The Premier Power Larne Half Marathon is expected to attract over 600 people who will be taking advantage of a rare opportunity to race and walk the stunning Antrim Coast Road on Saturday (28th March). The RNLI and Roddensvale Special School, Larne, have been named as the race's charity partners.
The route is one of the reasons Northern Ireland has appeared in so many tourist guide books recently. The Coast Road with its sheer cliffs on one side and sea views on the other was named by the Guardian Travel Magazine as the second most spectacular road trip in the world, coming ahead of a route through the Himalayan mountains.
Premier Power Communications Manager, Barbara Stevenson, said:
"This is our sixth year of teaming up with the Larne Athletic Club to host the event and we're delighted that it just gets bigger and bigger every year. We place great emphasis on our support for local clubs and organisations but undoubtedly the Larne Half Marathon is one of the highlights in our calendar.
"Such is the scenic beauty of the route, this is one race that will take your breath away in more ways than you'd expect. It's a fantastic day out and this year we'll be making a special effort to attract new entrants from Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland who will hopefully use it as an opportunity to spend a few days in Northern Ireland."
Race organiser, Andy Gregg, Chairman of Larne Athletic Club added:
"It requires a lot of effort and support to put on an amateur athletics event of this scale. We are fortunate to have one of the most amazing settings and it would be a shame not to share it with others.
"The buzz is already starting to build in the running community about Larne Half Marathon and this year we've started a Facebook site so that runners from further afield can see pictures of what they've been missing.
"This isn't a race, however, for just seasoned runners. There are relay and walking sections available, so whatever your ability, there'll be something on the route suitable for you."
Application forms can be downloaded from Larne Athletic Club's website www.freewebs.com/larnehalfmarathon/ or can be picked up in any leisure centre in Northern Ireland. Alternatively you can request a form by e-mail by emailing jonmel@onetel.net
Prices for those attending on the day are £17 (affiliated) and £18 (unaffiliated) but savings can be made for booking in advance at £12 (affiliated) £13 (unaffiliated). People can get involved with friends, family or colleagues by entering a relay team for £20. Walkers can enter for just £5. All cheques are payable to Larne Athletics Club.
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