tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72689853349776617382024-03-12T20:20:04.677-07:00Around the Year in 24 PintsInspired by 2010's achievement of running through the year on only 24 pints, this year I'll drink more and run more.Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.comBlogger329125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-57929698731017697192023-06-06T03:14:00.001-07:002023-06-06T03:14:17.972-07:00Late Night, Early Morning Run in Sligo.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgut_1odLT-a06RuR8C_2bis88bx9-TTliFb6JueUMwrZ3FUTfbwPO5hGfuzR_9s_5L_T86LvBPZduR_sCJtb8KfQsdRnibUeOhEgZu_gBYMs8_5TcpdAewn0dfEo0CVmiLUGF6aaD1bYG8jF_NHFhiyQQy5iOY-1-7LCJDjlrJeASBZmFJDPslu91NBw/s1600/BeachBar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgut_1odLT-a06RuR8C_2bis88bx9-TTliFb6JueUMwrZ3FUTfbwPO5hGfuzR_9s_5L_T86LvBPZduR_sCJtb8KfQsdRnibUeOhEgZu_gBYMs8_5TcpdAewn0dfEo0CVmiLUGF6aaD1bYG8jF_NHFhiyQQy5iOY-1-7LCJDjlrJeASBZmFJDPslu91NBw/w320-h240/BeachBar.jpg" title="Marty, Patricia, Maureen and Dad at the Beach Bar" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Went down to Sligo with my father on Friday for a weekend of music, drink and meeting up with relations. It was the County Fleadh - a festival of traditional music and dance, so Dad and I brought the fiddle and banjo and headed down to stay with uncle Marty and his wife Patricia.</p><p>The craic was mighty - with a great sing song in The Castle Inn on Friday night in Easkey with Marty, Daniel and Derek, followed by a chat back at home until 3am.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7KHqFqkcQm8TrXJpzgN0l7dd_7SIHYLs5TujxdlvJop3GeIdm-CS4cStTR3dhoSb4bYfjPDtKmiyz-3mpnvKfrN73zU-lz6sVfVA7iZCvYMtMSlHNOW6HkhOOQT-hi_W3G2PF3gQyk4WrUfqa7ycY_GA1VYFkfO_jAXV-Q_VAJpYwigGVspn-pJP8Q/s1600/StFarnans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7KHqFqkcQm8TrXJpzgN0l7dd_7SIHYLs5TujxdlvJop3GeIdm-CS4cStTR3dhoSb4bYfjPDtKmiyz-3mpnvKfrN73zU-lz6sVfVA7iZCvYMtMSlHNOW6HkhOOQT-hi_W3G2PF3gQyk4WrUfqa7ycY_GA1VYFkfO_jAXV-Q_VAJpYwigGVspn-pJP8Q/s320/StFarnans.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>On Saturday morning, I elected to get out of bed early and get the body moving. So I ran down to Dunalton, The body wasn't in the most energetic of shapes, but I got down there. The place is absolutely beautiful - with a serious dip in the valley before you get to 'St Farnan's Shrine' away in the trees.</p><p>Further down is Dunalton itself - like a mini version of the Cliffs of Moher. I sat for a few minutes to take it all in and to call the family at home. And then started the jog back. All in all a short run, but given my condition after the frolics of the night before I was happy I did anything.</p><p>It left me tired enough for the rest of the day - a sorching hot day where we got to visit landmarks such as the Beach Bar in Aughris Head, before making our way back to the Castle Inn again at around 6pm for more tunes with the likes of Damien, Jason and Lorna McGuinness, Darren O Reagan and others.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk34MKLNQckEVxgYlOFdLu1l-j3yMmeLX_ocXbfnWmZfVsavvz13WUSt6yM3VQfZ5Uj_t0S7NCSu7S-nRdl7wLt8S0IcG-Cen-HifVUfWzIU9XOVG7g5oMe2vT1U3G4b2T_nUFenydCilTBy9u3R3lRQMV_LK-Cgif77jjeyBUGN3WzDf-qcxGuVxfCQ/s1600/MorningRun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk34MKLNQckEVxgYlOFdLu1l-j3yMmeLX_ocXbfnWmZfVsavvz13WUSt6yM3VQfZ5Uj_t0S7NCSu7S-nRdl7wLt8S0IcG-Cen-HifVUfWzIU9XOVG7g5oMe2vT1U3G4b2T_nUFenydCilTBy9u3R3lRQMV_LK-Cgif77jjeyBUGN3WzDf-qcxGuVxfCQ/s320/MorningRun.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>We had a great weekend - and at the very least I ticked off some sort of a run!</p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-9333879431238514182023-05-30T07:11:00.002-07:002023-05-30T07:11:51.282-07:00Warm weather, short run...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwuL7RnsbXWuUDLVpn1QQonLJWn12NSpsb-b42Lm7RweUi32znR6CZrn09_KRuNYa5zh-As7aCp9RMnURCXYpWbup059hrBIjLJBgWdYuDDcpgJHuWSZEqthSgC2KjT5wCCAKaMKVGrZ2clWYfy-EanljJePykFEuSrRPXDHiueoBb40JL0byICwRsA/s3648/IMG_20230530_135338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwuL7RnsbXWuUDLVpn1QQonLJWn12NSpsb-b42Lm7RweUi32znR6CZrn09_KRuNYa5zh-As7aCp9RMnURCXYpWbup059hrBIjLJBgWdYuDDcpgJHuWSZEqthSgC2KjT5wCCAKaMKVGrZ2clWYfy-EanljJePykFEuSrRPXDHiueoBb40JL0byICwRsA/s320/IMG_20230530_135338.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />It's beautiful here at the moment - the sun shining, the flowers are blooming and even old ruins like this one (right across from our house) are standing proudly.<p></p><p>On the subject of old ruins - I, myself, am feeling okay these days. Today was my first training run since the Park Run 5k on Saturday, and I really am just stealing a bit of time here and there between working, bringing kids home from school, bringing kids to accordion/football/judo practice, calling in to my Mum in the nursing home and calling up to Dad above in the house.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeCaVY6N10mZT4Eq0PBklGSlaIwkf7y-QnBTBbzowoOSZhYUZ_ckKHr87w6SHSDbTT8vZBTps8bDeuCibfQtP6mxz7UjY8K0ko2pKhKzpVBq7RdLcaAAy_ZSN5ekWnkE33lISxYq4yfMsCrJdLnvc7m5lUVXHj4Ko_5lZvli3_1Jk-uavQ3zwPwjbYg/s5632/IMG_20230530_140815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeCaVY6N10mZT4Eq0PBklGSlaIwkf7y-QnBTBbzowoOSZhYUZ_ckKHr87w6SHSDbTT8vZBTps8bDeuCibfQtP6mxz7UjY8K0ko2pKhKzpVBq7RdLcaAAy_ZSN5ekWnkE33lISxYq4yfMsCrJdLnvc7m5lUVXHj4Ko_5lZvli3_1Jk-uavQ3zwPwjbYg/s320/IMG_20230530_140815.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Still - the running is supremely important. I need to get back to a level of fitness that will allow me to function with intent in everything else.</p><p>Today, I just did about 3k, with 1k easy, and 2k hard - at a higher pace than I'm used to. This meant that, even thought it was a short run, it was tough. I remember from my old Furman training programme that a tempo run like this can work wonders for your fitness...</p><p>Here's hoping!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-90746879798398658732023-05-28T06:32:00.002-07:002023-05-28T06:32:14.485-07:00First Run in Nearly 10 Years!<p> Thank God I'm finally, finally, back running (if plodding).