Three brave Offaly men take part in 120 mile Kerry run

THREE very brave and very fit Offaly men took part in the 120 mile Kerry Way Ultra run on Sunday and Monday, September the 5th and 6th.
John Bulfin, Ray Flanagan and George Webb are three extremely fit and resilient runners who have been running for decades. They often train together on the slopes of the Slieve Blooms. This year they decided to take on the incredible challenge of the Kerry Ultra, a bruising route which tests the limits of human endurance.
The route follows the Kerry Way, a hilly route on rough tracks which must be completed within 36 hours. It's divided into various stages and if you don't make the cut-off times at those stages then you are disqualified. All three of the Offaly men, running through strong winds and heavy rain, managed to reach each stage before the cut-off time. At the finishing line they were exhausted but very happy with their achievement. They were also thrilled to meet with two legends of the region, the hill runner John Lenihan and the high altitude mountaineer Pat Falvey.
This is what John Bulfin wrote to a friend the day after the run. “Woke up this morning and felt good. I know it must be a miracle for so many runners to run so many miles across so many slippery rocks in such windy and wet conditions without sleeping or eating properly and not have something serious go wrong. This strengthens my faith that someone far greater than my mind can imagine is looking after us. David the King of Jerusalem said, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made", and I'm just in awe of what we all have accomplished. Surely God has put His Spirit into humans and I can read it in the eyes and deeds of kindness all around me. The whole experience was just absolutely awesome,way out of the box and wonderful. I'm not denying the pain and the suffering but Someone far greater is shining through. I am so thankful and hopeful. I wish I could package the feeling and give it to everyone.”
John runs the New Life Church in Birr. Ray is also a very well known Birr man, and George is a farmer living in Corolanty near Shinrone. Like Pat Falvey they believe that age should be no barrier to one's ambition.

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