The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
PAT STILL WALKING TO GLORY
CASTLEISLAND MAN (57) HAS COLLECTED UP TO 50 WORLD AND EUROPEAN WALKING TITLES, AND THERE’S MORE TO COME
BACK IN THE DAY I COULD DO ALL THE BIG DISTANCES UP TO 50K BUT NOW I DO THE SHORTER TRIPS. THIS ALLOWS ME TO ENJOY WHAT I DO FOR LONGER.
THEY say you shouldn’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes. Well, try walking in Pat Murphy’s shoes and you will soon discover that what he has achieved is nothing short of remarkable. Places like South Korea, Italy, Mexico and Portugal are among a list of over 80 countries Pat has walked in during his 40 years as a race walker.
Pat hails from just outside Castleisland and he has represented Ireland for 15 years at multiple distances from 3km up to 50km. Since 2001 he has competed in the Master’s category, amassing between 40 and 50 World and European titles and over 300 All-Ireland titles in his career to date.
Pat says that his preparations are similar to a runner’s, and during his younger days he would clock up 24 hours-a-week-training, while also balancing his work life as a plumber. Being self-employed has brought its pros as cons in a sport Pat loves with a passion.
“I can travel to tournaments on my own time which helps. It’s also good in the sense I can train to suit my own working day. The downside is I don’t get paid. When I was with the Irish team I was looked after, but competing as a Master means you’re on your own when it comes to funding. I’ve often been away training for up to six weeks without pay,” he said.
Pat is now 57 and with age comes wisdom as he uses his energy to better affect these days by sticking to shorter trips. This helps preserve his body, while also allowing him to remain competitive for longer. Pat doesn’t drink - he watches his diet with the discipline of a jockey - and while most of us were wading through pounds of turkey over Christmas, Pat spent his days on Banna beach clocking up the miles.
“You need to do a combination of hard and easy training. I’m still doing a 5k in around 23 minutes and a 10k in around 49 minutes, which isn’t bad. Back in the day I could do all the big distances up to 50k but now I do the shorter trips. This allows me to enjoy doing what I do for longer,” Pat said.
Pat has enjoyed many special years in terms of success but in 2017 he managed an incredible list of achievements that included indoor and outdoor championships in Nenagh, Cork and in Leinster. He won an All-Ireland indoor in Athlone and an outdoor in Tullamore; All-Ireland success in Dublin and Belfast; championship wins in Scotland and Manchester; and ,to cap it all off, he picked up a bronze medal in the World Road Championships in South Korea.
Pat believes in altering his goals each year to ensure things are kept interesting and having ticked European championships in Italy and Portugal off his list - along with a world championship in South Korea in 2017 - Pat now has his sights set on the American and Canadian championships in 2018.
“They are only a week apart and it’s going to be hard trying to do the two. The American championships are being held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Canadian championships in Toronto. They’re miles apart, so it’s going to be a tough task,” he said.
And of all the countries in the world, what was Pat’s favourite, and why?
“I would have to say the nicest people I’ve met are in South Korea and Mexico. They are very poor people but extremely nice. I reckon I’ve walked in over 80 or 90 countries in my time meeting people and seeing some of the best scenery in the world. That in itself makes all the hours training seem worth it.”