When Galway Trail Running Athletic Club fired the starting gun on their debut ‘last runner standing’ event last Saturday few could have predicted it would go as long as it did – the winner finally clocking off 32 hours, and more than 200 kilometres, later.
Held at the Kilcornan Walled Garden, Woods and Trails in Clarinbridge, the Western Yards Connacht Backyard Ultra Championship saw 93 runners start, each aiming to run as many laps of the 6.7km looped course as they could.
While six runners managed to achieve the magic mark of 24 hours and 100 miles, it was Armagh man Vincent McMath (pictured right) from Crossmaglen who held on to win completing 32 laps - 214.4 kms - over 32 hours, pushed all the way by Paula Wright from Newport, Co. Tipperary, one lap and an hour behind.
The ‘last person standing’ format challenges runners to complete a set loop every hour, with runners restarting the next loop on the hour and the race continuing until there is only one runner left.
“This was our first year doing it, this style of race has been getting more popular around the world so we wanted to bring the backyard ultra to Connacht,” said Race Director Francis Kelly.
“We knew there were some good ultra-runners in the country and we’d probably go beyond 24 hours, but the shifts put in by both Paula and Vincent were just unbelievable. A massive well done to all the runners that turned out, but we also have to say a huge thank you to the volunteers who put so many hours into setting up the race, and who probably had to stick around a few more hours than they were expecting at the end!”
Organisers also extended thanks to the Brothers of Charity, Galway County Council, and Coillte, who own and manage Kilcornan, as well as the main race sponsors – Run Republic and Active Pix - without whom the race could not have gone ahead.
Tribal Running provided the chip timing for the event and Cue One provided lighting which lit up the Kilcornan Walled Garden with blasts of colour throughout the 15.5 hours of darkness.
Local businesses also lent their support, including Booley, Hoka Ireland, Galway Bay Physio, Coiscéim Bearna, Setu Yoga, Nuasan, Glenisk, Revive Active, Gaelforce West, Coach CLE, Pro Vitamin Store, Train Station Gym, All About Kombucha, Galway Cider, Soma Electrolytes, and Cellular Fitness.
The Bean Machine was also on hand throughout the weekend providing hot food and coffee to grateful spectators and runners. And after such a successful 2024 race, planning is already underway for the bigger and better 2025 edition, with details to be announced in the coming weeks. For anyone interested in trying out trail running, simply jump onto the Galway Trail Running Facebook and Instagram pages - @GalwayTrailRunning. Galway Trail Running Athletic Club is open to all runners, of all levels from beginners to those who are more experienced with the club meeting to run on trails around County Galway every week.
