Catherine completes marathons challenge

Catherine completes marathons challenge

25 April 2018

CATHERINE Miskelly has joined an elite group of runners who have completed the Abbott World Marathons Majors Challenge.

The Darragh Cross woman is one of only 14 people to complete the New York, Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo, London and Boston marathons, clocking up almost 160 miles.

What’s more, Catherine completed the six-marathon challenge in just 18 months and is only the fourth woman in Northern Ireland to do so.

A keen runner with over 30 marathons under her belt, the business process manager has raised over £5,200 for various charities, including Prostate Cancer, Bloodwise, and Aaron’s Army. 

For her latest marathon two weeks ago in Boston, Catherine chose to raise funds for Leukaemia and Lymphoma NI in memory of her friend Joanne McCawley who passed away last December.

Each marathon requires substantial commitment, with Catherine explaining her training plan is usually 16 weeks.

She continued: “During this time, I will gradually build up my longer runs while keeping consistent with the shorter runs. I will run six days a week plus fit in two strength and conditioning sessions and a spin session. I will run between 35 and 60 miles a week.

“Training for a marathon is a huge commitment. After being at work all day it can be very hard to motivate myself to go out for a run, especially during the dark, cold winter months. I am usually not sitting down to eat dinner until 9:30pm but there are no shortcuts in marathon training – the miles need to be done to give myself the best chance of completing the distance.”

Catherine also revealed that if she is travelling with work, the training still continues, which may may mean running on a treadmill if she does not know the area. But she admits taking part in the marathons 

makes all the training worthwhile.

“The marathons have been amazing. I feel very fortunate to have been able to see some of the most famous cities in the world from a different angle than most others. I  have run over Tower Bridge in London, through the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and finished in Central Park in New York. How lucky am I?

“My biggest challenge has been fitting in all the training and trying to remain injury-free. I recently fell and that hindered my Boston marathon training for two months but, with the expertise and guidance of Claire Wilson from Pure Physio clinic, Paul Flynn from the Physio Clinic NI, Emma Brennan from Alpha Fitness and my running coaches at Ballydrain Harriers, I managed to make it round the course.”

Catherine revealed another other issue she faces is long-distance travelling and the cost of the majors. 

“I have found the marathons in America and Japan more difficult than those closer to home due to the travel and eating different foods, etc, is not ideal a couple of days before a race,”she said. “It has been very expensive to complete the majors. The cost alone for entering New York marathon is $358. Flights, accommodation, transfers all add up.

“So do physios, sports massages, classes and needing new trainers every eight weeks, but I wouldn’t have it any other way though. I decided to take this challenge on and that I wanted all the money raised to go directly to the charities. Therefore I fund everything myself.”

Catherine revealed that before Joanne passed away, she promised her she would continue to raise money and awareness for her chosen charities.

“Leukaemia and Lymphoma NI was a charity Joanne was passionate about,” Catherine confirmed, admitting she doesn’t always run seriously. 

She has taken part in Belfast City Marathon dressed as an Oompa Loompa along with 68 other Oompas and taken part in a wedding marathon where two of her friends got married on the same day, after which they all ran a marathon together.  

In addition, she has helped push wheelchair-bound Aaron Kerr, who was born with chronic renal failure and has other medical issues, round the Dublin marathon course and raised money for Aaron’s Army, which purchases running joggers to enrich disabled people’s lives. 

Anyone who would like to support Catherine’s fundraising efforts can do so by visiting her JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/catherine-miskelly2.