‘It’s the community spirit that makes it’

Síofra Grant

Some 2,500 determined souls turned out for the annual Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge in aid of the Irish Cancer Society on Saturday June 6.

Geraldine Langtry, Tommy Archbold and Joanne Tyrrell were among the number. A keen runner, Geraldine has completed four marathons, so she and Joanne, both members of Mullingar Harriers Club decided to take on the challenge.

“It was fantastic,” Geraldine said last week, a few days after the event. “It was a really well run event, and the community spirit and the amount of people out with food and all that was very impressive.

“We were very, very happy, I walked it with a friend, Joanna, and her sister did half of it with us.

“We were really surprised, every mile there was somebody outside trying to give you food, sandwiches, bananas, water – everything.

Ger walked the 50 miles in 14 hours. “It was tough, very tough,” she said. “And the weather, while it was wet and drizzly, wasn’t a thunderstorm. We were damp all day but we were lucky in that regard.”

They had a lot of support along the way, from people handing out food and drinks to friends who kept them company for parts of the journey.

“A friend of ours from the running club came to meet us around mile 34, then a couple more friends, and that was a massive boost, it really helped us get through the hard miles.

“After mile 34 we had five or six people with us for about 10k. Then my daughter came along at mile 40 and she walked the last 10 miles with us.”

Naturally, after 14 hours of walking, anyone would be exhausted and Geraldine was no exception. “I was wrecked after it but delighted that I did it.”

Ger emphasised the wonder she felt at the vibe on the day. “I’m very impressed by the community, and people are out there for hours.

“When you get beyond the halfway mark, you’ll lose maybe half the people because they’ve only planned on doing the first half, which is fine of course.

“And these people are sitting on the side of the road waiting for you to come along to give you food and there could be 10 to 20 minutes between me and the next person behind me.

“You really want to stop everywhere but in the end I just couldn’t stop.

“There was a lovely burger at mile 42 and I said there was not a chance I’d be sitting down, if I sit down I won’t get up again.

“So I grabbed my burger and walked with it and tried to keep moving, particularly for the last 10 miles. I just didn’t want to stop because if I stopped I just won’t go again.”

Geraldine is delighted by the sense of achievement the challenge has brought her. “We’d never doubted we’d finish it but we probably, myself and my friend, probably didn’t think we’d get it done in 14 hours.”

“Joanne and I have raised nearly three grand for charity so we’re delighted about that.”

She’s not ready to confirm whether she’ll be returning next year – however she’s already been back out exercising since.

“Would I do it again? I mean I can’t say yes right now. I would definitely go and support other people to do it, like on mile 35 I would go out and walk 20k to bring others home.

“I’ve never said never, I’ve done four marathons and every time I said never again and, like that too, I went back again. I think I’d like to do it again but maybe not next year.”

Mullingar man Tommy Archbald met Geraldine and Joanne at the start for a photo, and then completed the 50 miles at his own pace. It’s his fifth year in a row doing the challenge.

“It’s still as good as ever,” he said. “I mean the area and the community are getting better every year. And the amount of work that goes into it… with the ambulances and the food, water stops, marshals on the road, the markings on the road – if there’s a sign on the side of the road telling us to turn left, for instance, they also have it painted on the road.”

Like Geraldine, Tommy was blown away by the community support along the route. There is also support for those who are unable to continue on the trek. “They have cars ready to go and they’ll pick you up and drop you back to your car.

“Even when we got back to the field that night, they told me down in the car park, ‘if you’re not able to drive to Mullingar, we’ll drive you’.”

The great sense of community is clearly what has Tommy taking on the mammoth feat for five years.

“People couldn’t do enough for you. People are walking, asking if you’re alright, and people are standing out on the side of the road.

Tommy confirmed he’d be continuing his streak and returning next year for the sixth time.

“It’s unbelievable I’ve never seen anything like it and it’s something you go back and go back and go back to.”