While most North Down AC club members were reflecting on 2023 or preparing for festivities to welcome the arrival of 2024, ultrarunner Seán Nickell lined up on a 400m track in Leixlip Co Kildare for the 24 hour race across the years. The race started at midday on New Year’s Eve and finished at midday on New Year’s Day. Athletes switched direction on the track every 4 hours and paused to enjoy a fireworks display at midnight but otherwise lapped the track initially in torrential rain before conditions improved through the night and into the morning. The race also included a 12 hour event where Co Mayo based runner, Adrian McNamara, smashed the Irish 12 hour record covering 143.2km or 90 miles in 11:58:56. Seán finished 4th in the 24 hour event completing 404 laps in 23:05:21 to comfortably cover 161.6km or just over 100 miles.
[photo: Seán “warming up” for the 24hr race at the Christmas Cracker]
