 Now, speaking of the hard way, there's a couple of fellows who are going to go from Dublin to Donegall the hard way this week. In fact, they're running from Dublin to Cree-Slaw, heading off this Thursday. And there's Neil McCollum, who's from Chapel Road in Dunfanahee, currently based in Kildare. And Mario Tallari, originally from South Africa, and goes to the same gym as Neil. And I'm glad that they both join us now online and on Zoom, so we're streaming as well. Gentlemen, good afternoon to you. Hello, John. He's both well, both fit, both ready to go. Yeah, you're both well and fit. Thank God, yeah. Good, good. All right, Neil, tell us how it came about. You're raising money for the people, the families of the victims. The families of the victims, yeah. Well, I mean, last year, when we heard of the explosion in that there, I'm originally from Dunfanahee, but I've worked in England and came back in 97, and I've worked in Belfast for years. But I came down here a couple of years ago to Kildare because my own sister, Marie McCollum, who was based in Kildare for 25 years, she passed away in August from cancer. So I'd done a challenge for the hospice and some bridges in Kildare town or on the current, and then I raised money for the end of life ward and Alan Ward and Nace Hospital. So after doing that challenge, I wanted to do something for Chrysler because I would know a lot of people in Chrysler obviously coming from the area. So it just came about, and I was undertaking it at the start of my own. So I started training in January and not knowing how many months it would take, but I was giving myself to the summer, obviously, with the long evenings. And then I used to see Mario in the gym, so he offered to come along as well. And the two of us to do it, so I was grateful for that. And we sat down and went through a few things. And we are here now the day, a few days out from the challenge. So yeah. So Mario, when you heard about the idea, I'm sure like everybody else, you thought it was a bit bonkers, the whole notion of running from Donny Gall to or from Dublin to Donny Gall. Are you familiar with the route? I am familiar with the route. You know, people may think it's bonkers, but so was the poor incident that happened last year. And you know, so it's really heartbreaking. And it's a no brainer for me to do. I'm a triathlete myself. I'm from Cape Town in South Africa, like you mentioned. So do a lot of form of triathlete around there. So for me to support the people of Ireland, because I've been here for two years, it's almost like a give back to the community and to support Neil. And John, a few, well, a few months ago, me and Mario left and we drove up to Donny Gall, went to Dunfanahe and they met my parents. So I took them over to Tremor, which is over past Horn Head, and we ran in the beach there. And then we stopped in Leather Kenne and met Kieran O'Donnell, who's Kieran was the local captain after Leather Kenne Athletic Club and his mother Brady Lang and it comes from Clonnie, you know, in Creasley. So Kieran has a lot of, he's a lot of connections and connections and stuff to Creasley and that and close to his heart. And as he said himself, the tragedy has brought a lot of people closer. So Kieran is on board and has been a great help to us. So we sat down with him and went through things. And yeah, so everything's working out fine. And you've, on logistics, you've got a denies fairy, no strange or two, a big on the road fundraising, but just as long as you're prepared, it could land you in a cold bed, pushing stuff. Yeah, exactly. I'm saying it could land you in cold, just be careful. Not deliberately, not deliberately. Well, I've been away the last couple of weeks there. I took a couple of weeks off, I went to the French Pyrenees there, I've been up training and, you know, in the south, south of France, they're just in the border with Spain. So I've been up there training. I just came back yesterday morning at nine o'clock and that there. And yeah, there's been plenty of training from January. Well, I've been training on and off and away most all the time and away. So like, I mean, normally when I'm doing nothing, if I'm working, I still like to go out and run every evening. Right. Okay. And keep myself fit and do the odd 5k and 10k, especially around the summertime. But this distance is what? Well, it works out less than 250. Like originally, I put it in as leaving Caldera, which would work out at 270 kilometers. So it works out at 245, 246 kilometers. Yeah. From the papal cross car park and Phoenix park to the crease of the chapels and my course. Yeah. And Mario, what sort of training have you been doing? I'm constantly throughout the year on and off with triathlete training, training Ironman later this year, or maybe even in the new year. But because I've been so focused on the run inside of things, it's more just on that. So got daily basis every evening. It's my stress relief as well from work. So you both train for events that are what 30, 40k? Yeah, Marathon 42k and stuff. Marathons and yeah. But then this is this is something else entirely. And how do you intend to do it? Are you going to go from start to finish? Or are you going to sleep overnight? No, we're going to go from start to finish. So say for instance, we ran four hours and we wanted to eat where we're going to walk. And support crew obviously going to give us the food and water. We need to honor it. And we could walk four or five hours, we could run another two hours, but we're constantly moving forward until we get to Chrysler. So leaving leaving on Thursday morning at what time? At 6am, we went to 6am so that we have an early start and by 6am Friday morning, I don't know how far up the road will be, but hopefully will be will be. I'm not exactly sure where we'll be, but we'll, you know what I mean? We could be enter on, we could be across the border in Tangrigui. But I'm going to put up on Facebook later the route we're taking. Okay. So I won't. Is it the route that we would drive? Is it the regular? No, it's the it's