The GOAL Mile enters its 35th year in 2016 and over a quarter of a million people have taken to the streets, GAA fields and athletics tracks of Ireland in support of the charity since the Mile's inception in 1982.
For some, it's an annual tradition. For others, it will be a new and exciting feature of Christmas Day to go along with the presents, the turkey and falling asleep in front of the fire. The 2016 GOAL Mile will see people of all ages walk, run, wheel, skip and bounce one mile in aid of GOAL and the charity's projects in 50 different countries around the world.
To highlight just a few of its projects, the charity supports mothers and newborn babies in refugee camps in Ethopia, provides aid in assisting the elderly affected by the conflict in Ukraine and sets up disaster-reduction programmes that have helped over 73,000 people in Honduras.
Its annual Christmas Day Mile provides the chance to run up a bit of an appetite for the Christmas dinner while sharing in a feeling of community and goodwill around this special time of the year.
The GOAL Mile has been run not just in Ireland, but all around the world - from the sunny beaches of Melbourne to the Golan Heights in Syria, where Irish overseas troops took part.
In August 1985, the legendary Belfield track played host to a 'race' that has long since entered Irish running lore: the 'GOAL' Mile Relay featuring Eamonn Coghlan, Marcus O'Sullivan, Frank O'Mara and Ray Flynn, who set the world record in the 4 x 1 mile relay in a time of 15:49:08 - a record which still stands.
And while most of us can only dream of being able to mile like these men could in their heyday, a mile is perhaps the perfect distance for a Christmas Day run. Short enough to be accomplished by all abilities, long enough to allow the hardcores to work up a good sweat, it is over in a flash, allowing the eating and drinking to begin/re-commence as soon as possible.
All around the country, from the seaside village of Downings in County Donegal down to Irishtown Stadium in Dublin and on to Cork IT, there will be people of all ages pulling on their running shoes (perhaps blowing the cobwebs off them in the process) and getting high off those sweet endorphins in aid of a great cause.
Why not be part of it?
Here are all the venues and times for the 2016 GOAL Miles across the country, held on Christmas Day (with a couple of exceptions):
Full list of 2016 GOAL Miles
Antrim: St Colmgalls Primary School, CHRISTMAS DAY, 9:45am-10:30am
Antrim: Cherryvale Playing Fields, Ravenhill Road, Belfast, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10AM-11AM
Carlow: Palatine GFC, STEPHENS DAY, 11AM
Carlow: St Laurence O'Toole Athletic Club, Askea (beside Askea Church), CHRISTMAS DAY, 11AM
Cavan: Shercock Athletic track, 19/12/2016, 7pm
Cavan: Fay GAA Park, Ballyjamesduff, STEPHENS DAY, 13.30-15.30
Clare: The Fairgreen, Ennis (St Joseph's Hospital side entrance), CHRISTMAS DAY, 11AM-1PM
Cork: Cork IT, Oldtown, Bishopstown, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30AM-12:30PM
Cork: Doneraile Park, Doneraile, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-Midday
Cork: St Catherine's GAA, Ballynoe, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30am-Midday
Cork: Dunmanyway, Christmas Day, TBC
Derry: Derry, Sainsburys Car Park, STEPHENS DAY, Midday
Donegal: Mountcharles Pier, Shoreline, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday-2pm
Donegal: Narin Beach, Donegal, STEPHENS DAY, 12pm
Donegal: Downings GAA Grounds, STEPHENS DAY, Midday
Down: Burren GAA Grounds, Warrenpoint, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-1pm
Dublin: Tallaght Athletic Club, Greenhills Road, CHRISTMAS DAY, 9.30am-Midday
Dublin: St Anne's Park, Raheny (St Paul's entrance), CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am
Dublin: Shanganagh Park, Shankill, CHRISTMAS DAY, 9:30am
Dublin: Kilbogget Park, Killiney/Ballybrack, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-Midday
Dublin: Irishtown Stadium, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-Midday
Dublin: Eamonn Ceannt Park, Sundrive Road, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30AM-Midday
Dublin: Porterstown Park, STEPHENS DAY, 11am-1pm
Dublin: Morton Stadium, Santry, CHRISTMAS EVE, 10:30am-Midday
Dublin: Malahide Castle, Back Road, Car Park, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am
Dublin: Popes Cross, Phoenix Park, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30am-Midday
Dublin: Corkagh Park Car Park, Clondalkin (meet at main car park), STEPHENS DAY, Midday
Dublin: Lucan Harriers AC, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-Midday
Dublin: Skerries Rugby Club, NEW YEARS DAY, 12:30pm-2pm
Dublin: Wildgeese GAA Club, Oldtown, STEPHENS DAY, Midday
Dublin: Terenure College, STEPHENS DAY, 11am-12:30pm
Dublin: Suttonians RFC, Sutton, 17th December, 10am-Midday
Dublin: Round Tower GAA Club, STEPHENS DAY, 10.30am
Galway: The Dangan Running Track, NUIG Campus, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10AM-1PM
Galway: St Jarleth's College, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-12:30pm
Galway: Athenry, 14th Jan 2017, 11am
Galway: Texaco Garage, An Spideal, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday