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_K337h7KoeVpuYLSHH_IqH3h8jvezg__Zz5hqUy49z4FUG0UcBiTxNbAdRuteMQ0K4LpXs7-mcUKd6iQU9m5ICLjiuliAzLTQqz8ekocs67a1JBUf3hd9Ac0uwUwCXmNc_itK4csddz7Ts4lygi-aUdRV8d2jc8DZqhiuG5Ue83jS3xs7WMTJhCE3w/s1408/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-27%20at%209.26.20%20AM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="1408" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_K337h7KoeVpuYLSHH_IqH3h8jvezg__Zz5hqUy49z4FUG0UcBiTxNbAdRuteMQ0K4LpXs7-mcUKd6iQU9m5ICLjiuliAzLTQqz8ekocs67a1JBUf3hd9Ac0uwUwCXmNc_itK4csddz7Ts4lygi-aUdRV8d2jc8DZqhiuG5Ue83jS3xs7WMTJhCE3w/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-05-27%20at%209.26.20%20AM.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I signed up to the Knocknacarra 5k Park Run on Saturday last, and went in with brother Richie (above)- where we met up with Darach (pic below). </p><p>It was a gorgeous morning - and the turnout was at the high seventy mark. These park runs are normally well organised. My last park run, back in early 2014, was in Westport with Big Ron. I finished that in a time of 23.16 - and by all accounts I was disappointed with my time! </p><p>How times have changed... I plodded through this run and completed it in 28.20 - a full two minutes behind Richie, and well behind Darach. Even so, I was well pleased with the run. There were times over the last ten years when I was sure I wouldn't run again. To be part of a running community is something special.</p><p>I now have a marker - I know what I need to improve on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYV-0IPbEgiz7wYGOSYv9yQgCpZi9z40qeZ91mH7ODNHAHnOREvh_HzLAfWjjG3fmTCUIb5de6UCnSYVrkJnNkKIEiqENhoXQ_BGEaN6B2y__L7M6Zb_ISqy7xoZcrzWxSJVBtvnxDlU8d_LdnrSXxoWmk6_GjyNxUhdO_m0cyF1UnW-4MMQfL13KXw/s1600/viber_image_2023-05-27_10-09-39-524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYV-0IPbEgiz7wYGOSYv9yQgCpZi9z40qeZ91mH7ODNHAHnOREvh_HzLAfWjjG3fmTCUIb5de6UCnSYVrkJnNkKIEiqENhoXQ_BGEaN6B2y__L7M6Zb_ISqy7xoZcrzWxSJVBtvnxDlU8d_LdnrSXxoWmk6_GjyNxUhdO_m0cyF1UnW-4MMQfL13KXw/s320/viber_image_2023-05-27_10-09-39-524.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-90927587063545173442023-01-10T03:12:00.003-08:002023-01-10T03:12:36.046-08:00Back to Saturday runs with Murty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkv3q3RlkTK21suO8r6E-tV_83Zy5dZC8WwOMdrcLmfi_lePOOHY5GGOP-8lXIU7OvJifuiGcq00_DY2Ek9b5tCzpXd6-lp3ytyqo5afjwTDOnWojVDzNh9cLHkxRrTFoubu3YND0V2WKdOgIQ1alLhACQfyALQ88FkNfdV7Gxrr_hMuR1H-yGVQ4Cw/s5632/bren2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkv3q3RlkTK21suO8r6E-tV_83Zy5dZC8WwOMdrcLmfi_lePOOHY5GGOP-8lXIU7OvJifuiGcq00_DY2Ek9b5tCzpXd6-lp3ytyqo5afjwTDOnWojVDzNh9cLHkxRrTFoubu3YND0V2WKdOgIQ1alLhACQfyALQ88FkNfdV7Gxrr_hMuR1H-yGVQ4Cw/s320/bren2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> I got out for a 3k trot on Saturday with Murty... first in a long time, but I'm determined to get back (if slowly) on to the running wagon again. It was fierce cold, and lashed a little icy rain. Poor Murty (who is only 10!) felt the brunt of it, and asked to shelter for a minute at the door of an old shed by the beach.</p><p>Later that afternoon I indulged in a pint with the aul fella! Not bad for one day's inter-generational bonding!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHFBk201lIMOT4kaQpQlGASDh93iI4a2F9eQBBI7NM3qqknp9AZ4W7Ne63q0fnmGmVoeTjkF4sSQa26INMoItdlMfiKLf1Lc2LTcy-FQdDgY25L8TOalOUmeiIsQTYPf1w-x3yhN-cYkXd5G-fO6HLtF0WaBJMiJkZup7ub29eyMdecQYuJbf0P7Yag/s5632/bren1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHFBk201lIMOT4kaQpQlGASDh93iI4a2F9eQBBI7NM3qqknp9AZ4W7Ne63q0fnmGmVoeTjkF4sSQa26INMoItdlMfiKLf1Lc2LTcy-FQdDgY25L8TOalOUmeiIsQTYPf1w-x3yhN-cYkXd5G-fO6HLtF0WaBJMiJkZup7ub29eyMdecQYuJbf0P7Yag/s320/bren1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-15956579892107587482022-07-27T02:50:00.000-07:002022-07-27T02:50:00.473-07:00Slow(ish) run down to beach and back...<p> I broke with my original training plan for a new and revolutionary one: no training at all. This lasted for over a week before I arrested the slide yesterday with a nice slow 4k run, down to the local beach and around the loop road back.</p><p>I felt the excesses of the past two weeks - the beer to welcome returning siblings on holidays, the beer to welcome returning cousins on holidays, and the beer to celebrate Galway reach the All Ireland final for the first time in 21 years!</p><p>Okay - too much beer. The Claregalway 10k looks ominously out of reach - but still I will continue to push on with slow, mid range runs, for the next week or two and see if I'm anywhere near the pace... If not, we can adjust and go again!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZB9qd95jQSr1HT4OmRtxpBz1t7zt943F6GW9WKfcyznhJIVQ27RYCRvvQmoS4QbXqxsn3wq1LByW2DZ6gFdI1h-aUXbCcjtNT34lvO5A-YfP12KRQx3mFqqukCOvA7OxEc-HJ-A2TEt_ghRHdKFLV85g4_lSOWuZcGw7Z8nCEI-IxaY8sISuYJaP3XQ/s5632/IMG_20220726_174803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZB9qd95jQSr1HT4OmRtxpBz1t7zt943F6GW9WKfcyznhJIVQ27RYCRvvQmoS4QbXqxsn3wq1LByW2DZ6gFdI1h-aUXbCcjtNT34lvO5A-YfP12KRQx3mFqqukCOvA7OxEc-HJ-A2TEt_ghRHdKFLV85g4_lSOWuZcGw7Z8nCEI-IxaY8sISuYJaP3XQ/s320/IMG_20220726_174803.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Little Kathleen welcomes me back!</div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-18153295010730661012022-06-25T12:34:00.004-07:002022-06-26T04:05:45.900-07:005k in miserable weather, with Murty <p>I finished 'week one' training with a 5k run today, up to the village and back with Murty and our very energetic dog, Lughaidh!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QMctqpqoq84e7ZsAJqYIKD6nOVSYQ4wzWgozyHcXJMRigM8nbpU9FYBO9KG3tQhSMm4u71aZq1H3CgB5YMrKZlE8iw-kfPmWH1z2fXYChl14_mtLMRhGL60NbU0VmoLJGtZg9X8QXkRwGq5FvepJA5WPq3R5JOC9OZzsimYABp5O-EZ20By47XHlOg/s5632/IMG_20220625_180912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QMctqpqoq84e7ZsAJqYIKD6nOVSYQ4wzWgozyHcXJMRigM8nbpU9FYBO9KG3tQhSMm4u71aZq1H3CgB5YMrKZlE8iw-kfPmWH1z2fXYChl14_mtLMRhGL60NbU0VmoLJGtZg9X8QXkRwGq5FvepJA5WPq3R5JOC9OZzsimYABp5O-EZ20By47XHlOg/s320/IMG_20220625_180912.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>It was great to have Murty for company - and a good achievement for him to run that distance at his age (9).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoJWYH06eh5VEU-Mvs-v7morB3tl3-AOgOeW-1Fi6mEt5eJxM3H7GixXe22x-aFZVsTDvBn8cTstUal8ZS604nVTTZ61Ti-POxsqC12noyEoF6Bb0aeunpqlS_O6QH3OMCSCcM5Hi4tUYKWlUohEby1dKo_M8MWfqAehyoMf5qdTKnP_TmN9sODHkbw/s3648/IMG_20220625_173023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fair plé do Mhurty a chríochnaigh an 5k liom" border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoJWYH06eh5VEU-Mvs-v7morB3tl3-AOgOeW-1Fi6mEt5eJxM3H7GixXe22x-aFZVsTDvBn8cTstUal8ZS604nVTTZ61Ti-POxsqC12noyEoF6Bb0aeunpqlS_O6QH3OMCSCcM5Hi4tUYKWlUohEby1dKo_M8MWfqAehyoMf5qdTKnP_TmN9sODHkbw/w240-h320/IMG_20220625_173023.