STEPHEN’S INCREDIBLE 6K A DAY FOR 366 DAYS!
Stephen Geraghty completed a personal journey on Saturday when he ran his 366th 6km in a row! Stephen admitted the experience was ‘surreal’ - but he said he might be taking a few days off before deciding on his next challenge. Meanwhile, Don Thornton (inset) has passed the 2,000km mark in his 10k a day for the Alzheimer Society.
IT TAKES determination to take on a monster challenge - and when it comes to pure guts meet Stephen Geraghty - a one man wonder!
On New Year’s Eve, the 34-year-old from Termonfeckin completed a 6k run around Oldbridge House to complete a marathon feat - a 6k a day for 366 days.
With a marathon and a few more longer races thrown in, he bettered 2,000km for the year by quite a way.
‘Why did I do it?’ he remarks. ‘It was a personal challenge and when it was all over it was a surreal feeling. I am probably sad to see the end of it now. I might sleep for a while now and then get back out with the club, Drogheda and District,’ he stated.
He was 18st when he began the remarkable journey and now touches the scales at just over 13st. ‘It has helped bring the weight down,’ he admits, but ultimately it has shown to him what is possible in life, if you want it enough.
‘ There were tough days,’ he continues. He ran the Dublin Marathon a few months ago, but had to do the 6k before it and then the day after.
He suffered problems with his achilles, fractured a rib, damaged his calf and back - but still went out day after day.
‘I used to look out at the wind and rain and wonder, but once you got into the run it didn’t matter. I was like a drowned rat at times, but I still had a smile on my face.’
He has become a familiar face on the back roads around Termonfeckin, but has also ventured to places like Barcelona, Italy and Cannes in France.
‘I love running, I’d run anywhere,’ he adds.
For his last day, he invited the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre to come down and seek donations as it’s close to his heart - the late Mandy Weldon was his Godmother.