THE 2013 Dublin Marathon and Race Series was officially launched last week by Maria McCambridge, the Irish National Marathon champion in 2012, and Joe Sweeney, who is expected to make his marathon debut in 2013.
At the launch, Race Director Jim Aughney announced a new partnership with Renault Ireland, which will see both the male and female winners in 2013 receive a brand new Renault Fluence ZE electric car.
In addition, everyone who enters a race in the Race Series or Marathon will be entered into a draw to win a third Fluence ZE.
Aughney welcomed Renault’s support:
“We are without an overall title sponsor for the second year now, which is very challenging for us as organisers. It is brilliant to have the support of Renault Ireland this year, who are providing a total of three top of the range electric cars to lead our prize fund.
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Speaking at the announcement, Duncan Minto, Managing Director, Renault Ireland, said that the Dublin Marathon was a good fit for Renault who are busy opening new dealerships in the Dublin area and will soon be announcing a new Northside location.
Minto commented:
“The Fluence ZE is one of our range of 100 per cent electric vehicles and its clean, silent engine and automatic transmission gives you the maximum torque from the off, with smooth and responsive acceleration, a lot like many of the participants who will be participating in the Marathon.
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Aughney also confirmed that for the first time since 1994, the Dublin Marathon will not have an invited elite field.
“We are in a position now where we will not have an invited elite field, so we believe it is very likely that the 2013 winners will be Irish.
“The last Irish winner was Sonia O’Sullivan in 2000, and you to go back to 1993 and John Treacy for the last time an Irishman won the race. So while we are naturally very disappointed that we are in a position not to have an invited elite field, as we have worked long and hard to put Dublin on the international map of elite Marathons, there is the flip side of making Dublin potentially very competitive for Irish long distance runners.
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The 2012 Dublin Marathon and Race Series enjoyed another record entry level, with over 14,200 entering the Marathon, and a combined total of over 22,000 runners, joggers and walkers entering the race series.
The Fingal 10km, which was a new addition to the Race Series in 2012, and the only one which takes place outside of the Phoenix Park, will again take place this year after a phenomenal interest last year.
The Dublin Marathon takes places on Monday, October 28. The first event in the Race Series, the Irish Runner 5 mile, is on Saturday, June 29.
To register for the event, visit www.dublinmarathon.ie and stay in touch on Facebook/dublinmarathon