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ANKERS AWAY Brian Ankers has a massive appetite for running a prodigious capacity for enjoying what he does, writes Gavin McGuinness.
MAIN PHOTO: SGT DAMIEN FAULKNER, PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTION, IRISH AIR CORPS
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f the name Brian Ankers rings a bell it’s because Ankers, a member of the Air Corp, is the man who ran 84 marathons in twelve pulsating months. And yes, that is an Irish record. It’s hard to believe one person could stand up physically to such a challenge but amazingly Ankers did and, what’s more, he had company for most of the year. Less surprising is who that company was. Step by step, Raheny’s Dave Brady was hot on his heels. He, of course, is
one of Ireland's most prolific runners and holder of the previous record for marathons in a year. At 33 and 63 they may seem worlds apart, but now their stories are inextricably linked in the public’s consciousness. There is respect when Ankers mentions Brady - which is as it should be. Without Brady, what figure would the record be at? He is the one who marked out the course. Like McEnroe and Borg, Coe and Ovett, the rivalry has elevated them both.
“He would make a show of runners 40 years his junior; he lives to run,” the Tallaght man says of Brady. “Dave has run over 350 marathons to date and when he has a good day on the road you won’t hear about it. A bad day is laughed about and he’s already looking forward to his next long-distance challenge.” Surprise The year wasn’t meant to be like this for Ankers, communicating with the national media and such. He’s a natural though;
Irish Runner 43