The 26^th Annual Dublin Marathon will take place on Monday, October 31^st, 2005, in Dublin, Ireland. This is a full marathon only and welcomes runners and walkers alike. This year marks its fourth year as the Adidas Dublin Marathon. Known as the “friendly marathon”, athletes will be greeted by thousands of spectators, including locals. Some locals have even invited Joints in Motion athletes into their homes for tea.

Preceding the marathon is the International Breakfast Run and t-shirt Exchange, a non-competitive, 3-K run, which takes place on the Sunday prior to the marathon (October 30). This event is open to all international athletes. Visitors have the opportunity to meet other international athletes, exchange t-shirts and partake in a complimentary breakfast with the traditional Irish feel. Each athlete should bring a t-shirt for the t-shirt Exchange. Marathon registration automatically guarantees entry into the International Breakfast Run and t-shirt Exchange.

Start Time: 9:00 a.m.

Start/Finish Location: The start will be on Nassau Street; the finish in Merrion Square.

Course Description and Support: The course is mostly flat and is a single lap that runs through the historic Georgian streets of Dublin.

There will be approximately 8 water stations along the course stocked with bottled water. The finish area will have a medical area; bag check-in/pick-up area and refreshments including coffee, tea, water and candy bars.

Expo: The Marathon expo will be held on Saturday, October 29^th and Sunday, October 30^th at The Shelbourne Hall, RDS Ballsbridge.

Timing:Timing will be done manually.

The Adidas Dublin Marathon’s official time limit is 8 hours.

Awards and Results: Every finisher will receive a beautiful medal and a special commemorative T-shirt.

Wicklow Mounatains Hike

The Wicklow Mountains Hike will take place on Monday, October 31, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. in the Wicklow, Ireland. Footfalls Walking Tours will take JIM hikers on a 12-mile and a 7.5-mile hike.

Challenger Hike

Distance: 12 Miles (19 KM)

Total Ascent: Approximately 2460 ft (820 meters)

Terrain: Forest roads, old railway-ties, heather (low-growing shrub), some marshy ground and sheep trails – some up and down hill climbing.

The walk starts and finishes at the Brockagh Resource Center, which is situated just outside the village of Laragh, in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains. After leaving the center the walk joins the Wicklow Way Trail, Ireland's oldest way-marked trail. The trail starts in Dublin and cuts straight through the Wicklow Mountains, finishing in Clonegal on the border between Wicklow and Carlow. The trail is 82 miles long. The walk follows the Wicklow Way into Glendalough and through the old ruins of the 6^th century Monastic City. Take a few minutes here to listen to a bit of the history and take some photos. From there hikers will walk through the valley of Glendalough and admire its spectacular lakes. Still following the Wicklow Way hikers go left into Lugduff Forest and gradually wind their way onto an area known as the Spinc. From Spinc hikers will enjoy the magnificent aerial views over Glendalough and surrounding areas. The walk continues to climb ever so steadily until eventually coming to the high point of the day, which is Mullacor Mountain, standing at 657 Meters (1971ft). At this point hikers will once again have magnificent views over the complete valley of Glendalough and Glenmalure, which is Ireland's longest glaciated valley. The descent route down off Mullacor and back to the Center is via the Derrybawn Ridge, back down into the Glendalough Valley and back to Laragh.

Trailblazer Hike

Distance: 7.5 Miles (12.5 KM)

Total Ascent: Approximately 1290 ft (430 meters)

Terrain: Country and forest roads, heather (low-growing shrub) and old trails – some up and down hill climbing.

This walk also starts and finishes at the Brockagh Resource Center. Hikers will go down into Laragh Village and along one of the country roads, before starting a steady climb through Ballard Forest and coming out on the side of Trooperstown Mountain. From here hikers will follow an old trail that will lead to the summit of Trooperstown at 1290 feet (430 meters). Trooperstown Mountain is the most central mountain in the county and if the weather conditions are good, it is possible to see all the peaks in the mountain range and as far away as Snowdonia National Park in Wales. The descent route off Trooperstown takes hikers into Trooperstown Forest, over the Avonmore River and into the valley of Glenmacnass. Here hikers will join the Wicklow Way Trail that will lead back to the Resource Center.

JIM Hotel: We will utilize a hotel in the Dublin City Centre area.

Travel Dates (Five nights hotel accommodations): Arrive Thursday, October 27^th and depart Tuesday, November 1, OR arrive Friday, October 28^th  and depart on Wednesday, November 2.

Dublin Itself: Dublin is a unique city, steeped in history and buzzing with youthful energy. Dublin serves as Irelands political, economic and cultural nerve center. The people are friendly and the attractions are varied and manifold to include:

• Temple Bar – a network of small streets full of studios, galleries, secondhand shops, restaurants and pub.
• Dublin Castle – an 18^th century palace with a few remnants of Norman settlement, once the center of English rule in Ireland for seven centuries.
• Trinity College – the library of which contains the ‘Book of Kells’, one of the world’s most beautifully illuminated manuscripts. The bell tower houses the great bell of the college.
• O’Connell Street – the city’s main thoroughfare and one of the widest streets in the world. It crosses the River Liffey at O’Connell Bridge. A statue of Daniel O’Connell, the 19^th Century Irish statesman, stands in the center of the street. (Our host hotel, The Gresham Hotel, is located on O’Connell Street).
• Dublin’s golf courses are famous for their quality and scenic surroundings.

Time Zone: Dublin uses the GMT. In winter Dublin is 5 hours ahead of EST.

Currency:The Euro (EUR) is the currency used throughout Ireland, including Dublin.

MasterCard/Access and Visa are the most commonly accepted credit cards, followed by American Express and Diners’ Club. Small guesthouses and bed-and- breakfast places prefer payment in cash.

Many banks have 24-hour ATM machines. There are also several bureau de change, which open later than banks but charge higher commissions. Travelers’ checks are accepted at all banks, money change kiosks and many hotels.

Weather: The average daily temperature in Dublin in October is 53 - 57°F. Winters are mostly cloudy and damp. To sum it up, the weather is unpredictable – pack an umbrella, raincoat and sweaters.

Business Hours: Most shops open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday. City-centre shops stay open until 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays. Most banks open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, with late opening on Thursdays, until 5:00 p.m. The General Post Office, O’Connell Street, is open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Language: Everyone speaks English but some are known to speak Gaelic.

Travel Documents: Everyone visiting Dublin, except British citizens require a passport. Citizens of European Union countries, Australia, Canada or the United States do not require visas to travel to Dublin.