This Sunday the 29th of October, 11 runners are set to continue their record of participating in every Dublin Marathon event since 1980.
The 2023 Irish Life Dublin Marathon will be the 42nd edition of the event. Among the thousands set to toe the line will be Mary Hickey Nolan of Wicklow, the only woman to have completed every Dublin Marathon. Mary will be joined by the youngest of the group, Dubliner Martin Kelly (61) while Peadar Nugent (80) of Galway has the honour of being the eldest.
The remainder of this legendary group are Donal Ward (Donegal), Seamus Cawley (Limerick), Seamus Dunne (Meath) and Dublin based Donal de Buitléir, John McElhinney, Patrick Gowen, Dominic Gallagher and Mick Carolan.
2,100 runners took part in the inaugural event in 1980 and Mary Hickey was one of only 40 women who took part, finishing the race in 3 hours 38 minutes. She is now the only woman continuing an unbroken participation in the event.
“The year I broke three hours that was magic, to come across the line and see the clock reading sub three was something else,” she said.
“Getting around it when I was six months pregnant was special too and pushing my ex-husband around it in 2017, who was very sick at the time, that was very emotional.”
Mary supported Tony to keep his unbroken Dublin marathon run after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Mary along with three of his friends pushed him around the 26 miles in an adapted wheelchair, he passed away the following June.
Donal de Buitleir signed up for the first edition of the race after Noel Carroll, one of the founders of the Dublin Marathon told him about the event.
“In 1980 I was working on Merrion St and a group of us used to go down to Trinity College to train at lunchtime twice a-week. Noel Carroll also trained there so we’d meet him in the dressing room. He started talking about this marathon thing and I decided to give it a go. At that stage only iron men did marathons and even the idea of running 10 miles was challenging.”
“The Dublin Marathon really is the friendly marathon,” added Peadar Nugent.
“All the people who staff the drinks tables all the way around and all the volunteers at the start and finish are marvellous. They’re all so full of great spirit and encouragement. No matter how miserable you might be feeling during it they always say, ‘you’re looking great!’ and that really gives you a lift.”
“Running every Dublin Marathon is an impressive feat, and those who have achieved that deserve legendary status,” said Race Director Jim Aughney.
