RIP: Paul Brunnock

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Waterford runner Paul Brunnock during the week. When I was doing a lot of marathons and ultras, I got to know Paul as he was a regular on the marathon circuit.

While Paul did a lot of the usual shorter races, it was the long distance events that he had a passion for. He completed over 100 marathons and did the Connemara 100-mile as well.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

The following is from West Waterford AC...

PAUL BRUNNOCK.

It is with heartfelt sadness and shock that West Waterford Athletic Club report the untimely passing of our esteemed club member, Paul Brunnock.

He will truly be missed by all within West Waterford AC . The club would like to offer its condolences to Paul's family and many friends.

There has been many beautiful and heartfelt tributes posted on Pauls' passing, each and everyone of them beautifully depicting the great man that he was. 

We could write another tribute on behalf of the athletic family but it probably wouldn’t do Paul justice such were his many feats in the sport, so we have decided as a much more true reflection the following is a more fitting tribute to the man written by himself,he wrote this back in 2014.  Please read it fully as it depicts what the sport meant to Paul and his zest on achieving his goals. 

Guest post by ultra-runner Paul Brunnock, after Connemara Ultra 100, August 9th, 2014.

I have just spent the last while reading the comments and support sent my way before, during and after the CNM100 on 9th August, 2014 and to say I am overwhelmed is the understatement of the year. Many thanks to everyone. Every comment and message means so much. I don’t really do race reports but with so many people taking the time to support me and my crew I thought it might be a good time to put down some highlights.

Ray O’ Connor is responsible; it’s all his fault! Huge thanks to Ray, Angela, Iain, Niall, Ken and the rest of the Connemara 100 team for the work organising this race and for letting me be part of the family. I thought a lot about Ray in the last 15 miles of the race and it was mostly bad but what he has achieved here is amazing and this race is an absolute gem.

Due to injuries and old age I could not train for this race the way I would like so it really boiled down to 3 runs in the week , 2 cycles and 2 swims. I want to thank Tried and Tested Dungarvan Triathlon Club for all the help support and encouragement throughout. Likewise, thanks to Dungarvan Cycling Club for their support and training, especially the lads in Group 3 Sunday morning spins. Thanks to Marathon Club Ireland for all their help too; a fantastic club and wonderful people.

Of course it’s no secret my number 1 club is West Waterford AC and nothing gives me greater pride than wearing that singlet on lonely roads up and down the country. Don’t forget Ray McConnell was running 100 miles when the sport was in its infancy and in Raivis Zakis and Anthony Whelan we have two of the best ultra-runners in the country.

 Thanks to everyone in the club that always gets behind me; all the people I run with week in week out, Mark Cliffe for his super-fast WWAC t-shirt, Linda Garcia for her arm warmers but I don’t think she knows I have them and John Coleman for a variety of equipment. Special thanks to James Veale for super advice on all things running related and more, fantastic support, encouragement and all the rest. He’s a one off and a great man to have in your corner.

The man with the unenviable task then of fixing me up when I break down is Cian O’ Conchuir and I owe him a lot. Anyone who has tried to keep an old rusty motor on the road having failed its NCT multiple times knows what I mean. He also throws in the bit of sports psychology for good measure!

So the race started at 6:00am Saturday morning and I was thrilled to be there on the start line. My crew had everything in place and I had no worries as far as that part of the race was concerned. If you look at the picture of us at the start we are not your typical race start photo. I think Paddy observed that most of us looked as if we could do with a sandwich! One of the exceptions to that maybe being Don Hannon who is a strong and powerful athlete. Add to that the true grit, bottle and talent of the man and you have about as good an ultra-athlete as you could find anywhere. When I met Don on Sunday morning he looked fresh enough to go again and, I’d say, would have needed very little encouragement to lace up the runners and get the bandana out!

It was a big thrill to be able to say that I was in the same race as Aoife O’ Donnell, the first Irish female finisher of the 135 mile Badwater Ultra. I didn’t get the chance to congratulate Aoife in person but I am in awe of her achievement and very inspired by her. There too was Gerry Duffy, top endurance athlete , whom up to a short while ago I had only known from his books. 

My brother Johnny was once introduced over the PA to about 2000 Sean Kelly Tour cyclists something along the lines of ‘Here comes Johnny Brunnock , the nicest fella you could meet!’ to huge applause of agreement. Well Gerry is one of those ‘fellas’ too and I hope we get to share the roads many more times over the years. Also there were athletes I have not really met yet but whom I greatly respect and admire from seeing them in races I have been competing in and following their results like George Webb and Maurice Whitty.

