Meet Bertie Messett, the bus conductor behind the Dublin marathon

Analysis: the champion runner and Olympian used his day job on the number 10 Dublin bus route to plot the course for the city's first marathon

The Dublin marathon has become an annual, inspiring and colourful fixture in the Irish sporting calendar since the inaugural race in 1980. But it may not have had the instant success were it not for Bertie Messitt. From serving as a bus conductor on the No.10 Dublin bus route to drawing up the route for the marathon around the city, Messitt has had a huge impact on the history of Dublin marathon and Irish athletics.

Born in Boghall, Bray in 1928, Messitt joined the British Army after the Second World War, where he took part in his first cross country race. He was posted in the Middle East and participated in one mile and three mile races. He began to race competitively upon his return to Ireland in the 1950s. Bertie trained by running from his home in Shankill to the Dublin Bus garage in Donnybrook, where he worked as a bus conductor on the No. 10 route.

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From RTÉ Archives, profile of marathon runner, Olympia and bus conductor Bertie Messitt

During his career, he held 16 national records in distances ranging from 3,000m to the marathon. HE was selected by the Olympic Council to represent Ireland in the marathon at the 1960 Olympics in Rome alongside his teammates Willie Dunne and George McIntyre. Lean, fresh faced and wearing a green vest with the number 58, Messitt was the frontrunner in the early stages of the race, which was