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I felt good today, and delighted the first week of training has been completed. Claregalway is just 7 weeks away... Much to do! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF73GT2LOHuMvwmQNNjEtrsyjwBgeHZTVh5hvhNo8w5DOtxlnjXIWXFuTIN9nS4FKMzGEMWUE4Q3FzRkvq-_jXiHSvkHtv-DBh85NKE7Lc5rEQNGJvh78-SfJVOYZJCMQZU_MjEpqFHlKSNiaXgocPbQW938FWzWEl7p13PtzngsfzFBj4E1Bv-M9fkA/s3648/IMG_20220625_173027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF73GT2LOHuMvwmQNNjEtrsyjwBgeHZTVh5hvhNo8w5DOtxlnjXIWXFuTIN9nS4FKMzGEMWUE4Q3FzRkvq-_jXiHSvkHtv-DBh85NKE7Lc5rEQNGJvh78-SfJVOYZJCMQZU_MjEpqFHlKSNiaXgocPbQW938FWzWEl7p13PtzngsfzFBj4E1Bv-M9fkA/s320/IMG_20220625_173027.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-19122728185608781592022-06-23T01:25:00.003-07:002022-06-23T01:25:58.217-07:00Day 2 of my 10k programme<p>I took to the local park for the second day of my training programme - once again, kids in tow! I had planned on running 4 consecutive laps at a reasonable pace, with one slow lap either side.</p><p>However, when I got to the park there was a lot of activity there with kids playing football, so I decided to hop next door to the soccer astro pitch. It was empty, so perfect! Kids went to the playground, and away I went on my run.</p><p>I managed 4 consecutive laps at a fair degree of pace alright, but to be honest, the pitch is only about 1/2 size of the other one, so I added another 4 fast laps for good measure.</p><p>However, the final four I didn't do consecutively - I couldn't! I broke it up to: 1 fast, 1 slow, 1 fast, 1 slow, 2 fast. </p><p>I consider it a good enough job for the second day of my comeback! A 5k run now on Saturday and that's week 1 done. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-81271642291825920502022-06-21T01:32:00.002-07:002022-06-21T01:32:43.515-07:00Intervals - First step on the road to recovery<p> I've sketched out a plan for the next 8 weeks, that hopefully should see me completing the Claregalway 10k with some minor modicum of dignity. The thing now is to stick with it!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCy0bVgggpu8T-TmVTSbqgOn3WAfQzvqmngX51492taQkwJZqWmHBAF9D-RO7jEQWBE48sboM4xlA3uz6KKeIkqri3h0iHxnOIXfK9ojnXcquEIg18NpNidX0R-DeuhCxfIgSwiKFNfSgXMdSFvc8Q0_xNky-Ck6Tokn43kxOrBtRo_Y0ziAvO1ET9g/s689/pairc.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Páirc an Cháthanaigh, where I did my intervals, hosted a European Cup soccer match way back in 1986!" border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="689" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCy0bVgggpu8T-TmVTSbqgOn3WAfQzvqmngX51492taQkwJZqWmHBAF9D-RO7jEQWBE48sboM4xlA3uz6KKeIkqri3h0iHxnOIXfK9ojnXcquEIg18NpNidX0R-DeuhCxfIgSwiKFNfSgXMdSFvc8Q0_xNky-Ck6Tokn43kxOrBtRo_Y0ziAvO1ET9g/w320-h178/pairc.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Páirc an Cháthanaigh, where I did my intervals, hosted a European Cup soccer match way back in 1986!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I've decided to go with three training sessions per week, that basically follows the following pattern:<p></p><p>Monday - Interval training</p><p>Wednesday - Short fast run</p><p>Saturday - Long slow run</p><p>Intervals were a key part of my marathon training back when I could run well! I was never a super fast runner, but interval training gave me that sharp burst of lung busting speedwork that helped bring my time down to 3.43 for the Dublin marathon, way back in 2010. </p><p>Yesterday evening was beautiful - the kids had football training on the park, so Murty and I did 12 laps, 6 fast, six slow.</p><p>The first fast lap nearly killed me. I thought I'd never complete the next 5. But I did, and actually began to feel a little better after lap #3 of the fast ones.</p><p>It feels good to be back training. Onwards we go!<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-68457508711606064042022-06-20T02:24:00.001-07:002022-06-20T02:24:12.260-07:00The comeback 10k has been chosen...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkZGXqqlHcUeF4Qf-mSxmN5evC4PI-cho0t4Fqlf-Ygq9_v9dYdZ_iZMINCRWu1n1yExWblNGjVvYYeF7uEd3k2_-lCm9OmEdQBEuymvtCwJts9Zpir3YeyHulrM6TNWK894lBxDBy8YzJFKlRT4SYm9573OeuuJPpuao6l41_fcksXmFXjKhyPAILw/s456/claregalwaycastle.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="423" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkZGXqqlHcUeF4Qf-mSxmN5evC4PI-cho0t4Fqlf-Ygq9_v9dYdZ_iZMINCRWu1n1yExWblNGjVvYYeF7uEd3k2_-lCm9OmEdQBEuymvtCwJts9Zpir3YeyHulrM6TNWK894lBxDBy8YzJFKlRT4SYm9573OeuuJPpuao6l41_fcksXmFXjKhyPAILw/s320/claregalwaycastle.PNG" width="297" /></a></div><br /> I've chosen the Claregalway 10k (which takes place on August 13th) as my comeback run...<p></p><p><br /></p><p>The last time I took part in a road race (or a race of any description) was the Westport 5k series - with Big Ron, way back in 2014. Since then - I've had a knee injury that kept me from running, four kids (that kept me from sleeping!), and a business that kept me going!</p><p>But (thanks to John Bracken), my knee is sorted, and I'm ready to get going on a training programme to get me up to 10k level for August 13th. </p><p>Looking back at my old PB's - I hit the 10k PB in May 17th, 2013, for the Cooley Coast Run - at 47.32. I won't get anywhere near that for Claregalway (If I hit around 57 mins I'll be happy!). </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-75503874804526549432021-06-15T07:18:00.001-07:002021-06-15T07:18:49.912-07:00Long Hiatus - Could I really be back?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cOteMRymO6o/YMi1WG7nFqI/AAAAAAAABQU/3DHc8JaE7AQnpap74f9UBZKvxdcuhO1dACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210615_125439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cOteMRymO6o/YMi1WG7nFqI/AAAAAAAABQU/3DHc8JaE7AQnpap74f9UBZKvxdcuhO1dACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210615_125439.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>It's been a long time. </p><p>My last post was back in 2015 and my last run was a year earlier. </p><p>There was a time when I ran and posted constantly - and enjoyed many fun runs, marathons, park runs and street races, but in 2014 I sustained a bad knee injury that put me off the track and road for a long time.