A County Armagh runner will reach a remarkable milestone in Armagh this Sunday when Elaine McAnulty completes her 500th big race.
McAnulty will arrive in the city after completing race number 499 in County Offaly on Saturday. The achievement follows a decade of increasingly regular marathon running, with events taking her across Northern Ireland, Britain and further afield.
Although McAnulty is not someone who seeks publicity or ceremony, friends Matthew Nicholson and Clive Nesbitt decided the occasion should be marked. The pair, who are behind Run Armagh, have organised a special event so that local people, friends and family can celebrate the milestone by running alongside her.
The event is being held on Sunday morning and will offer three distances: a full marathon, a half marathon and a 10k. Participants are not required to be experienced runners. Walkers are also welcome, meaning people can choose to take part at a pace suitable for them and still receive the event medal.
Three routes around Armagh
The course will use the traditional Armagh 10k loop. It begins at the bottom of College Hill, heads out along the Portadown Road and turns left at the Elm Church before returning to the city. The loop covers six miles.
Runners in the full marathon will complete a short opening section to bring the initial distance to 2km before taking on the loop four times. The half marathon will use the loop twice, while 10k entrants will complete it once.
McAnulty said some of her own family members, despite never having taken part in an event before, plan to enter the 10k. She has encouraged people to attend whether they intend to run the full distance, complete a shorter course or simply walk around the route.
“It’s open to anybody at all. There’s members of my family that have never done anything and they’re coming to do the 10k. Everybody’s welcome, no matter what their abilities are. They can walk it, there’s absolutely no bother – a nice wee dander round Armagh on a Sunday morning!”
From occasional races to an extraordinary tally
McAnulty owns the Retreat Beauty Salon in Banbridge and is originally from Divernagh, near Bessbrook. She attended school in Markethill, making the Armagh setting particularly meaningful as it gives her parents and other relatives a realistic opportunity to attend.
Her running career did not begin with a plan to set records. She had completed one or two marathons, then left several years between races, before gradually becoming more involved. Over the past 10 years, the occasional events developed into a demanding schedule that has taken her to races in London, Berlin, New York, Paris, Chicago and The Bahamas.
The supplied report describes McAnulty as Northern Ireland’s most prolific female marathon runner and says she is among the most active runners in the world by the number of races completed. It also states that she was ranked 96th among female marathon runners worldwide for the year covered by the report.
Her recent schedule illustrates the scale of that commitment. Since January, she has completed 52 races in the year: 43 marathons and nine ultramarathons. Her 500th event in Armagh will therefore come immediately after another race in County Offaly, rather than as an isolated challenge.
McAnulty said the record was never her original objective. The races simply accumulated as she became more involved, with the totals being added up at the end of each year.
‘Mrs Bling’ medal will mark the occasion
Nicholson and Nesbitt have also arranged a commemorative medal featuring McAnulty’s picture. She initially resisted sending a photograph, but the organisers told her they would choose one themselves if she did not provide it.
The event has been given the title “Mrs Bling’s 500th Marathon”, a nickname linked to McAnulty’s enjoyment of wearing a little sparkle. The name is intended to reflect the personality behind the achievement as well as the number of races being celebrated.
Despite the attention surrounding the event, McAnulty said her main priority is the same as it is for every race: getting started, finishing safely and avoiding injury. She is already looking beyond the milestone to the next race.
“I just wish it was over to get on to the next one, 501, and away we go again!”
Fundraising plans for Cancer Focus
McAnulty has used her running to raise money for charity when an event provides a suitable opportunity. Her chosen cause is Cancer Focus, which she supports because it is a local charity and, as she put it, its money stays locally.
She does not seek sponsorship for every race, explaining that asking people to support 52 separate events in one year would be unreasonable. Instead, she uses a significant occasion such as the Armagh milestone to create interest in a dedicated appeal.
A sponsor board and collection bucket will be available at Sunday’s event. The source also says that donations can be made online, although the supplied material does not include the destination address for either the registration information or the donation page.
Family support and thanks for race organisers
McAnulty credited her husband David and her wider family with supporting her running over the past decade. David was an international hockey player, so she said he understands the commitment involved in competitive sport.
She also acknowledged the practical work carried out by race directors. While runners face difficult conditions on some courses, organisers must set up routes, remain outside in wind and rain, listen to competitors’ complaints and clear everything away afterwards.
Holding the 500th race in Armagh means McAnulty can share the occasion with family members who might not have been able to travel to a more distant event. She said the city is only around 10 or 15 miles from home, increasing the prospect that her parents will be able to attend.
People wishing to take part were invited by the organisers to register their interest. The supplied report does not give a calendar date or start time for the Sunday event, so prospective participants should use the original event registration information for the latest practical details.
