Some 1,300 participants from 46 countries have booked to compete in the EcoTrail Wicklow which takes place from Thursday, September 28th to Saturday, September 30th 2023.
The participants from all over the world will start out in Bray before competing in the 19k, 30k, 46k or 80k races at this year’s trail running event. A remarkable 46 different nationalities will be represented.
There are various events scheduled throughout the weekend starting with a gathering at the Harbour Bar on Thursday night where runners are invited for food, music, drinks and trail running chats.
On Friday morning, a tour to Glendalough is organised to give visitors an opportunity to discover the beauty of the glacier valley.
Wicklow Naturally, County Wicklow’s Food and Drink Network, is opening a ‘Pincho Bar’ on Bray Seafront for runners to experience the Wicklow flavours as they collect their bibs for Saturday races. Wicklow Sports Partnership will organise outdoor activities around the bandstand.
Saturday is race day, with the 80k race leaving at 7.30 am, followed by the 46k race starting at 9 am, the 30k at 10 am and 20k at 11 am. From 11 am, people can follow the race live on YouTube and watch participants running down Bray Head through the finish line.
The full calendar of events is available at visitwicklow.ie.
This year EcoTrail Wicklow is welcoming some fantastic international elite runners from the US, France, Germany and Slovakia including Yoann Stuck who won EcoTrail Paris back in March of this year.
Following stage 4 cancer survivor Luke Grenfell-Shaw who won the 80k race last year, EcoTrail Wicklow brings people with amazing life-inspiring stories. This year, we welcome Fatima Painda who left Afghanistan at the age of 12 to escape the war or Hillary Allen who survived 150 feet fall and 14 broken bones to then come back to win races all over the world.
“Bray is absolutely delighted to welcome EcoTrail Wicklow for the 4th time”, said Cllr Melanie Corrigan, Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District, who will take part in the 19k race this year. “The international atmosphere over the weekend is absolutely fantastic,” she added.
Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council stated: “EcoTrail Wicklow has proven a fabulous tool to help showcase the fabulous outdoor activity playground that is Wicklow. Most of the trails used for EcoTrail Wicklow are available year-round for walkers and indeed runners to come and enjoy.”
Emer O’Gorman, Chief Executive, of Wicklow County Council said: “The combined support from Wicklow County Council and Failte Ireland to EcoTrail Wicklow is proving extremely beneficial: We have now a world-class sporting event in Wicklow whose imagery is travelling far and wide with the support of the Tourism Ireland network abroad”.
For more information on EcoTrail Wicklow, check the website at wicklow.ecotrail.com