</p><p>In truth, I thought I wouldn't run again. My knee was so sore that I could hardly sleep without discomfort - driving was a pain. Occasionally I would trot a bit just to see if, by miracle, the knee came back of it's own accord, but the pain would emerge after 100 metres.</p><p>I went to see a knee specialist who told me I had two options - 1) key-hole surgery 2) more extensive surgery. Neither, he said, would guarantee any success - and running was definitely out of the equation.</p><p>And then - by total chance, I went to see a 'healer'. This man, John Behan, was reportedly a 'seventh-son-of-a-seventh son'! He had the 'healing power'.</p><p>I went with scepticism, but whatever the man did had me up and running within an hour....I KID YOU NOT!</p><p>Having said that - this was about a year ago - and I still didn't push on. But slowly, I returned to walking and then, hey presto, today I took the plunge and ran for 20 minutes.</p><p>It's a start - and I'm excited about it.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-21340549914837280922014-09-20T10:21:00.002-07:002014-09-20T10:21:37.640-07:00Since I can't run.I've been absent from running since last February, and am still injured (physio reckons it will take another 2-3 months of rehab). Since I can't run, or blog about running, here's a poem I've written about being injured and not running!<br />
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Since I can't run,<br />
I'll watch my boy learn how to walk.<br />
The waddle. <br />
Then run.<br />
I'll listen to him wah.<br />
Then woggle.<br />
Then word.<br />
I'll fit his first shoes on his feet.<br />
And chase him out the door with his unpaid-for clarks.<br />
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I'll step him up to bed, one step at a time.<br />
And step down again silently an hour later.<br />
And up again five minutes later.<br />
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Since I can't run I'll pass each animated phase:<br />
First Raa Raa, then Olly, then Fireman Sam.<br />
I'll read him every Thomas book that ever was written.<br />
Then I'll read them all again.<br />
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We'll visit our neighbours pony and feed him carrots and apples.<br />
And clunks of grass.<br />
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We'll laugh like eejits while I purse wind against his neck.<br />
Then I'll worry about paying his keep,<br />
When I know that he'd live in a cave beside us.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-63489355542583921842014-05-10T05:24:00.003-07:002014-05-10T05:24:59.744-07:00Crocked Runner Needs Advice on Other Ways of Keeping Fit!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DzDVF1USmII/U24afnU8laI/AAAAAAAAA3c/4qyGD_D94Xs/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DzDVF1USmII/U24afnU8laI/AAAAAAAAA3c/4qyGD_D94Xs/s1600/022.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happier running times with the brothers...</td></tr>
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Since starting this blog back in 2010 this has been the longest period of non-posting. It's also been the longest period of non-running, and of course both are inextricably linked. I've been too fed up of this situation to even post about the state of my injured leg.</div>
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As is often the case with the male of the species, I've been guilty of putting my head in the sand and hoping the knee problem would sort itself out. I've also been flat out with work - running my own business now really does mean that 'time' means money! </div>
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There were two physio visits... one convinced me that the swelling would go down and I'd be back running in a month (swelling went down but I can hardly walk upstairs three months later). The other physio directed me towards a doctor who would refer me for an MRI scan to see what exactly was wrong, and what could be done. And that's where we are at right now - awaiting a scan.</div>
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In the meantime, I've lost a lot of fitness and it has dragged me down. What to do when you can't run or cycle? Press-ups and sit-ups don't really cut the mustard for me....</div>
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I may well need some kind of surgery to sort this out, which means that I may be looking at the rest of the year without a run. Still, I'm a little closer to the scan, so it's time to get positive. Any ideas on ways to keep fit in the meantime that doesn't involve use of the knee</div>
?<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-20389859336931524472014-02-09T13:36:00.002-08:002014-02-09T13:36:16.514-08:00First Three Pints, and a Damn Injury.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vMCZJ8JjTfg/Uvfz583x8dI/AAAAAAAAA1c/3c7M64oZXrY/s1600/8864_11278_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vMCZJ8JjTfg/Uvfz583x8dI/AAAAAAAAA1c/3c7M64oZXrY/s1600/8864_11278_5.jpg" height="257" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dreaded medial ligament...</td></tr>
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I've not blogged for nearly two weeks, though much has happened, and at the same time, little has happened!</div>
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First of all, I took a tumble on the treadmill on Tuesday and ended up damaging my medial ligament in the left knee... an old injury and an extremely annoying one. How could this have happened on a treadmill, I hear you ask? God only knows... a momentary lapse in concentration and I stepped on to the non-moving part of the treadmill and took a bad tumble. I'll be out of action for another couple of weeks (serves me right to use the treadmill instead of the road, but the weather has been terrible).</div>
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Then, on the following Saturday, I drank the first three of my twenty-four pints for the year... Tasty they were too. I was in the good company of Benny, while we watched England play France in the Six Nations. We put a little wager on England to win after they had fallen two tries down and would have collected good money had a fiendish Frenchman not touched down in the very last minute. Mugs game that aul gamblin'. </div>
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It is frustrating not to be able to get out and run, but I'm due a visit to the physio tomorrow and hopefully that will accelerate progress.</div>
