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

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Marathon 15 - Offaly

As I (GD) leave the foyer of Dooly's Hotel in Birr, Van Morrison is warming the air reminding us that "There'll be days like this". How apt the lyrics are because for Ken it is a case of déjà vu. Once again our friend had has to fight the injury demons and yet again he does it with a fortitude that is hard to credit.

Early morning the entire square in the centre of this beautiful midlands town The 32 Marathon Challenge has been taken to the local's hearts. A huge crowd greets us all motivated to be there for sporting & autism reasons and because Wille Burns told them to be there!! Willie is a great friend of my family and when he pitched up his support to our challenge 8 months ago his only request was that we would have it in his home town.

"I'll have the place rockin" he promised us and boy did he do just that.

We have looked forward to this day hugely as two of our crew, Niall Murphy and Freddie Grehan, are both from here and the glint in both of them over breakfast, boasts proud Offaly roots. A turnout of 79, yes 79, runners/joggers and walkers truly astounded both Ken and I. We had to call in additional assistance at registration to ensure we started on time.

Highlights of today include a massive "relay" presence from Rhode Minor GAA who turned up in huge numbers. Also there were Martin Kelly, one of only 8 people to have completed all 30 Dublin City Marathons, and Dave Kavanagh a former Offaly and Kildare GAA star who ran the second half of the race with "yours truly". At the start we had Michael Duignan and Brian Whelan - two former Offaly hurling giants, Charlie Swan came back yet again to cheer us on and we had the amazing Pauline Curley who represented Ireland in the Marathon in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Three final mentions; One to our own crew member Niall who ran a 3 hours 32 minutes marathon (and not only that but once he showered and got something to eat, he went back out on to the course and walked with Ken for the last 10 miles), Mick Devanney from Mullingar who ran 26.2 miles "in full army gear" and last word to Willie Burns - Willie walked the half marathon and we proudly presented him with his medal. On seeing Ken's plight he then did an about turn and went out and did it all over again to keep Ken company. A great friend to all of our team.

Galway Bay is in or sights as the half-way mark edges ever closer.

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