The weekend is here

Best of luck to anyone racing this weekend. Be sure to eat well the night before, drink plenty of water and get a good night's sleep.

Hopefully the weather will stay as warm as it has been over the last few days.

Let us know how you get on - just press 'comment' at the end of this post . We'd love to hear from you.

Racing in Raheny

Was just thinking there's just over 8 weeks to go until the Mini Marathon.

Taking part in a race around now will let you know how fit (or unfit) you are and how much work you have to do before June 1st to achieve your target. You'll also be able to look back after the mini marathon, compare your performance and see how how much fitter you've become over the 8 weeks.

If you're only starting off though and you think the 10k Bupa race this Sunday in the Phoenix Park might be a bit long, or if you want a short, fast race to get a bit of speed into your legs, you could do the BHAA race in St Anne's Park in Raheny instead.

It's on this Saturday April 4th. The women's race is 2 miles and starts at 11.00 am . The men's race is 4 miles and starts at 11.30. Check out the BHAA website for more details.

The BHAA races are really well organised by a great team of volunteers. Definitely good events to support.

Bupa Great Ireland Run - Sunday April 05th 2009

The Bupa Great Ireland Run is coming up next weekend and you can still enter until Thursday 5pm.

The race is a 10km run in the Phoenix Park on Sunday 05th April for runners of all abilities.
There's even a 2.5km junior race (8 - 15 year olds) that takes place prior to the main event (click here to check out the details).

It's a real family day out in a beautiful setting!

If you decide to take part and want to run for World Vision - just give us a call on 01 498 0800 and we'll get a fundraising pack sent out to you!

Lorraine Keane Joins Team World Vision

Great news! TV3 broadcaster and celebrity mum Lorraine Keane is going to run the Mini Marathon for World Vision Ireland. Lorraine sponsors a boy from Tanzania and is already very familiar with our work. We're really delighted to have her join our team.

Speaking about her run for charity, Lorraine said “It’s going to be tough but I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I’ve hardly done any exercise since my youngest was born 2 years ago.

I have been a World Vision child sponsor for the past eight years so I know the great work they do. The Mini Marathon is a great chance for me to get fit and show my support for their work.”

Lorraine will undergo an 8-week training programme with a personal trainer from David Lloyd Riverview Helath Club. She is aiming to complete the course in under an hour.

She will run three times a week, do gym work, pilates and improve her diet, all to get fit for the day.

Good luck Lorraine!

You're in good company

As part of Team World Vision Ireland you are in good company.

Check out our US team mates and their website.
Ryan Hall one America's current best long-distance runners and 2008 Olympian is part of the team and a real inspiration.
Here one of the team's videos that show the causes they support and the amazing races they run:

To view more footage check out Team World Vision US' Youtube Channel

Also on the team but unfortunately not running the Women's Mini Marathon is our very own Marathon Man Tony Whitmore who completed the Dublin Marathon in October.
We don't know what's more impressive, his time of 3 hours 41 minutes for the 26 mile race or the €11,600 he raised for World Vision!

Go team!