Offaly fitness fanatics target historic running challenge to raise charity funds

A GROUP of fitness fanatics from Offaly have targeted a mammoth running challenge in a bid to raise funds for charity.

The five men from Edenderry and Clonbullogue will be joined by a Limerick man as they bid to complete a trek that may not have been done before.

Edenderry men Bobby Reynolds (26), his brother PJ Reynolds (23), Conor McCarthy (25) and Shane Kelly (38) and Clonbullogue man Ruari O'Neill (27) will be joined by Limerick man Jack Mullane (26) as they bid to run from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in Cork in approximately 50 hours from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3.

They will run in relays with each runner doing 5k in daylight hours, and handing the baton onto the next, while they will complete 10k at night – their target is 30 minutes per 5k and they will have a 2.5 hours rest after each one of those while the recovery after each 10k will be 5 hours, which will enable them to get some much needed sleep at night.

The Malin to Mizen Head is a regular challenge for cyclists but the group are not aware if it has been completed by any runners before. There is no time recorded for it and they hope to set a 50 hour mark for any other groups that might attempt a similar undertaking in the future.

The route, down the centre of Ireland, will cover 600km with each runner doing 100k. One runner will be continuously on the road and they have targeted funds for two charities that are very close to their hearts: Feileacáin and the Aiséirí Progression Programme.

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Feileacáin supports families who have experienced the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death, providing compassionate support services and remembrance programmes so families do not have to go through their grief alone.

Popular Edenderry man Shane Kelly, known locally as Bisto, is the reason for Feileacáin being supported as he lost a young daughter, Peggy and benefitted from their services.

Aiséirí Progression Programme supports people rebuilding their lives after addiction through structured recovery and progression supports that help individuals return to stability, purpose, and community.

Limerick man Jack Mullane had two stints in Aiseiri as he dealt with drug addiction. He studied construction management with Bobby Reynolds in University of Limerick and is an inspiring example of a man turning his life around from huge challenges: he has since opened a number of very successful coffee shops with a business partner in Limerick City and County and both men are very appreciative of the support they received from their chosen charities in their time of need.

The five Offaly men are all well known locally and have played football. The Reynolds brothers, Conor McCarthy and Shane Kelly have played football at various levels for Edenderry while Ruari O'Neill is a key member of the Clonbullogue senior football team and has played underage football for Offaly – his younger brother Keith is an outstanding member of the Offaly senior football team.

The wheels were set in motion when Bobby Reynolds was in Marbella, Spain on holidays last year. A fitness fanatic who loves Hyrox and other challenges, he wanted to take on a new target and came up with the idea of the Mizen to Malin Head run, having initially looked at a 500k run between Los Angeles and Las Vegas through the Californian/Nevada desert.

He contacted his brother and the others and immediately got a positive response – Shane Kelly owns Primal Fitness in Edenderry, a gym Bobby uses.

This set the wheels in motion and now they are in the final stages of preparation. Ruari O'Neill is the only one with experience of a major endurance challenge, having ran the Sahara 100k race last year and they have trained hard in recent months. They have received expert guidance from an endurance athlete and concentrated on running a number of 5ks and 10ks in a day to familiarise their bodies and minds with what that feels like - it is a brutally touch physical test but it will also challenge them mentally.

They are also aware that the journey may not go smoothly. That they could have to add distance because of diversions in towns and on roads, that one of them could get injured and have to step out, that they could come across steep inclines that will drain energy but they are adamant that they will make the distance.

Already they have got an indication of what can go wrong with Bobby Reynolds missing recent training after sustaining a scar on his face while training and injuring his knee as well but he is confident that he will be back on track is time.

Bobby Reynolds admitted that they are “winging” it to an extent but serious planning has also gone in and they have already collected €16,500 of their €20,000 target. With almost a month to go, this could well go north of €30,000 and may not stop there – they have a Gofundme page set up and have a very active social media presence on Instagram and other forums.

They all have extensive business contacts through their own families and work, have got generous support through this and are targeting more. They have organised a fun 3k run for family and friends in Edenderry on Wednesday, April 29, the day before they depart for Donegal as they have a 6am start on the Friday and hope to finish around midday on the Sunday.

They will finish off the event with an overnight stay in the Vienna Woods Hotel in Cork City where they will be joined by family and friends. It is a novel, enterprising challenge and observers will be watching with interest to see how it all goes and hear the experiences of the six men.

They will have extensive support en route with a six person crew, two camper vans – one for them sleeping in and one for the back up personnel – and a jeep to transport them on the way.

Different sponsorship packages have been developed for businesses while private individual donations on Gofundme are their bread and butter.

Their Gofundme page can be accessed on:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/fad-na-heireann?attribution and all support will be appreciated.