Malin to Mizen Run for Cappagh Kids - Starts 29th June 2020

 Update: Congrats to Barry Sheehan and his team who arrived at Mizen Head on Saturday the 4th of July and have raised over €70,000 for charity in the process.

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Barry Sheehan has started out on his journey today the 29th of June to run from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in Cork.

 Details below...

On June 29th 2020, Barry Sheehan started the challenge to RUN from Malin Head to Mizen Head....600+ km in one week to raise funds for Cappagh Kids.

In 2017, Barry’s son, Michael, was diagnosed with Osteofibrous Dysplasia in his left tibia and so began their journey with the National Orthopaedic (Cappagh) Hospital. Overtime, without intervention, Michael’s shin would break easily and was likely to deform. Surgery was the only option, if any, of fixing the bone.

Over the past four years, Michael has had countless surgeries and related treatments.

Michael's treatment and rehabilitation has taken place at Cappagh under the exceptional expertise and care of Mr Connor Green and his team.

Cappagh, the National Orthopaedic Hospital, is primarily an adult hospital, but with many children travelling from all over Ireland to avail of the unique orthopaedic specialist skills and equipment. Barry, Michael and the rest of their family have seen first-hand how child friendly facilities are crucial but non-existent at present.

Cappagh Hospital Foundation is the charity arm that raises funds for the hospital and the money raised by the run will be used by them for Cappagh Kids, the new child friendly paediatric orthopaedic department at Cappagh.

Michael’s journey, the team who have treated him and the many people they have met at Cappagh along the way have inspired Barry to undertake this HUGE run in an effort to raise these much needed funds.

Any donation to this wonderful cause is greatly appreciated.

Live tracker... http://live.primaltracking.com/malinmizen2020/http://live.primaltracking.com/malinmizen2020/

Donation link... https://www.gofundme.com/f/runmalin2mizen-for-cappagh-kids

Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/Malin2Mizen-for-Cappagh-Kids-110837850534329

Top 2 Bottom Malin to Mizen Run - 18th - 24th Nov 2019

Dave Galbraith is doing a run from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in West Cork in November of 2019.

Update: Sun 24th Nov ... Dave finally reached the end of his journey at Mizen Head. It looks as if the run from Malin Head to Mizen Head took just over 6 days!

To be more precise, it took 6 days, 9 hours and 12 minutes. The distance covered was 575.5 kms or 357.6 miles.

Update: Sat 23rd Nov 4pm... Friday was much better with Dave reaching Millstreet. Saturday is the long haul to Bantry.

Update: Fri 22nd Nov 9am... Dave had to stop in Bruff Co.Limerick on Thursday so is a bit behind schedule.

Update: Wed 20th Nov... Update on Dave's progress
Dave gets into Co. Cork tomorrow (Thursday 20th Nov) around 2:30 when he will cross the border outside of Kilmallock and head for Charleville and on to finish for the day in Mallow.

Then he will leave Mallow on Friday morning (Nov 21st) around 7am and head through Dromahane, Bweeng, Donoughmore, Rylane, Macroom, Inchigeela and on to Bantry where he will overnight in advance of the final push to Mizen head - a mere 42 kms from Bantry .

See below.

I'm doing a run from Malin Head to Mizen next month in aid of the Irish Cancer Society over the course of 5 and a half days. 

Plan...

Jack Dowling...the forgotten Irish racewalker

Born in 1929 in Tramore, Co.Waterford, Jack Dowling had a tough childhood having been placed in an orphanage at the age of 5 and later in an industrial school. As an adult, he moved to Sheffield in England in the 1950's to work in the coal mines. While there, he took up running at a local athletics club and then made the switch to race walking, a sport in which he flourished.

He became famous in France for his success in the Paris – Roubaix race walking challenge and walked in the Race of the Century , a 1,000 mile event in New York in 1988. He is also one of very few ‘centurions’ , race walkers who have completed more than 100 miles in a competition in under 24 hours.

He also made history back in 1982 when he race walked the length of Ireland from Malin to Mizen. After starting on the 18th of March at Malin Head, he finished in darkness at Mizen Head in West Cork on the morning of the 24th of March. He had race walked under supervision the 644km (400.2 miles) in five days, 22 hours and 30 minutes. That's an incredible 60-70 miles per day.

