Women's Mini Marathon, Dublin

The Women's Mini Marathon is an annual 10k event, which takes place every June bank holiday Sunday on the streets of Dublin, Ireland. It is the largest women's event of its kind in the world, and is the largest one-day charity fundraising event in Ireland. The event, which is currently sponsored by Irish insurance company Vhi Healthcare, celebrated its 40th event in 2022.

In 1983, 9,000 women entered the inaugural event. The event grew in popularity as women took more interest in their health and fitness. In 2014 it reached a record attendance when over 41,000 women participated.

Since its inception, participants have raised over €226 million for charitable causes throughout Ireland. Participants decide which charity they will support.

The Women's Mini Marathon is a national institution, beloved by women throughout the country, and every year brings enormous cultural, economic, and societal benefits to the city.

History
A small group of male athletes gathered in the Mill House in Stillorgan in 1983. They concluded that an all-women's race would be suitable for increasing female participation. The Evening Press were named as sponsors and Dundrum South Dublin Athletics Club as the host club.

Several Irish women's distance runners have taken part in the race. Catherina McKiernan recorded her first of four wins in her autobiography, Running for My Life, saying: "I enjoyed every moment of it. The crowds were more incredible than I expected, and it was just something I always wanted to do."

In recent years, charities have used online services such as Facebook, Twitter, and podcasting to promote their involvement.

Sponsorship
The race has had a large list of sponsors throughout its history. VHI is the current title sponsor and intends to continue its association with the race until 2021.

From the beginning, a Dublin evening newspaper has promoted the race, acting as its media sponsor. The Evening Herald took over this role from the Evening Press in 1996 when it went defunct in 1995. In 2001, it was known as the Tesco Ireland Evening Herald Women's Mini-Marathon. For the 2003 race, the Herald and Nike were the only sponsors. Other sponsors have included Elverys, Citroën and Newbridge Silverware. From 2004 until 2014 it became known as the Flora Women's Mini Marathon. The Order of Malta is involved on the day.

Preparation
The 3 June 2018 VHI Women's Mini Marathon moved to a Sunday event. 30,000 women lined out for the race. It was won by Lizzie Lee in a time of 34 minutes and 18 seconds. The 2020 VHI Women's Mini Marathon was due to take place on Sunday, 31 May 2020. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland, the event was postponed and later canceled. A Virtual Women's Mini Marathon was instead planned over ten days 1–10 October. The 2021 event was also virtual and took place on 19 September 2011. The 2022 event returned to the streets of Dublin on Sunday 5 June.

To prepare for the event, over 2,200 crash barriers are set up at the start and finish, on the course, and in the Reunion Area around Merrion Square. Approximately 110,000 paper cups are laid out at the water stations which supply over 34,000 litres of water for the participants, and some 250 toilets are ordered for the day. Over 1000 race stewards and personnel are on hand to ensure that the event runs smoothly on the day.

Notable winners
Multiple times World Cross-Country silver medalist Catherina McKiernan won the event in 1998, 1999, and 2004. Sonia O'Sullivan won the event in 2000, months before she went on to win the silver in the Olympic 5000m. O'Sullivan's time of 31m 23s set a record that has yet to be beaten in this race. Kenya's Magdaline Chemjor won the 2001 edition. Lizzie Lee won the event in 2018 and later went on to win the Irish National Title and finish third outright in the Dublin Marathon in October that year.

2000
The 2000 mini-marathon was the 18th running of the event.

Sonia O'Sullivan won the race, in a record time of 31 minutes and 28 seconds. Magdaline Chemjor from Kenya finished in second place.

2001
The 2001 mini-marathon was the 19th running of the event and took place on 4 June. More than 31,000 females took part in the mini-marathon.

Magdaline Chemjor from Kenya won the race. Sonia O'Sullivan finished in second place inside 33 minutes and 26 seconds, later announcing her intention to not contest any track races that summer, including the World Championships in Canada. She claimed that the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, at which she won a silver medal, had tired her "mentally and physically" and that she wanted "to take a good rest", having been "suffering from illness all too often" that year. Valerie Vaughan finished in third place inside 34 minutes.

2004
The 2004 mini-marathon was the 22nd running of the event.

It raised a total of €9 million for charity.

2005
The 2006 mini-marathon was the 23rd running of the event and took place on 6 June. Over 40,000 females took part in the race.

Sonia O'Sullivan won the race inside 33 minutes and 7 seconds. Pauline Curley from Tullamore finished in second place. Annette Kealy from Malahide finished in third place.

2006
The 2006 mini-marathon was the 24th running of the event and took place on 5 June.

Pauline Curley from County Offaly won the race inside 35 minutes and 4 seconds. It was her second victory in this race. Niamh O'Sullivan from County Kerry finished in second place in a time of 35 minutes and 18 seconds. Orla O'Mahony from Raheny finished in third place in a time of 35 minutes and 41 seconds.

2007
The 2007 mini-marathon was the 25th running of the event and took place on 4 June.

Debutant Marie Davenport from County Clare won the race inside 33 minutes and 14 seconds, later declaring her interest in representing Ireland at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Rosemary Ryan from Limerick finished in second place. The 2006 winner, Pauline Curley, finished in third place.

A total of €14 million was raised for charity.

2008
The 2008 mini-marathon was the 26th running of the event, which was won by Annette Kealy.

RTÉ television editor Mary Butler, from Dún Laoghaire, took part via her wheelchair after sustaining a chipped ankle bone day earlier. She was pushed along by newsreader Eileen Dunne and news editor Pat Brennan.

A total of €14 million was raised for charity.

2009
The 2009 mini-marathon was the 27th running of the event and took place on 1 June. It was part of a weekend of events taking place in the country which included the Cork City Marathon and the Volvo Ocean Race in Galway. 40,374 females took part in the event, the sixth consecutive year that the 40,000 barrier was broken. A record-breaking 280 charities registered to take part.

Spectators included Desperate Housewives actress Dana Delany, whilst participants included RTÉ personalities Síle and Gráinne Seoige, model Glenda Gilson and former Xposé presenter Lorraine Keane. 85-year-old Maureen Armstrong from Thurles, County Tipperary, was the race's oldest competitor.

Rosemary Ryan from Limerick was the winner in a time of 34 minutes and 36 seconds, completing the race over one minute quicker than the 2008 winner. Pauline Curley from County Offaly finished in second place, one minute behind Ryan. Annette Kealy from Raheny finished in third place. Siobhan O'Doherty from County Tipperary finished in fourth place.

A total of €15 million was expected to be raised for charity.

Television coverage
Setanta Sports broadcast race highlights each year from 2005 to 2015 and each year the event is featured by all national media broadcasters.