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(Report with thanks to www.connemara100.com)

For some, a marathon is as far as the imagination runs, but for fifteen athletes the prospect of running one hundred miles in Connemara lay ahead on August 13. The Connemara 100 Mile Ultra Marathon, now in it's third year drew the biggest field to date. Starting in Clifden at 6.00am on Saturday and traveling non-stop through the hills and valleys of Connemara, the scenery provided some distraction during the longest single road race in the country.

Weather conditions throughout the first day were at times very testing, with driving rain, wind and fluctuating temperatures. Thankfully by night the winds eased and the sun shone on Sunday morning to welcome the last few over the line within the 30 hour cut off.

Mick Rice was once again 1st home in a time of 15 hours 41 minutes making it three in a row for the Athenry AC man. He didn't have it all his own way though as Greame Colhoun pushed him to the line finishing just 16 minutes later in 2nd place - only the second person to dip under the 16 hour mark in this event. George Webb finished a very credible 3rd with 17:37 and was followed home by Maciej Sawicki who broke 18 hours for the first time.

Iveagh Jameson recorded a massive PB with 19:18 which was good enough for 5th. Johnny Donnelly's first attempt at 100 miles was rewarded with a fantastic time of 21:09, while just before dawn, Brian Donnelly became the 7th person to break the 24 hour barrier this year. The persistence of Jim McNiece and Neal Collins was rewarded as the made their way to the finish before the Cut off in 28:41 and 29:31. Neal received the 'Joanne Fearon Award' for an extraordinary effort.

15 starters, 9 finishers, 100 miles.

Footnote: Mick recently blogged about his thoughts on this year's race at:

http://runningthroughfog.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/hit-me-baby-one-more-time/#more-653

"For myself, I have no ambitions to run a great time this year. I’m going to jog away from Clifden and just see what happens. I might make it home in worse shape than other years and I might not make it home at all. In the end, it doesn’t matter. It’s the process that’s important to me this year."

Well done to Mick on an incredible performance - it's not always possible to be totally race ready but it's important to enjoy the journey; even better to win the race doing it.

jameslundon

12 years 7 months ago

I was out there from before 6AM Saturday morning until well after 11PM that evening and was wrecked and all I was doing was driving around in my car watching the 15 hardy bucks making their way around the course.

Truly awed by those who finished and especially those who didn't for various reasons even though they may have gone as far as 77/78 miles (THE DISTANCE OF THREE MARATHONS) before deciding not to go any further!

Thanks, but no thanks :-)!

Maire T. Beatty

12 years 7 months ago

Congratulations Mick my God what a run dont know how you do it. Congratulations to all who finished and my heart breaks for the others who did not finish. It really is amazing to watch like James says awesome stuff hard to get your head around 100miles for some 15hrs but 20 to 30hrs for others.
I hope you have all recovered and God only knowes whats next on the list for ye Well done again.

Maire Treasa Beatty