Profile of World Champion John Lenihan

donothoponpop

From the imra forum- JL is a legend:

"Every Irish mountain runner and many the World over have heard of the mountain running exploits of John Lenihan from the Kingdom of Kerry. Over the years many callers, acquaintances and well-wishers have asked him to recount the story of how he developed into a World champion.


John spent some of the long winter nights of 2009/2010 in a productive way and has assembled all his video clips and media cuttings into one place. The result is an outstanding history of a runner who started his athletics career late but quickly became a champion and a legend, see John Lenihan - The Man from Toureen


The story also indirectly recalls a part of Irish athletics history in the 1980s and 1990s."

TFBubendorfer

Brilliant stuff! Thanks for that.

I saw him in the Dingle Adventure Race this summer, where he did the mountain run (obviously!) as part of a relay team. Just to see him moving on the mountain is a privilege.

donothoponpop

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Brilliant stuff! Thanks for that.

I saw him in the Dingle Adventure Race this summer, where he did the mountain run (obviously!) as part of a relay team. Just to see him moving on the mountain is a privilege.

I've said it before Thomas, you're wasted running the roads, given where you live!

dermCu

Without a doubt one of the most incredible things I've ever seen in my life was JL descending full speed down the cone on Croagh Patrick. I stopped dead in my tracks to watch him wizz-by, defying gravity all the way. The guy is indeed a legend.

Cool Running

Absolute animal of a man!!!

What a legend

He won the first five Warriors Run in Sligo in the 80's and then they invited him back for the 21st anniversary in 2005. It was my first time doing the Warriors and I had heard he was racing. Didnt know to much about him and presumed it was like a cameo appearance as it was 15 years after his last win and surely he would be to old to compete. Anyways when I was halfway up the mountain the first person coming down was a fella with long hair and an An Riocht singlet, I taught to myself that's hardly yer man everyone is on about. Well it was him and he won with a good two minutes to spare.
He also came back for the 25th anniversary and finished 7th.

Top class really approachable guy from what I heard from people chatting to him after the race

Timmaay

dermCu wrote: »

Without a doubt one of the most incredible things I've ever seen in my life was JL descending full speed down the cone on Croagh Patrick. I stopped dead in my tracks to watch him wizz-by, defying gravity all the way. The guy is indeed a legend.

Yep I'll agree with you there, amazing sight! Half man half goat ha!

nerraw1111

Little did I know that 21 years after hearing about John Lenihan as a nine year-old, I be reading about him on the t'internet.

One year, John had to pull out of Snowdon and my pop ran in his place. I thought Snowdon was the top of the world then! Recently I checked out the profile of the race with a view to giving it a lash and it still looks like the top of the world. My dad will be delighted to read that site

Slogger Jogger

Legend is right. His achievements are incredible. Very modest too. Great interview.

BeepBeep67

Thanks Paul - enjoying that - going to save the rest to keep my treadie runs interesting.

Condo131

I came across an Irish Runner article on John Lenihan recently and hoped to post it, but it's in one of the heaps in the garage (currently undergoing some 'tidying up' :rolleyes: ). Meantime, here's another article on mountain running, featuring John.

Note: Reproduced with permission of the Irish Runner magazine (copyright remains with Irish Runner magazine)

climbhigh

Great 30 seconds of John descending like a goat at around 15:53 into the video.

Thankfully some new guys are arriving on the block to follow in John's leaps.