April 29, 2020
Sunday 5 April was supposed to be the day I ran the Manchester marathon with Friends from Portmarnock AC. However, like so many things right now, the race was postponed by the Coronavirus pandemic. 
Coronavirus Cancelled My Marathon. So I Ran 4,689 Laps Around My Garden Instead
Determined not to be derailed (and not to let all that training go to waste), we joked about running in our gardens instead. A joke that quickly turned into a crazy idea.
When I first told my wife and family I planned to run a marathon in our nine-metre garden, they had concerns but were 100% behind the idea – in some cases more excited about it then me. 
Truth be told I had no idea how to prepare. I’ve run 18 marathons from Dublin to Berlin to Brighton, but never my back garden. I did the maths, and realised I would have to do 4,689 laps to run the 42.2 kilometres of a marathon. Thirty minutes into my one training run, my GPS showed that in that time, I had managed to cover a whopping 2km. If I could do some good while doing something I enjoy, then I figured it would make the process of traversing my garden thousands and thousands of times just that bit easier.At this point, I questioned whether I could actually do this – but within us all is the drive to do what might at first seem impossible. For me, the inspiration came from knowing that what I was going to do would benefit a good cause: a local suicide and self-harm prevention charity called Pieta House. 
Losing a friend through suicide last year rocked me to my core. Thinking about the restrictions on all our lives right now, and knowing there must be people more in need of Pieta House’s services than ever, pushed me through. Running removes a lot of the stresses and anxiety that could add up on me – and I know not everyone is lucky enough to have that off switch. So if I could do some good while doing something I enjoy, then I figured it would make the process of traversing my garden thousands and thousands of times just that bit easier. 
Soon, it was race day. The first few kilometres were slow before I found my rhythm and settled in. I knew it was going to be a long day so I couldn’t try and get any pace going, given the dimensions of my ‘course’. Constant turning could result in me blowing out my knees, ankles or hips early on if I was foolish.
Once I found my rhythm it became more and more enjoyable. My wife and neighbour (running buddy) were updating me with positive messages from those watching live on Facebook, and we turned it into a fun event with music going and viewers suggesting some appropriate running songs (a great source of entertainment for my six-year-old daughter, who was only too happy to dance and soon became the star of the show). Neighbours even hung out of windows and leant over garden fences to cheer me on.  One early concern from literally running round in circles were bouts of dizziness but, somehow, I managed to get away with it. And unlike most marathons where you hit the dreaded ‘wall’ as your muscles tire and your glycogen reserves deplete, this was different. I didn’t have that battle between my body and mind because I wasn’t pushing the pace to get a time. My only goal was to finish.
As I went round and round, I found ways to distract myself from the monotony: singing along to songs, having several good discussions with myself, but mostly just taking in support from my family and friends, which kept my head where it needed to be.After those slow early kilometres, I mastered the tight turns and managed to pick up some pace. My last five were my fastest throughout the day – the thoughts of finally finishing got me more pumped the closer I was to the end.After exactly five hours and six minutes of chasing my tail, I was done, and ready for the lovely cold pint Guinness waiting for me.After exactly five hours and six minutes of chasing my tail, I was done, and ready for the lovely cold pint Guinness waiting for me – which didn’t last too long (and also is not normally part of my rehydration plan, but I think I deserved it).
I came away from my unique run having learned a few things. First, that we’re all capable of great things, particularly when they can benefit others as well as ourselves. We only have one shot at life, and right now it’s on us all to discover what living our best life means to us.
Another thing I learned is, simply, that people are amazing. When times are hard, people come together and support each other – and that’s more evident today in this pandemic than ever, where people are staying indoors to save the lives of loved ones but also strangers. Could there be any greater expression of love, kindness and compassion than that?
Best of all, this was supposed to be a run in my back garden streamed amongst a few friends to raise a few hundred Euros for charity. But my run went viral, has been viewed by almost 7,000 people and I’ve raised over €10,000 to date for Pieta House – a lot coming from complete strangers. 
I am eternally grateful to all these people who donated, supported and sent positive messages of encouragement. This run was one I’ll never forget.
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.comMore from HuffPost UK Personal I Can’t Be The Only One Feeling Drained By Virtual Gatherings I’ve Started Dating Someone While In Self-Isolation. Here’s How It's Going Coronavirus Means Ramadan Will Be More Challenging Than Ever For Muslims Like Me
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Millie Bobby Brown & Jake Bongiovi Celebrate “Three Years of Bliss” Ahead of Wedding
March 24, 2024
C4Ehegcq1-A
Kate Middleton & Prince William "Enormously Touched" by Public Support
March 24, 2024
s8fig-RCjFc
Gisele Bündchen Denies Cheating on Ex-Husband Tom Brady
March 23, 2024
_SpRMagA8BM
Eminem, 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg Present Dr. Dre with a Star on the Walk of Fame
March 19, 2024
4bNLs1hxVp8
Opening Remarks for the Variety Summit October 20th, 2023 Jay Penske
March 18, 2024
c6Z707iLq8E
'Everybody Was S----ing Their Pants': Nick Thune Jokes About Being Born in the '70s and Fatherhood
March 16, 2024
mm7Baf6o2d8
Gunna Says Tour Will Up Creativity in Rap, Endorses Flo Milli | TMZ
March 22, 2024
QfMU24fw-Qo
Reporter Taylor Lorenz Says Palace Botched Kate Cancer News Rollout | TMZ Live
March 22, 2024
o43ZucdiyEo
Riley Strain's Body Found After Going Missing in Nashville 2 Weeks Ago | TMZ NOW
March 22, 2024
1m1zM-4_Cs8
Kyle Richards hasn’t spoken to co-star Dorit Kemsley, denies sending her a ‘manipulative’ text
March 24, 2024
LqLZzDP1hm4
Jordan Emanuel on her connection to 'RHOSLC' star Meredith Marks, advice from Amanda Batula
March 24, 2024
5NPAwlOov1Y
Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary apologizes after slamming ‘fickle’ Meghan Markle in scathing interview
March 24, 2024
JWG9kitALZk
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SK Brann W - Barcelona W
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Hacken W - PSG W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SL Benfica W - Lyon W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Ajax W - Chelsea W
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Brighton - Manchester City
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
11
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Newcastle United
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Manchester City
10
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Celta Vigo
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Atalanta
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Fiorentina - Roma
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Empoli
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.