Mayo Man takes on seven marathons across seven continents in seven days
The route will take Alan from the Antarctica to Cape Town, Perth, Singapore, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro and Miami.
Alan Heaney, from Killasser, Swinford, Co. Mayo is preparing to take on one of the world’s most extreme endurance challenges, running seven marathons across seven continents in seven consecutive days, in aid of the Sunflower Children’s Hospice and Mindspace Mayo.
Alan will begin the 777 Challenge on 15th November, joining a group of approximately 40 endurance athletes from around the world who will travel across the globe to complete each marathon.
The route will take Alan from the Antarctica to Cape Town, Perth, Singapore, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro and Miami.
Over seven consecutive days, Alan will face temperatures ranging from minus 30 degrees at to more than 40 degrees, while dealing with long-haul flights, changing time zones and limited recovery time between marathons.
He is already well into his preparations, running half marathons three mornings a week, cycling 50 KMs two evenings a week and regularly doing gym and sauna sessions, as he builds towards the challenge.
This year marks Alan’s tenth consecutive year taking on an ultra-endurance challenge for charity, an incredible milestone that reflects his commitment to pushing his physical limits while raising vital funds for causes close to his heart. In that time, Alan has raised more than €285,000 for various charities across multipole challenges, to name but a few:
1.Marathon des Sables race (6 marathons – 265 KM) unsupported across the Sahara Desert over 5 days)
2.Mizen to Malin ultra cycle (600 KM) over 22 hours 20 mins
3.Lands End to John O Groats (UK) ultra cycle (1,600 KM) over 4 days
4.Lourdes to Knock ultra cycle (2,000 KM) over 5 days
5.32 counties cycle (1800 KM) in 6 days.
This is the fourth time that Alan has fundraised for Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, with proceeds going towards the new Sunflower Children’s Hospice, which will provide specialist care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families across the western seaboard.
A percentage of the funds raised will also go to Mindspace Mayo, a charity Alan supports every year.
Alan covers all expenses associated with his challenges himself, meaning every cent raised goes directly to his chosen charities.
Alan is the co-founder and owner of Efficient Farm Systems (EFS), Animal Health Monitoring Systems Ltd and both Lely Mullingar and Lely Kilkenny which deliver robotic feeding, cleaning and milking solutions to both dairy and beef farms nationwide, which optimise animal health and performance while at the same time significantly reducing farmers’ workloads.
Speaking ahead of the challenge, Alan said:“I am a very active person who fills the day from end to end with farming, business matters, coaching kids and personal fitness. About 10 years ago, I made a deal with myself that I would maintain a perpetual body fitness, one that would allow me compete in a Triathlon, Hyrox, football match, marathon, duathlon etc. Whatever it may be, at short notice and the next day. Basically, I’m ready for any sporting challenge any day, any time anywhere!
I love keeping fit and challenging myself, I am very active in local voluntary community groups but particularly coaching both GAA and LGFA underage teams, I part-time farm too so I’m pretty busy all day every day - but the biggest motivation for me is knowing that what I’m doing can make a real difference to other people, those less fortunate.
"When you take on something like this, there are going to be lots of tough long days, but knowing you’re helping to make a genuine difference to families keeps you going and driving on.
I’m delighted to support the Sunflower Children’s Hospice this year. I’ve seen how Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation delivers on its promises. Mayo Hospice in Castlebar and Roscommon Hospice in Roscommon town were both delivered on time and under budget, and that gives me huge confidence in the team and what they are working to achieve for children and families across the western seaboard. Martina Jennings and her team are brilliant, and I know that the money raised will go towards making a lasting difference. I’m also supporting Mindspace Mayo again this year, which is another cause very close to my heart.
The 777 Challenge is going to be tough; there’s no doubt about that, outside the running, there are so many other factors at play - stomach upsets, dehydration, hyperthermia, hypothermia, digestive upsets, nausea, muscle cramps, blisters etc. My body is going to take a serious beating, and the changes in temperature and time zones will make it even more difficult. You could be running in freezing conditions one day and extreme heat the next, with very little time to recover. But I’m looking forward to the challenge and, most importantly, to raising as much as possible for both charities.”
