Ep 11 The Kerry Way Ultra: Special Report
· Trail Running Ireland Podcast
This episode is a Kerry Way Ultra special. Simon Kelly watched the racing up close from his home in Waterville and runs through the results from all three distances. Then René Borg gives a report from inside the Ultra Lite, covering the change of plans that brought him there, a frightening early setback, and how he is recovering.
Eoin Flynn opens by thanking EcoTrail Wicklow, the show's sponsor since episode one, and appealing for a new sponsor for the autumn and winter.
Simon praises organiser Eileen Daly and her team for getting the race on safely. Runners started in waves, masks were mandatory in the start zone, and aid stations were stretched to 4 km so support crews could spread out. In the 200 km ultra, Aoife Mundow won the women's race in 25:26:49, a new record and fifth fastest overall, with Sarah Enright second. Gavin Byrne won the men's race in 23:37:17 after a fast start, and previous winner Brian Buckley was third in 24:32. In the night race, Claire McCann won the women's race in 13:31 and Robert Jankowski won the men's in 9:10, 50 minutes clear of former Kerry Way Ultra winner Joe O'Leary. In the 58 km Ultra Lite, Laura O'Driscoll won the women's race in 5:48, quick enough for third place overall, and the men's winner led from start to finish in 5:03, ahead of Barry Harkness. Dublin Mountain Running Club won the new 200 km relay in 22:51:55. Eoin also reacts to the cancellation of the World Mountain Running Championships in Lanzarote.