Local man to run 4 miles, every 4 hours, for 48 hours

An Athlone man is preparing to run four miles every four hours for 48 hours this weekend.

Cornafulla resident Niall Cullen will start his version of the ‘David Goggins 4x4x48 Challenge’ at 4am tomorrow morning (Saturday).

One of the rules is that participants must start the challenge at the same time as leading American endurance athlete Goggins, regardless of time zone. So with Goggins starting at 8pm Pacific time this Friday evening, Niall will be starting in the early hours of Saturday morning, Cornafulla time!

It’s an endurance challenge with a difference and if one does the basic maths, it works out as 12 four-mile runs and a total of 48 miles in 48 hours.

The challenge was initiated by David Goggins, author of best-selling book ‘Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds’. A blurb for the book states: “Through self-discipline, mental toughness and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world’s top endurance athletes.”

In taking on this gruelling challenge, Niall will be raising funds for BUMBLEance, the official Children’s National Ambulance Service in Ireland.

Originally from Cabra in Dublin, Niall has been living in Cornafulla for the past 13 years. He and his wife Sarah have two sons, Sebastian (ten) and Eli (seven). Both boys go to Cornafulla NS and play football with Clann na nGael GAA club.

Three years ago, Sebastian contracted the influenza B virus which necessitated a stint in intensive care. Sebastian was treated in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, before being transported via the BUMBLEance service to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin for further treatment.

Thankfully, Sebastian made a full recovery but that very worrying time gave Niall and his family an awareness of the importance of services like BUMBLEance.

“It’s a great service for children and their families,” Niall told the Westmeath Independent. “The ambulances have the best of equipment and they can do operations on the side of the road if needed.”

Niall has trained with the Moate Athlone Running Group and took part in the group’s weekly sessions on Wednesday evenings before Covid-19 restrictions prevented such gatherings from taking place.

“I took up running about five years ago to lose weight and build up my fitness. It’s good for the head as well,” said Niall.

He has completed six marathons - three in his native Dublin, two in Barcelona and one in Roscommon, though he’s quick to add that he won’t tackle the full marathon in Roscommon again!

As for the upcoming challenge, Niall said: “I did three runs over 12 hours as part of my training and you’d be tired after the third one, so I’m not sure how I’ll manage at the weekend.

“As long as I can get a few hours’ sleep on Saturday night, I should be okay,” he continued, adding with a laugh that it will be Sarah’s job to ensure he gets out of the bed again.

Niall’s father-in-law is Emmet Durney, who guided the Roscommon minor footballers to Connacht championship success towards the end of last year. Emmet and his wife Geraldine are also well known for running the Reubens catering business in the Athlone area for many years.

A bus driver with Bus Éireann, Niall has been covering the Galway city service route for the past couple of years. And given his bus driving expertise, he has been known to drive the Club Rossie bus when required.

Due to work commitments recently, Niall said he has been out running during “unsociable hours”. He has been taking to the roads at all sorts of times armed with various high-vis aids, such as a reflector light that goes around the chest (a gift from his mother-in-law Geraldine).

And locals should not be alarmed if they see a lone figure clocking up the miles at strange times again this weekend. Niall has a few routes on the Ballinasloe Road planned for his challenge, while keeping within Covid-19 guidelines.

What is BUMBLEance?

BUMBLEance, the Children’s National Ambulance Service in Ireland, is the second project set up by the Saoirse Foundation. It provides safe and comfortable transportation for young patients as they travel between their homes and hospitals, hospices, treatment centres, and respite centres nationwide.

The first service of its kind in the world, BUMBLEance has all the amenities of a regular ambulance but it includes plenty of extras to make a sick child’s journey as safe, comfortable and entertaining as possible.

Their stated aim is "to distract, comfort and entertain Ireland’s youngest and most critically ill patients as they travel to and from hospitals and paediatric treatment centres nationwide".

The ambulances have a bright and cheerful exterior, and the ambulances are equipped with all sorts of games and other extras that appeal to children.

The charity was founded by Tony and Mary Heffernan from Kerry in 2010 after their daughter, Saoirse, was diagnosed with Batten Disease – a rare and fatal neurological condition.

When their son, Liam, was also diagnosed with Batten Disease, Tony and Mary decided to expand the charity’s remit to include children suffering from cancer, chronic illnesses or life-limiting conditions.

The charity’s first project was 'Bee for Battens', a support network and a credible source of information for parents, families, and all those affected by Batten Disease. Liam had the distinction of being the first-ever child on board a BUMBLEance.

Although Mary and Tony suffered the unimaginable grief of losing both of their children to Batten Disease, their charitable work with the Saoirse Foundation, including projects like BUMBLEance, helps so many children and carries on the memory of both Saoirse and Liam.

*If anyone wishes to support Niall by donating to BUMBLEance, click HERE for the link.