated 11:30pm)
1) There are 586 photos up on the Running in Cork Facebook page.
2) Kieran Minihane has a gallery HERE
3) Joe Murphy of Eagle AC has a gallery on the club's Facebook page
4) Mick Dooley of Eagle AC has a small gallery HERE

Preview of the Evening Echo womens mini-marathon in Cork...Sun 27th Sept 2015

Although it is advertised as Munsters Premier 4-Mile Road Race, it is in reality a 3.8 mile charity walk/run with a road race at the front of it. If you intend to race it then you need to get to the start early. There are thousands of women taking part and when there are that many people, it is going to be very crowded.

Remember it starts at 1pm.

Course...The start of this race is on the Centre Park Road.

Mile 0-1....The first mile or so is very flat with only a slight uphill around the 0.8 mile mark as the road joins the Marina. This should be a very fast mile as long as you stay clear of the mass of runners/joggers/walkers/prams....etc.

Start of the Marina section near the 1 mile mark 

Mile 1-2.....Dead flat along the Marina. Probably the most scenic part of the run. Again, it should be a very fast mile. If you have started too fast, this is about where you should find out. Pace yourself for the first 2, you can pick it up over the last 2 if you have gone too slow.

Mile 2-3....This section includes the only real hill. There is a nasty pull from the 2 mile mark up to St.Michael's church, a distance of about 300 metres......

Start of the only real hill near the 2 mile mark

You are going to lose some time here. After that, it's reasonably flat with a slight fall downhill into Beaumount about the 2.7 mile mark. Then past the AIB bank and Post office and take a sharp right down Maryville Road. Around the 3 mile mark, there is a very steep downhill section. By far, the hardest mile.

Mile 3-3.8....After the initial downhill section, the remainder of the mile is flat with the finish on the Monaghan Road, near Kennedy Park.
 
....and finally, it is worth mentioning what a significant event this is for the city of Cork. With around 11,000 taking part and many getting sponsorship, it is probably no exaggeration to say that several million Euro will be raised for various charities. For many of those taking part, it may be closest they ever get to any sort of road race.

Update........A bit more detail in this preview HERE

Results of the Evening Echo Womens mini-marathon...Sun 28th Sept 2014

Roughly 10,500 turned out for the annual Evening Echo womens mini-marathon in Cork City raising millions for charity in the process. The results for the first 20 women are shown below. The full results will be in the Evening Echo during the week with some photos. Going on previous years, I think it may well be just the finishing position rather than having times for everyone.

First 3 women in the mini-marathon...Laura Crowe of An Ríocht AC, Michelle Finn of Leevale AC & Sinead O'Connor of Leevale AC. Photo : Gearóid Ó Laoi

EVENING ECHO/WOMEN’S MINI-MARATHON...(Approx 3.9 miles)
1 Laura Crowe (Riocht) 21:24;
2 Michelle Finn (Leevale) 21:50;
3 Sinead O’Connor (Leevale) 22:29;
4 Martina Kiely (St Finbarrs) 22:56;
5 O Murray (Ferrybank) 23:14;
6 Aisling Moran (Leevale) 24:03;
7 Louise Shanahan (Leevale, MJ) 24:43;
8 Carmel Parnell (Leevale, F55) 24:49;
9 J O’Connor (unatt) 24:58;
10 M Ahern (Leevale, FJ) 25:21;
11 E Leahy (unatt) 25:39;
12 Aine Moran (Leevale) 25:46;
13 M Dennehy (unatt, F35) 25:47;
14 C Cooke (UCC) 26:07;
15 Aine Collins (Doheny, F40) 26:16;
16 U UiMhuirithe (unatt, F50) 26:28;
17 Eilish Downing (Ballintotis Fit4Life) 26:51;
18 A Shine (Leevale, F40) 26:53;
19 E Leahy (Midleton, FJ) 27:26;
20 L McCarthy (UCC) 27:33.

