Children's Fun Run is all about participation

Preparations are gathering pace for the 2025 Mayo.ie Western People West of Ireland Women's Mini-Marathon, which will take place in Castlebar on Sunday, May 4.

The 16th edition of the event, which is the largest all-female race outside of Dublin, is taking place in the town under the stewardship of Mayo Sports Partnership.

The very popular Mini Mini Children's Fun Run has been a part of the Mini-Marathon since the very beginning, and it is a fun run in every sense of the phrase, with inclusion and participation being the cornerstones of the event.

The Mini Mini is held in conjunction with Mayo Day and is suitable for primary school boys and girls of all abilities. ‘Kids Run for Fun’ is the theme, and the event is supported by Healthy Mayo.

The 2km run/walk will take place at 12.05pm, directly after the start of the Women’s Mini-Marathon. Registration is FREE - full details on: www.westofirelandwomensminimarathon.com.

Speaking about the Mini Mini event, Deirdre Donnelly, of Mayo Sports Partnership, said: “The Mini Mini was piloted in 2014 and turned out to be a fantastic success. Children of all ages took to the streets in a fun, fast and furious atmosphere around the streets of Castlebar and subsequently in Ballina for the last two years.

“The children bring great excitement, colour and a bit of magic to the county town and add greatly to our flagship event, the Women’s Mini-Marathon. We look forward once again to welcoming all primary school children to the 2025 Mini Mini to what looks like is going to be a bigger and even better sporting spectacle.” 

The event’s supporter, Healthy Mayo, forms part of the Healthy Ireland network, which is a State-led initiative aimed at improving the health and well-being of Irish society and where well-being is valued and supported at all levels of society.

Healthy Mayo Co-ordinator, Elmer Pieterse, said: “Promoting physical activity and keeping active is a priority theme for Healthy Ireland. Being physically active is beneficial for both your physical and your mental health and well-being. It can help you deal with anxiety and stress, and children need to be active every day. All activity, no matter how short, counts.

"Keeping children active helps them to build strong muscles, healthy bones, agility and coordination, while improving self-esteem, mood, energy and sleep patterns.” 

The National Physical Activity guidelines recommend 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity five days a week, and the Mini Mini Fun Run provides the perfect platform to increase the percentage of children reaching the recommended guidelines.

The family ethos is an integral part of the West of Ireland Women's Mini-Marathon. The Mini Mini is not just open to children - family members, parents, grandparents, neighbours and friends are free to take part.

Registration for the Mini Mini is now open. Children are encouraged in the first instance to sign up through their schools, however, individuals can register online by visiting www.westofirelandwomensminimarathon.com. 

Registration also continues for the main 10km event, and the 'It's For Girls' 10km participation event. All adults who register before Sunday, April 6, are in with a chance to win a luxurious overnight stay for two at Breaffy House Resort, Castlebar, the perfect retreat for a memorable escape. Set on 101 acres of stunning Irish countryside, combining old-world Irish charm with modern comforts, the four-star resort boasts forest trails, looped walks, a luxurious spa, and a state-of-the-art health club.