Mayo athlete encourages runners to sign up the Irish Life Dublin Race Series

Mayo athlete Hugh Armstrong (27), who competes with Ballina AC, has been selected to compete for Ireland in the marathon at the 2022 European Athletics Championships, which will take place in Munich in August.

This selection comes after Hugh won the Wrexham marathon in 2:14:04, setting a new Welsh All-comers record. His personal best time of 2:12:26 from the 2020 Seville Marathon ranks him top 10 in the Irish all-time list.

Speaking as an ambassador for the Irish Life Dublin Marathon, Hugh is encouraging runners to sign up to the Irish Life Dublin Race Series.

He said: “The is a great way to prepare for the Irish Life Dublin Marathon. It also you to move up distances in a progressive way. Plus, there is plenty of distance options to sign-up for a one-off race target too.”

Entry for the Irish Life Dublin Race Series is open at IrishLifeDublinMarathon.ie. There are bundle offers in place for the four races in the series: 5 Mile in Tallaght (June 19), Fingal 10km (July 17), Frank Duffy 10 Mile (August 20) and the Dublin Half Marathon (September 17). The Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday, October 30, is sold out.

Coaching team

The Irish Life Dublin Marathon has also announced marathon legend Catherina McKiernan alongside Mick Clohisey as the coaching team for the 2022 Irish Life Dublin Marathon and Race Series.

The Olympic duo have developed training plans for all races in the series and the marathon using their vast expertise and knowledge. They are part of the overall runners’ support squad to help runners harness the power of support to achieve their goals, whether they aim to run sub-60 minutes for the 10km, complete the half marathon distance, or run sub-three hours for the marathon.

Irish marathon record holder and former London Marathon winner Catherina McKiernan said: “I am delighted to be part of the Irish Life Dublin Marathon and Race Series team to help runners realise their race goals. We all run on support when taking on the challenge of training for a marathon, from emotional encouragement right the way through to the more specialist advice from professional experts.”

The Irish Life Dublin Marathon and Race Series runners’ support squad will also provide advice from a panel of experts along the journey, including a nutritionist, psychologist, and physiotherapist.

There is also an exciting opportunity for two runners who have secured a place in the sold-out Irish Life Dublin Marathon to win one-to-one coaching and mentoring from either Catherina or Mick. To be in with a chance to win, all runners need to do is share why they have signed up to race the Irish Life Dublin Marathon, whether that be to raise funds for a cause close to their heart or a personal journey to prove something to themselves. Entries can be made at IrishLifeDublinMarathon.ie. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges. Entries are open until Monday, June 7, and the winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 21, after which they will be contacted to let them know which coach they will work with as they prepare for the marathon.