2024 Route Details
The Mayo.ie Western People Women's Mini-Marathon will take place on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 12 noon starting from Market Square, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
Start and End point of the route: At the corner of Market Street and Tone Street. Stage will be situated at Market Square.
The route is the same as last year's and has proven to be a good course straddling both sides of the River Moy. It further straddles both historic Ballina and new developments as we build towards an exciting future.
The race will start in the Market Square that has undergone a major transformation since last year. It will make its way down through the centre of the town to the famous River Moy making its way past the new Mary Robinson Centre, crossing the bridge to make way along the opposite bank of the Moy passing the famous St. Muredach's Cathedral and the neighbouring Augustinian Abbey. This Cathedral was featured on news channels all over the world in 2023 as US President Joe Biden delivered his address to the Irish People and a global audience.
The race then proceeds back over the second bridge and onto Barrett Street and then up a short sharp hill to come onto the Foxford Road opposite the Bus Station.
From there, the race will meander for about three kilometres straight out the Killala Road passing the Western People Offices, Ballina Fire Station, St. Patrick's Well, Coca Cola and then takes a right turn into the scenic Belleek Woods area. The woodland will provide a scenic, oxygen-laden backdrop up to the distinctive archway that served as the formal entrance to the Belleek estate in times gone by.
A right turn after the archway brings the race into the centre of Ballina again as it passes the Mayo County Council Civic Offices and around a roundabout to the Bohernasup area.
The Boston Marathon has 'Heartbreak Hill' - we have our own mini-heartbreak hill in Ballina (!) with a long drag through Bohernasup ('the road of the straw' - in 1798 during the Rebellion, straw was set alight to show the advancing French soldiers the way).
Once the hills at Bohernasup have been successfully negotiated, there is a fast run into the finish back along the Killala Road and a sharp turn at the Western People Offices to the cheering crowds at the Market Square and the renovated Military Barracks/Innovation Quarter.
Mini-Mini Route 2024 (2km)
