Firefighter burns up track for Cork marathon world record
Alex O’Shea raises cash for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and playground fund
Leon and Noah O’Shea pass the finish line with their father, Cork firefighter Alex O’Shea, as he sets a new Guinness World Record for running a marathon in full firefighting gear in a time of 3 hours 41 minutes and 10 seconds. In the Cork Marathon today, Alex shaved almost 58 minutes off the previous record set at the London Marathon earlier this year. Photograph: Darragh Kane
A firefighter set a new Guinness world
record at the Cork city marathon yesterday for running 26.2 miles in
full firefighting attire, including steel-toed reinforced firefighting
boots, fire-retardant pants and jacket, helmet and visor.
Alex O’Shea finished the marathon in three hours, 41 minutes and 10 seconds, knocking 58 minutes off the world record.
O’Shea said his race plan was to set off quickly and lessen the pace as the marathon went on.
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Too tired
“I did that because I knew I was going to get too tired. I think I went out too quick. The world record was very much achievable but I wanted to run as best a race I could for me. I am absolutely delighted. Every single person cheered me on. It was phenomenal.”
O’Shea
was running to raise funds for two charities: Irish Guide Dogs for the
Blind and a playground development fund in west Cork.
He was accompanied on the run by two colleagues, who ensured he kept hydrated throughout the gruelling race.
Meanwhile,
in the race proper the winner was Poland’s Bartosz Muzerski, who
completed the 26.2 mile course in two hours, 28 minutes and 38 seconds.
Course record
The winner of the women’s marathon, Olympian Pauline Curley, from Birr, Co Offaly, set a new course record for the title with a time of two hours, 43 minutes and 47 seconds.
The 2014 relay
winners, East Cork relay team, also held their title, having won the
2013 marathon. Sergio Ciobanu won the Tony Brauders Half-Marathon in one
hour, 10 minutes and 19 seconds.
Speaking at the
finish line, race director Jim O’Donovan said he was particularly
thrilled about the courage and achievement of the firefighter in setting
a new world record.
“Alex truly is a hero, and
has raised both awareness and funds for his charity, Irish Guide Dogs
for the Blind, and his local playground in west Cork.”
Two hundred international runners were registered to do either full or half-marathons.
Pensioner Robin Foley, his on Alan, and his daughter Julie-Anne Rispoli, did the half- marathon.
The Foleys emigrated from Cork to New Jersey 30 years ago when Julie-Anne was just six years old. They are now based in Florida.
Retained links
The family retained its links to Cork, though, and Julie-Anne was keen to accompany her father to Leeside for the marathon.
Now
in its eighth year, the marathon is an internationally recognised
event, with certification from the International Association of
Athletics Federations.
More than 7,500 people,
including 64 youth teams, took part in this year’s marathon, ensuring
its place as a major event in the Irish sporting calendar.
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