British running star Sophie Power has shattered the previous female Guinness World Record for running the length of Ireland.
Before the attempt, 41-year-old Power – the mother of three young children – had described the long-standing mark of fellow GB ultrarunning great Mimi Anderson of three days, 15 hours and 36 minutes for the near 350 miles (563km) as “INSANE”.
To beat it, Power needed to cover over 100 miles (160km) a day, with minimal sleep.
How the record bid unfolded
But following the 2012 route of Anderson, who was one of Power’s inspirations when she started ultrarunning in 2010, she was ahead of schedule not long after starting out from Malin, the northern tip of Ireland, at 8.03am on Tuesday 28th May.
In the first 24 hours she had covered over 200 kilometres and she continued in that vein, reaching Mizen Head, the most southerly point of the island, at around 8.10pm on Friday 31st May, taking a massive three hours-plus off Anderson’s mark.
But as the miles clocked up it understandably became harder and harder – the first 50-mile split was eight hours and 34 minutes, with the 250-300 section taking 15:12 and on Instagram her support team posted on Friday afternoon: “Weather conditions are challenging, the heat is relentless, no breeze in sight, and the blue skies are rolling out ahead of us. Sophie is really up against it. Her husband John is by her side every step right now.”
But she powered on and the roadside support cheered her all the way as she stopped the clock in three days, 12 hours and eight minutes.

Power of community
Throughout the attempt there was great support en route which underlined her ethos for taking on the challenge.
Power had explained: “I’m doing this to inspire other women to set truly personal challenges – and get their family and friends behind them.
“I’m incredibly excited…. But incredibly nervous! I’ve never taken on something so challenging (or public!). I have no idea what will happen.
“I’m prepared to fail. But I’m also prepared to do everything I can to succeed.
“If I can empower one woman to set a crazy challenge this is all worth it.”
Her incredible performance will have inspired so many more.

Groundbreaking
As a passionate campaigner for female inclusivity in sports, Power is also using the challenge to raise funds for SheRACES, a platform she created to break down barriers for women in sport following the viral photo of her breastfeeding her three-month-old baby at the 106-mile UTMB race.
At that time women weren’t allowed to defer their places due to pregnancy. Power was a key influence in changes since then which include UTMB now offering a full reimbursement, or priority access to races in the following years, to athletes who have to defer their place due to pregnancy.
Power was supported by a four-person crew in a campervan, including Kate Strong, a world record endurance cyclist, who accompanied her during the night sections.
Her husband, John Power, and two sons Donnacha (9) and Cormac (6), also tracked her in the motorhome and gained witness signatures needed for Guinness World Record verification.
She had dropped her three-year-old daughter, Saoirse, off with her grandparents west of Cork in the south of island, with the aim of “running back to her as quickly as I can!”
She explained: “It’s a personal challenge: If it was all about breaking a record, I wouldn’t have the kids. But I want this to be an adventure for them too.”
“My husband’s family are Irish and it is an incredible opportunity for my two boys… to connect with their heritage.”
And shortly after crossing the ‘finish line’ and being asked for a few words, an emotional Sophie said: “It’s a very long way!”