West Cork's Ruthann Sheahan is bidding for more international glory at the 24-hour World and European Championships that will be held in Turin this Friday and Saturday.
BY KIERAN McCARTHY
WEST Cork’s Ruthann Sheahan is bidding for more international glory at the 24-hour World and European Championships that will be held in Turin this Friday and Saturday.
The Leap athlete (pictured), who was crowned the 2013 Celtic Ross West Cork Sports Star of the Year following her exploits at that year’s 24-hour World and European Championships in Poland will represent Ireland for the first time since her amazing feat in Krakow.
That August weekend two years ago, Ruthann – the Irish women’s 24-hour running record holder – ran a staggering 229.3km in 24 hours, shattering the long-standing Irish record by almost 23km, to finish fifth in Europe and seventh in the world.
The ultra marathon runner has been training hard for this weekend’s event in Turin, clocking 162 miles in one week recently, as she stepped up her preparations, while she also finished third in the recent Tralee Marathon.
Already this year Ruthann has raced eight marathons and one ultra marathon, as the 24-hour World and European Championships draw nearer.
‘It’s very hard to pin down a target for this weekend because so much can happen in 24 hours and the weather will be warmer then what I have been training in,’ Ruthann told The Southern Star before flying out to Italy.
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