A shattered Joe Barr at the end of an amazing feat of physical and mental endurance last week, and all at the age of 56 years old; pretty special.
While most families around Ireland were celebrating Father’s Day the weekend before last, Joe Barr was battling physical and mental exhaustion on the bike.
The 56-year-old father of two had set out two days earlier from Malin Head, for a journey captured in the video below.
His goal was simple, if torturous; to break the 773.2 mile record from Malin Head in Co Donegal to Mizen Head in Co Cork and back again.
The journey took him the length of the island of Ireland twice; from the most northerly point to the most southerly and back up the same road to finish where he had started.
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He completed the first part of his journey in 23hrs 20mins and the return leg in 25hrs 40mins; for a total time of 49 hours.
His team said the times he posted broke three records; the Malin-Mizen place to place record, the Mizen-Malin place to place marker and the Malin-Mizen-Malin record.
Barr makes one last sprint to the top of the incline in Malin to cement his record-breaking ride.
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While he made some stops to refuel and prepare for the next section of the journey, as all ultra cyclists do; he didn’t sleep at all during the 49 hours.
Barr is a former professional cyclist who took up Endurance Ultra Marathon riding in 2009 some 11 years after his racing career in Europe came to a close in 1998.
Born in Dublin, he was brought up in Donegal and currently lives in Eglinton, Co Derry, and is father to two boys; Reuben aged 10 years and Ross aged 7 years.
He is a qualified global transport logistics consultant but spends most of his time working with his Team Joe Barr competing in UltraMarathon Cycling Association events around the world.
He’s ridden the Race Across American (RAAM) and has raised funds for cancer charities after son Ross overcame a brain tumour as a baby.
He suffered altitude sickness in RAAM in 2012 and was forced out. But he returned last year, finishing in 11 days.
He began his ultra cycling journey on home roads when the World Ultra Marathon Series came to Ireland and he beat the world champion to win the Race Around Ireland.
Joe Barr's record breaking ride as covered by UTV, can be viewed by clicking here.
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