Ballindine-based athlete runs over 143 kilometres in less than 12 hours

MAYO AC athlete Adrian McNamara ran into the Irish record books at the weekend when he ran over 143 kilometres in less than 12 hours.

On Sunday January 1 the Ballindine-based runner competed in the 24 Uair Trasna na mBlianta (Across the Years) Ultra competition, where he ran 143.2 kilometres in for 11 hrs 58 minutes and 56 seconds – which saw him place first in the O-40 category.

The event, hosted by Le Chéile AC on their track at Leixlip, started on 31 December 2023 (12 noon) and ended on 1 January 2024 (12 noon).

The competition included a 12-hour ultramarathon in which each competitor tries to run as far as possible in 12 hours. The event is typically held on one- to two-mile (1.6 to 3.2 kilometre) loops, but sometimes is held on 400-metre (0.25 miles) tracks, as was the case in Leixlip.

McNamara beat the previous 12-hour record of 142.14 kilometres achieved by Ed McGroarty from Donegal in the same event last year. His own record has yet to be confirmed.

Last September, McNamara competed in a Silver Label IAU competition in Verona, Italy where he completed 117.5 kilometres in 11 hours and 53 minutes.