Almost time for the night run

 

Keep fit fanatics and even those still in the dabbling phase are gearing up for tonight's 5k Run around Cavan Town. However, this is a run with a difference, and promises to showcase the county town in whole new light, as it perhaps unusually takes place at night time, starting at 8pm tonight.

Cavan Credit Union was wedged this afternoon with people hoping to catch a glimpse of local stars The Strypes as they played an acoustic set for those flocking in to sign up for the Night Run. There was a constant stream of budding athletes flowing through the open doors as the quartet sang their hit songs. 

The run has been organised by a local committee with all proceeds going to St Vincent de Paul locally and Cavan/Monaghan Palliative Care, the timed run, walk or jog is the latest in a growing number of such events feeding into the ever-expanding, keep-fit community and beyond.

Member of the organising committee behind the Night Run 5k, and trainer at the Killygarry Running Group, Peter Walsh explained to The Anglo-Celt: “The novelty is there has never been a proper night run in Cavan before. Soon after we came up with the idea, we started putting the wheels in motion on this.
“We came up with the idea back in November-December for this event and we chose St Vincent de Paul in Cavan, and Cavan/Monaghan Palliative Care because they were two local charities who had not yet benefited from monies we’d raised in the past. “They’re two local charities that do a lot of work in the community. They do a lot, which people might not be aware of, behind the scenes in caring a great deal for people and we want to make sure they continue to be supported in that work,” Peter said.

Entry for the run, walk or jog costs €15 per person via online registration on precisiontiming.co.uk, €30 per family of four, and €5 for under 12s. There is also a small transaction fee. The first 300 people to register on the Precision Timing website will be guaranteed to receive a specially commissioned Cavan Night Run 5k t-shirt. People can register for the run up until 8pm today at Blessings Bar at a cost of €20.

The route of the night run will follow that of the Cavan Christmas Dash, which takes place each St Stephen’s Day, starting out on Church Street, along Main Street and on to College Street until 200m down Farnham Road.
Turning back, entrants make their way onto Farnham Street, Cathedral Road and then onto the Cootehill Road at St Feilm’s Hospital before making their way back into town.

Sandra McCormack, customer advisor at Cavan Credit Union, says the community-based bank is delighted to be supporting the event and their chosen charities. Sandra, who completed the Dublin Marathon last year and is planning on doing another with friend and fellow Night Run 5k committee member Susan Smith, says neither person “could’ve ran the length of ourselves two years ago. “I came up because my daughter was going. But there was no point in me just sitting around so I joined it. Susan joined them too and we just kept at it and bit by bit, it just got bigger and bigger. It ended up with us doing the Dublin Marathon last year. It was hard work but we really enjoyed it and when we finished it, we signed up again for this year’s.”

Peter, who has seen the Killygarry Running Club grow from a meagre four to nearly 300 people attending their three sessions twice weekly, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and one on Saturday, says the increased in interest for running locally has been incredible.
New runners, he says, of all ages, ability, men, women, boys or girls attending their running classes are now gearing up to take part in the Night Run 5k.
“We’ll see where it goes from there,” he laughs.
“Anyone can do it. The key to it all is that it’s all about fun. No one’s judging you, it’s up to yourself. You can come up here to Killygarry and do one lap, or do 100 laps, whatever you’re able to do. You’ll get out what you put in.
Our next goal is the Night Run 5k. It’s an event for the community, supporting community-based charities and everyone’s invited to take part,” says Peter.