Search Results for 'Ultramarathon'

Newcastle native and experienced mountain marathoner, Cathal McGrath, took on the Matterhorn Mountain in the Swiss Alps on Saturday, August 26, in aid of Galway based heart and stroke charity, Croí.

A rest is most definitely merited for Athlone native, Lorcan Fagan, following his TransGranCanaria exploits on the second most populous of the Canary Islands over the weekend.

The Connemara 100-mile road race, takes place this Saturday 11th August in the wilds of Connemara. Thirty hardy souls will brave the tough conditions and undulating roads of Connemara to achieve what for those taking part, is a wild ambition and long-term dream to achieve one of the golden chalices of ultra marathon running – completing a 100-mile road race.

Ultramarathon runner Richard Donovan is urging people from across Ireland to register for the 2013 Calcutta Run. The annual Calcutta Run will take place in Dublin this year on Saturday May 25, and the proceeds will be donated to homeless people in Dublin and Calcutta.

Local businessman Frank Byrnes is taking on his biggest challenge by running the Connemara Ultra Marathon which takes place this weekend.

Another exciting chapter in the athletics life of Mayo AC's John Byrne was written on Saturday. The story began at 10am deep within Donadea Forest Park in Kildare. Sixty-five brave souls gathered for the Donadea 50k, excellently organised by Donadea Running Club. The race doubled as the Irish 50k Championships.

A new sporting festival on the water and land takes place in Salthill this weekend.

What a weekend just gone it was for John Byrne of Mayo AC, last Sunday will be a date the Straide man will never forget. Byrne joined the five man Irish team in Perth, Scotland, for the Anglo Celtic Plate 100k ultra race. This annual event is not only a very competitive race between the home nations but also incorporates the Irish 100k championships. The team manager was well known adventurer and experienced ultra athlete Richard Donovan from Galway. Two experienced runners, Thomas Maguire - the current Irish record holder (7 hours 4 minutes) - and John O'Regan, were joined by Keith Whyte (Ennis Track Club) and Daniel Doherty (Basingstoke and Hants AC), both attempting their first 100k. John Byrne came to the race having entered the ultra distance zone in 2010 with a 50k race in Galway in August and an excellent 60th place in the World Championships in Gibraltar in November. Between these two he completed yet another Dublin marathon. One hundred kilometres is the equivalent of running two marathons back to back and finishing with a 10 mile run.

People often shake their heads when they hear you are about to run a marathon. Mayo AC's John Byrne is well used to dedicated preparation. He has been their most successful athlete over many years now at a range of distances from 5k upwards. He has completed 24 marathons and a 50k. Over the past year John has moved on to new goals. Given the number of training miles he runs it seemed a natural step-up that he would progress 'beyond the marathon', or that zone defined as ultra distance running. The 100k is the equivalent of running two marathons plus ten miles - 62.5 miles in total. Start out in Ballaghaderreen, run along the N5 to Bohola, take a diversion down to John's homeplace in Straide, then back onto N5 at Ballyvary, through Castlebar and Westport, then on to the R335 until you hit Louisburgh - you will still have 3k to run to complete 100k!

Mountains reflected perfectly onto lakes as smooth as glass, flocks of sheep running through the finish line and Ultra Marathon course records broken by an English man were the talk of the day at the RonHill Connemara Marathon on Sunday. There were as many stories as there were runners when the 3,200 participants gathered in Peacockes Hotel in Maam Cross for the after run refreshments - many of whom dined alfresco to soak up the 19 degrees of glorious sunshine.