Photos......(Updated Thurs 2nd Oct)
1) The Evening Echo has a small number of group photos....
a) Cork ARC Cancer at the city hall
b) Breakthrough Cancer Research on the quays
2) Kieran Minihane has over 800 photos HERE
3) The Evening Echo have a number of commercial photos for sale. Look HERE 
4) Joe Murphy of Eagle AC has over 500 photos HERE   

Video...
1) From the Irish Examiner...

Photos of the Evening Echo Womens mini-marathon...Sun 15th Sun 2013

This years Womens mini-marathon was another huge success with some 10,000 taking part. It is estimated that almost €2 million will be raised for various charities.

The 2013 event was won the Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC with Orla Drumm in second and Sinéad O'Connor in third.

L - R...Orla Drumm, Lizzie Lee and Sinéad O'Connor.....Photo by Mick Dooley

Finishers....1st Lizzie Lee, 2nd Orla Drumm, 3rd Sinéad O'Connor, 4th Annmarie Holland, 5th Aisling Moran, 6th Michelle Kenny, 7th Carmel Parnell, 8th Helen Leonard, 9th Niamh Walsh, 10th Niamh Roe, 11th Louise Shanahan, 12th Mary Sweeney

Photos...(Updated 18th Sept @11am)
1) There is a large gallery of over 300 photos from Joe Murphy HERE
2) There is a gallery from Mick Dooley HERE
3) Doug Minihane has over 400 photos HERE
4) Kieran Minihane has around 170 photos HERE
5) John Quigley of Eagle AC has over 200 photos HERE 
6) Gearóid O Laoi has a large gallery of over 1,000 pics HERE 
7) There is a small gallery of photos from Tom Baldwin HERE

Cork Association for Autism looking for sponsorship for Ladies mini-marathon in Cork

 

The Evening Echo womens mini-marathon is coming up in Cork City on Sunday, the 15th of September. The Cork Association for Autism are looking for volunteers to raise sponsorship for them. Details here..... http://corkautism.ie/cork-mini-marathon-run-for-autism/

Results and photos of the Evening Echo Womens mini-marathon...Sun 16th Sept 2012

The 2012 Evening Echo womens mini-marathon attracted another huge crowd this year with thousands of walkers, joggers and runners taking part. Despite it being a bit misty and dreary before the race, conditions improved as the race started and it was actually quite warm by the end.

The race was won by Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC in a time of 22:03.

1 Lizzie Lee (Leevale) 22:03;
2 Claire Gibbons-McCarthy (St Finbarrs, F35) 22:14;
3 Emma Murphy (St Finbarrs) 23:09;
4 Sinead O’Connor (Leevale) 23:29;
5 Niamh O’Sullivan (Riocht, F50) 23:32;
6 Niamh Roe (Eagle) 23:43;
7 Annmarie Holland (Eagle, F35) 23:55;
8 Aisling Moran (UCC) 24:47;
9 Ann Moore (Leevale, F45) 24:51;
10 Mary Sweeney (St Finbarrs, F50) 25:09;
11 Rosaleen MacKeown (Leevale, F35) 25:20;
12 Ann O’Neill (Doheny, F40) 25:31;
13 Louise Shanahan (Leevale, FJ) 25:34;
14 E McNelis (St Andrews) 25:36;
15 Niamh Walsh (Leevale) 25:51.

Photos...(Updated 18th Sept @10am)
1) Slideshow HERE
2) Huge slideshow of photos from Joe Murphy HERE

Results above courtesy of John Walshe. The full results will be published in the Evening Echo. 

Preview of the Evening Echo Women's mini-marathon - Sun 16th Sept 2012

Although it is advertised as Munsters Premier 4-Mile Road Race, it is in reality a 3.8 mile charity walk/run with a road race at the front of it. In the past, a lot of fast runners used to avoid it as there were a lot of issues with runners unable to get near the front and be able to start ahead of the mass of walkers. Things have improved in the last year or two with a new tag system which allows club runners get up near the front.

Tag or no tag, if you intend to race it then you need to get to the start early! There are somewhere in the region of 11,000 women taking part and when there are that many people, it is going to be very crowded.

Remember it starts at 1pm.

Course...The start of this race is on the Centre Park Road.

