The Galway walking club will endure 26 miles in its annual marathon, with 20 counties being represented and participants from Poland, USA, Japan, and Germany.
The 12th annual marathon will take place on the Western Way in Connemara on Saturday August 9. Registration takes place from 7am at the community centre, Maum Bridge, Connemara - just south of Joe Keane’s. Walkers are transported by bus departing at 8.00am to the starting point - approximately six miles west of Leenane, Co Galway, at our Lady of the Wayside Church..
Because of the distance involved, all walkers are requested to be registered and ready to leave by 8am at the latest, to ensure an early start.
“I have been involved with the Galway walking club’s annual marathon walk for several years now, and I am constantly delighted by the commitment shown by the club in making this walk so successful and the good humour of our participants. We always have great fun,” said Martha Higgins, the marathon coordinator.
The attendant level on the marathon in 2007 was 160, and this has doubled over the previous five years, confirming the increasing popularity of the marathon. The Galway walking club has four different levels of walks. The ‘rambles’ are held all year round and are mostly flat, but can have a climb of 300m, cover mixed terrain, and be at least 12k in distance. A reasonable level of fitness is required, as well as correct clothing.
The ‘hill walks’ are held from February to October. These are more strenuous, so it is advised to contact the committee members involved in hill walking for more information. There is an ‘A’ hill walk for the fittest members and it is at a fast pace. The ‘B’ hill walks are the same, but at a slower pace. Short walks are held from February to October and take no more than two hours to complete.
The rambles and hill walks leave from the Omniplex on consecutive Sundays. Boots and water-proof gear are necessary on all walks in the interest of safety.
The Galway walking club meetings take place on every second Thursday night in Tonery’s Bar, Bohermore, at 8.30pm.
For more information visit: www.galwaywalkingclub.homestead.com, or contact Martha Higgins 087 9310081 or Loretta Needham 087 6486860
