When Ryan Harte opened his gym, Atlantic Fitness Skibbereen, at Carbery Enterprise Park, he knew he wouldn’t have as much time as he’d like to devote to his sport of Brazilian jujitsu, so he set himself a goal of running a 50km ultramarathon.

Previously, Ryan has only done a half-marathon, but as the owner of a fitness centre that is open seven days a week, the 25-year-old personal trainer and sports massage therapist started training last June with the intention of running from Mizen Head to Skibbereen.

At first it was just a fitness project but it has since turned into a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s unit in Clonakilty and Skibbereen Community Hospital.

Ryan said his parents Ronnie and Cindy have ‘gone above and beyond’ in supporting him not only with his own sporting endeavours – having competed five Irish competitions as well as the European Championships in Paris in 2024 – but also in establishing his new business, and organising the Mizen to Skibbereen fundraiser.

His brother-in-law Christopher Geaney, was also on hand to ensure that all of the new equipment in the gym was correctly braced and bolted, has volunteered to join him on the last leg of the journey from Ballydehob to Skibbereen.

‘I wasn’t a runner before but I needed to exercise so I put my mind to it,’ said Ryan.

‘I started running three times a week and now I am up to six times a week.’

At the peak of his training, Ryan said he will be doing about 6.5 hours a week.

‘Even at that,’ he said, ‘every day will be different because some days are more about speed or easy miles, just to get the time on the feet.’

Ryan is quick to point out that 50km isn’t easy for anyone.

He believes: ‘We limit ourselves in what we think can be achieved, so most people stop at 42km, which is a standard marathon. People put a ceiling on what they think is attainable for them, so they need a mind-set shift from running a marathon to an ultramarathon.’

Ryan said his girlfriend, Chloe Maguire, will be his ‘entire team’ when he strikes out at 9am on Saturday March 21st.

Chloe will be responsible for topping Ryan’s blisters and filling his flask. He will consume a mixture of gels, a supplement called Tailwind, as well as cola and crisps for the sugar, caffeine and carbs.

Of all of the charity events that have started or finished at Mizen Head, this will be the first ever ultramarathon so Ryan said he’s guessing that it will take six or eight hours.

Ryan will donate 50% of the €5,000 target on his GoFundMe page to the Alzheimer’s Unit in Clonakilty, where his uncle resides, and 50% to Skibbereen Community Hospital because of the tremendous work it does.