Mile 0-1....The first mile or so is very flat with only a slight uphill around the 0.8 mile mark as the road joins the Marina. This should be a very fast mile as long as you stay clear of the mass of runners/joggers/walkers/prams....etc.

Start of the Marina section near the 1 mile mark 

Mile 1-2.....Dead flat along the Marina. Probably the most scenic part of the run. Again, it should be a very fast mile. If you have started too fast, this is about where you should find out. Pace yourself for the first 2, you can pick it up over the last 2 if you have gone too slow.

Looking back at the course at the end of the Marina near the 2 mile mark

Mile 2-3....This section includes the only real hill. There is a nasty pull from the 2 mile mark up to St.Michael's church, a distance of about 300 metres......

Start of the only real hill near the 2 mile mark

You are going to lose some time here. After that, it's reasonably flat with a slight fall downhill into Beaumount about the 2.7 mile mark. Then past the AIB bank and Post office and take a sharp right down Maryville Road. Around the 3 mile mark, there is a very steep downhill section. By far, the hardest mile.

Mile 3-3.8....After the initial downhill section, the remainder of the mile is flat with the finish on the Monaghan Road, near Kennedy Park.
 
....and finally, it is worth mentioning what a significant event this is for the city of Cork. With around 11,000 taking part and many getting sponsorship, it is probably no exageration to say that several million Euro will be raised for various charities. For many of those taking part, it may be closest they ever get to any sort of road race.

Looking back...Cork womens mini-marathon in 1986

The Evening Echo Womens mini-marathon is 30 years old this year. This post looks back 25 years ago to the year 1986 when the mini-marathon was just 5 years old. At that time, it was run over a 10k course and was won by Yvonne Murray from Scotland, one of the leading European middle distance runners in the 80's and 90's.
She had just won the bronze in the 3000 metres in the European Championships in August in Stuttgart in what was then West Germany. Just one month later, she took part in the Cork Evening Echo Womens mini-marathon.
She would later go on to take bronze in the 3000m at the 1988 Olympics and win gold at 3000m at the 1990 European Championships and the 1993 World Indoor Championships.
A short race report with the times of the first 40 runners can be seen HERE
How many of those 40 names took part in the 2011 race?.............more info in the comments below.

Lizzie Lee wins 2011 Evening Echo Womens mini-marathon - Sun 25th Sept 2011

Despite an awful morning of heavy rain, the skies had cleared up nicely just in time for the 2011 Evening Echo  Womens mini-marathon. It is estimated that some 10,000 or so took part in this event which raised a huge amount of money for various charities.

The race was won by Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC in what was a close contest between two of the finest runners in Cork with Clare McCarthy of St.Finbarrs AC a very close second.

Orla Drumm of UCC finished 3rd

Carmel Crowley of Bandon AC and Martina Kiely of St.Finbarrs AC...4th and 5th

Niamh O'Sullivan from An Riocht AC in Kerry...6th

Sinead Kevany of Midleton AC and Carmel Parnell of Leevale AC...7th and 8th

Niamh Roe of Eagle AC finished 9th

Ann Donnelly of St.Finbarrs AC, Niamh Walsh of Leevale AC and
Mary Sweeney of St.Finbars AC...10th, 11th and 12th

......
Times for the first 12...
1 L Lee (Leevale) 21:58; 2 C Gibbons-McCarthy (St Finbarrs) 22:05; 3 O Drumm (UCC) 22:26; 4 C Crowley (Bandon, F40) 22:53; 5 M Kiely (St Finbarrs) 22:58; 6 N O’Sullivan (Riocht, F45) 23:46; 7 S Kevany (Midleton) 23:54; 8 C Parnell (Leevale, F55) 23:59; 9 N Roe (Eagle) 24:34; 10 A Donnelly (St Finbarrs, F50) 25:02; 11 N Walsh (Leevale) 25:09; 12 M Sweeney (St Finbarrs, F50) 25:19.

