The 2023 Strabane Lifford Half Marathon has been confirmed for Sunday June 11th with registration now open.
The announcement comes after Elected Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council this week ratified the decision of its Business and Culture Committee to approve its Festival and Events Strategy for 2023.
The eighth staging of one of the most popular events on the North West’s athletics calendar, which is one of only two half marathons in Ireland that crosses the border, is expected to attract a field of over 1,000 runners.
As part of the cost saving exercise to strike the rate for the district, members took the decision to alternate the Waterside and Strabane Lifford Half Marathons each year with the Waterside taking place this year and the Strabane Lifford taking place in 2024.
However, after concerns were raised that the new policy might be too short notice for aspiring runners who were training for the 2023 Strabane Lifford Half Marathon, the necessary finance has been identified to stage both events together for one last year.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Sandra Duffy, welcomed confirmation that the event will go ahead in ten weeks’ time.
“I am delighted that the Strabane Lifford Half Marathon will take place this year and that local runners who have been preparing will have the chance to take part,” she said.
“As we saw from the bumper field in the Walled City Ten Miler recently, there is a huge appetite for athletics events locally and I am sure this event will sell out well ahead of race day.
“It’s a fantastic event, every runner will receive the highly sought after commemorate medal and t shirt so I’d encourage people to register now to avoid disappointment as it will sell out.”
The Strabane Lifford Half Marathon will start at 9.30 am on Sunday, June 11, at Meetinghouse Street and finishes in Melvin Race Track.
Event registration opened yesterday at: derrystrabane.com/slhm where there are full details of the event, race route and training programmes.
Entries are capped so the runners are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible, anyone considering entering should note that, to accommodate road closures, there is a three hour cut-off point for finishers.
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