Beara Way Ultra 100miles

Castletownbere. Today.

Here we go, heading over to Cork for a crack at the Beara Way Ultra - 100miles around the Beara peninsula. Its been a while since I’ve written and a lot has been going on, I won’t go into the details right now but life has had some twists and turns.

Running and training-wise, since DNF-ing at the TransAlpine Run I took on the winter spine challenger north, also DNF-ing in Alston. This was following a ridiculous number of falls before I thought it might be a good idea to put on my spikes. Given how treacherous the ice was, I should have done this on the start line. However, after landing on my back (crushing my cup in the process), banging my head off the concrete-like ice, landing on my hips etc I was feeling a little beat up. Spikes helped but I took them off before Crossfell as I was running on tarmac and didn’t need them. Then Crossfell dealt a blow as I trudged over with pals Nicky Spinx and Elaine Bisson who both seemed to waltz their way expertly while the wind tried it’s hardest to blow us off. On the way down towards Greg’s Hut I came a cropper on the ice one more time, this time snapping one of my poles. I swore. Anyway, long story short, I didn’t make it and stopped in Alston.

The weekend after the challenger north I passed my CiRF course and am now a licensed coach. No official coaching clients as yet but that will come once I commit to it and carve out a little time.

Since January, and recuperating from the training and effort put in for the challenger north, I eased back into training and am looking forward to catching up with more pals in west Cork for a go at the Beara Way Ultra. I’ve heard it’s lovely and I really would like to just enjoy myself and get to the finish line. Over there I’ll be meeting with Eoin Keith who I spent many miles, stories and songs with on the Pennine Way for the winter spine race in January 2024 and Brian Hutchinson who I also met on the Pennine Way during the challenger north in January of this year.

They’ve both sold me on this idea so I hold the two of them wholly responsible for any misery I may endure, although I’m sure it’s going to be a blast.

My own training is expertly overseen by Jayson Cavill of Cavill Coaching, the coaching business he runs with his wife, Kim. The freedom of not worrying about trying to do the right thing while knowing that he has my back, focussing on all the right things to prepare me for what I want to do, is so special. And they’re both mates! Bonus.

So, to Ireland, Cork and the Beara Way. Here we go.