Eimear’s five marathons in five days

Eimear’s five marathons in five days

26 June 2019

LOUGHINISLAND’S Eimear Murray has never completed one marathon — yet she is aiming to do five in five days as part of a charity challenge.

The super fit 23 year-old gaelic footballer is doing five ‘marathons’ in running, swimming, rowing and cycling, starting on September 2.

She aims to raise money for two causes close to her heart — Daisy Lodge in Newcastle and 

little Katie Rose McKeown, from Armagh, in her ongoing fight against cancer.

Eimear will be running two marathons of 26.2 miles – one at the beginning and another end of her five days. 

She will also be doing marathon times or distances in the other three sports — a 85km cycle run, a 11km swim and 26.2 miles on a rowing machine.

Her uncle, Ciaran Carolan, will be accompanying her on the cycle run and some of her team-mates have promised to run some sections on her last marathon run.

She hopes to do the row either in the club or somewhere public where passers-by will be able to watch and hopefully donate money as she works up a sweat.

Eimear plays at left back for Loughinisland ladies — who are unbeaten in the last 11 games and winners of Down Junior League at the weekend— and she says that a rash statement one night has now turned into a major physical challenge.

“I’ve never run a marathon before, but I finished a 13-mile practice run last week so training is going well,” said Eimear. “I’ve taken part in a few half marathons but that is the extent of my running.

“This happened when I mentioned it as an idea to some friends. It turned into something very serious and then I thought I might as well do it.

“I’ve been volunteering at Daisy Lodge for a while now and it provides a wonderful service to children and their families and I knew I wanted to do something to help. 

“I also worked in O’Hare’s bar and restaurant in Newcastle and a family came in who were doing a sponsored walk up Slieve Donard. They turned out to be the parents of Katie Rose, who also went to Daisy Lodge. They are fundraising for treatment for her in America.”

Eimear is hoping to raise £2,000, with half of the proceeds going to each charity, and so far she has raised £450. 

She has been playing for Loughinisland for the past seven years and is already committed to four sessions a week training for her football and for the upcoming challenge.

The first year student nurse hopes to become a health visitor in the future.

“I’m currently on placement and either train before and after that,” she said. “I leave my longer runs or swims for the weekend.

“I suppose the reason I am taking something on like this is that I don’t have anyone else to look after, only myself.” 

To support Eimear’s five-day challenge visit https://justgiving.com/teams/katieroseanddaisylodge