A NORTHSIDE athlete was celebrating recently after becoming the first Irishman ever to cross the finish line in the
‘Grand 2 Grand Ultra’, North America’s only self-supporting race held in the Grand Canyon across Utah and Arizona.
Finishing 13th out of 114 competitors, Tony Keely (46), from Malahide, completed the gruelling 170-mile six-stage race in just over 41 hours over the course of one week.
Race participants cover an average of a marathon distance (26 miles) on day 1, 2, 5 and 6 with a long day of 54 miles on days 3 and 4. Day 7 takes athletes on a climb of over 2,300 feet to the finish line at the magnificent Grand Staircase.
Competitors are required to carry ALL their week’s food supplies as well as nighttime clothing, a sleeping bag and ground mat in a backpack throughout the race. Participants’ backpacks typically weigh anything from 18-22 lbs. Water stops at checkpoints along the course are the only outside help given to athletes during the week.
Participants are treated to some spectacular scenery from the starting line on the north rim of the Grand Canyon through to the finish on the summit of the Grand Staircase, one of the world’s most iconic geological formations.
The course, which is 75 per cent over sand, takes racers through a desert landscape of sand dunes and red rock canyons navigating through stunning slot canons and across a tributary of the Virgin River starting at an elevation of over 5,300 feet and finishing at 8,600 feet. Total ascent over the six-stage course is 18,359 feet with a total descent of 15,026 feet.
A delighted Tony told Northside People it was the most amazing and challenging race in his life.
“Racing with 24 other nationalities across one of the Seven Wonders of the World is a unique experience in itself,
? he said.
“This was my first stage race and running with a 20lb backpack is very different to regular running.
“Add in the difficult terrain of sand dunes, mountains, rocks, steep climbs together with the intense heat and you’ve got a very different type of race to deal with.
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Tony said he far exceeded his own expectations in the race.
“My initial goal was to be the first Irishman ever to complete this race,
? he added.
“Finishing in 13th place was the icing on the cake, it just doesn’t get any better than that.
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?¢ WONDER-FUL: Tony Keely became the first Irishman to cross the finish line in the
‘Grand 2 Grand Ultra’.