The Challenge...32 Marathons, 32 Counties, 32 Days
Gerry and Ken's Blog...

Some photos, comments and updates from each day's marathon are up on our Facebook page! Check it out here...

Marathon 2 - Dublin

I don't think the Ashling Hotel has ever seen the carry-on of what greeted them at 9am last Saturday. Enter one Michael O’Leary. He had promised us some fun and boy did he deliver. Ever the master PR man he arrived in an outfit straight out of a hospital ward, arriving with a large bandage over his head, a white t-shirt with the words "OLD FART" emblazoned across his chest, all held up with two red braces and large pair of bloomer type trousers. Check out the photos on Facebook.

We had to delay the start by twenty minutes as a sizeable number of photographers were engaged in taking some brilliantly funny shots of Mick carrying Eamonn Coghlan to the start line. It was hilarious and certainly kept the large crowd who had turned up, entertained.

Michael would later however finish the half marathon in two hours, a very impressive time given his choice of clothing. He also promised to appear on the last day should we be successful and make it that far. Mick, Eamonn and Ronnie Whelan a big thank you for turning up to support our cause. A big thank you also to the 65 runners/joggers/walkers who turned up and ran either 13.1 or 26.2 miles with us. The atmosphere was electric. Funny thing happened - around mid-day we got a call from Dublin Zoo asking us to lower the music a little as it was upsetting the giraffes!!

Marathon no.2 for Ken and I was OK. It was hot but manageable. Six loops of a 4.36 mile lovely circuit around the Phoenix Park. Lap five for me was the hardest; Ken thought the final one a greater challenge. Again a little discomfort but nothing to scare us. A 45 minute physio back at the hotel sorted out any little aches we had.

Roll on Wicklow on July 04th!

< Back to main Blog page >