'I ran 200km to raise money for West Cork charity I hold dear'

Macroom man Charles Murphy didn’t have much time to admire the scenery when he took part in the gruelling Race Across Scotland event last week.

The 47-year-old father-of-four attempted a 364km run across four days from coast to coast for charity.

The ultra-marathon event was all in aid of West Cork Rapid Response.

“It is a charity that is very close to my heart,” says Charles.

“After a family accident, where the individual was using a circular saw and lost a finger, the Rapid Response team arrived to treat the injuries before the ambulance did.

“The medics, who are all volunteers, were able to stop the bleeding to lessen any nerve damage. They saved the other damaged finger,” says Charles.

“We are very thankful to them. Seeing them in action, so fast, so capable, so knowledgeable, was amazing.”

He and his partner Niamh wanted to show their support and gratitude, and to enable West Cork Rapid Response volunteers “to continue helping anyone who gets into trouble like we did”.

Unfortunately Charles and his running buddy Paul did not run the full 364km last week, and had to give up after an epic 200km. However, he still managed to raise €4,150 for the charity.

“My legs gave up on me,” explains Charles. “My feet swelled up on me. From my shins to my toes swelled up. It came to the point where I had to give up.

“Paul and I, lying 9th and 10th, had run through the night, through bog and mist, which destroyed our legs. We were advised at the 204km checkpoint to stop or we’d cause even more damage.

“I was disappointed knowing that I was capable of finishing the race.”

His sense of humour endured.

“I was going around wearing slippers on the mountain after I had to give up. People were looking at me stupid!”

Undaunted, Charles intends to give the Race Across Scotland another go in the future. This is a man who likes to challenge himself, but is relatively new to ultra-running. “I am running four years, and I’m marathon running for three years now,” he said.

He was always fit though.

“I used to go to the gym, and I swapped gym work for long distance running,” says Charles.

“I continued to challenge myself running long distances. I did the Kerry Way, 200km, two years ago.”

He likes to fundraise for charities close to his heart.

“Myself and two buddies did a 12- hour distance run for CRITICAL - a leading emergency medical response charity - running 100km each. I got used to running long distances.

“When West Cork Rapid Response showed up for us, I signed up for the Race Across Scotland.”

Charles made sure he was ready for the annual challenge. “I prepared for the Scottish mountains by running up and down Ireland’s tallest mountains as well as several other mountain trail-runs across West Cork,” he said.

“I managed to summit Carrauntoohil three times.”

The Race Across Scotland follows a course that begins on the west coast of the country, at Port Patrick, trekking across rough terrain, mountains, valleys and ancient forest.

The final lap ends at the east coast at Cockburnspath. Competitors have 100 hours to complete the run.

“My training involved a lot of runs across mountains in West Cork, and a few weeks’ back, I ran Carrauntoohil three times a day,” he said.

“I felt confident that I was going to get the race finished in the allotted time.”

Runners barely have time to sleep during the trek, and snatch 15 or 20 minutes here and there before being woken by an alarm,

Charles had encouragement and moral support in his corner.

“Niamh came with me. She was at the various 12 checkpoints to fuel me up to keep me going.”

He had run through Scotland before.

“I ran from Glasgow to Edinburgh last year,” he says. “So I have a taste of it! I felt great after it.

“I also did Dungarvan to Waterford Greenway in 24 hours without sleeping through it. I wanted to get in a long distance with limited sleep.”

Charles, Niamh, and the race participants were all in it together.

“There were 250 ultra-runners taking part in the Race Across Scotland,” says Charles.

His original target was to raise €3,000 for West Cork Rapid Response, but he said: “It’s gone over that with all the people of Macroom, and so many others, getting behind me and donating. It’s great.

“I really want to get the word out there about the wonderful volunteers of West Cork Rapid Response. They are self-funded and so well trained.

“I am really happy that I can show them some support. My target has gone over what I had hoped for. Now I want to keep it going.”

West Cork Rapid Response is a volunteer-led organisation providing critical, life-saving emergency medical care, supporting the existing HSE emergency medical services across the West Cork community.

Donations to Charles’ fundraiser can be made via idonate.ie//fundraiser/charlesmurphy11.