Irish Joe Bags Number 300

Irish Joe Cleary completed his 300th marathon/ultra at the Wanderers’ Re-Run for Counter Revolution on April 25. Irish Joe reached the milestone after being laid up for six months with a broken leg.

Joe was part of a four-member Canadian contingent which traveled down to the Delaware Valley for the run. Other Canucks were Crash Takata, Ultra Woman Cyn Vavasour, and Purple Piper Jim Bousquet. Snake Bite and Rock Steady rounded out the local entrants for the Re-Run for Counter Revolution marathon and Space Ghost ran in the half marathon.

The course ran along the Delaware River towpath between Yardley and Point Pleasant. Ultra pulled away from the pack in the last several miles of the run finishing in 5:31:26. Crash, Piper and Snake Bite trailed in 5:35:16, and Rock and Irish Joe brought up the rear in 5:38:48. Wanderers’ headquarters is still awaiting the official time for Space Ghost in the half marathon.

Irish Joe, 64, began his long distance career a little more than 20 years ago. He has bagged marathons in every state in America and all but three provinces in Canada. He has also run ultra races and marathons in South Africa and Europe. His fastest was a 3:15 effort several years ago. With the exception of one other runner, Irish Joe has completed more marathons and ultra races than anyone in Canada.

The entrants in the Re-Run for Counter Revolution expecting a sunny day were ambushed by showers and cold weather out on the course. They witnessed a number of baby goslings and sighted a family of turtles. Irish Joe also spotted some turkey vultures. All in all, it was a great day.