Wicklow Way Ultra Marathon Trail Race 2019 (7th/8th June)

David Fagan completes the Wicklow Way Ultra Marathon Trail Race ….. again

Having completed the Wicklow Way Ultra Marathon Trail Race on one of the warmest days in June 2018, David Fagan returned this year to run the 127km route in the opposite direction, starting in Clonegal in Co. Carlow on Friday evening 7th June and finishing in Marlay Park in Dublin on Saturday afternoon 8th June. It might have been in reverse, but the route still had 3,000m of climbs and the event difficulty was categorised at 10 (“extreme”) but at least the weather was much cooler this year. It might have worried some that one of the Aid Stations along the route is called “The Dying Cow” but we can only assume that as David is a Veterinary Surgeon that it didn’t faze him! There are no stewards along the route, so contestants must be self-sufficient and among the required equipment David had to bring with him was waterproof jacket and trousers, mobile phone, head light and spare batteries, reflective upper outer layer, map of route and compass, food and drink, whistle, gloves and hat, a foil blanket and a tracker. Bad enough running 127km but lugging that load along with him must have been torture and we’re glad to report that he survived the ordeal and finished in 17 hours 51 minutes, to place eighteenth out of 100 starters, though only 53 finished, and second in his master category. He admits that it was a tough day and he probably went out too hard but it’s still testament to his incredible mental toughness and physical endurance.