Seconds before the start and I shook hands with Vasiliy Neumerzhiskiy , a true legend, and we wished each other good luck. Vasiliy, in 2011, gave me one of the greatest pieces of running advice I have received and it has saved me many times since. It was in Portumna 100k and he was finishing what would be a win and a course record. I was at about 75k. Vasiliy came back to me on the path and said something like ‘Keep your hands down. We’re running 100k, not 5k!’. It works!

Highlight of the morning was to see Billy Holden take off at 6 minute mile pace. I can’t say what Billy was thinking but I imagined he was laying down a marker, telling the Connemara course that he wasn’t afraid and go ahead and throw what you can at me. It was brave and foolhardy and wonderful and I loved it. I think Billy is what Bob Hilliard would call a ‘real deal rock and rolla!’

The first part of the run was uneventful as it should be. We found our rhythm and I ran with Peter and Colum. Then I ran with an athlete from Dublin and his brother but sadly it was not to be his day this time. He ran with courage and good humour and I hope he gets to come back to CNM100 again. Just before Checkpoint 1 (28 miles) I got a bad pain in my right hip and I thought the day might be done. But Sue gave me a talking to along the lines of ‘There’s nothing wrong with you!’ and that seemed to fix that. Then I ran to Checkpoint 2(55 miles) and enjoyed the scenery along the way. Somewhere there I passed Tom Reynolds and we spoke for a minute and he seemed in good form too. Aoife and George were stopped here as well and I left before them. So I ran to CP3(67 miles) all the while my crew doing an amazing job and I really doing very little. 

People often ask how do you run these distances and I’m not sure! It may seem like a contradiction but you have to concentrate carefully on every little thing that’s happening in the body and around but, at the same time, zone out so you don’t notice time, distance or discomfort. I’m only learning. Next came CP4(82 miles) and I ran straight through but the wheels were starting to creak. The next 18 miles took about 4hrs45min.

 My running friends can work that out for yourselves! I had to walk 3 miles approximately and then managed to get running again with 12 to go and ran all the way in to the finish. My crew at this stage were phenomenal and that doesn’t do them justice at all.

During this time George passed me running like a young fella! Tom came by moving smoothly and gave me much needed encouragement which I really appreciated. Alina Brown was the last person to come by and she is plainly a serious athlete. I have to look her up on DUV Marathon Statistic! I was pleased for them that they were running so well at this late stage but I couldn’t help but ask myself a few questions and another talking to was required!

On the laps of the town I met Billy again. I thought he was walking back to his hotel for a well-earned rest but when I realised he was still on the course finishing his race he climbed up even further in my estimation. To put down a day as he had and keep going just says it all about the calibre of the man. I have no doubt he will be back to throw down the gauntlet again.

Of course the finish came. It always does. I just wait for that time when I know I will see Ray with his hand out stretched. It’s a simple enough thing. We shake hands. He might say ‘Well done’ and I might say ‘Thanks Ray. Great race’. Something like that. I don’t remember. This moment doesn’t need words.

When the dust settled I heard the fantastic news that Brian Ankers had joined an elite group; athletes who have won CNM100. There are but 3. In 2012 it was an honour for me to get to run the race when Mick Rice won his 4th. I am always trying to put Mick’s tips into practice since I first heard of him when I went to the Connemara International Ultra 2008. Last year it was Grellan McGrath, a fabulous runner. Grellan sent me a message of encouragement Friday night which gave me a great lift and really sent me on my way Saturday morning. And now Brian. For me this says it all. Brian is a runner like you and I , fitting training around work, family and life in general; an ordinary bloke who has done the extraordinary, 100 miles in 15hrs48min. I couldn’t be happier for him. The winner of CNM100 2014 is my friend, Brian Ankers.

It was very nice to collect our prizes on Sunday and meet everyone once more. Ray kept tugging at the emotions and I found myself close to tears many times. It was worse than Saturday that way! I had only one more thing to do and that was get a photo with a true Connemara legend. Maciej Sawicki has completed this race 6 times, getting faster and faster each time. He is one fantastic athlete and ‘sound out’ on top of it all. If I had missed the chance for the photo I would have had to go back in 2015! Thankfully I nabbed him before everyone scattered and that picture will take pride of place on my mantel piece and in my memories for a long time.