like it's the off road. So you would leave say the papal cross you'd make your way into Eichborn and then to slain and you know, through the sounds and then to Manahan and you know, you cross the border there Tangrigui, which is just on the Arama border side and then you're into Tyrone and to Cloughar, you're leaving Cloughar and then to Oma, Oma, Newton Stuart and crossing the back way into Rifol and then from Rifol at their Kenny, Kilmackrennan, Terriman and Chrysler Chapel. And the reason you choose that route is it's safer? Well, it's off road. You're not going up them one. Yeah, it's the most direct route if you're walking it. Okay. Okay. And when will you hope to finish it? I mean, you start in six o'clock Thursday morning. When would you hope to be in Chrysler? Well, we put down the 13th to Saturday, you know, but we'll know better after the first night. Yeah, we yeah, two days, three days maximum. We're not under any pressure to be there in a certain time. Obviously, the quicker it's done, the quicker it's over. Yeah. But yeah, just to do it safely and you know, walk, run and keep moving forward and just get to the get to the finish line in one piece. At the same time as well, if we do it, if we, you know, in time and not rushing it, it gets more awareness as well. Instead of just rushing it through. True. So long the way. Momentum. If we walk it, it gets more awareness, which helps. Okay. So it's really how it goes around. And what's the longest that either of you have run up to this point? Well, just marathon distance 42 kilometers. Right. But when I originally got the idea, I said to myself, I get through to athletic clubs. So I spoke to Theresa McDade, who is, you know, the coach of Leather Kenny athletic club and has connected with the Irish team and, you know, a wealth experience. He's sent me programs and sent me stuff to do, you know, you don't have to run 100 kilometers or anything. It's just consistent running. I was getting up every morning at 10 to five running, driving to Nace K Leather. I would be there about 20 past five in the morning. The gym didn't open to six o'clock. So I would have me running gear on, do me 40 minutes, go into the gym, then do a bit of stretching and a bit of core work and leave there at before half six and head on to me work, let it be Dublin and whatever, you know, John Leary and come back in the evening again, run another 10, 15 K. I done that Monday to Friday. And then Saturday, I would do a seven K run and then Sunday and then from 21 K to 25 K. I had plenty of recovery and rest. It sounds exhausting. Well, it's been it's been hard, but nothing that I couldn't manage. And Mario was doing the same. We ran a few times together, but Mario's time and my time were different. So if I was running a six a Mario could have been running 70 and you know, with I suppose with the right fuel, it's it's doable. But fatigue, fatigue might be, it might be what I get you. I'm just thinking about, you know, I've been able to keep going running through two nights, not one night, but two nights. So it's a made on no one. Yeah, I mean, there's anything's possible. So I believe we can do it. So I mean, if I didn't, I wouldn't undertook it. Yeah, we could have made it easier. We could have just run a marathon. We could have run tooma. We could have cycle tooma, you know, so we're under to run through the night, run, walk through the night safely with support crew with us back and front. And if we're feeling tired, we can walk five, six hours and, you know, well, what happens if, if, if one man breaks down gets an injury or gets overcome with cramp or tiredness or whatever. Is the other one going to carry on? You Mario said to me and me likewise Mario said, you know, we don't know that what lays ahead. Yes. The two of us in the conference will get to Chrysler and have one dozen or the other or somebody, you know, and then can happen. Yes. And Jerry's fatigue can set in. You could have to maybe stop obviously. But yeah, but it will still be there to support each other. Yeah. Today. At least, at least you each have support and and company. Well, listen, the best look and it's important, I suppose to remind listeners that there is a GoFundMe page and the title of it is Oh, they're sorry. Yeah, the run for Chrysler run for Chrysler on Facebook. And yeah, it's been out in the local papers through Kiernan Donald. And we'll have it. We'll have logos on the van as we're driving up. So people are welcome to donate and it will have buckets there and whatever way, you know, whatever every little. Yeah, absolutely. Well, listen, we'll keep an eye on your on your progress. We'll be keeping updates. And I, as I said, John, I'd be putting up shortly the route that we're taking out of Phoenix Park by the people across Carr Park and the various towns we're going through. So anybody that is in a running club or whatever or does a bit of running or free, feel free to join us on the route. And do you know what I mean? I'd be great. Yeah, a bit of distraction. Yeah. And hoping to see the former colleagues and Leatherkin Athletic Club will probably meet us in Leatherkenny or kill McCrannan. So for the last leg into Chrysler. Yeah, brilliant. Well, listen, I hope it all works out and I hope the weather's in your feet. What's the forecast like? Well, I didn't look at it. I think it's dry. It might be a few showers Thursday and that but Friday looks okay. And that they're typical, typical weather, but you know, it's going to be alright. But we've catered for all that, you know, we're all prepared for it. It's not going to rain from six o'clock in the morning to six and eight. Okay, so you know, a few showers or not, not killers. Well, I wish you both the very best and and hope you get there safely and hope you you know, you do succeed and make it all the way. But listen, we'll keep an eye on your progress and we'll have a few updates here on on the radio for you. Neil McCollum and Mario Tolotti. Thanks so much for having a chat with us. Good luck. What's the difference between the BMW ix and ix 3?