Conceived two years ago, and taking 18 months of planning and 12 months of training for the two men to run the equivalent of five and a half days non-stop from Mullingar to Berlin, yet last Monday (August 2 ) Gerry Duffy and Ken Whitelaw finally crossed the finish line in Mullingar Town Park to complete the barely imaginable feat of running 32 marathons in 32 counties in 32 consecutive days.
“I’m holding back tears for probably the fourth time today,” said an emotional Ken Whitelaw, after being told their efforts had raised an extraordinary €490,000 for Autism Ireland, a figure which has since crossed the half million mark (The fund is still open and can grow by texting your name, the word marathon, and your county to 57802 when €2 will be automatically added ).
Earlier in his post race interview, in front of the huge crowd that came to cheer on the two runners as they completed their feat in their home town, Mr Whitelaw spoke of the boost he got from running the final leg of their marathon marathon in his home town, and passing his family home as his father and grandmother sat outside and cheered him on.
“The reception we got up those last 100 metres was just incredible,” said Gerry Duffy, as he embraced his “great, great friend” and running partner.
The ultra pair were accompanied by 140 local runners in their valedictory run, including the Rose of Tralee, Charmaine Kenny and yer man from that airline. The course took them from Belvedere gardens to the town park, with a second lap for the 40 or so who were doing the full 26 miles 385 yards.
In fact, this last marathon was actually 26 miles and 585 yards, as there had been some doubt about the exact measured distance on the home town leg. So, to be absolutely sure the full distance was covered, and as the MC played the entirely appropriate Thin Lizzy track - “The Boys are Back in Town” - the principal pack had to do another lap of the park to be absolutely sure.
Shortly after leaving the scene of achievement last Monday, this reporter was asked by an elderly lady what the fuss was in the park.
“How far?” she asked incredulously, after being told of the recently completed exploits of Messrs Whitelaw and Duffy.
“Jayzus, they’ll have to be puttin’ a statue a’ them two up now.”
I doubt there’s enough steel left.
