The final countdown is on as we approach the start lines for the 2025 Roscommon Community Challenge!
There is huge interest in this two-day event, which is taking place on Friday evening, March 7th, with a choice of a 5 or 8km walk or run, and continues on Saturday, March 8th, with a 70km leisurely cycle around Roscommon and East Galway. Roscommon Special Olympics and Roscommon Sports Park are this year’s chosen charities.
This community event is for everyone – walkers, runners, joggers, and cyclists of all abilities. If previous years’ Challenges are anything to go by, and with the level of interest in this year’s one so far, organisers are predicting that this could be the biggest one yet. There has been a huge response from members of the public who signed up for the associated training plan with 130 people joining in on the first night of the year.
Cycling clubs locally are using this spin out as their first event of the 2025 season, so all in, all the weekend promises to be one of fun and community.
The event will kick off with the choice of either a 5k or 8k walk or run, starting at 8 pm sharp from Roscommon Community Sports Park. A warm-up will be led by personal trainer Liam Hannon.
After your walk and run, it’s back into the sports park for some delicious post-event treats. You will be musically entertained throughout the night by resident DJ Ashe as she belts out the tunes.
As with last year, the last mile of this run will be dedicated to the memory of the late Maire Allen, a lady synonymous with Roscommon Special Olympics and indeed many other voluntary groups. Maire passed away in September 2023 but her legacy and good work in the area of special needs and disability will never be forgotten.
Saturday’s schedule
On Saturday, March 8th, the leisurely cycle will depart from the sports park at 9 am to enjoy 70km of mainly flat road that will see a tour of the general Roscommon-East Galway area with a refreshment stop in Kilkerrin. Then it’s back to the clubhouse to meet up for some fabulous post-cycle food from old friend Paddy Paella. Join in later on that evening for a post-event gathering in Foxe’s Pub in Roscommon Town.
Participants for both days are encouraged to register in advance on Eventbrite/Roscommon Community Challenge.
Without doubt, none of this would be possible without the encouragement and professionalism received from Roscommon Sports Partnership and organisers are extremely grateful to CEO Noel Feeley and his staff David Brady, Atalia Tavares, John Joe Nally, and Noelle Carling. A very special word of gratitude to Martin Hannon in the office.
Check out Roscommon Community Challenge’s social media for further information.
