An impressive 6,000 runners lined up to take part in the Lisburn Coca-Cola HBC Half Marathon, 10K Road Race and Fun Run last Wednesday evening, and of course TDR Academy was there!
Gary Wilson, Austin Benson and Ewelina Tomasiak formed the TDR team and had our banner and massage tables set up at the Lisburn LeisurePlex, where they were offering pre and post-run sports massages from 5.45-9.45pm. They were exceptionally busy working on those getting ready for their events and on exhausted and knotted muscles as runners finished their races. Don’t let these smiling faces deceive you - they were as tired as the runners by the end of the evening!
The sports massages are free, but people generously donated in aid of the MS Society NI and we raised £101.94!! This is the greatest amount we have raised in the 13 years (I know, 13 years!!) that we have been offering sports massage therapy at this fab event. Thank you to everyone that donated!!
A real highlight for Gary was meeting and massaging Eamon Loughran:
“It’s not often you get to work on a former world boxing champion!”
Eamon Loughran hails from Ballymena and is an Irish former professional boxer who fought in the light welterweight divisions. He’s the former Commonwealth Light Welterweight title holder and won the WBO Welterweight title as well, before retiring in March 1996.
The Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Uel Mackin said:
“The Half Marathon, 10k Road Race and Fun Run have been firm favourites with runners over the last 36 years and we are proud that the event has now become one of Northern Ireland’s largest participatory sports events. It was a pleasure to...see so many runners of all ages and levels of experience taking part in this great event. I was particularly delighted to welcome many international runners who had travelled a great distance to take part which highlights the calibre of this event with half marathon runners around the world.”
The Chairman of the Council’s Leisure and Community Development Committee, Alderman Paul Porter added:
“It was fantastic to see so many people come out in force to take part in the three events from competitive runners aiming for personal bests to those just running for fun with family and friends. We are pleased that we can organise so many sporting events like this one, which provide such encouragement and focus for people to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I would like to thank everyone involved in organising such a successful event. I would particularly like to thank our title sponsors Coca-Cola HBC for their continued support towards this great event.”
Cool FM were there too from 6pm, cheering on everyone taking part. They had Cool FM concert tickets and goody bags to give away, did you get any?!
TDR Academy enjoys supporting this event every year - we hope to see you again next year!!