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Hopefully.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-35432739002695086482014-01-27T13:21:00.000-08:002014-01-27T13:21:29.726-08:00Swirling Wind.<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's wild out here in the west. Trees are toppling like dominoes, it's bordering the ridiculous. I did manage to get out on the road a few days last week in slightly stiller weather. Nothing too strenuous - a leisurely 6 miler and a stroll of a four miler. An then a gap while I took the cowards route of staying in curled up by the fire rather than getting out into the wilds. </div>
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My vegetarian diet is still on track - as is the 24 pint plan. So far I haven't had a pint at all, and I'm aiming to see January well gone before I even think of lifting Arthur's sweet tonic to my lips. </div>
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We've been busy playing... 'drama' that is... Prior to the Christmas break I wrote and directed a comic 'panto' called 'Enda Lofa & Róisín Bán', and God knows we had some craic performing. We took the play on the road this weekend to Gaoth Dobhair in beautiful Donegal, as our band 'Rís' were performing at the Cabaret. Bhí an-time go deo againn, mar a bhíonn i gcónaí. </div>
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Back to the 'running blog' side of things: must do better, must not be a coward!</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-18439859435227615192014-01-06T05:42:00.003-08:002014-01-06T05:42:45.413-08:00Going Veggie, Back Running, and Back to 24 Pint Plan!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h4Nd4cFo_hI/UsqyX_8o2TI/AAAAAAAAAz0/XtMBBu3XEaU/s1600/20140104_101233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h4Nd4cFo_hI/UsqyX_8o2TI/AAAAAAAAAz0/XtMBBu3XEaU/s1600/20140104_101233.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Ron and I take a 'selfie' after the Park Run 5k</td></tr>
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2014 has started with a ferocious bang. Storms have lashed the west coast of Ireland - flooding the dock area in Galway, uprooting concrete promenades along Salthill, Spidéal and further west, and causing untold damage right around the country. Doooomsday scenario!</div>
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Time for a change.</div>
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So, I'm going veggie for 2014: no meat, poultry or fish! </div>
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And, I'm going back to the 24 pint plan... that's right, circle the year on a tiny alcohol allowance of only 24 pints of Guinness!</div>
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On top of this I mean to get back running in a meaningful way. To emphasise the point Big Ron and I left the house at 7.30am on Saturday morning to make the trip north to the beautiful town of Westport, where we participated in our first official race of the year, the Park Run 5k. Just 5k I hear you ask? Well, the small ones can be the toughest, especially when you are not, I repeat, NOT, fit. I started off briskly, running at the low 7 min mile pace, but I died a death at the 3k mark and slowed considerably, coming in at 23.46mins, and nearly vomiting! Big Ron was miles ahead in the low 20min mark. Still, I have my barometer for the year and can only get better.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious veggie burger I prepared on Friday night.</td></tr>
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As for the veggie diet - why I hear you ask? Well, I've always wondered about going vegetarian, for all the health and morality reasons, so this year I'm plunging straight in and so far enjoying it. </div>
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Health and happiness to all in 2014.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-64148521371639756642013-11-26T00:22:00.002-08:002013-11-26T00:22:49.600-08:00Back on the Road.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Following my longest absence from running in years (over two months), I took to the roads yesterday evening as the sun was setting. A beautiful evening it was too... strange days for November. The route was simply down to the pier, up to Cóilín Daddy's house and then back - three miles on the dot. To be honest, I thought I would suffer a bit more for my absence than I did, but having said that it was still tough enough from the two mile mark onwards.</div>
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Why did I abstain? I wasn't carrying an injury, I wasn't sick and I didn't have a death threat hanging over me from the anti-running terrorist group. Simply, I felt like taking a wee break. Hopefully this has enthused me to get back in love with the open roads.</div>
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Now I'm targeting the Tombrack 4 miler in Wexford, on December 14. Away we gooooooooooooo.... </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-78801658160907857372013-10-17T15:19:00.001-07:002013-10-17T15:19:21.498-07:00Stabannon 10kMy blog posts have been running low of late, and I'm considering that it may be time to call time on this project at the end of the year. I'll continue to check in with all the great running blogs that I've grown fond of these past years - especially Old Running Fox, Coach Dion, Giorgio, Will from an Ultra Runner's Blog, Ian from Just us and a Few Friends, and many more. I've enjoyed the experience of being in the running blog brigade, and I intend to post about races run, but only that I feel.<br />
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My last race was the Nicola Barry 10k for Cancer Care, in my wife's beautiful home village of Stabannon. It was a great event - extremely well organised and with a great spirit of togetherness. Nicola Barry, a local woman who has made a full recovery from that dreaded illness, was the instigator and inspiration for this event. Teresa, my sister in law, was chief organiser - no one does it better!<br />