Here are a few of his records:
* 1,000 miles    * 1000 kilometres    * 1500 kilometres    * 3 day track record
* 6 day track record * 100 miles in less than 24hrs (completed over 70 times)
* Won 1st ever British Veteran 10 k Championship road walk
* Roubaix 28hr race. 1st person to complete 10, 15 and 20 times
* 5 x Rouen 24hr race, at which the best distance was 207 kilometres
* Entries in the Guinness Book of Records

He has also completed the John 'o' Groats to Lands End and is the only person ever to race walk end to end on both Islands.

There is a 40 minute podcast on the RTE Radio website HERE

Alex O'Shea has to cancel Malin to Mizen Challenge after picking up a knee injury

At 6am on Sunday morning the 6th of September, Alex O'Shea set out from Malin Head in Donegal to begin his attempt at setting a new Malin to Mizen record. He was flying for most of the day but in the evening time, he began having problems with his right knee.

At the end of day 1, he had completed 100 miles but the injury was too severe to continue.

Here is a statement from his support team....."Alex's Malin to Mizen Challenge ends abruptly. Alex covered 100.7 miles yesterday which was followed by a night in hospital. Alex developed some knee pain at 75 miles. At 80 miles the physio looked at it and strapped it. The next 20.7 miles Alex pushed his body to what we thought was to but proved to be beyond its limits. Alex feels very disappointed and would like to express his gratitude to his family, his team on the day who did a great job, his sponsors and to everyone that supported him along the way. It's been a long day and night and we'll be in touch over the next few days. Alex and Audrey"

More photos on his website... https://alexoshea.wordpress.com/

Alex O'Shea from Cork to run from Malin to Mizen in record attempt...Starts Sun 6th Sept 2015

On Sunday morning at 6am, Alex O'Shea from Cork will set out from Malin Head in Donegal in an attempt to run the length of Ireland in a new record time. The current record is held by Mimi Andrerson from the UK whom did it in 3 days 15 hours 36 mins back in 2012.

To break the record, Alex must reach Mizen Head in West Cork before 9:36pm on Wednesday 9th of Sept.

Alex is in great shape at the moment and has been training for months in preparation for this. Back in June, he ran the Cork City Marathon in 2h 36m and also won a 100km Ultra race in Kerry over the Summer.

Alex at the start line. Photo : Doug Minihane

These are some of the locations that Alex will be passing through…
Malin Head…Sun 6th Sept...6am start
Carndonagh...Sun 6th Sept...7:53am
Muff...Sun 6th Sept...10:03am
Derry...Sun 6th Sept...11:09am
Strabane...Sun 6th Sept...1:22pm
Victoria Bridge...Sun 6th Sept...2:43pm
Enniskillen...Sun 6th Sept...10:07pm
 / Swanlinbar / Drumlish / Longford / Borrisokane / Nenagh / Kilmallock / Charleville / Liscarroll / Millstreet / Ballymakerry / Kealkill / Bantry / Durrus / Goleen / Mizen Head

Alex is also raising funds for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind

Donations can be made via text costing €4 per text Please text WOOF to 50300

You can also donate online here… http://www.mycharity.ie/event/alexander_o_sheas_event

Alex has a Facebook page for the run here.... https://www.facebook.com/challengeAlex

and a website here... https://alexoshea.wordpress.com/


Weather Forecast....Conditions look as if they'll be pretty ideal for the attempt. The prevailing winds over Ireland are south-westerly so there is always a strong chance of a headwind for 350 or so miles on the way from Malin to Mizen.

For the next few days, there is a high pressure system over the country so winds will be light, there shouldn't be much in the way of rain. Considering that Alex will be inland for most of the attempt, any coastal winds won't be an issue. Not sure if it could get any better....other than a gale force north easterly winds for 3 days solid! :o)

Malin to Mizen - 15 marathons in 15 days...15th-29th May 2015

Starting on the 15th of May, Michael Minehane from Clonakilty plans to run the length of Ireland over the space of 15 days. This is his itinerary...

15th May – Malin Head to Muff
16th May – Muff to Letterkenny
17th May – Letterkenny to Donegal
18th May – Donegal to Grange  
19th May – Grange to Tobercurry
20th May – Tobercurry to Knock
21st May –  Knock to Tuam
22nd May – Tuam to Oranmore
23rd May – Oranmore to Tulla
24th May – Tulla to Limerick
25th May – Limerick to Ballyhea
26th May – Ballyhea to Blackpool
27th May – Blackpool to Bandon
28th May – Bandon to Skibbereen
29th May – Skibbereen to Mizen

The objective of the run is to raise funds for the Jack & Jill Foundation Children's Foundation. More info on the event website... http://www.15marathonsin15days.com/

Map of the route below...

