'When you run an ultra-marathon everything after that becomes that little bit easier'

ATHLETICS Keith Lane on the risks and rewards of ultra running

When he's out there, running through the countryside, up the hills and down the valleys Keith Lane can, at times, acutely feel the physical pain that goes with taking part in an ultra-marathon run. The legs can hurt like hell, the lungs can feel they are about to explode, the mind can wander.

Yet he knows too about the joys and the rewards of it all. That sense of exhilaration that goes with having completed a really difficult task; at having overcome the odds and got over the line. Literally.

Last month the 43-year-old Navanman had reason to feel thrilled with himself and what he achieved when he won the Kerry Way Ultra Marathon.

Not only did he win the race after 200km - that's right 200km - of running, he set a new record in what is clearly regarded among the athletics set as Ireland's hardest, most competitive, most demanding race. It's a 200km trail and road race which traverses the Iveragh peninsula and it sounds like pure torture.

The event took Lane 21 hours and 18 minutes to compete; a time that was some way better than the previous record, which was only set last year, of 22 hours 35 minutes. The race attracts runners from all over the world so to get the better of them and the many physical and mental challenges that have to be overcome constitutes a wondrous feat indeed. Fulfilling too.

Lane - who is the Head of Operations with the charity ALONE - was followed home in this year's race by Stephen Mangan from Kerry with Martin Balliro of Argentina securing third place. The Kerry Way also proved memorable for former Trim AC athlete Ellen Vitting. She won the women's race in a time of 27 hours, seven minutes, 56 seconds. Again, another wonderful achievement.

This was Lane's third time to take part in the truly, mind expanding, gruelling event. He's pretty sure he won't be making a fourth attempt.

"I came second in the race in 2020 but I knew I could do more, I ran within myself," he adds. "This was my third attempt at it and I put in a fair bit of focus into the training this year, but I'm not going to do it again. It was my third and final attempt at cracking the nut."

Lane is certain he won't go again partly because of the toll it can take and partly because there are other hills to conquer, other races to run.

"It's hard, it can be very taxing on the body. A lot of training goes into preparing for a distance like that. It's across mountains, there are 6,000 metres of elevation in it, so yeah the wear and tear is considerable."

The son of Jim Lane (the renowned Simonstown Gaels clubman), Keith is a former goalkeeper with Navan O'Mahonys.

He won two SFC medals with the Brews Hills outfit before turning to long distance running when he hung up the boots.

He completed a few marathons but didn't set the world on fire yet he wanted to push the boundaries out further. He became an ultra runner and took part in events some of which involved running for 100k.

"Before I knew it was lining up to do these 200k races, I found I could be competitive in those," he adds. Earlier this year he won the 80k plus Mourne Way before tackling on the big one in September down among the picturesque Kerry mountains.

Why would someone want put themselves through such pain and suffering? "Why not," says Keith in response to the question, although he's not entirely sure why he finds it so compelling. He goes on to suggest that somewhere deep inside himself there is some deep, unfathomable need to push things to the limit. It's just the way he is.

"The bigger the test, the harder it is for me, the more I enjoy the training in the build up to the event."

Whatever about the physical pain and discomfort there are definite positive aspects.

"When you are in the mountains, out in the air, the trails, the bogs, it's so rewarding. Every runner will tell you there's a mental aspect to it. When you run an ultra-marathon everything after that becomes that little bit easier. You are able to come back in and say I ran 200km, I've run over mountains, I've put in a good time. It generates that sense of achievement and confidence in yourself that if you put your mind to something it's possible."

Not that he does it all alone. Ultra runners have what is termed a "crew" even though it can be just one person. Keith Lane's crew in Kerry was his close friend and running partner Lar McEvoy who is also from Navan.

At certain stages in the race (at what are referred to as "aid stations") McEvoy would be there with food, water and, just as vital, encouraging words that were like gold. Verbal gold.

"It's impossible to do a race like the Kerry Way without that support. He was with me the last three years and I would be absolutely lost without him. It really is a team effort even though there is only one runner doing the race."

Others too helped out the 'Team Lane' project. He points to the support in terms of equipment supplied by Graham Macken (himself a competitive ultra-athlete) and Dave Webster in the Spun Cycle & Spun Run outlet in Johnstown, Navan.

Such support too is greatly appreciated.

So having done the Kerry Way what next for Lane? He's looking at an event in Wicklow but that's not until 2023. Before that you suspect he will just enjoy getting back into full training.

At least he will always have the satisfaction of knowing he took on and conquered the worst the Kerry Way could throw at him - and emerged from it all still smiling.