Teenage girls are encouraged to take part in Mini-Marathon

As Ballina prepares to welcome women from all over Ireland and beyond for the 15th Mayo.ie Western People West of Ireland Women’s Mini-Marathon on Sunday, May 5, the #ItsForGirls, which was a major success last year, will also return.

All second-level schools in the region are invited to participate in the #ItsForGirls Mini-Marathon Challenge. The #ItsforGirls participation event, which is a sub-category of the main event for girls aged between 12 and 17, is now open at a reduced rate of just €10 and the girls will receive a finisher's medal, t-shirt and many more surprises. Teachers and mentors taking part with the girls can avail of the same entry fee.

Teens aged 16 and over can still compete in the main event for one of the main prizes if they wish. However, #ItsForGirls is a non-competitive event for teenage girls who want to participate in the 10k.

#ItsForGirls aims to get more girls more physically active. Encouraging young teenage girls to participate in sports is not just about physical activity, it's about fostering holistic development, empowering them with essential life skills, and promoting long-term health and well-being.

Through regular training sessions, competitions, and teamwork, the girls will learn the value of perseverance, time management, and setting achievable goals. Sports can teach us that success requires dedication and hard work, qualities that are transferrable to various aspects of life.

It can also build confidence and self-esteem. As teenagers develop their athletic abilities and witness their progress over time, they gain a sense of accomplishment and belief in their capabilities.

Sports also provide opportunities for teenage girls to develop essential social skills. Being part of a team teaches them cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution. They learn to work towards a common goal, respect diverse perspectives, and support their teammates through victories and setbacks. While the Mini-Marathon is more of an individual task, training with their other girls will help them build strong relationships and meet new people.

Gortnor Abbey student Saidbh Farrell took part in the #ItsForGirls programme last year and really enjoyed the social aspect of training for it. She trained under Ballina Athletic Club’s Ann Egan in the lead-up to the event.

“It was on a Sunday morning with Ann. It was really nice because we got to meet other girls there that were also interested in running and wanted to do it for fun and it was nice as well because you got to know them over time. She didn’t get us to do 10k straight away, we started off doing 1k and built it up to the 10k,” Saidbh said.

Saidbh really enjoyed the day of the race.

“The social aspect was really nice, you had people chatting to their friends while they were running and I thought it was lovely. There was a really great atmosphere."

Ann Egan was also delighted with the initiative.

“We were trying to encourage those girls that wouldn’t be too familiar with being active in sports, trying to get them involved with walking, jogging or running it,” Ann said. “It was great to get them all out on a Sunday morning.” 

Registration for the Mini-Marathon is now open at www.westofirelandwomensminimarathon.com, with the first 1,900 entries receiving a free t-shirt and eco-medal.

If you cannot make it on the day, you can still participate in the 10k race virtually. To sign up for the virtual race, visit eventmaster.ie.

The winner of our Early Bird registration competition has been selected. Congratulations to Gillian Collins who won an overnight stay with dinner for two at Mount Falcon Estate. Thank you to Mount Falcon Estate for their generous prize.