An honour to be asked, says Clóda

Borrisoleigh native, Clóda Scanlon is one of four ambassadors of the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon, alongside entrepreneur Aimee Connolly, broadcaster and presenter Katja Mia and health and fitness coach Nathalie Lennon.

“Very exciting,” shared the content creator, who has over 48.2k followers on Instagram as to how it feels to be one of four ambassadors of this women’s only event in its 44th year.

“Its feels like an honour to be asked, but I think there is a certain sense of extra pride when you are living in Dublin, but you are from Tipperary, and you are getting to not only represent yourself, but you feel like you are also representing everybody at home,” the 29-year-old continued.

Ambassador of the event

The VHI Women’s Mini Marathon will take place on May 31, with close to 30,000 women expected to walk, jog or run through Dublin city centre.

“This will be my third year running in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon. It’s my second year as an ambassador,” explained Clóda.

This event, which is the largest all-female event of its kind in the world, is all about encouraging women.

“It’s really exciting to help be part of that theme of encouraging other women to get out there for themselves, whether that’s walking or jogging or running, it’s lovely to be a part of something positive, to encourage people to move their bodies,” highlighted Clóda.

“When you get there on the day, the energy of the day is just unmatched, I’ve never really experienced anything like it before. There’s something really powerful about an event that is solely for women, and women showing up for women, and women showing up for themselves. It feels really empowering on the day,” added Clóda as to how she has found the experience of previous events.

“This year’s theme for the mini marathon is ‘Because You Can’. VHI’s whole thing is to encourage people that no matter how slow you take it, or how fast you take it, ‘Because You Can’, you get involved.

Registration for the event took place on March 4 and the event is now sold out. However, there is still the option for women to take part virtually.

“I would encourage anyone to get involved. Whether it is this year or next year. Do it with your friends, do it alone, do it with your mother, your auntie, your sister. It’s a really nice gathering of women,” commented Cloda.

Enjoy it

Although the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon is a 10k race, a substantial amount of people take part to enjoy the atmosphere and to celebrate their ability to take part in the event alongside other women.

As explained by Clóda, you don’t have to be a competitive runner to take part in this event.

“I’m not a marathon runner. I’m never the fastest person in the room. I’m the person who happily takes a very steady pace and does it in her own way.

“On the day when I run it; I’m more of a jogger really, I stop at every kilometre and I take a breath for a few minutes, or I take in everything around me,” expressed Clóda as one of the events ambassadors.

“Like any race, you are going to have the elites at the front. They are going for their PBs, they are going to be one of the fastest women in the race, which is incredible,

“But I think what women, and Irish women in particular love about this event is that no matter your ability, you can get up and do it. Its [a race with] less of a competitive nature and more about the taking part,

“It’s really nice on the day because there’s all this entertainment on the way, you can just see this sea of women, so even when you are feeling a little bit tired, you are just surrounded by thousands of women who are all showing up for themselves,” continued Clóda as to how inspiring the event can be for women who take part.

Start now and start small

Clóda encourages women to “start now and start small,” if they are signed up to participate in the VHI Women’s mini marathon or are looking to give running a go.

“It’s about just making small little changes…or to add little things to your routine,” continued Clóda highlighting how its not about being able to run a 10k route within a week, and that training can be gradual.

Similarly, people can also take part in walking the race.

“Last year, my mam went back and walked it for the first time in years, she had done it years go. She still talks about it today, she’s still delighted that she went out and did the walk and she could see all these other amazing women around her,” reflected Clóda.