With just over a week to go until our Virtual Fota Cheetah Run 2021 have you signed up yet?!

Remember that 100% of all race entry fees will go directly to Fota Wildlife Park.

To register for the run please visit…https://www.myrunresults.com/…/fota…/4107/details

Adult , child and family entry options available.

Some great race merchandise such as t shirts, buffs and medals available for purchase during registration also.

We are delighted that the race has been chosen by Jarlath Regan and Sonia O’Sullivan as the next event for their ‘Irishman Running Abroad’ Strava group.

Jarlath and Sonia host a very entertaining weekly podcast during which they discuss all things running – from motivation to nutrition to injury and everything in between! They are both signed up and ready to go for next week’s event!

For more race info please visit the Eagle AC website here….https://eagleac.net/…/eagle-ac-virtual-fota-cheetah…/

(Photos thanks to Darragh Kane)

Eagle AC Member Profile:

Name: Joe Murphy

Member of Eagle AC since: January 1983

How long have you been running and what made you take it up: Cork Road Championships were on in Blarney on December 26th 1982. I was not joined a club so they would not give me a number. I met Fred Gilbert – it was my lucky day! He gave me a number from Eagle so that I could run!

Favourite thing about running: My favourite thing about running is racing which I miss at the moment

Can you remember the first Eagle AC member(s) you ran with:   I ran with Michael Doherty, Declan Gilbert and Martin Crowley.

Favourite Cork race and why:  It has to be Ballycotton!

Ultimate/Overall running goal:  My goal is to try and get back to running better times.

Tell us something most people might not know about you:  I was a scratch pitch and putt player.

Biggest heroes (sporting or non-sporting): Sonia O Sullivan or Padraig Harrington

One bit of advice you would give to someone thinking of taking up running: Join a club – you will get great support like I did!

IF you could go on a run with one elite athlete (at your pace!) who would it be and what would you ask them:

Mo Farrah – I would ask if he wants any advice about his marathon running! Ha ha!

Eagle AC are delighted to announce the launch of the ‘Virtual Fota Cheetah Run’ 2021 !

The race will take place from the 7th – 13th June.

As you may know, in May of each year, Eagle AC usually organizes the Cheetah Run in Fota Wildlife Park ,Cork. Since its inception, it has been one of the most popular races in the Cork area and is a sell out every year. Covering a distance of 5km, this is the only race of its kind in Europe, with participants running on the paths through the park. There are normally plenty of furry spectators also – everything from ostriches to wallabies to of course, the cheetahs!

Every year the funds raised from the Cheetah Run are used to support the park’s core objectives of research and conservation.

Unfortunately it is not possible to hold the race in 2021 due to Covid restrictions. So we have decided to go virtual instead! We are hoping that our 2021 race will help raise some much needed funds for Fota Wildlife Park.

The park is a charitable status organisation which is completely self-financing. It relies entirely on gate receipts and membership fees for its income. Of course, Covid 19 meant that the park had to close to the public for much of both 2020 and 2021. Even when they were allowed to open, visitor numbers were restricted. Obviously, this had a huge impact on finances. The operational running costs alone at Fota are approximately €380,000 a month. During the closures, feeding and veterinary care for the 135 species of animals had to continue – the animals in the park received the same excellent level of care as always, regardless of whether the park was open or closed.

The money raised from entries to the Virtual Fota Cheetah Run will go directly to the park.

For this year’s event, we have partnered with MyRunResults. There are a number of different race options available – something for everyone we hope! There is..

– A 5k adult race

– A 1 mile race for juveniles (U16)

– A family entry option ( 2 adults and 2 children)

As well as race entry there is also the option to purchase a variety of bespoke race merchandise – medals, t shirts and running buffs, the choice is yours! An optional, additional donation to Fota can also be made during the registration process.

All entry details and information re the race can be found at …..https://www.myrunresults.com/…/fota…/4107/details

Hopefully we will be back running the trails around Fota in May 2022, but for this year, we hope that you all enjoy our virtual edition! And that we manage to raise some much needed funds for Fota together in the process!