It's either a feast or a famine! Many club runners that are preparing for the Dublin City Marathon in October like to run a half-marathon at this time of year. Unfortunately there is a relative shortage of such races, and particularly of good quality events. This weekend two fine races take place on the same weekend and Athenry AC will be sending a strong contingent to both of them.

Waterford will host the National Half-Marathon Championship next Sunday. The host club, Waterford AC, has built a reputation as a progressive club with great organisational skills and the event looks set to be a cracker. Many of the best distance runners in the country will descend on Waterford and Athenry AC is sending a team of twenty athletes to the race. The course looks fast and flat, and you can check it out here:- http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/ireland/waterford/16659282. Further details on the race can be found on the Waterford AC club site at http://www.waterfordac.com/pages/wac_index2.php.

Sunday next will also see the running of the Westport Half Marathon otherwise know as the Coastal Charity Challenge which is being organised with the assistance of the Mayo Mountain Rescue Team. Race details are available at (http://www.mayomrt.com/). A number of Athenry runners will also attend this event and will no doubt enjoy the beautiful views along Clew Bay that this course affords runners.

Good luck to all the Athenry competitors in both races. No doubt there'll be a few stories of both success and disaster to be told come Monday morning.