The singlemindedness of long distance runners

The Gerry Buckley Column -- It was only when this columnist went up to the counter for extra butter (as always) for a mid-morning scone in the middle of a chat with Gerry Duffy last week, that it twigged just how many sacrifices, not only in terms of diet, but also physical and mental preparation, that fellow-Mullingar men Gerry Duffy and his great friend Ken Whitelaw are making, in their build-up to their unique attempt to run a mind-boggling 32 marathons in Ireland's 32 counties in 32 consecutive days.The pair are using this remarkable challenge to raise funds for Irish Autism Action and the Irish Cancer Society. The challenge starts in Dublin on Friday 2 July and appropriately finishes in Mullingar on Bank Holiday Monday, 2 August 2010. Gerry is fulsome in his praise for the Mullingar marathon coordinator, Murt Hanley Jnr ("a super guy") and is "excited by the very scenic marathon route" in his native town, which will start and finish in the Town Park, under the watchful (and pretty!) eye of Charmaine Kenny. Indeed, the current Rose of Tralee, whose parents come from Mullingar is a niece of former star long-distance athlete, Louis Kenny and, in her own right, is running a half marathon in her home county of Kildare. Gerry is hoping for "a carnival atmosphere" when the challenge winds down in Mullingar, and he has "two or three very well-known Westmeath people" committed to varying degrees of exertion on 2 August, including Michael O'Leary who will undertake a half-marathon (assumedly without using his infamous taxi-plate or a Ryanair plane for the 13 miles!) Overall, the lads have over 100 locals signed up for the last leg, adding that "all that money stays locally".The sensational plan first hit Gerry in August 2008 and, "after a year tossing round the idea", it was all systems go from that moment on. "The magnitude hit me the very first day I thought of it. However, it probably scared me more then than now," Gerry states, "and we now have complete strangers in every single county organising benefit nights and the like." A crew of ten people will be travelling with Gerry and Ken for the 32 days. "It is very much a team effort and we'll certainly get to the start line, and after that it is a matter of putting one foot in front of the other." Gerry is grateful for the great media coverage of the event and, with high-profile names backing the event like Irish Autism patron, Keith Duffy (by now used to walking, if not running, on the famous cobbles of Coronation Street) and renowned broadcaster Ray D'Arcy (who is running a half-marathon), it is sure to generate enormous nationwide hype throughout the 32 days. The 1983 world 5,000 metres champion, Eamonn Coghlan is running the first five miles of the Dublin leg (ongoing ankle problems limiting him to such). "Eamonn was a hero to me growing up and having such an iconic athlete on board is fantastic," Gerry says.Naturally, enormous training has gone into Gerry and Ken's preparations. Gerry himself has been fortunate in that he has had "no injury worries", while "the few that Ken had in February and March have thankfully cleared up." Regular treatment by physios has been vital, given the arduous training undertaken over the past eight months. This comprised two phases - 50/55 miles a week from October 2009 to the early days of 2010, and a 23-week programme which finished on Sunday 13 June, which entailed running in excess of 100 miles a week. Gerry smiles as he recalls that "trying to work normal hours and put the whole event together and still train for it, meant quite a few days when there were no hours left," before adding that "the training has gone into the legs, but now it is a case of mind over matter and the hope that we stay injury-free."While confessing to be "no angel when it comes to food", Gerry sticks to what he terms the "90/10 principle" in relation to diet, as per the advice of a professional nutritionist. "About 90 per cent of the time I am very particular, cutting out the obvious things. They say I should be eating red meat, but I don't as it happens. I have had only two really bad days in the build-up, once during a 20-mile run and the other in a 32-mile-run. However, that is all part of the jigsaw. Ken and I train together every fortnight, mostly long running in Belvedere which is one of greatest training grounds in the country. The General Manager there, Bartle D'Arcy has been very kind to us. We are also grateful to a Mullingar-based company, Oakley and, in particular, John Russell, as well as electrical outfit Expert, for their kind sponsorship."Gerry and Ken are in touch by phone or e-mail "at least ten times a day" and a team of 12 volunteers have been "invaluable" to them. "There are about 100 people overall involved behind the scenes, all with specific local knowledge." Gerry's friend and well-known triathlete, Brian Ivory accompanied the two lads to help them "know all the routes inside out", pointing out that it took a full day to examine the 26 miles laid out for the Kilkenny leg. Unsurprisingly, Gerry states that "safety is our number one concern", having had to prepare "very detailed safety statements for the Gardaí and for insurance purposes, and our own peace of mind". Naturally, a team of paramedics will be on hand at all venues.There is still time to participate, either as a runner or walker. "A lot of people have recently completed the ladies' mini-marathon or the Cork City half-marathon, so they have a certain level of fitness and might see this as another step-up. Most people seem to know about it and we're asking people to raise funds for charity, so it is a more challenging sell to people in the current climate." However, as many as eight signed up one day last week, and Gerry expects up to 700 runners and 200 walkers overall.If you want to support Gerry and Ken's efforts, you can check out www.32marathons.com and all shapes and sizes of participants are most welcome. After all, didn't Eamonn Martin famously (and modestly) say prior to winning the 1993 London Marathon: "I hope to be the fastest fat old git in the race!"