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As for the run itself, I just jogged it with Benny and came in around 56 minute mark. I know I could have run considerably faster, but the day called for an enjoyable trot and it certainly was that. I hope to take a short break from racing between now and Christmas in order to get the spirit going for a good year of running in 2014... this past year has been a disappointing one on the racing front.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-81552440335830045852013-09-05T02:25:00.001-07:002013-09-05T02:25:06.611-07:00Back to Interval Training...<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hopefully last night's session will mark the start of a good stint for me... I did intervals as follows: one mile easy, one mile hard, break, one mile hard, break, 0.5 miles hard, and finally one mile easy. Nearly killed me but I felt great afterwards. I'm gearing up now to do the Nicola Barry 10k in Stabannon on October 3rd... I've lost a lot of training so the mind is now focussed to try to better my PB for that race.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-48886156846472690752013-08-23T06:30:00.001-07:002013-08-23T06:30:19.792-07:00Epic Walk Completed in Two Days!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Each year for the past three years I have set myself an unusual challenge to raise a bit of money for charity.<br />
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Two years ago I cycled solo across Ireland and last year I was joined on the same expedition by 30 other cyclists! This year I decided to walk. Easy I hear you say? That's what I thought too...!</div>
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I was joined on this year's adventure by my Dutch friend, Vincent Miggels, and we set off on our two day walk from the beautiful village of Uachtar Ard beside Lough Corrib on Tuesday morning at 10.30am. We were full of good spirit as we breezed out of the town and headed towards the wilderness ahead - a 60km trail through forest and mountain that would eventually lead us to the village of Líonán. Our plan was to camp on the Maamturk mountains on Tuesday night and to walk along the spine of the mountain range the following day, all the way to Líonán. <br />
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The first half of Tuesday was beautiful - if a little misty. However, as we reached the forest beyond Uachtar Ard it began to rain - not heavily, but consistently. We were wet through by the time we took a wrong turn and went off the official 'western way' to emerge behind Peacocks of Maam Cross - a few miles off course but generally headed in the right direction and with spirits undampened by the rain. It was just after 4pm at this stage and so we rewarded our first six hours of walking with a sneaky pint. </div>
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The rain grew heavier for the next part of the walk, which was unfortunately over a section of busy road as we tried to connect back on to the 'Western Way' trail by going straight ahead and then turning down towards Uilinn Thoir and the holy mountain of Máiméan. Thankfully D, her father and sisters came to the rescue here as the light was beginning to fade a little and without any footpath we were in danger of getting hit by oncoming traffic. After five miles of main road we were delivered onto the trail again by the cavalry.<br />
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At this point we changed into our hiking boots and strapped the tent and overnight supplies. We said goodbye to the crew and would be on our own now until the following evening. There was a one and a half hour walk still ahead of us to the foot of the mountains and we were beginning to flag a bit.</div>
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We reached the foot of Máiméan at around 8pm with the rain still falling heavily. The mountains were covered with cloud but we took the decision to camp halfway up Máiméan in order to have a head start the following day. As we climbed the wind grew and visibility became an issue. Mountain streams were gushing down and the ground underfoot was soaking wet. What kept us going forward was the knowledge that there was a little church halfway up the mountain and that this would provide us with shelter for the night. God would be on our side!<br />
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We finally reached that point only to find that the church was bolted. Máiméan is a dramatic place at any time with it's little church, statue and stations of the cross, but in this weather it was like the setting of a horror movie! Thankfully there was a grotto beside the church which gave us some shelter and we even managed to pitch our tent on the concrete floor of the grotto - safe between the altar and the back wall. We were warm and dry there while the wind howled a gale outside and a poor lamb could be heard crying as she became separated from her mother.</div>
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<i>Morning</i></div>
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We hoped for a clear morning so that we could climb the rest of the mountain and walk along the range to Líonán, however it was just as misty as the evening before. We had no choice but to descend and to walk the long way around the Maamturks. There was little talk between us for the first few hours as our bodies were feeling the weight of the heavy sacks on our backs and the effects of the previous days walking. At 1pm we sat and ate some sandwiches and looked ahead to see a tiny forest miles away from us. 'We need to walk to that forest', I said, 'and then beyond it again... for miles'. It didn't make for a pleasant conversation!</div>
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As the afternoon wore on we actually perked up again and the conversation began to flow. Like Pinky and the Brain we had plans to take over the world - or at the very least we spoke about people who we felt were ruining the world! We reached that far away forest at around 3.30pm and took our second wrong turn of the journey! However, we had learned from our first mistake and rectified things without too much delay. The forest, however, went on for miles and by the time we came through it our legs were aching and our backs and shoulders were feeling the brunt of the two days. There were still the guts of eight miles to walk to Líonán. Our loved ones would be waiting for us there in a little pub called Gaynors and the pints would flow! <br />
The last section of the walk went on and on, we barely had enough left in us to finish it. Hazel sticks that had been cut from the woods at a fresher time the previous day became our best friends as we leaned heavily on them to finish. The up and down mountainy path that made up this part of the walk finally came to an end a mile away from Líonán and D and Ursula were waiting for us there to take the heavy bags into the car as we would walk unencumbered into the town. <br />
