Imagine climbing 89 kilometres, 55 miles or two marathons in a 24-hour period. Then turn that challenge vertically on its head and include a steep incline of more than 755meters (2511feet) twelve times up and down (60280feet) 18,134m
After completing the ambitious world record attempt of the most cumulative ascents and descents of Croagh Patrick, Ballinrobe man Padraig Marrey said failure was not an option for the climbers.
He said “I think it’s just the motivation and power of the mind with the sheer volume of people willing us on that was the overriding factor which got us over the line.”
On Friday, July 1, Marrey and fourteen accomplices set out to break the record of 17,011 metres by climbing the Reek twelve times each in 24 hours. The climbers wanted to set a new bench mark, with each climber climbing more vertical meters than Mount Everest (8848m) and set a new record for the most amount of consecutive climbs every undertaken on Croagh Patrick in under 24hrs. The old record was nine. Months of preparation and training had given them the opportunity to breach the unprecedented barriers in aid of Mayo Mountain Rescue and the Red Cross.
The eleven brave souls who climbed the Reek a dozen times were: Paul Mahon (Carlow), Tony Walsh(Louisburgh), PJ Hall(Ballyvary), Noel Brady(Westport), John Gilleran(Roscommon), Robert Coyne (Castlebar), Mary Mulchrone(Westport), Padraig Marrey(Ballinrobe), Pat Staunton(Westport), Kieran Hastings(Westport) and Padraig Hughes(Kilmaine).
Several others had started the challenge, but forced to withdraw due to injury or illness on the day. Sean Quirke (Westport) completed 10 climbs, while Morgan McHugh(Galway) did six , Brendan Butler(Ballinrobe) registered four and Anne Ronayne ( Irishtown ) completed three climbs. Marrey said: “It wasn’t an easy challenge by any stretch of the imagination. All the group had put in an immense training effort leading up to the event."
Marrey believes the spirit generated by supporters was of paramount importance. “After ten climbs it looked like only six of the group would make it. Some of us were very strong but for others it was their first long endurance event so it required a savage mental effort.
“There was a few who got to ten and from previous climbs we thought they would struggle to make it inside the 24hrs, but they put in a monster effort during the final two climbs.
“It was very hard on the feet, ankles and joints, the steep ramp of the cone which is a staggering 40% with the overall average percentage 28% really takes its toll on the body.
There were lost toenails and skin coming off the bottom of feet. At times it was like a scene out of M.A.S.H.”
Marrey said one woman fell badly on her second climb and had to pull out. “She fell fairly heavy on her head. Another participant was badly dehydrated and exhausted and had to be brought to Mayo General Hospital.
“People were generally fine for three or four climbs but after that a number of the participants had dehydration and stomach problems.”
Just before 8pm on Saturday, July 2, the surviving climbers arrived back down to the car park having broken the world record by nearly 1,200 metres. A few hundred supporters were there to welcome them. Marrey said, “We decided we’d all come in together. We started as we meant to go on.
“The people at base camp were incredible. From the co-ordinator David McGrath, dieticians Ray and Marion McHugh and physio Joanne O’Grady who really looked after us. Base camp was set up like a military operation, with formula 1 like turnarounds set up inside in the Marquee where each climber was administrated ice baths/ buckets, massage, stretching and given food by the resourceful volunteers.
Sponsors; Portwest, Hi Tec shoes, Mc Grath’s waste, Corrib oil, O’Connor’s Supervalu, NCF, Mars Ireland, Kinetica Sports nutrition, Clada Minerals and Carrowbeg Stores supplied climbing gear, water , energy products and food for the event. Multi Sports Adventure Ireland supplied the timing equipment. Ray Staunton oversaw the logging and timing of each climb on behalf of the Guinness book of records. Dr Ollie Whyte looked after all the medical issues, this really was a team effort and everybody pulled together to make this happen..”
He said “I think it’s just the motivation and power of the mind with the sheer volume of people willing us on that was the overriding factor which got us over the line.”
On Friday, July 1, Marrey and fourteen accomplices set out to break the record of 17,011 metres by climbing the Reek twelve times each in 24 hours. The climbers wanted to set a new bench mark, with each climber climbing more vertical meters than Mount Everest (8848m) and set a new record for the most amount of consecutive climbs every undertaken on Croagh Patrick in under 24hrs. The old record was nine. Months of preparation and training had given them the opportunity to breach the unprecedented barriers in aid of Mayo Mountain Rescue and the Red Cross.
The eleven brave souls who climbed the Reek a dozen times were: Paul Mahon (Carlow), Tony Walsh(Louisburgh), PJ Hall(Ballyvary), Noel Brady(Westport), John Gilleran(Roscommon), Robert Coyne (Castlebar), Mary Mulchrone(Westport), Padraig Marrey(Ballinrobe), Pat Staunton(Westport), Kieran Hastings(Westport) and Padraig Hughes(Kilmaine).
Several others had started the challenge, but forced to withdraw due to injury or illness on the day. Sean Quirke (Westport) completed 10 climbs, while Morgan McHugh(Galway) did six , Brendan Butler(Ballinrobe) registered four and Anne Ronayne ( Irishtown ) completed three climbs. Marrey said: “It wasn’t an easy challenge by any stretch of the imagination. All the group had put in an immense training effort leading up to the event."
Marrey believes the spirit generated by supporters was of paramount importance. “After ten climbs it looked like only six of the group would make it. Some of us were very strong but for others it was their first long endurance event so it required a savage mental effort.
“There was a few who got to ten and from previous climbs we thought they would struggle to make it inside the 24hrs, but they put in a monster effort during the final two climbs.
“It was very hard on the feet, ankles and joints, the steep ramp of the cone which is a staggering 40% with the overall average percentage 28% really takes its toll on the body.
There were lost toenails and skin coming off the bottom of feet. At times it was like a scene out of M.A.S.H.”
Marrey said one woman fell badly on her second climb and had to pull out. “She fell fairly heavy on her head. Another participant was badly dehydrated and exhausted and had to be brought to Mayo General Hospital.
“People were generally fine for three or four climbs but after that a number of the participants had dehydration and stomach problems.”
Just before 8pm on Saturday, July 2, the surviving climbers arrived back down to the car park having broken the world record by nearly 1,200 metres. A few hundred supporters were there to welcome them. Marrey said, “We decided we’d all come in together. We started as we meant to go on.
“The people at base camp were incredible. From the co-ordinator David McGrath, dieticians Ray and Marion McHugh and physio Joanne O’Grady who really looked after us. Base camp was set up like a military operation, with formula 1 like turnarounds set up inside in the Marquee where each climber was administrated ice baths/ buckets, massage, stretching and given food by the resourceful volunteers.
Sponsors; Portwest, Hi Tec shoes, Mc Grath’s waste, Corrib oil, O’Connor’s Supervalu, NCF, Mars Ireland, Kinetica Sports nutrition, Clada Minerals and Carrowbeg Stores supplied climbing gear, water , energy products and food for the event. Multi Sports Adventure Ireland supplied the timing equipment. Ray Staunton oversaw the logging and timing of each climb on behalf of the Guinness book of records. Dr Ollie Whyte looked after all the medical issues, this really was a team effort and everybody pulled together to make this happen..”
