1,200 runners on Shannon runway

Shannon Airport is set to make history again on Friday, July 4, when up to 1,200  runners line up for the first ever night-run on an Irish airport runway, in an event to raise fund for the Samaritans.

Teaming up with Bank of Ireland the Runway Night Run will take place at 11pm when participants set off on the 5km run along what is one of Europe’s longest runways.

The Samaritans is a designated Shannon Airport charity and the initiative has been boosted by the support of Bank of Ireland as lead sponsors. Lions, Irish and Munster rugby legend Keith Wood has also come on board as an ambassador for the event and will lead out the runners, limited to 1,200 people, on one of the most novel courses ever in Ireland for an organised run.

Neil Pakey, Shanon Airport chief executive,said,” “There are runway runs at a small number of airports across the world every year, but this will certainly be the first ever such event at an Irish airport. As a result, and also because of the support there is for the Samaritans, we are expecting the event to be fully subscribed very quickly. Because we have to limit this to 1,200 participants, we would urge people who want to take part to book as soon as possible.”

All participants will be chip-timed and can register online at www.sportstiming.ie and pre-race registration starts at 9 p.m.

Rose Hally, Bank of Ireland,said,As a valued customer of ours, Shannon Airport is showing a real resurgence since it got its independence last year and this is very important both for business and tourism across the region.