Kyle's impressive ultramarathon run earns podium finish

Mullingar’s Kyle Smyth delivered an extraordinary performance to claim third place in the prestigious “Belfast 2 Dublin” ultramarathon – a punishing 170km test of endurance from the Europa Hotel in Belfast to St James’s Gate in Dublin.

The combination of distance, deteriorating weather, and the unrelenting nature of overnight running marked this as a personal and sporting milestone for Kyle, a keen runner. The 2025 edition, held on April 19, was won by Ireland’s Mark Walker, with England’s Joanna (Joasia) Zakrzewski taking second place. In a field made up of seasoned ultrarunners and hardened distance athletes, to finish on the podium is a remarkable achievement.

A well-known face at CP Smyths Hardware on Dominick Street, Kyle completed the distance in just over 20 hours, running through the night and braving unrelenting rain and grim conditions that battered the country across the weekend. His resilience and pacing over such an extreme distance placed him firmly among the elite finishers in one of Ireland’s most physically and mentally demanding events.

The ultramarathon – which covers 107 miles along the old Belfast-to-Dublin bus route – is held annually, alternating direction each year. It challenges solo runners to complete the course within a strict 30-hour cut-off. Athletes can either bring their own support crew or avail of assistance from the event organisers, Atlas Running.

Compulsory equipment for the mammoth event includes a mobile phone with power bank; a waterproof jacket; a foil blanket; a head torch; emergency food (for example Mars bars); a route map; a hi-viz vest (must be worn at all times); a tracker (which must be turned on always and attached to your backpack).