Kerry: Faungorth Activity Centre, Kenmare, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10AM-Midday
Kerry: CastleIsland Athletic Track, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30am-12:30pm
Kerry: The Dragon's Den, Intermediate School, Killorglin, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10:30AM-12:30PM
Kerry: Deenagh Lodge, Killarney, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-12:30pm
Kerry: South Kerry Sports Centre, Cahersiveen, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-11am
Kildare: Naas GAA Club, Sallins Road, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-Midday
Kildare: Manzors Car Park, Clane, STEPHENS DAY, 10am-1pm
Kildare: St. Conleth's Community College, Station Road, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-1pm
Kildare: Carton House Golf Courtyard, Maynooth, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday
Kildare: Kingslane, Kilteel, STEPHENS DAY, 10:30am-Midday
Kildare: Le Cheile Athletic Club, Leixlip, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10-Midday
Kildare: Johnstown Bridge GAA Grounds, Enfield, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-12.30pm
Kildare: Tadgh Downey Park (Cappagh GAA and Camogie Clubs), CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday - 12:30pm
Kildare: Bishopland, Ballymore Eustace, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10.30 - 11.30
Kildare: St Catherine Park, Leixlip, STEPHENS DAY, 11am-Midday
Kilkenny: Market Street, Thomastown, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday
Laois: Oakvale Woods, Strand Valley (near Windy Gap), CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-Midday
Laois: Portarlington GAA Grounds, Canal Road, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-11:30am
Leitrim: Boornacoola GAA Ground, NEW YEARS DAY, 2PM
Limerick: Crecora GAA Pitch, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday
Limerick: University of Limerick Athletics Track, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11AM-1PM
Limerick: Ballybrown Community Resource Centre, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday
Limerick: Limerick Prison, CHRISTMAS DAY, TBC
Longford: Connolly Barracks, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday
Longford: Church Hall/Grounds, Strokestown, STEPHENS DAY, 2pm
Louth: St Feichins GAA Grounds, Beaulieu, Termonfeckin, STEPHENS DAY, 11am-Midday
Louth: Dunleer AC Track, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-Midday
Louth: Bush Athletic Track, Home of Glenmore AC, STEPHENS DAY, 11am-Midday
Louth: Dundalk DKIT, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am-11am
Mayo: Belleek Woods, Ballina, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11AM-12.30PM
Mayo: Lough Lannaghs Car Park, Castlebar, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11:30am
Meath: Athboy (outside Darnley Lodge Hotel), CHRISTMAS DAY, 10.15am
Meath: St Patricks GAA Grounds, Stamullen, STEPHENS DAY, 11am
Meath: Gael Colmcille GAA Grounds, Grangegodden, Athboy Road, Kells, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-Midday
Meath: Claremont Athletic Club Stadium, Navan, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10-11.30am
Meath: Kiltale GAA Club, Kiltale, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-Midday
Meath: Baconstown GAA Pitch, Enfield, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday-1pm
Monaghan: Beech Hill College, Monaghan Town, STEPHENS DAY, Midday
Monaghan: Carrick Aces Running Track, STEPHENS DAY, 11am
Monaghan: Latton GAA Club, STEPHENS DAY, 11am
Offaly: Tullamore Harriers Running Ground, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10am- Midday
Offaly: Emmet Square, Birr, CHRISTMAS DAY, 1pm-1:30pm
Offaly: Dunnes Stores Car Park, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am-1pm
Roscommon: Padraig Pearses GAA Club, Creagh, Ballinasloe, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11:30AM-1:30PM
Sligo: Athletics Track in Sligo IT, 27th December, Midday-1pm
Sligo: The Golf Club, Rosses Point, STEPHENS DAY, 3pm-3:30pm
Tipperary: Townhall Fethard (Tolsil), CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday
Tipperary: Moyglass Sports and Leisure Centre, CHRISTMAS DAY, 11am
Tipperary: Borrisokane AC, Christmas Morning, 10am
Tipperary: Tipperary Town Hills, Christmas Day, 11am - Midday
Tipperary: Ormonde Castle, Carrick-on- Suir (Carrick Runners GOAL Mile), CHRISTMAS DAY, 11AM
Waterford: The Square, Portlaw, STEPHENS DAY, 11am
Westmeath: Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Grounds, Christmas Day, 10:30am-12:30pm
Westmeath: Castledaly GAA Grounds, Westmeath, STEPHENS DAY, Midday-2pm
Westmeath: Multyfarnham, Local Park, CHRISTMAS DAY, Midday
Wexford: Duncannon Beach, NEW YEARS DAY, 12.30pm
Wexford: The Quay Front, Wexford Town, STEPHENS DAY, 11am
Wicklow: Blessington Community College, CHRISTMAS DAY, 12.15-1pm
Wicklow: Ashford GAA Grounds, centre of Ashford Village, CHRISTMAS DAY, 10AM-11AM
Wicklow: Murphy's Hotel Tinahely, Co Wicklow, NEW YEARS DAY, Midday
Wicklow: Askanagap (outside Aughrim), Stephens Day, 10am-Midday
For more information or to pick up a sponsorship card, please contact the local organiser, ring GOAL on 01-2809779, or visit the GOAL website.
