Marathon man Pat passes on the torch after 41 years

PAT O’Loughlin ran his first Dublin marathon for charity back in 1980, at the age of 42.

Since that seminal year over four decades ago, he has only missed a single Dublin marathon, and for the last 25 years his annual efforts have raised thousands for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).

However, this year the 85-year-old Castlederg man has decided that the time has come to pass the torch on to his son, Ciaran (36), his longtime running partner, Jenny McMenamin (48) and her daughter, Rachel (23).

Yesterday, the trio gladly beared the burden of that flame and take on 26.2-miles for MS.

For a second year running, the ‘Dublin marathon’ took place on a virtual basis meaning Pat’s team completed the distance around their hometown of Castlederg.

Pat joked with the UH that, “Since I started in 1980, the marathon has got harder every year… unfortunately this time I have not made the team!”

Pat – who still enjoys walking a few miles most evenings with his wife, Philomena – wasn’t able to run too much of the marathon last year, but after designing a route he deemed favourable to a man of his vintage, he managed to finish the 26.2-miles with a combination of walking and running.

“This year, all of these birthdays have caught up with me, so my running partner, Jenny, is being joined by her daughter, Rachel, and my own son Ciaran, to form the 2021 team,” said Pat, speaking before Sunday’s marathon.

partnership

The Castlederg man recalled how it was that he and Jenny’s running partnership was born.

“It was probably about 15 years ago when Jenny was doing her first Dublin marathon and she found herself getting it tough halfway around the circuit.

“Jenny told me that she looked up and seen ‘some old fella’, and reasoned that if she were able to keep just behind this ‘auld boy’ she would make it across the line,” said Pat.

Jenny’s plan worked and when she crossed the finish-line, she thanked Pat for unwittingly having psychologically towed her through much of the run.

Since that day, they have raised tens of thousands of pounds for MS, with the help of the ‘charitable spirit of Castlederg’.

When Ciaran laced up his runners on Sunday, he was probably be nursing a few bumps and bruises from the previous day’s crunch game against Beragh Swifts.

However, the Dergview reserves captain said he was confident that he would do his father proud.

Jenny and her daughter, Rachel – who recently qualified as a nurse – was be comparatively well rested.

Jenny said, “I think we are all fit for the occasion and Pat is spurring us all on.”

To donate visit Ciaran O’Loughlin’s Facebook page and click on the JustGiving link titled ‘Team Pat’s 2020 Dublin Virtual Marathon Page’.

By Emmet McElhatton