It’s funny how life sometimes stops you in your tracks. For the past four weeks, I’ve sat at my computer, staring at this blank page, willing the words to come. Every time, I let myself get distracted—whether it was scrolling, snacking, or convincing myself that I’d do it tomorrow. But today, no more excuses. It’s time to talk about the challenge that shook my confidence, bruised my ego, and tested my limits.

There was one class at Titan Fitness Camp that I was sure I’d be able to handle. Back in Ireland, I had climbed a few mountains here and there. Granted, it had been a while since my last excursion, but still—I figured when it came time for the Buddha Run, I’d be able to put in a respectable performance. The class was held every Wednesday, giving me four chances to prove myself. However, I missed the first one due to my previously mentioned intimate interaction with a motorbike.

I was told beforehand that the Buddha Run was a 3.8-kilometre trek, starting at an elevation of 40 metres and climbing to 340 metres. On paper, that didn’t sound too bad. For comparison, my usual hike back home in Ireland is a 5-kilometre route that starts at 70 metres and peaks at around 370 metres.

The key differences?

1. My Irish route has a mix of natural and wooden steps, which help break up the climb. The Buddha Run? A constant, unforgiving paved road that just keeps going up.
   
2. The Irish hike reaches its peak halfway through, then slopes downward. The Buddha Run? A relentless incline all the way to the finish line. No breaks, no mercy.

The Buddha Run Elevation Map

The Main Ireland Mountain Elevation Map

Looking at the stats now, I can confidently say I was a deluded twat. I convinced myself that because I could finish the full 5-kilometre Irish hike in about an hour and a half, I’d be able to complete the Buddha Run in 40 to 44 minutes. Spoiler alert: I was very, very wrong.

So, on the 5th of February, I woke up at 5:30 AM, ready to take on the climb. I grabbed my travel bag, emptied it out, and packed only the essentials—namely, a towel, knowing full well that the heat would be brutal. What I didn’t do, however, was bring enough water. On my next two attempts, I wised up and packed two 2-litre bottles, which added weight to my bag but made the journey far more bearable.

As a group, we arrived at the front door of the Titan Centre and boarded the organised buses to the start of the Buddha Run. Well… buses might be a generous term. What stood before us were three songthaews—which, if you’re unfamiliar, are essentially pickup trucks with aspirations of being public transport.

The name songthaew comes from the two bench seats running along either side of the truck bed. In some, an ambitious third bench is crammed down the middle, because clearly, personal space is optional. A roof is fitted over the back, sometimes with curtains or plastic sheets to keep out the rain—though they mostly just flap around dramatically. Some models have roofs high enough for standing passengers inside, while others prefer the more thrilling approach: a tiny platform at the rear where you cling on for dear life and reconsider your life choices.

After about 30 minutes, we arrived at the starting point and gathered in a small parking area off the side of the road for some pre-run stretches. Personally, I’ve always found stretching to be a bit pointless—I’ve never felt it loosen me up or make me any more prepared for the task ahead. But after begrudgingly doing it in enough classes and actually noticing the difference, I’ve now made it a habit… or at least, I tell myself I have. In reality, I still occasionally ignore my newfound wisdom, roll the dice on injury, and instantly regret it.

Anyway, after a solid 15 minutes of stretching, we were ready for the first climb. I was pumped, I was ready, I was game… and I was immediately watching everyone else speed ahead like they had rocket boosters strapped to their feet. Honestly, this didn’t bother me too much—I’d already accepted that some of these people were basically built in a lab for this kind of thing.

As my confidence started slipping away with every step, I spotted something that snapped me out of it—a spectacular structure under construction. It was unlike anything I’d see back home in Ireland. Instead of the rigid uniformity I was used to, it had a kind of chaotic beauty to it. And in that moment, despite my burning legs and dwindling self-belief, I felt a spark of excitement. If this was just the beginning, what else was waiting for me ahead?

Soon, I’d get my answer to that quandary when, about halfway up the trail, I stumbled upon an elephant sanctuary. We’d been given a fair warning about this place—sometimes, the elephants casually cross the road to get from one section to another. Safe? Absolutely… for the elephants. As one person put it, “The elephant crushes you before you even manage to hurt it.”

Luckily, that never became an issue. In fact, I was pretty fortunate—out of the three times I did this run, the elephants only made an appearance on my first attempt. And since I was more focused on keeping my legs moving than playing wildlife photographer, I can only apologize for the shockingly bad photo evidence.

As I pushed forward, more and more people passed me until, eventually, there was no one left. I was the last in line, the proud recipient of the vanity award for ensuring that every brave soul attempting this challenge made it to the finish. We had been given an hour to complete the climb, and as I caught sight of the coaches and songthaews passing me, making their way to the top, my heart began to sink. I was this close to not making it.

But then, I remembered my climb up Errigal with Gavin Meenan (Instagram link) and the Modern Warriors. Two steps forward, always two steps forward—even if it means one step back. With that mantra ringing in my ears, I powered through the final stretch and reached the peak.

There, standing in front of me, was the iconic Big Buddha—except, well… it was under maintenance. So, after all that effort, the best I could do was admire its backside.

However, that wasn’t the true spectacle awaiting me at the finish line. In a moment that turned me as red as a Christmas tree covered in blinking lights, a group of Titans were there, cheering me on, shouting for me to push through to the very end. As I crossed the line, I was met with an avalanche of high-fives, and—though I hate to admit it—it was exactly what I needed.

