There was a time when Brenda O’Keeffe hated running… but how things have changed. The Co Cavan native set the Irish record for the most marathons ran in a year; her total being 107.
In 2015 Brenda ran “home for Christmas” for cystic fibrosis (CF) and Care for Cian. Local woman Lorraine O’Neill is a CF campaigner and her daughter was diagnosed with the disease soon after birth; Care for Cian was set up for Brenda’s friend’s son, who has a rare condition known as Cri Du Chat (cry of the cat) and Mosaic Down Syndrome.
A chef by profession, Brenda is working towards her 400th marathon and next year she plans to run 20 marathons in 20 days for the palliative care unit in Cavan.
But the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon – which takes place this weekend – actually kick-started Brenda’s running journey. Having witnessed the competitors celebrating after crossing the finish line, Brenda decided there and then that she would complete the next mini marathon and the rest is history.
“I did gymnastics for years when I was a kid and I played camogie at school, but I never ran. In secondary school the nuns used to have us running around the football pitch and I hated it. That’s totally changed now.
“In 2010, I ran my first 10k Flora Mini Marathon (now known as Vhi Mini Marathon). The year before I was in a pub in Finglas and I saw these women coming in after doing the Flora Mini Marathon with their medals and I thought, ‘I would like to do that next year’. My sister and I signed up for it and we did it together, I absolutely loved it.
“Afterwards, I signed up for the Dublin Marathon. I wasn’t in a club or anything, I would just go out by myself and do whatever I could after work; I would run up to 20k.
“Five days after the Dublin Marathon, I did the Frankfurt Marathon and I’ve never looked back, I got totally hooked. Running is my little tablet every day and it doesn’t matter what speed you go at, everyone is different. Sometimes I could walk for two hours during the marathon, time doesn’t really matter to me.
“Every January I put up my calendar in the kitchen and my whole year is planned out with all my races. What motivates me is the scenery too; some of the marathons in Donegal, the scenery is breathtaking and in England, I do a lot of trail running, so it is through fields, farm lands and the countryside.”
Making records
“In 2015, I ran 107 marathons in a year. That’s an Irish record, that’s the most marathons ran by an Irish person in a year. That’s ranging from marathons, 100k and 100 mile races.
“The record was 104 in a year. I set out to do 100 and then I just kept going and I got 107. It was held by a man and it’s now held by a woman, it’s nice to have.
“For doing that I received the Outsider Magazine Award for Best Newcomer and I got nominated for Sportswoman of the Year. That was really nice, but there are so many amazing people doing amazing things at the moment.”
Running home for Christmas
“My sister – who I ran the mini-marathon with – did the Derry Marathon with a group of women for Lorraine O’Neill’s daughter, who has cystic fibrosis. Many of them hadn’t run before and I was so proud of my sister.
“That day I was running my 152nd marathon and Lorraine was telling the women how proud she was that they were raising money for her daughter and I found it very emotional, so I said to Lorraine, ‘I’m going to run home for Christmas to raise money for your daughter’.
“In 2015, I ran home for Christmas from Dublin to Cavan for cystic fibrosis and Care for Cian. I ran during the night and the weather was desperate. What kept me going was knowing that the people of Cavan were behind me and were going to be waiting that morning for me in the town. It was amazing.”
Twenty-four hours
“I have three 24 hours (runs) coming up in June. I just have to get it in my head that I’m going to be out for 24 hours, it’s only 24 hours, I’m not going to die and it’s not for the rest of my life. You have to be strong. I never leave the track unless I’m going to the toilet and I never sit down.
“It’s so important to have a good crew with you, to look after you, make you a cup of tea and tell you that everything’s OK.
“My father was my biggest fan and so is my partner Sean. Sometimes Sean does the 24 hour (running) with me. Last year, I did one every weekend in June. I got two firsts, one second and a third place; I was really happy with that, I worked hard.”
Inspiration
“I have hemochromatosis, I produce too much iron and the side-effects of that are swollen joints and fatigue. I struggle with that and the older I get, the more I seem to have it.
“Years ago my dad (picutred left) rowed 209 miles for charity, so I thought, ‘If he could do that, I can do this’. His memory spurs me on and I love it; the longer the distance the better.”
Find out more about Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon on their website.