When the starting gun goes off at this year’s Dublin Marathon, more than 20,000 runners will surge through the city streets. Among them will be a group that no one could possibly miss: eight firefighters from Dublin Airport, each of them taking on the 26.2 miles in full fire service kit.
At the heart of that crew is Stephen Gallagher, a firefighter from Donnycarney who has worked at Dublin Airport for over a decade. He joined the airport fire service just over three years ago, and while the job keeps him fit, running has become his personal outlet.
“I was always a big sportsman, mainly GAA and hurling,” he says. “But shift work in the airport caught up with me and I had to step away from playing. I still needed something to keep active, and at the time I thought the easiest and cheapest way was running, though I’ve since learned it’s not as cheap as I thought!”
Gallagher has already completed seven marathons, five in Dublin and two in Longford, but this year he’s raising the stakes.
“I’d seen people do it in previous years and it always stayed in the back of my mind. This year I finally bit the bullet. Now there’s eight of us from the station taking part.”
Carrying 25 Kilos of Extra Weight
Running 26 miles is tough enough, but the added challenge of full fire service kit is extraordinary. The gear is designed to withstand blazing heat and thick smoke. For a marathon runner, that means the opposite of what you’d want: no ventilation, no release of body heat, and the weight of an oxygen cylinder on the back.
“The biggest difficulty is heat stress on the body,” Gallagher explains. “The gear is made to keep heat out, which means it keeps it in too. I did a 22 kilometre run in it and lost three and a half kilos in sweat. Add the breathing apparatus and you’re talking an extra 24 or 25 kilos on the body.”
Training runs have to be carefully managed. Too many long efforts in full kit would risk damaging his back and shoulders. “The back panel rubs on the shoulder blades and the lower back. You can’t really replicate that with a weighted vest. So I’m limiting how often I do it in training, the main thing is getting the body used to the heat.”
Still, he’s not afraid of putting himself to the test. A few weeks ago, the airport firefighters staged a fundraising drive in Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2. “We set up a treadmill in the departures hall. Everyone took turns in full gear with the cylinder on. I did 15k that morning. Honestly, it was tougher than being outside, but it was a brilliant eye opener to what we’ll face on the day.”
Balancing Family, Work and Training
Preparing for a marathon is a commitment at the best of times, never mind while juggling shift work in the fire service. Gallagher says the support of his family has been crucial.
“My wife has been brilliant. If I need to get out for a long run, she’s happy for me to go. She knows what I’m putting my body through with the gear. The kids have been great too, they just think Dad’s a bit mad.”
He trains with Artane Beaumont Running Club, which he cofounded only 18 months ago. Club members will join him for sections of the marathon to keep morale high. “You can imagine how strange it would look to see someone running down the road alone in full fire gear. You’d end up on Joe.ie in no time! Having the club around me makes a big difference.”
Inside the station, the training facilities also help. “We’ve a gym on site, so I can get on the treadmill during shifts if needed. And I use a Garmin chest strap to monitor heart rate. With the gear on, it shoots up fast, I hit 192 on a hill recently. You really have to be careful.”
Running for a Cause
The effort isn’t just about personal challenge. Every year, the Dublin Airport Authority selects three charities to support, and funds are split equally between them.
This year’s chosen causes are:
- Little Blue Heroes, which supports families of seriously ill children.
- Critical, an emergency first responder organisation.
- Good Shepherd Cork, which helps women and children experiencing homelessness.
You can donate directly through Stephen's Gofundme page here
What Race Day Will Bring
Gallagher knows the marathon is unpredictable. “You can have the best day of your life or the worst. The weather will play a huge part. Rain isn’t great, but if it’s too hot it’ll be worse.”
He’s aiming to complete the course in around five and a half hours. Nutrition will be critical, so he’s brought in a coach to build proper fuelling strategies. “It’s not just about calories, I’ve been given a four meal plan to make sure the body is fuelled the right way. I’ll test it this weekend on a 28k run in the gear.”
A Message to Other Runners
Gallagher hopes his story inspires others to believe a marathon is within reach.
“A lot of people say they could never do one. But if I can do it in fire gear, anybody can. In our own club, loads of people said they’d never manage a marathon, and then they did it. If you put your mind to it, your body will follow.”