Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland: Olympian Robert Heffernan supports Bandon Half Marathon & 10k

Monday, May 07, 2012

Olympian Robert Heffernan supports Bandon Half Marathon & 10k

The next big race on the horizon is the Bandon 10k and Half-Marathon on Saturday, the12th of May.

The organising club Bandon AC hope to use funds raised from the race to develop new track facilities in Bandon to serve the West Cork area. They sent on the following message...

Olympic race walker Robert Heffernan has pledged his support for the forthcoming Bandon Half Marathon and 10K Road Race. Robert who is from Togher in Cork and a member of Togher Athletic Club is a world class race walking champion.  Some of his career highlights include an eighth place finish in the 20KM walk at the 2008 Olympics.  He finished in sixth place in both the World Championships in Osaka in 2007 and the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in 2008.

Robert said it would be great to have additional facilities in the County and West Cork in particular.   He indicated that if the club succeeded in the venture, he would be willing to come to Bandon to undertake coaching sessions in race walking. He commented that it is always useful for athletes like himself and those of all abilities to have additional training facilities should the CIT and Mardyke tracks be unavailable.  The Half Marathon and 10K take place this coming Saturday 12th May. Website is www.bandonhalfmarathon.com

Rob Heffernan will be part of the Irish Race Walking team that will travel to Saransk, Russia for the prestigious IAAF World Race Walking Cup on the 12-13th May. Rob finished in fourth position in the men’s 20k event at the recent race walking grand prix in Portugal recently. This was his best ever performance at a race walking grand prix, finishing in a time of 1:21:28, which was only 14 seconds off a podium position. He is likely to target the 50km in London and will use the 20km race in Russia to sharpen up and gauge his competitive progress.

Bandon AC have also announced that they are extending closing date for cheaper online entries until 10pm, next Thursday evening, the 10th of May. More details about the race in an earlier post.

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