This weekend I was lucky enough to get a place on a team that were trying to break the world record for the longest distance covered on a rowing machine over 24 hours.

It was organised by Damian Browne as part of his fundraising efforts and preparation for his Atlantic row at the end of the year.

All money raised over the weekend went to “Madra”, “Medecins Sans Frontieres” and “Strong Roots Foundation”.

Teams of six rowed in 2 hour slots with each member rowing for 2 minutes at a time.

It was a huge team effort to keep the machine going at all times. Two people would help to undo the footstraps as the person on the machine finished their 2 minutes and then get the next person strapped in and ready to row. Somebody described it as being like the pit crew changing the tyres on a Formula One car.

I was down there on Saturday afternoon and despite getting about two hours sleep I was back in the Warehouse Gym at 7:30 on Sunday morning to take part in the last session.

I was pretty nervous on Sunday morning. Did I have enough in me to keep this machine going.

I settled down after about 3 sets on the rowing machine.

I was lucky enough to be on the rowing machine when we passed the 360,000 metre mark. Somebody had to be. It was all thanks to the groups that had kept the rowing machine going for 23 hours.

With about 30 minutes to go members of the groups that had taken part started to arrive down to give some much needed support for the last 2 sets.

Everyone was doing something to get the next person on to the machine.

Peter Bracken had become chief motivator. If you were hitting 151 he wanted you to hit 149. If you were hitting 116 he wanted you to hit 109. Everyone hit their target.

Damian was given the task of the last set on the rowing machine.

After 24 hours 33 people managed to row 378,473 metres.

My body is pretty sore today especially my biceps so I will be going for a swim in Galway bay this evening to help ease the pain.

You can follow Damian’s challenge on www.damianbrowne.com

My focus now turns to my next couple of races.

Roundstone 8k and Streets of Galway 8k are just around the corner.

I’m also looking at doing 1 or 2 half marathons before Galway Bay marathon on October 7^th.

If you are running marathons in Galway, Dublin, Monaghan or anywhere else in October and you want to work on your technique now is the time to get in touch with me.