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Watch: Joe McConaughy Smash Eoin Keith’s Wicklow Round Record

Outsider2 August 20182 min read

US athlete, Joe McConaughy secured the fastest known time (FKT) on the Wicklow Round on 6 May, 2018. The Columbia Sportswear sponsored athlete finished in a time of 17 hours and nine minutes beating the previous record set by Eoin Keith by 44 minutes.

WICKLOW WOUND: Yesterday, after 17 hrs and 9 minutes, I complete the Wicklow Round FKT 44 minutes ahead of Eoin Keith’s previous record. It was an amazing, and challenging journey. Between steep climbs, wet bogs and bog holes, navigational mishaps, off trail gallivanting over heather, marshes and grass tufts, the terrain was relentless. I wouldn’t have made it with out and amazing support crew, so thank you @kekiracofe @josh.katzman, Clarky, my mom Mary Ann, @dscottpdx @pursuitfilms @locationfixerireland North and of course @columbia1938. I tried to leave everything on the table and gave it so much. It was a very different kind of run from any ultra or FKT previously. This journey has been SO rewarding, a true adventure. I am grateful. Thank you to Eoin Keith for crewing my entire round, and the delightful and amazing Irish mountain running for coming out in numbers! #wicklowround #fkt #fastestknowntime #columbiapartner #teamcolumbia #testedtough #wicklow #imra #taur #mountainrunning #fellsrunning #trailrunning

A post shared by Joe McConaughy (@thestring.bean) on May 7, 2018 at 8:42am PDT

The Wicklow Round is a 110km route that takes in more than 6,000m of climbing, bagging 26 of Wicklow’s most remote peaks. It was first completed by Moire O’Sullivan in 2009. Later that year, Eoin Keith ran the Wicklow Round setting a course record that has not been beaten until now.

I thought I’d share a few fun facts about the #wicklowround #fkt. I will be attempting to set a new FKT this Sunday with the support of an amazing crew and will post a live tracker on my profile. Distance: ~72 miles Elevation: ~20,000ft Current FKT: Eoin Keith, 17h53m Route: bag 26 of the remote ?? Wicklow Mountains in order by a combination of roads, trails, and orienteering. You create your own path through bog, marsh, mountains and river. Number of leprechauns: hopefully 2 ? #columbiapartner #testedtough #teamcolumbia

A post shared by Joe McConaughy (@thestring.bean) on May 3, 2018 at 3:58pm PDT

Witness McConaughy’s journey as he fought mental and physical exhaustion to beat Eoin Keith’s record in Columbia Montrail’s new video detailing the ultra-runner’s experience on the Wicklow Route.

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