About Our Event

 
 
 

The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is a 10k road race, which takes place every June bank holiday weekend in Dublin city centre.  It is the largest women’s event of its kind in the world. 

In 1983, 9,000 women took part in the inaugural Women’s Mini Marathon, and the event reached a record attendance in 2014 with 41,006 women taking part.  A staggering 1.1 million women have entered the event over its 41 years. 

In 2020 and 2021, the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon took place virtually, due to Covid-19. 

Hundreds of charities are also big winners.  Women taking part in the event choose which charity they will support and raise funds for, and any local causes gain vital funds from the event.  The Vhi Women’s Mini marathon is one of the largest one-day charity events in the country. 

The Women’s Mini Marathon mission is to organise a world-class event in a safe environment and enable participants to raise much-needed funds for charities.  We are committed to promoting the development of a healthy lifestyle for women and providing a great 10km event which they can walk, jog or run together to achieve their personal goals. 

 
 

 Fun Facts

  • The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is the largest all-women’s event of its kind in the world. 

  • Since it started in 1983, there has been a total entry over 1.1 million women. 

  • An estimated €230m euro has been raised for charitable causes since its beginning in 1983. 

  • About 40 Kilometres of specially designed ribbon is used for the race medals. 

  • Numerous bands and dancers provide entertainment to add to the carnival atmosphere of the day. 

  • Women of every age and walk of life take part, aged from 14 upwards.  Our oldest recent participant was an amazing 93 years old! 

  • The Mini Marathon concept has been copied in several European cities. Liverpool, Glasgow, London and Oslo organise all-women events. 

  • Every county in Ireland is represented in the race and most support a favourite charity or cause - over half the entrants are from Dublin but all 32 counties are well represented. 

  • The event is known worldwide - women from a number of countries - Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, France, England, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Japan - have all joined in the fun. 

  • Among the famous Irish athletes who have previously won the Women’s Mini Marathon are Sonia O’Sullivan, Catherina McKiernan, Maria McCambridge and Lizzie Lee.