Newcastle AC
By Siobhan Grant
THE IMRA Wicklow Way Half Marathon returned this year with its familiar mix of stunning scenery and relentless challenge. Organised by the Irish Mountain Running Association, the race takes runners along a demanding section of the Wicklow Way through the rugged mountains of County Wicklow.
Far from a typical half marathon, the course tests competitors with steep climbs, technical descents and unpredictable mountain weather. For those on the start line, success is not just about speed.
The Wicklow Way Half demands endurance, concentration and respect for the terrain – qualities that make it one of the most challenging and rewarding races in the Irish trail running calendar.
Fresh from securing a 15:26 5km road PB at the Race Round The River on Wednesday evening, Patrick McDaid swapped his road shoes for trail shoes and was soon spotted on the start line in Wicklow on Saturday.
Wearing the yellow and red singlet of Newcastle AC, along with shorts and gloves, Patrick looked lightly equipped compared to many runners around him dressed head-to-toe for a day in the mountains. Patrick wasn’t planning to take all day about it.
After a successful international junior career in the hills and mountains, representing both the Northern Ireland junior mountain running squad and wearing the Irish singlet multiple times with Team Ireland at the Youth Skyrunning World Championships, Patrick was now targeting a place on the Irish senior mountain running squad.
This race served as a selection trial for Trail de Guerlédan in Brittany, France, scheduled for June. Reports beforehand suggested it felt closer to 20°C as early spring sunshine settled over the hills of County Wicklow.
In reality, once the race got underway and runners began navigating the steep climbs and technical terrain of the Wicklow Way, there was little time to notice the temperature, which was far from 20 degrees.
Holding firm near the front as the pack stretched across the trail, Patrick settled into the rhythm of a race that would ultimately become a test of endurance, heart, and the constant battle with that internal voice.
Patrick stayed positive on the long climbs whilst keeping his focus on the technical trails, pushing through the fatigue as his earlier escapades in Belfast on Wednesday evening came back to haunt him in those final kilometers.
His efficiency on steep ground and the endless confidence on descents set Patrick apart from the runners behind him as he crossed the line, 22km later with 850m of elevation in the legs to claim third place.
His impressive time of 1:42 at the IMRA Wicklow Way Half has opened the door for Patrick to claim a well-deserved place on the senior Irish mountain running squad in his first year of eligibility.
Having led both the Irish and Northern Irish U-20 teams home at the British and Irish Mountain Running Championships last autumn, he continues to grow in confidence and composure as he raises his performance to the next level.
A product of the junior ranks at Newcastle AC, Patrick’s development reflects years of steady progression within the club. Recently qualifying as an Athletics Northern Ireland Coaching Assistant, he now also gives back by supporting and inspiring the next generation of junior athletes.
For many of them, his journey is proof that hard work, consistency, and belief can turn ambitious goals into reality.