Goodnight Paul for the final time and thank you for sharing your life with so many of us. WWAC

Death Notice Brunnock,

The death has occurred of Paul Brunnock

Sea Park Abbeyside Dungarvan and formerly of Rathgormack Carrick on suir, Waterford

Paul Brunnock Passed away suddenly on the 2nd of January, 2023. Predeceased by his loving mother Maura and sister Joanne. Paul is deeply mourned and missed by his beloved children Moylan, Megan, Rory, Daithí, their mother Anne Marie (Moylan), his father John, sister Elaine, brothers Johnny and Paddy, brothers in law, sister in law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Reposing at the family home, 2 Landsend, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, on Saturday, 7th of January, from 4pm to 7pm. House strictly for family at all other times, please. Arriving for Requiem mass in Rathgormack Church on Sunday, the 8th of January, at 12pm followed by burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

***
PAUL BRUNNOCK 100 MARATHON RECORD.
1 Dublin City Marathon 
2 Dublin City Marathon  
3 Connemarathon Ultra 
4 Connemarathon Ultra  
5 Dublin City Marathon  
6 Connemarathon U 
7 Cork City Marathon 
8 Portumna 100km 
9 Sixmilebridge 5 in 5 - No.2 
10 Sixmilebridge 5 in 5 - No.4 
11 Sixmilebridge 5 in 5 - No.5 
12 Sixmilebridge Marathon  
13 Longford Ultra Marathon 
14 Dublin City Marathon  
15 Eddie Murphy Double Marathon  
16 Donadea 50km  
17 Connemarathon Ultra  
18 Great Limerick Run  
19 Kildare Marathon  
20 Cork City Marathon 
21 Portumna 100km 
22 Waterford Viking Marathon 
23 Portumna West of Ireland Series   
24 Killeigh West of Ireland Series  
25 Connemara 100 miles 
26 Sligo Marathon 
27 Portumna West of Ireland Series   
28 Dublin City Marathon 
29 Eddie Murphy Double Marathon  
30 Phoenix Park West of Ireland  
31 Great Limerick Run  
32 Waterford Viking Marathon  
33 Waterfront Ultra Marathon Courtmac  
34 Achill 39.3 Ultra Marathon 
35 Athlone Flatline Marathon  
36 Surf and Turf Marathon Wexford  
37 Portumna West of Ireland Series   
38 Tralee International Marathon  
39 Connemarathon Ultra  
40 Tullaroan Marathon  
41 Great Limerick Run 
42 Staplestown 50 miles  
43 Cork City Marathon  
44 Portumna 100km 
45 Marathon des Escargots, Portarlington  
46 Keith Whyte Waterfront Ultra II (Director's Run)  
47 Keith Whyte Waterfront Ultra II  
48 Connemara 100 miles  
49 East of Ireland Curragh Marathon   
50 Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon  
51 Portumna MCI Marathon 
52 Lilliput MCI Marathon 
53 Ballina 3 in 2 Marathon 1 
54 Ballina 3 in 2 Marathon 2 
55 Ballina 3 in 2 Ultra Marathon 53km  
56 Vartry 100   
57 Great Limerick Run  
58 Cork City Marathon  
59 Portumna 100km  
60 Phoenix Park 6 hour Ultra 
61 Marathon des Escargots, Portarlington  
62 Marathon des Escargots, Portarlington  
63 Connemara 100 miles  
64 Tullaroan Marathon  
65 Dublin City Marathon  
66 Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon  
67 Killeigh MCI Marathon
68 Ballina 3 in 2  
69 Ballina 3 in 2  
70 Ballina 3 in 2 Ultra Marathon 53km  
71 Vartry 100   
72 Royal Canal Run Longford Ultra 53km  
73 Limerick Marathon 
74 Tullaroan Ultra Marathon 39.3  
75 MCI Marathon Rhode, Offaly  
76 MCI Marathon Mount Lucas Wind Farm, Offaly 
77 Achill 39.3 Ultra Marathon Day 1  
78 Achill 39.3 Ultra Marathon Day 2  
79 Medieval Marathon Kilkenny  
80 Dublin City Marathon  
81 MCI Portumna Marathon  
82 MCI Killoscully Marathon  
83 Donadea 50km  
84 Ballina 3 in 2  
85 Ballina 3 in 2  
86 Ballina 3 in 2 Ultra Marathon 53km  
87 Tralee International Marathon  
88 MCI Tralee Marathon  
89 MCI Curragh Marathon  
90 MCI Listowel Marathon  
91 Royal Canal Run Longford Ultra 53km  
92 Royal Canal Run Longford Marathon  
93 EOI Longwood Marathon   
94 East Cork Harbour Marathon  
95 Medieval Marathon Kilkenny 
96 MCI Portumna Marathon  
97 MCI Limerick Marathon  
98 EOI Donabate Marathon 
99 Great Limerick Run 
100 Donadea 100k