When we finally reached Gaynors bar we entered to applause and hoopla! Two creamy pints awaited us - we drank them, and more, and told all of our wonderful adventure! </div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-26176119008457796252013-08-19T15:05:00.000-07:002013-08-19T15:05:37.293-07:0070km Walk Tomorrow."Tomorrow will be loud with war... how will I be accounted for?"<br />
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... so asked one of our great war poets (yes we had war poets!), Francis Ledwige, on the eve of battle during the first world war. Well, I can't really compare my task with his, but a mammoth task it will be for me. I will set off at 10am from Uachtar Ard, on the banks of the Lough Corrib, heading towards Maam Cross, and then beyond that to mount the Maamturk Mountains, camp overnight, and then walk along the spine of those mountains until we reach the village of Leenane. A near 70km hike in all. I will be joined for all if it by my good Dutch friend, Vincent, and for some of it by sister in law, Teresa, sister, Róisín, and brother in law, Mark, and who knows who else!<br />
The walk is in aid of the Jack and Jill Foundation - an organisation that help families of severely ill infants as they mind their children in the homeplace, so I'm delighted to have almost reached my target of €1000 by fundraising on the charity website, www.mycharity.ie/event/jackandjillfoundation<br />
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Training hasn't been great this summer... sporadic runs only (which explains the lack of blogging), but I'm determined to see this walk through and hopefully it will kickstart a good autumn. My aim is to get back to running some 10ks asap - I still boast a 10k pb from this year so it's not all bad! <br />
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That's it for tonight - I will check back on Thursday with news of the mammoth walk.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-47849446519086723632013-07-14T10:00:00.000-07:002013-07-14T10:00:04.251-07:00Beautiful Weather, Fewer Runs, Great Hillwalk...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've officially had the best summer on record since the early 1980s, with scorching hot weather for the past few weeks and a promise of more to come. How can you not love that! Maybe I'm making excuses, but I find it tough to run in this kind of weather, so without any major race on the horizon I've eased off the running until the weather cools. That's not to say that I've completely neglected it, however, and I enjoyed a lovely four mile trot not so long ago with my good Norwegian friend, Torgeir Brathen, who was over visiting with Bente, Marie and the Dina... we certainly enjoyed their company immensely and hope to plot a visit back to Norway in the next year or two...</div>
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Yesterday I took to the hills with Brendan Mac, for a serious walk on the Maamturks... When the students leave (on the 11th Aug) I plan to walk 66km, from Oughterard to Leenane, over the Maamturks with an overnight camp. This is instead of my Carraroe-Louth cycle, which we're taking a break from this year. So, yesterday's walk was to suss out the 'camping area', as well as to work out the routes on and off the mountain area. It was a beautiful day for the hills - severely hot on ground level and cooling nicely as we climbed. Brendan struggled initially as he was after a long cycle the previous day and without proper food or water taken. However, after a sandwich and a gulp of water at the top of the first peak, he became the mountain goat that he usually is! </div>
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The climb took us four hours in all and we finished it off with a lovely pint in Peacocks... lovely hurling!</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-19830577710192060132013-06-23T02:10:00.000-07:002013-06-23T02:10:12.275-07:00Running on an half tank.<div style="text-align: justify;">
The summer in Conamara continues... not the sunshine of early June, but good running weather all the same. For the past two weeks I've been dragged up and down the road for a few 7 milers by Conor and Mícheál, who are two fit and fast young men. I kept up well the first two times but completely blew up last Sunday and trotted slowly behind. Dejected. There didn't seem to be anything left in the tank and my legs were half dead.</div>
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Let's make an excuse or two: run off my feet with the students staying in the house, the new business and an infant that still keeps us awake at night - not to mention labouring with the garden.</div>
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Let's give a more solid reason: poor diet, poor quality of training.</div>
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Still, I've kept the runs going, slotted in a solo four miler on Thursday last and then went for a nice five mile trot around the village yesterday evening with brothers Richie and Cormac who were down for the weekend. We took it nice and handily, heading up the village and around past the pitches and down by Demense... a gorgeous run with a few tough hills to boot. Both lads are flyin. </div>
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Disappointingly I haven't seen any local 10ks to aim for... I need to stay local while the students are in town. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-27937734772143375042013-06-11T07:00:00.001-07:002013-06-11T07:00:43.249-07:00Two weeks of heat... is it gone?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p5L8myTU8pY/UbctXjXSGiI/AAAAAAAAAvk/3OFQDeNG71E/s1600/IMAG0793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p5L8myTU8pY/UbctXjXSGiI/AAAAAAAAAvk/3OFQDeNG71E/s320/IMAG0793.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took in a puppet show on Maoighnis beach, Carna, while the weather was fine...</td></tr>
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Summer came at last to Conamara (and the entire Island of Ireland) and for two short weeks we were Mediterranean. Now of course its back to the usual rain and cloud, but by God this is better running weather by a country mile!</div>
