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Fitness

Five 5/10k runs for you to chew over this Christmas

Doing one of these Christmas fun runs will get you out of the house for a few mornings and give you an unbelievable feeling of smug superiority.

ON THE OFF-CHANCE that you get sick of turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce … okay there’s no chance of that.

Here’s a bit of exercise inspiration for you if you feel the urge to do some over this festive period.

We’ve broken it down into nice and small sections for you to, excuse the terrible pun, digest.

1) The Carrigaline Christmas Fun Run

Where: Carrigaline, Cork
When: 11am, Saturday 27 December
How long: 5 kilometres
Contact: crrxmasrun@gmail.com

The details: Five kilometres should be well within the capabilities of most of us and what better way to run off that indulgence by taking part in this? The run takes all competitors along the banks of the banks of the Owenabue Estuary and if you like, bring the kids as there’s a 2km crawl for them too. Enter on the day.

2) The Fat Turkey 10k Challenge

Where: Sutton, Dublin
When: 11.30am, Sunday 28 December
How long: 10 kilometres
Contact: fatturkeyrun@gmail.com or www.fatturkeyrun.com

The details: The scenic route is a challenging 10km course, commencing at St Fintan’s Church, Sutton, going all the way up Carrickbrack Road, right at the Summit Shop, right again onto Baily Green Road and up to the Summit Car Park (turnaround and aid/water station) and then back down on the same route.

Participant sign-in, race number, timing chip, t-shirt and goodie bags can be collected from 9.30am in Suttonians RFC (opposite Sutton DART station) where parking, changing and shower facilities are available.

Sign-on will close at 11am followed by a 5-10 mins safety / event briefing. Participants will then take a short walk/jog to St Fintan’s Church car park which is the start location. The finish line will be on the grass verge opposite St Fintan’s Church. The race will begin at 11.30am sharp.

On completion of the race, participants will jog/walk through Sutton cross to Suttonians RFC (approx 500 yards) where changing facilities and tea/coffee, biscuits and full bar will be available. Prizegiving will take place at the club.

3) Santa Dash Kerry

Where: Inch Beach, Kerry
When: 12noon, Sunday, 21st December
How long: 5 or 10 kilometres
Contact: elves@santadash.ie or www.santadash.ie

The details: 5km or 10km fun run. All participants get a full Santa suit, adult and children’s sizes available. All children finishing the event get a free wrapped-up Christmas present.

4) Fields of Athenry 10k

Where: Athenry, Galway
When: 11am, Friday, 26 December
How long: 10 kilometres

The details: Over the last number of years this has become one of the leading road races in the country, and this year, the 13th running of the event, aims to raise the bar higher. The race is being held on its now traditional route, finishing under the medieval arch in Athenry.

The race has sold out for the last few years and 2013 saw a record number of finishers with 1131 crossing the line. Get there early to sign on!

5) Ferrycarrig five-mile road race

Where: Ferrycarrig, Wexford
When: 12 noon, Sunday, 4 January 2015
How long: 5 miles
Contact: ferrycarrig5@gmail.com

The details: Kick off the new year with this increasingly popular five-mile road race. This is the third running of the event which starts at Wexford Youths FC complex and will follow an anti-clockwise route through Newcastle, out and up the hard shoulder of the N11 from Kitestown Cross to Kyle Cross to return back to Wexford Youths FC for the finish.

The course is known to be a fast one and there is a substantial prize list.

Refer to the club’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ferrycarrig5 for news and updates.

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