Running a marathon is tough enough in its own right, but doing so while clad in full fireman’s gear and setting a world record while you’re at it? That’s the stuff of legend.
With that in mind, we had little hesitation in awarding the title of JOE’s Hero of the Week to Alex O’Shea, a firefighter from Cork who ran the marathon in his native city on Monday while wearing his full uniform – steel-capped boots, fire pants, a tunic and a fire helmet – that added an extra three and a half pounds to the weight he had to carry around for just over 26 miles.
Whatever about the weight, the extra garments would surely have added a significant element of discomfort to the whole experience, but it didn’t seem to bother Alex, who made it home in three hours, 41 minutes and ten seconds (3:41:10), smashing the world record for running a marathon while wearing a firefighter’s uniform (yes, these records exist) by just under an hour in the process.
Impressive enough as the achievement was from an individual point of view, Alex also helped raise money for a charity, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, and for the building of a children’s playground in Ballineen Enniskeane, West Cork.
He also received a €5,000 donation from a celebrity benefactor – one Roy Keane – who is also an ambassador for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and told Alex he would donate the hefty sum if he broke the world record. When Roy Keane sets you a challenge, you generally go all out to accomplish it; there was certainly no danger of failing to prepare in O’Shea’s case.
Alex was accompanied over the line by his two sons, Leon and Noah, and understandably wrecked after what he’d been through, he was helped into a wheelchair immediately after crossing the line to help him recover from his magnificent efforts.
We’re not sure if we’re quite ready to replicate Alex’s efforts at the next marathon that comes around, but we’re certainly inspired by them all the same; he’s a well-deserved recipient of JOE’s Hero of the week award.
Pics via Facebook/Cork City Marathon
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