Count Up 2009-03-22T00:00:00 down 1

  • This was my first ultra and I had an absolutely fantastic weekend. Myself and 18 friends from Nidd Valley Road Runners came from Harrogate to run the marathon and all agree how great it was, we're all still buzzing from it.

  • I just want to thank everyone on the Connemara Marathon team for making yesterday so special. It was a day from heaven - even if large parts of it did fell like hell :)

  • I had a very slow run due to a pre race illness but didn't mind as it gave me an excuse to have even more time on the lovely course and to chat to some of my fellow participants along the way. will have to come back next year to bury the demons!

  • Just have to let you know, what a great day we had today. Well done. Really enjoyed the marathon well organised. Even the weather how did you do it. It was a great day.

  • Those hills are tough but the pain was worth it. Thanks for a great day yesterday, sore but happy today. All went well and was well organized by you. See you all again next year.

Ray crosses the finish line

10 in 10!

Thu, 22/05/2008

Race director completes the Brathray Challenge.

Having completed 10 marathons in 10 days, Ray O'Connor returned to a hero's welcome on Monday afternoon on the flight from Manchester into Galway.

His Family, friends, club mates from Athenry AC and work colleagues from the Connemara Marathon and Proactive were all there to welcome him home.

Ray took part in The Brathay challenge which involved running around Lake Windermere in Cumbria England, daily for 10 consecutive days. During the 262 mile endurance event, Ray experienced highs with an all time personal best time for the distance on day 7 and extreme lows when injury on day 9 put his completion of the 10 marathons in doubt. Commenting on the effort Ray said "Physio treatment and lots of pain killers got me through one of the toughest marathon courses in the UK 10 times and I'm just delighted that it's over now".

In fact Ray's personal best time was enough to win the 7th marathon coming first with a time of 3 hours and 26 minutes. He then went on to come joint first on day 8 with yet another sub 3.30 run. Yesterday he crossed the finish line in Cumbria waving a tri-colour as the first Irish man to complete the challenge.

Given that his strategy was to run the marathons slowly with times just short of 5 hours he has surpassed all expectations including his own. "I feel I actually ran into fitness as the week went on, but the tough course eventually took it's toll and slowed me down for the last two days" said Ray. The final race on Sunday was even more special as it was his 50th Marathon overall.

Ray is the creator and Race Director of the Failte Ireland Connemara Marathon and the Founder of Galway based Design and Marketing company - Proactive. As a "Galway Person of the year for 2008" he is widely acknowledged for his outstanding contribution to Sports Tourism in Ireland and the vast sums of money that his events raise for charities nationally. This has been a great year for the Galway Man - but not one to stand still - he has enrolled in the gruelling Marathon Des Sables 2009, a 6 day / 151 mile (243km) endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco which will take place next March.

Photo © Martin Campbell 2008