I challenged myself to run 5km’s every day, for the first 100 days of 2024. I used it as a fundraiser for the Alzheimer Society, in memory of my grandfather Sean O'Mahony who passed away on 6th April 2018. This charity is important to me and my family, so I couldn't be more grateful for the level of support I received throughout. This is a short summary of how it all went.
Kerry New Years has become a tradition, where hundreds of kayakers head south hoping for rain and high river levels. After a fun week of paddling in Kenmare, I counted down the New Year with friends. Two of them; Keith & Ross, offered to join me for the first day. As it got later, the idea of an early start seemed less and less enticing. That's how it came to be that at 4:00am, just home from the pub, we put on our runners and set off around the empty town to begin this challenge. It was a perfect start to have the silent bridges, churches and streets to ourselves. Then straight to bed!
I took the first three weeks easy. I aimed for each 5K to take 30mins, even though I'd ran 20mins 05s only a month before. My legs hurt way more than I expected as the consecutive days added up, but I kept it slow and pushed through. My favourite runs were the nature trails at work, where I'd rush out at 4:30pm to finish the loop before dark. It was a very cold January, but the sunsets on the Shannon estuary were usually clear and beautiful. Friends from work joined one day, and at the weekends I ran in different forests and with my Dad.
After three weeks my fitness had definitely increased and the pains mostly went away. I still tried to stay above 25mins pace to play it safe, and just settled into the routine. I really came to like one loop from my house which passed Askeaton Abbey. I changed it up when possible, fitting in trail runs on Galty Mór & Carrauntoohil, but most days I was out in the dark mornings or evenings on my same loop. Running endlessly on a long section by the main road which I now know all too well.
The leg pains came and went, but the real test was the weather. I had flooding over my ankles two of the days, icy roads, hailstorms, wind that blew me over, and rain that soaked through all my runners. I timed it as best as I could each day, but sometimes it was hard looking out the window before. I also went skiing in Andorra for a week in February, which brought the hilliest and slowest runs of the whole challenge. These were ran on snow, ice and extra tired legs!
Towards the end I enjoyed the routine. On busy days it was annoying for sure (my latest one was at 11:00pm), but I normally planned it in and made it work. I was joined by friends and family a few times, but mostly stuck to my usual loop alone, going either before or after work depending on plans that day. I was sick a few times which also didn't help, making it feel like I was starting all over again, but slowly and steadily I got through them.
With one week to go I ran my first Parkrun in Killaloe, finishing in second place with a time of 20mins 26s. I wanted to try a faster course the week after, but Storm Kathleen brought different plans. Instead I was battling 50km/hr winds and avoiding fallen trees, letting myself just enjoy a slower pace and trying to think back over the whole challenge. As I approached the final days I really appreciated the whole experience, and was amazed how much it felt like part of my life now. I was excited to be done, but suspected I would miss it.
For the 100th day I was joined by Keith, Ross, Thomas & Eoghan. We did an 8km loop around the river paths of Limerick, which was my favourite run from Ironman training in 2021. The weather and everything about the day was perfect, taking it nice and easy all the way. Gavin, Emer & Caoimhe drove in to congratulate us after, and we celebrated along with Stephen, Simon & Fia that night.
It was this same day that the fundraiser hit €2,000, so I felt extra proud to have seen this through. The whole journey had been a memorable chapter in my life, and a fulfilling way to begin the year. It left my fitness in a great place for all the plans I had coming up, and gave me a nice purpose through the bleakest days of winter. Looking back I loved it, but I did appreciate not having to run the next day!
Thank you for reading and supporting. In memory of Grandad Sean.
The Alzheimer Society is a non-profit organisation, providing support to the now 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland. They also provide specific services for families, communities and carers, while advocating for their wider rights and needs nationally.
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