23 MAY 2026

50 Mile Ultra Marathon Louisburgh Co. Mayo

Wild Atlantic Ultra

50miles 721meters of elevation
Amazing Mayo scenery offering runners a tough challenge.
This never claimed to be an easy race and in fact it’s anything but that said it’s an amazing challenge.
Thanks to the race director and stewards while it’s a challenging course it was well marked out and had plenty of aid stations throughout and also offered runners the opportunity to place drop bags which where placed at various locations on the course.
If this kind of race appeals to you check out the kerry 100km coming up soon this is also a very scenic race but with less elevation in comparison.
I was fortunate to have Audrey and the kids join me as support crew for the second 1/2 of the race passing me drinks when needed.
Race plan
I didn’t have one.
I wanted to push myself and gauge my fitness and see how my training was going.
I knew this was going to present certain challenges and what ever happened was good preparation for my A race latter this year when I get to represent Ireland in the European 24hr Championships in Italy. I went off at a good pace from the start knowing the course would get a lot more challenging ahead with all the elevation add this to the fact it was forecasted to be one of the hottest days of the year so far. So I just pushed on and held a steady pace as long as possible. Near the start of the race you could look up and see Croagh Patrick in the distance latter you looked across at it as the climbs took hold.
Delighted with the win and course record.
Shoes thanks to Decathlon I have been trying out Decathlon’s shoe form Kiprun the kd900x before it goes on general release latter this year.
After training in these for the week I decided that this race would pose a good test given both the distance and elevation
this wasn’t going to be a case of logging easy training miles in the shoe and therefore would show up any issues.
The race
80.46km = 50miles
Total elevation 721 meters.
Verdict felt good throughout

Alex O'Shea

Wild Atlantic Ultra

80km / 50miles Wild Atlantic Ultra – DONE! šŸ’ŖšŸ”„šŸƒ
Probably the most scenic race I have done in Ireland so far!
While training, nutrition and hydration gets you to a point – there is a moment when you run out of fuel and only your willpower – your sheer ā€˜never give upā€™ attitude – drives you through the finish lineā€¦ Itā€™s stunning and exciting to explore our psyche through those experiences!!!

Marek Tomalek

WAU 50

Huge thanks to Michel van der Klei and his amazing team for putting on another great Wild Atlantic ultra 50 miler.
It’s one of my favourite races as you are so well looked after and encouraged by the aid station crews , the motor cyclists ( brill job lads) and the other runners. The scenery is fab.
“The magic is in the misery” great quote at the brief (and there was a lot of magic in the valley trying to battle downhill against the wind and rain šŸ˜‚)
I look forward to coming back again next year šŸ‘

Finn O Mara

ā€˜Stock Cubes & Banshee Bonesā€™

A Saturday in May that starts with talk of jammie dodgers, hula hoops and their exact locationā€¦..questions of ā€˜what do you have at that stationā€™ā€¦.discussions of Banshee Bones vs Meaniesā€¦can only mean one thingā€¦ā€¦the Wild Atlantic Ultra 50 miler!
The theme of this yearā€™s training was ā€˜Itā€™s all about the recovery!ā€™ In fairness if you are going to take on a challenge like this why not put yourself in the safe hands of the man who created the event and his Prorun program! Itā€™s so balanced that I didnā€™t find myself tired and I was able to feel pretty fresh legged throughout the last few months – everything sent to your watch, stay within the ranges & happy out!!! And my word I needed to feel fresh and keep all the energy with all that these teenagers throw at us šŸ˜† – and if that wasnā€™t enough how about a new PB, thank you very much!!
The amazing band of marshals that Michel gathers for us are the most special people. Giving their time to watch over us, cheer us on, make us laugh and some lying through their teeth when they tell us we look fabulous šŸ˜†
Raymond & Suzanne surprised me by appearing on the road down from The Sheefrey Pass. I wasnā€™t expecting them until much later and my word was I happy out with Ray joined me to run in the last 15kms. It was really something else to watch someone see this route for the first time. No photos could do it any justice – you just HAVE to be there! It was also great to have someone there to hear me use my one swear word after 75km šŸ˜†
As always on these adventures you meet some amazing people as you journey around. All the new faces at the start line are like old friends as we welcomed each other home over the finish line. A big shout out to Dave and his magic stock cubes, I got my stew this evening šŸ˜†
Wild Atlantic Ultraā€¦ā€¦what a journey, what a run! 2nd woman – new PB 8hrs 32 mins- happy out!!!!

Sarah Kearns

What a great race šŸ the wild Atlantic ultra 80km such a spectacular route great marshal’s and support on the course delighted with the 1st place finishšŸ„‡

Sean Mc Loughlin

Wild Atlantic Marathon

So this was my first marathon. Previous longest distance was 14 miles, 2 weeks previous. Honestly, that run nearly killed me off. But I learned so much from it, and I was determined to run this race. It was a personal thing. I planned my nutrition and hydration right, and I finished in a time of 5 hrs and 42 minutes. Ecstatic doesnā€™t even come close. I really enjoyed the run, tough as it was and the location is fantastic, beautiful countryside scenery. Very well organised and executed, so kudos Michel van der Klei, I will be back next yr for the ultra, without doubt. But I will see you before then. I will see you on the 10th of august, as Iā€™m now signed up for the connemara 100 and looking forward to it. Thank you for a great race, that showed me I can do more then I think.

George Keogh

Wild Atlantic Ultra

I never need encouragement to run in Mayo. I headed to Louisburgh on Saturday morning for the first running of the Wild Atlantic Ultra. This included a 50 mile run and a marathon. I had won an entry to the 50 mile race but after a bad run last wk , I asked to do the marathon. Michel van der Klei and his team put on a great event. Plenty of water stops with fruit and sweets, stewards with smiles and encouragement. The course was tough but the scenery made up for it. Congrats to Deirdre Lynn and Finn O Mara , first and second ladies in the 50 miles. I was first lady in marathon.

Sheila Fitzgibbons

Wild Atlantic Ultra

A great run through testing and beautiful countryside.

Nolly Campbell

Just great

A wonderful Ultra through some of the most stunning and amazing countryside in Ireland.

Paul Grogan

Wild Atlantic Ultra 50 miles (80k)

Good training, no flat sections as promised šŸ˜ As this was the very first edition only 14 people signed up for ultra. (There was also marathon distance to choose). Glad that the organiser didnā€™t cancel the ultra distance due to low numbers. Water stations every 5k and you could have some real food (bananas, oranges) not only sweets as you can see at so many races. Route marked very well. You can tell that the organiser knows something about running ā€“ Michael van der Klei is ultra-marathoner himself, will definitely come back.

 

Agnieszka Pamula

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