Trail running festival to promote Sligo
A new trail running festival is taking place in Sligo this September and is aimed at people of all abilities for a weekend of scenic runs throughout Sligo’s beautiful scenery.
Titled Sligo Trail Running, it is being held from Friday September 28th until the following Sunday.
The focus of the festival is on health, well-being and community.
Organisers are currently planning the event’s busy calendar which sees runs across the likes of Knockanarea, Union Wood and Benbulben to name a few.
William Britton, of Northwest Adventure Tours is the main organiser along with Conor Lynch of Firefly. The Festival Hub will take place on the Saturday of the event. There, festival goers will learn about current trends in trail running, footwear and apparel, and how 3D gait analysis technology can prevent injury and improve the athlete’s running performance.
A number of trail running groups are active in the region.
Local businesses Runpod and Northwest Adventure Tours lead trail running groups to explore spectacular scenic locations such as the Dartry mountain range, Knocknarea and the many hidden coastal and forest routes on our door-step.
The launch of the inaugural festival took place in scenic Luke’s Bridge last Thursday where William was joined by a number of runners at one of the locations included in the running festival.
The organisers are very much tapping into Sligo’s adventure capital status and want people to come along and enjoy the runs while also taking part in various talks and exhibitions being held.
Conor Lynch said it is not a festival aimed solely at elite athletes, that it is for people of all abilities.
He said: “The festival is beginning on Friday, September 28th and runs right through to the Sunday.
“There will be exhibitions and talking in the Riverside Hotel and that’s where the first run is starting on the Friday.
“It is going along Doorly Park and up Cairns Hill, then on the Saturday there will be 3 runs taking place with another one on Sunday.”
He said the organisers are encouraging people from outside Sligo too to take part in the festival.
“Anybody can do it, it is not a competitive running event it is about presenting the best of Sligo.
“Union Wood, Knocknarea and Benbulben are among the locations, the longest run is 13k.
“People will be able to stop and have time for taking in the sights.
“It’s about having fun too and we’re trying to capitalise on the adventure capital side of things.
“We are keeping it really small this year in the hope of building on it,” he added.
Yoga on top of Benbulben, conquering Union Rock under starlight and sipping hot chocolate at the Strandhill People’s market following a run across the dunes of Strandhill beach and Killaspugbrone –this just a taste of what the Sligo Trail Running Festival has in store.
Trails will range in length from 6km to 13km where the focus will be on fun and experiencing the beauty of Sligo while building the sligo trail running community.
County Sligo is the perfect location for trail running with so many accessible and breathtaking trails waiting to reward adventurers with spectacular views and memorable experiences.
The Festival will add to these experiences by putting a twist on each of the five scheduled trail runs.
The festival’s website is www.sligotrailrunning.ie if you would like to find out more. You can register on the mailing list on the festival website.
Tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks, where weekend (including accommodation) tickets and daily tickets will be available.
See www.sligotrailrunning,ie