BOBBY IS ON HIS 160km RUN FOR KILCULLEN GAA

With the equivalent of nearly four marathon distances to complete over 24 hours, Brannockstown resident Bobby Molloy set off from the Kilcullen GAA Clubhouse on the dot of 11 this morning, writes Brian Byrne. A short while afterwards he was joined by children from Scoil Bhride 1st and 2nd classes, the first of relays of school pupils to give him support today on his endeavour.

The event will conclude tomorrow morning when members of the Kilcullen GAA Junior Academy, on their own final day, will join Bobby on the community walkway for his final laps. Two of his children play with the club, and when he finishes tomorrow he will have completed 160km, helping to raise funds to keep the lights on around the walkway.

"The event is under what's called Backyard Challenge rules," Bobby told the Diary this morning while warming up before his start. "The plan is to complete around 6.7km in 50 minutes, then take a 10-minute break for some food and drink, and go back out again. I do that consistently for 24 hours, hopefully."

Keeping his time over the 24 hours is his friend Chris Phelan. Both are coaches with Ryston Sports & Social Club in Newbridge, and last year they ran the Galway Marathon together to raise money for a charity. "We trained together to do a 100 miles also last year, but I had an injury and Chris had to do it himself."

If you're taking your own exercise around the walkway today, give him a cheer. And if you want to help with the fundraising, buy a coffee at the club's Raggy's Coffee Shop, which is donating a euro for every coffee or smoothie purchased.

Kilcullen GAA's Jay Lambert-Mills and Trevor Schwer with Bobby before the start.

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