10,000 Galway Irish Spring Water Bottles sitting on a (Connemara) wall:

Galway Irish Spring Water becomes the official water of the Connemara International Marathon
23 March 2004

The Connemara International Marathon has strengthened its links with local companies and negotiated a three-year water sponsorship deal with Galway Irish Spring Water. The Galway-based water company owned by Clada Soft Drinks will support the half, full and ultra marathons this weekend by providing 10,000 bottles of water for the 1,500 Connemarathoners participating in the half-, full and ultra marathon to take place on 27th and 28th of March 2004.
Clada Soft Drinks has launched a special 250ml-sized bottle for the Connemarathon. The bottle is compact and lightweight with a special sports click-up top that has been designed to allow sportspeople to grab, run and drink from the bottle easily without spilling the water or having to stop their run to consume water.

Race director of the Connemarathon has said “It is great that Galway Irish Spring Water has come on board as our water sponsor, not only because they are a local company but also because of the high calcium content of their water” Recent studies conducted by Galway Irish Spring Water have shown that the water contains a very high level of a calcium - 240mg per litre which is more than standard drinking water. As it’s fortified with calcium it is a particularly beneficial drink for runners and walkers who are often deficient in calcium. Calcium is a very important mineral for bone health and osteoporosis is a concern for both male and female as bones lose calcium when they age. An overuse injury such as a shinsplint can turn into a stress fracture, especially if you’re not consuming enough calcium. Yet there is a tendency among runners to cut out high fat foods such as cheese that contain calcium because if you carry too much weight as a runner you are at a disadvantage when compared with lighter athletes. . Many sportspeople can now benefit from drinking Galway Irish Spring Water and get their daily requirement of calcium in a convenient way and without having to consume high-fat or dairy products if they have a lactose intolerance.

Joseph Owens, managing director of Galway Irish Spring Water has said “We are very pleased to be the official water sponsor for the Connemara Marathon, an event that is helping to promote Galway and Connemara internationally and will benefit other businesses here in Galway through the thousands of people arriving for race weekend.”