Meet Shane Finn: the Kerry man running 24 marathons in 24 days for charity

For most people, running even one marathon is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. Kerry man Shane Finn, however, is more than mid-way through his “24 Marathons in 24 Days” challenge – running 1,008km from Donegal to his home town of Dingle – in an effort to raise €100,000 for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland.

Speaking with Irish Country Living, the 25-year-old explains that it is a cause close to his heart as his cousin, Mary Evans, who lives in Celbridge in Co Kildare, has spina bifida.

Indeed, he previously raised €13,000 for the charity in 2010 when he ran the Dingle and New York Marathons, and a further €33,000 in 2014 when he ran 12 marathons in 12 days from Dublin to Dingle. This time, however, he has decided to run 24 marathons in 24 days to symbolise how challenging it can be for somebody with a disability to get through 24 hours, having witnessed the strength and courage of Mary and her family.

“I might see her for three or four hours at a time, but I don’t see her the other 21 hours of the day,” he says. “It’s not only tough on the person, but it’s very tough on the family as well.”

As co-owner of WK Fitness in Dingle, Shane is already involved in the sports industry, but he explains how he has spent over a year getting ready for the challenge, including completing an Iron Man in Spain as part of his base training, as well as preparing mentally.

“There is no secret to be honest, it’s just a lot of consistent work over time,” he says. “Just going out training when you’re sore and tired because that’s what’s involved. You can barely get up the steps of the hotel; and then you need to turn around and go out and run another marathon the next morning.”

While Shane admits that he is “in a lot of pain most days”, he attributes this to fatigue, sore joints and muscles, rather than any specific injury. His daily strategy is to run about 24.5km of the total 42km distance before taking a short break to eat something, like a hummus and salad sandwich and a few chocolate fingers if he has a sugar craving, and then tackle the remainder.

“When I start back, I’ve got less than half to go,” he says. “For me mentally, that’s a good thing.”

Daily physiotherapy, rest and calorie loading (when we speak, he has just ordered a pizza, spring rolls and ice-cream for dinner) are also key, and if he starts to struggle he draws on memories of previous events like the Iron Man, or thinks about the people he is running for, such as a little girl called Alicia, who joined him on the final stretch of his marathon into Newbridge using her walking aid.

While he admits to not being a “very emotional person”, he tells Irish Country Living, he is looking forward to seeing his family, friends and dog at the end of his journey on 15 July.

“I’m just looking forward to getting back to Dingle really, seeing Dingle harbour when I come around the bend,” says Shane, who jokes that he will be in trouble with his loved ones if he suggests taking on another extreme challenge in the near future.

“I’d better say nothing for about a year because they’ll kill me.”

So far, Shane has raised over €50,000. Members of the public can donate at www.24marathons24days.ie, or can also get involved by taking part in the “What’s Your 24?” fundraiser: whether it’s taking part in a 24-hour sponsored silence, giving up their smartphone for 24 hours or any challenge they set themselves.