Covid restrictions will not deter this year's Galway 5k Series from proceeding, marking the event's 15th anniversary.
The Galway Athletics County Board, determined to ensure the series will proceed for this special anniversary after last year's event was cancelled, confirm it will take place in line with restrictions in May.
It obviously will not be the traditional 5k series that has attracted up to 1000 people running, jogging and walking through six Co Galway towns. This year's event will be a virtual series, but organisers insist "it will have all the excitement, commitment and camaraderie of other years".
The event is open to runners, joggers and walkers of all abilities, the organisers are hoping that the huge increase in the number of people running and walking during the past year, will be reflected in the numbers joining the 5k series, saying it is the "ideal opportunity to take part in an organized series and gauge progress".
"Participants can compete against family, friends, colleagues or clubmates, but the main emphasis is on getting out and enjoying yourself," they say. "Participants can run whenever and wherever they want each week of the series as long as it is in line with local restrictions and Covid 19 guidelines are followed."
The series is supported by HSE West via the Healthy Ireland initiative, and it will run from May 1, 2021 to June 1, 2021 and will consist of five weekly runs. Participants will upload their individual results each week and a full, detailed results list will be published each week.
And to make it more interesting, the 2021 series is going global. Organisers are hoping to see people taking part in New York, Sydney, London, Berlin and many other destinations.
Entry to the series is limited to 1000 people each year, and the event usually sells out within 30 minutes of the entries opening.
Online entries to this years series will open on Thursday April 1, via www.myrunresults.com and there are two entry options available, participants can chose a run only series entry €15 plus processing fee, or they can opt for a premium entry €30 plus fee, which includes series entry, a technical running T-shirt, and a specially commissioned Galway County 5k Series medal that organisers expect will become a collectors' item for what is a special event.
