When thousands of runners flood the streets for this year’s Dublin Marathon, one of them will be carrying an uplifting story of early morning miles and charity missions. Belfast native John Mulholland, has clocked more marathon distances than many seasoned club runners, yet this October will mark his first time on the Dublin start line.
From Zero to Marathon in the Pandemic
John’s running life began only five years ago. “I started in December 2019 through a work project called Experiment 26.2,” he recalls. “The idea was to take people who’d never run a marathon and get us ready for the Belfast Marathon in May 2020.”
Then came the pandemic. Races vanished overnight, but John kept lacing up. “I just kept running because I’d got the bug,” he says. One dark November morning in 2020, he headed to Victoria Park expecting a steady ten miler. “I was feeling good and just kept going. At 20 miles I thought, I might come in under three and a half hours if I keep this up.”
He did more than that, finishing his first ever marathon distance in 3 hours 18 minutes. “It was just me, the swans and a few early risers,” he laughs. “I’d had pizza and a couple of beers the night before. Maybe that was the secret.”
Since that dawn run, John has notched 32 marathon distance outings. “I’ve pretty much always been under four hours,” he adds. “I’m an early morning runner. I train before work when the city is still asleep. There’s nothing better than finishing a long run as the sun comes up.”
Running for His Father
In June 2020, John’s father passed away from kidney cancer. The loss shaped everything that followed. “The Northern Ireland Kidney Foundation helped us as a family and I wanted to give something back,” he says. “So I promised myself I’d do a challenge every year on Dad’s anniversary to raise money for local charities.” The scale of those challenges would test even elite athletes: 30 half marathons in 30 days, 7 marathons in 7 days and 7 ultramarathons in 7 days.
The most recent, seven consecutive 50km ultras, demanded 4 a.m. starts and five hours on the road each morning before heading to work. “It was the most mentally challenging thing I’ve done,” he says. “Finding a different 50k route around Belfast every day was nearly as tough as the running.”
He still laughs about one unforgettable moment. “On day five I was leaving my estate at four in the morning when three of my boot camp regulars jumped out from behind a church wall dressed in mad outfits. I nearly had a heart attack.”
Strong Body, Strong Routine
Despite the mileage, injuries have stayed away. “I run a boot camp in Belfast and take part in five classes a week, so there’s loads of strength and core work,” he explains. “That’s kept me in one piece. Apart from a few missing toenails, I’ve been very lucky.”
Training for ultras differs from marathon prep, he says. “For the big challenges you’ll run long three days in a row, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, to get used to tired legs. For a marathon you do one long run a week. Honestly, marathon training feels easier compared with seven ultras in seven days.”
Dublin Calling
This October, John will finally take on Dublin, running for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation. “They asked if I’d run on their behalf and I jumped at it,” he says. “They do incredible work for families across Ireland.”
He isn’t chasing a personal best. “I don’t set target times anymore. The hard work is done before you reach the start line. Too many people forget to enjoy the day itself. I just want to soak up the atmosphere and run with a smile.”
Support Crew and Daily Life
Behind the challenges is a supportive home team. “My partner is unbelievably patient,” John says. “It’s hard to get up at three in the morning without waking someone, especially after you’ve run 31 miles the day before. She probably goes through more than I do.”
Friends often join him for stretches of his long runs and helped pace sections of the ultra challenge. “We even caught up on my Fit for Life podcast to relive the madness,” he says. A new adventure is already in the works: “We’re planning to run the length of Ireland next year. It’s still in the early stages, but it’s happening.”
Pre-Race Rituals
Asked about pre-race quirks, John doesn’t hesitate. “Pizza and a couple of beers the night before, no more than two. Then just a black coffee on race morning. No food. It works for me every time.”
Advice for First Timers
For those nervously eyeing their own first marathon, his advice is simple. “Enjoy the day. The training gets you to the start line. The crowd, the runners beside you and the adrenaline will carry you to the finish. Never doubt that you’ll get there. And be thankful you’re able to do it, millions of people can’t.”
Support John’s Dublin Marathon Journey
John Mulholland is raising funds for theJack and Jill Children’s Foundation, providing vital home nursing care for children with complex medical needs. You can donate directly to John’s fundraising page here.
You can also connect with John and his work:
- JM Fitness Bootcamp: www.jm-fitness.co.uk
- Fit for Life Podcast: Listen on Spotify
- Instagram: _jmfit_ness