Four Mayo ultra runners complete over 528k at 2017 Energia 24 Hour Race

FOUR Mayo ultra runners completed the gruelling Energia 24 Hour Race on Sunday last, July 2, in Victoria Park, Belfast, running a total of 528 kilometres between them. The event saw competitors run as many laps as they could of the race track in a 24-hour period (Saturday to Sunday).

The Mayo runners finished as follows: Donna McLaughlin from Achill Ultra covered over 135k over 24 hours; Fionnuala O’Mara from Ballina ran over 172k; Aine Gallagher from Ballindine ran over 164k; and Pat Staunton from Westport Athletic Club ran over 57k.

The entry list for the Energia 24 Hour Race included 74 men and 26 women, with ages ranging from 27 to 67. Entries came in from across the UK and Ireland and from as far away as Australia, France, Hong Kong, Iran, India, South Korea and the USA.

Cork’s Alex O’Shea produced a huge personal best to win the event. The St. Finbarr’s athlete went 24k (15 miles) further than he had ever gone before for a total distance of 243k (151 miles).

Race director Ed Smith said: “This year’s Energia 24hr Race was sensational. It was our second year at the 1.7k circuit in Victoria Park in east Belfast, and we ran the 24-Hour World Championships at the same time. Runners from all over Ireland competed alongside some of the most accomplished ultra runners from around the globe.”