Mimi Anderson sets new Malin to Mizen record...

After starting off last Saturday morning at 6:01 from Malin Head in Donegal, Mimi Anderson arrived in Mizen Head in West Cork at 9:37pm on Tuesday evening. That is a new record of 3 days, 15 hours, 36 mins and  23 seconds for running the length of Ireland. The previous record was held by Sharon Gayter when she ran from Malin to Mizen back in March 2012 in 4 days 1 hour 39 minutes and 55 seconds.

Over a year of planning and preparation has gone into this new attempt and now the relevant proof  will need to be submitted to make it an official Guinness World Record.

Mimi Anderson has the current record for the fastest time by a female for running from John O’Groats to Lands End in the UK  (840 miles in 12 days, 15 hours, 46 minutes). She is also the record holder for the furthest distance covered on a treadmill in 7 days by a female (403.81 miles).

Updated Fri 28th Sept...You can read her own account HERE

New attempt on Malin to Mizen record...

On the 22nd of September, Mimi Anderson from the UK will attempt to set a new record by running from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in Cork in less than four days. The current record was set by Sharon Gayter back in March 2012 when she ran from Malin to Mizen in 4 days 1 hour 39 minutes and 55 seconds. Over a year of planning and preparation has gone into this new attempt. As she is going for a Guinness World Record, there will be an official starter and finisher and the crew will have to keep a detailed log book, get witness signatures along the way and of course lots of photos and videos.

Mimi Anderson has the current record for the fastest time by a female for running from John O’Groats to Lands End in the UK  (840 miles in 12 days, 15 hours, 46 minutes). She is also the record holder for the furthest distance covered on a treadmill in 7 days by a female (403.81 miles).

Mimi will start from Malin Head in Donegal right on the point at 6am on Saturday, the 22nd of September and the plan is to finish under 4 days later at Mizen Head in West Cork - at the lighthouse. The route is: Malin Head, Carndonagh, Malin, Derry, Bready, Strabane, Ardstraw, Drumquin, Enniskillen, Swanlinbar, Ballinamore, Cloone, Longford, Outskirts of Athlone, Cloghan, Borrisokane, Nenagh, Drumbaun, Hollycross, Charleville Banteer Macroom Kealkill, Bantry, Toormore, Goleen, Finish at Mizen Head.

Sharon Gayter from the UK sets new Mizen to Malin record...

Ultra distance runner Sharon Gayter from the UK arrived at Malin Head in Donegal on Thursday morning to set a new Mizen to Malin record. Having set out from Mizen Head in Cork  at 7am last Sunday morning, it took 4 days, 1 hour and 39 minutes to run the length of Ireland. That is roughly 21 hours faster than the time of 4 days 23 hours that Jen Salter set in June 2011 when she ran in the opposite direction from Malin to Mizen.

Gayter is a holder of several distance records including a 7 day treadmill record set last December.

Jen Salter sets new Malin Head to Mizen Head record...

On Friday the 10th of June, Jen Salter from the UK completed a run from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in Cork in a record time of 4 days 23 hours and 3 minutes.

The run was broken up as follows.......
Day 1...Sun 5th June 2011.....Starting off from Malin Head at the most northerly point of Donegal at 5am. Running through Derry and finishing near Dromore in Co.Tyrone, a distance of about 68 miles.

Day 2...Mon 6th...Starting again at 5am, running through Enniskillen and finishing in Keenagh, Co.Longford at 10:40pm, a distance of 71 miles.

Day 3...Tues 7th...Starting at 6:30am and running as far as Nenagh in Co.Tipperary, approx 61 miles.

Day 4...Wed 8th...Starting in Nenagh and finishing near Banteer in north-west Cork.

Day 5...Thurs 9th...Starting from north-west Cork and finishing 80 miles later at Mizen Head at 4:03am on Friday morning, the 10th of June.....a total of 4 days 23 hours and 3 minutes.

All of the information with witness signatures will now be submitted as a claim to the Guinness Book of Records.

Coming up on the 3rd of July, the French based Irish runner Malcom McLoughlin will run in the opposite direction from Mizen to Malin in aid of charity.