Photos.....
1) Small gallery of the first 17 finishers HERE
2) A large gallery by Gearoid O'Laoi HERE
3) A gallery of 80 photos by Adam Duchnicz HERE
4) A slideshow of 349 photos by Joe Murphy of Eagle AC HERE
5) A large slideshow of photos near the 3 mile mark by John Quigley of Eagle AC HERE

Preview of the Evening Echo Womens mini-marathon - Sun 25th Sept 2011

Although it is advertised as Munsters Premier 4-Mile Road Race, it is in reality a 3.8 mile charity walk/run with a small road race at the front of it. In the past, it used to attract a lot of fast runners but in more recent times, there have been a lot of issues with runners unable to get near the front and be able to start ahead of the mass of walkers. As a result, many runners avoid it. In the last year, they hae introduced a tag system so hopefully this might improve things.

Tag or no tag, if you intend to race it then you need to get to the start early! There are somewhere in the region of 11,000 women taking part and when there are that many people, it is going to be very crowded.

Remember it starts at 1pm.

Course...The start of this race is on the Centre Park Road.

Mile 0-1....The first mile or so is very flat with only a slight uphill around the 0.8 mile mark as the road joins the Marina. This should be a very fast mile as long as you stay clear of the mass of runners/joggers/walkers/prams....etc.

Start of the Marina section near the 1 mile mark 

Mile 1-2.....Dead flat along the Marina. Probably the most scenic part of the run. Again, it should be a very fast mile. If you have started too fast, this is about where you should find out. Pace yourself for the first 2, you can pick it up over the last 2 if you have gone too slow.

Looking back at the course at the end of the Marina near the 2 mile mark

Mile 2-3....This section includes the only real hill. There is a nasty pull from the 2 mile mark up to St.Michael's church, a distance of about 300 metres......

Start of the only real hill near the 2 mile mark

You are going to lose some time here. After that, it's reasonably flat with a slight fall downhill into Beaumount about the 2.7 mile mark. Then past the AIB bank and Post office and take a sharp right down Maryville Road. Around the 3 mile mark, there is a very steep downhill section. By far, the hardest mile.

Mile 3-3.8....After the initial downhill section, the remainder of the mile is flat with the finish on the Monaghan Road, near Kennedy Park.
 
....and finally, it is worth mentioning what a significant event this is for the city of Cork. With around 11,000 taking part and many getting sponsorship, it is probably no exageration to say that several million Euro will be raised for various charities. For many of those taking part, it may be closest they ever get to any sort of road race.

Results of the 'Evening Echo' Womens mini-marathon - Sun 26th Sept 2010

Looks like conditions were nice and cool for this huge event in Cork City. The results for the first 20 women are now available below...

Remember the times are for 3.8 miles, not 4.

EVENING ECHO CORK WOMEN’S MINI-MARATHON

1 K Harty (Newcastle) 21:20;
2 Lizzie Lee (Leevale) 21:36;
3 Emma Murphy (St Finbarrs) 22:18;
4 Niamh O’Sullivan (Riocht, F45) 22:21;
5 Carmel Crowley (Bandon, F40) 22:35;
6 O Drumm (UCC) 23:09;
7 Rhona Lynch (Eagle, F35) 23:14;
8 V Colleran (Ennis TC, F40) 23:27;
9 Carmel Parnell (Leevale, F55) 23:29;
10 Niamh Roe (Eagle) 23:54;
11 M Kiely (unatt) 23:57;
12 M-M Meade (unatt, F35) 24:12;
13 C Kiely (Gneeveguilla) 24:14;
14 Niamh Walsh (Youghal) 24:20;
15 Tracey Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy, F45) 24:42;
16 Jessica Vonhatten (Leevale) 24:47;
17 A Donnelly (St Finbarrs, F50) 24:52;
18 Angela McEvoy (St Finbarrs, F45) 25:34;
19 R O’Callaghan (St Finbarrs, F35) 25:43;
20 S Moloney (unatt) 25:52.

The full results will probably be in a special supplement in the Evening Echo some day during the week.

Nothing between the leaders at the 2.5 mile mark

Did you run in this event? What was the start like compared to previous years? Did the tag system work? Were the runners segregated from the walkers? Any issues?
 
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Photos....
1) There is a large gallery of 540 photos taken by John Quigley on the Eagle AC website.

2) There is a slideshow of some high quality shots by Gearoid O'Laoi HERE