Vhi Mini Marathon: Aimee Connolly on regret, community and why she laces up
On a Sunday when the streets fill with cheers and loved ones line the route, Aimee Connolly says the vhi mini marathon captures something larger than a race: a yearly lift of spirit and solidarity. Connolly, a 32-year-old beauty entrepreneur, founder of Sculpted by Aimee and Vhi ambassador, calls the event one of her highlights and a rare space where “up to 30, 000 females really [root] for each other. ” The 44th running is set for Sunday, May 31, 2026.
What makes the Vhi Mini Marathon special?
The Vhi Mini Marathon is presented as the world’s biggest all-female event of its type, and its draw rests less on elite performance than on participation. “It’s not about pace – it’s about participation, community and proving to yourself that you can do challenging things, ” said Aimee Connolly, who called the event uplifting and inclusive. She pointed to scenes many recognise: sidelines crowded with family and friends and a mixture of runners, joggers and walkers meeting personal goals.
David O’Leary, General Manager of the Women’s Mini Marathon, says recent interest follows two unprecedented sell-outs and a broader running boom that has turned the event into a cultural moment for women coming together to challenge themselves and support one another.
What does Vhi research say about women’s wellbeing?
Vhi conducted research with 500 female runners to explore the benefits and barriers women face when walking or running. The findings show clear wellbeing effects: 74% reported that walking or running enhances their overall physical wellbeing, while 73% said it lifts their spirits and 68% highlighted mental health advantages as a primary motivation. More than half, 53%, said it aids stress management.
The research also recorded common obstacles: 74% said they have been stopped from exercising due to symptoms, and 89% feel those symptoms affect their confidence when exercising. Among women who have experienced childbirth, 80% said running or walking aided their recovery. A separate Vhi survey of 500 female runners found that 82% believe joining a community running group helps them achieve their goals—an echo of the event’s community focus.
How are organisers and ambassadors preparing participants?
Registration is open for the event on May 31, and organisers have announced a series of supports aimed at making the distance accessible. Vhi members can claim a refund on their entry fee the Vhi App, and participants will have access to training plans, healthy recipes, and expert tips from Vhi health professionals. New for 2026, Nathalie Lennon, health and fitness coach and Vhi ambassador, will host the Vhi Run Series, a three-part programme with 3km, 5km and 8km events designed to help women build distance gradually in community settings.
At the official launch, Ray McAdam, Lord Mayor of Dublin, stood with Brian Walsh, Vhi CEO, and the ambassador group — which includes Nathalie Lennon, Katja Mia, broadcaster and Vhi ambassador, Aimee Connolly, and Clóda Scanlon, content creator and Vhi ambassador — as registration opened for the 44th annual event. Their presence underlined the combination of civic, corporate and grassroots energy behind the day.
Back on the route, Connolly’s frankness about her own past—”I was one of those people that played a lot of sport in school and then gave up”—lands as both regret and a motivator. She speaks for many who find in the Mini Marathon a second chance: a structured goal, an encouraging community and a visible example for younger generations. For those who line up next May 31, the vhi mini marathon will be more than a 10km; it will be a measured step toward the shared, practical hope that being active can be welcoming, restorative and, as the event’s theme puts it, Because You Can.
