High five for marathon man Liam

There are plenty of local runners looking forward to a well earned break after Sunday’s Dublin City Marathon, but Liam Glynn from Emper will deserve his rest a little more than most.

Sunday’s race will be Liam’s fifth 26-miler this year, a challenge that he undertook to raise funds and awareness for Mental Health Ireland.

Liam started running four years ago with one of Maurice Looby’s groups.

After cutting his teeth (and ankles) with 5ks and 10ks, he graduated to half marathons before running his first marathon in Dublin in 2016 and again last year.

At the start of this year he set himself the challenge of completing five marathons.

He started in April with the Rome Marathon and followed it up two weeks later with one in Connemara.

In July he ran the Wild Atlantic Way Marathon in Donegal and on October 6 ran his penultimate race in Galway – which he completed in a personal best time of three hours and 44 minutes.

“Dublin is the fifth and final one, thank God,” said Liam this week.

“It’s been a challenge but I’ve really enjoyed it.

“For a lad who only started running four years ago and doing 5ks, it was a big ask, but going into Dublin I’m fit and well,” Liam told the Westmeath Examiner.

Liam, who is also hosting a table quiz this Friday, October 26, in Clarke’s Bar in Mullingar, hopes to raise in the region of €3,000 for Mental Health Ireland.

Promoting positive mental health is something that Liam feels is very important.

Like many people, he says that he has had his own “little ups and downs” and wants to get the message out that there is help out there for people.

“If anyone is feeling any way down, just talk to people and get it off your chest.

“There are people out there to help.”

On his third pair of runners this year, Liam says he is looking forward to taking it a bit easier after next Sunday’s marathon.

 

Mental health benefits

He won’t be hanging up running gear for the winter though. Like many runners, he feels that the mental benefits are as great as the physical ones.

“If you have a bad day at work or something is on your mind, even two or three miles clears your head and sets you right.

“I find it very good for getting rid of stress.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s run, he’s hoping for another personal best but says that the most important thing is getting out and taking part.

“I do enjoy it. It’s a great way of meeting people.

“If you are having a lull in the race, you can chat to other runners and have a bit of craic and motivate each other.

“I wouldn’t have been a sporty person growing up, I wouldn’t have played GAA and I started running quite late.

“If you look at Gary O’Hanlon [the national marathon champion], he’s in his mid-40s – so hopefully there is a lot more to come.”

Friday’s table quiz in Clarke’s starts at 9pm, entry fee €10 per person and tables of our.

A number of local businesses including the Annebrook House Hotel, Bloomfield House Hotel, The Wineport Lodge and Whelehans Pharmacy have donated prizes, so there will be plenty of chances of ending up a winner on the night.

Liam would like to thank a number of businesses who supported him during his five marathon challenge, including KC Sports, Peter Hanley Motors and EJ Menswear.