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I only managed to get out three times in the past week and a half while the weather was scorching hot - for the rest of that time I was sweating like a pig on a roast. Still, the three times I did soldier forth were worthwhile - clocking two 7 milers and a 4miler.</div>
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I had good company for two of my runs (they were all around the village), with Conor joining me on Tuesday last and both Conor and Mícheál on Sunday. In between I did a four mile run on my own - and suffered in the heat.</div>
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I am, after all, a pale skinned red headed Irish man, and I find the hot weather unbearable to run in. Much happier am I with this blustery, cloudy climate. Whisper it...</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-49974139777697914822013-05-28T12:51:00.001-07:002013-05-28T12:51:59.792-07:00Stories on the Run.<div style="text-align: justify;">
There's always a story in a run...</div>
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Neither myself nor D have been getting much sleep these days due to the erratic noctural patterns of our little fella Murty. So, getting out for a run can be psychologically daunting; am I too tired, will I be able to do anything, would I better off waiting until tomorrow when I may be a little more rested? Well, the answer to all of these questions is this: WHEN IN DOUBT JUST GET OUT!</div>
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So get out I did... down the road and up again, looking to clock a three miler, just to say that I'm moving. But then it happened... the world just dragged me along!</div>
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First it was Darach in his van coming up Ard na Bleaistéirí... he drove beside me for awhile as we chatted away about this that and the other....</div>
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Then, it was a woman from Donegal called Fiona, who lives locally and is set to marry a Carraroe man this year. She is a keen runner and is training for the upcoming Galway Women's Mini Marathon. My three miler turned into a 5 or even 6 miler - I'm not sure. Fiona was out with a local running group, and if my schedule suits I'll certainly be joining them again. She was great company and we certainly dragged each other along with a story or two.</div>
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Now all I need to do is get Murty to sleep the night...</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268985334977661738.post-46234303430329182182013-05-20T04:49:00.001-07:002013-05-20T04:49:38.751-07:00Cooley Coast Run - in the Company of Women!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQavTxoH-18/UZoNrRuAAQI/AAAAAAAAAvM/vcHDGZkNfTk/s1600/IMAG0779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQavTxoH-18/UZoNrRuAAQI/AAAAAAAAAvM/vcHDGZkNfTk/s320/IMAG0779.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deirdre, Mary and Bernie - great company for the Cooley Coast Run.</td></tr>
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My second race of the year, and I'm finally beginning to turn a corner! </div>
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Set in the spectacular Cooley peninsula, with views of the majestic Mourne mountains, Carlingford Lough, King John's Castle and beautiful Slieve Foy, this certainly was one of my most enjoyable 10kms ever. It now also ranks as my best 10km so far, as I set a PB of 49.32mins!</div>
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I was delighted to get in under 50mins, but I honestly know that my 10km PB would have been much lower had I actually focussed on this distance a number of years ago when I was a good deal fitter than I am today - however, a PB is a PB and I'm happy to have shaved a full 5minutes of the Boyne 10km, in only two weeks!</div>
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I ran Cooley in the company of women... my sister in law, Mary (who has taken to the roads with great gusto these past few months) and two of her friends, Bernie and Deirdre. Each of us ran at our own pace and all were happy with the outcome - Bernie and Mary finishing in 60.01mins and Deirdre coming in at the 55min mark (she had run this race in 47mins only two years ago and is on a comeback trail!).</div>
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The run itself was delightful for the most part, with a kick in the tail towards the end. We headed from Cooley's sports ground in the direction of Greenore for a few hundred metres, but then turned right off the main road as we rambled around the backways of beautiful Cooley for the first 6km. Most of this section was either flat or downhill, with only a few minor inclines, so I found myself holding a good pace throughout. It helped that the day was fine and all were in good humour and I knew that a sub 50 was certainly on.</div>
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Someone had mentioned a long climb towards the end of the race, so I tried to do two things: 1) run fast enough in the first half to allow for a major slow down towards the end while still coming in under 50, 2) keep enough in the tank for this 'long draw towards the end'!</div>
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The climb finally came when we were exiting the backroads and turned the corner onto the mainroad again, heading back towards the Cooley ground. At this point Deirdre, Murty and all of the Carlingford clan were out to cheer us on and I took great heart from the encouragement. I certainly slowed down on the incline - but knew I had enough in the tank not to die completely. This last drag went on for a good bit and runners all round were struggling, but thankfully my training routes in Conamara have left me with a little of the mountain goat mentality and so I just ate up ground until I finally caught sight of the clock timer. A two hundred metre dash ensured my sub 50 - the first time I've ever done this officially for a 10km.</div>
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There were great festivities around Cooley and Carlingford after the race - a great credit to the organisers. I'll be back next year for sure. As for the rest of this year; I finally feel as though I'm back in some kind of groove and may concentrate on bringing that 10km time down still further!</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read on...</div>Ríshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857857016928274917noreply@blogger.com2