Just off to the side of the finish line, as you can see on the map below, was a scenic perch showcasing a breath-taking view. As a group, we made our way over, soaking in the incredible sight. Then, one of the coaches gathered us together, handed the Titan celebratory flag to the MVP of the run, and snapped a group photo. Looking back at those pictures now still fills me with joy.

In fact, all three of my attempts at the Buddha Run brought their own brand of happiness—and a few unexpected fashion choices. I was sweating so much it may as well have been raining in Ireland, so rather than constantly pulling out a sweat towel, I decided to wear it like a bib. Pair that with my sunglasses, and suddenly I was sporting a look that was less athlete and more washed-up 80s action star trying to stay relevant. And my constant guzzling of a two-litre water bottle made me look less like a peak athlete and more like a lad rehydrating after a three-day session at the Galway Races—not that I’d know anything about that, of course!

However with the fitness there also was a requirement for some fun. I had promised myself before I had left for Thailand that I would do all in my power to avoid any alcoholic beverages and for the most part I achieved that feat. There were 3 exceptions

1. The Night before I joined the titan fitness camp I had a singular Thai cocktail of some description that I can’t spell or pronounce and which unfortunately left much to much to be desired
2. Then the night before I left I had a few Libations in celebration of my journey with a few of the other titans.
3. Then theres a random night I wasn’t expecting.

One day after a class, a genuinely top-tier guy—we’ll call him M—approached me with an offer. One of his crew had bought a ticket to Vona Beach Club, a floating beach club off the coast of the Patong Boat Pier, but had to back out. M figured I’d be good company and invited me along for a visit to paradise. Naturally, I agreed.

Later that day, we met up, grabbed a taxi, and headed to the pier. While waiting for the boat to take us to the boat—yes, a strange concept, but one that worked beautifully—we stopped for a drink. That’s when I was handed what I thought was raspberry water… but turned out to be raspberry champagne. And with that, the floodgates were open for the night.

The trip over was rough, but stunning. Watching some of the group nearly lose themselves on the speedboat was hilarious, but once we arrived, it was breathtaking.

Onboard, we were brought to an upstairs section where our group had a reserved bed, and that’s when the real fun began—music, drinks, and dancing galore. At one point, I even ended up in the swimming pool in the middle of the boat. An odd but incredible experience.

Would I ever spend my own money on something like this if I hadn’t been invited? Probably not. But since I was, I made sure to enjoy every single second—as you’ll see in the photos below.

But the night didn’t end there.

We found out that another group of Titan members was at a different festive establishment and planned to head to Patong Strip afterward. I’d heard stories about the place and had originally planned to avoid it, but… when in Paris, I suppose.

First stop? An Irish-themed bar—because of course we did. And this is where I got royally screwed.

Feeling confident in my ability to judge the exchange rate, I ordered a pint of Guinness for 380 Thai Baht. And for the first time since arriving in Thailand, I was hoisted by my own petard—paying a painful €10.36 for a bad pint of Guinness. Absolute robbery. But the craic was good, so we moved on.

Next, we hit up an establishment called New York New York, where we met up with the rest of the Titans and danced the night away. It was an incredible few hours, and I have no regrets.

I also have no regrets about the fact that I somehow managed to contain the evidence to just four photos. The wild stuff remains undocumented.

After that, I really wanted to commemorate this experience with something permanent—something that would always remind me of this place, these people, and everything I’ve been through. So, I got a tattoo from the one and only Path (Instagram link). He always made me feel comfortable, welcomed, and accepted at Titan, and I can confidently say he did an incredible job creating this piece of brilliance.

There is many more stuff I could write about and some that will pop up in my mind as cherrished memories too small to highlight but too large to forget. However, it’s time to address the elephant in the room—or, in this case, the elephant at the end of this whopper of a post! Why did it take me four weeks to write this? Well, would you believe it—I’m back in Ireland. Yeah, I’m just as surprised as you are!

As some of you who follow my personal accounts may have noticed, while I was in Thailand, I landed a job back home—an opportunity too good to pass up. So, my trip was cut short. There were things I didn’t get to do, but honestly, my time in Thailand was life-changing. I’d recommend the experience to anyone. Even if Titan Fitness isn’t your thing, the Fitness Street of Soi Ta-iad has something for everyone. Whether you call them gyms, clubs, or factories of pain, they’re packed with people who push you, support you, and make the experience unforgettable. The freedom you feel, the progress you make, and the kindness you receive make it all worthwhile—no matter the outcome.

I can’t overstate how much this trip meant to me, but it won’t be my last. Once I settle into the new job, I want to travel more—even if it’s just exploring different parts of Ireland to start. I want to keep expanding my horizons, trying new things, and sharing my opinions. I’ll be writing more WWE reviews, though they’ll likely be post-show thanks to Irish time zones. I also want to dive into food reviews, movie reviews, and maybe—if I can find a book that holds my attention for more than 30 pages—some book reviews too.

This is the story of my lead-up to and time in Thailand, and I appreciate every single one of you who took the time to read any part of it. Now, onto the next chapter. I’ll leave you with the final image of me and my PT Aof and the final picture for now that I took in Thailand.

And on my streams, I’ve added a new closing line that fits me perfectly—cheeky, funny, and very on-brand. I don’t know if it’ll stick around, but for now…

Slán go fóill! And Póg mo Thóin! My Craic Addicts!