Run, Simon, Run!

Day 3 done and dusty

e’s clearly a glutton for punishing marathons, that young Simon Connaughton.

The Healy-Rae Way

Having just completed the 200km Kerry Way Ultra, the lad is currently pounding the sand out in the sunny Middle East.

Taking place over five days, the Ultra X Jordan is a 250km trail race that covers pretty much every path ever trodden by Lawrence of Arabia.

Simon robs another stop sign

Previously known as the Wadi Rum Ultra, the name was changed after too many people tried to order this plainly tempting cocktail at the bar.

And the bugger of it all is that Simon only took up ultra running two years ago.

Run, Forus, Run!

Closer to home, he and his better half, Eleanor, recently formed the Forus Runclub here in Greystones, meeting at 6.30pm every Tuesday at the South Beach to pound the town for somewhere between 3km and 5km. Depending on the weather. And the spirit.

There’s also a quick dip in the sea afterwards, to get that heart pumping even harder.

Halfway through the five days of hard running and intense heat, Simon is no doubt looking forward to taking a run and splash in Greystones as soon as he’s home.

In the end, at 27hrs, 34mins, Simon came 5th out of 100 runners. Holy! Been there, dune that.