A Long Weekend of Mountain Running

Look at those sexy pins! How could anyone resist? And as for the footwear...aren't gaitors just the sexiest things since support tights? The photo was taken during our last serious training session before we attempt the Wicklow Round. I was blogging about our entries being finally in over at Team Geared Up. Flickr photos from our training session here.
They're not hairs on my legs by the way. I believe I'm tough but I'm not male. They're multiple scratches from trying to bushwhack my way through burnt gorse and being stupid enough to wear shorts. I also fell down a bog hole, well one leg fell down it and the other hit the side so pain, pain, pain (for about 2 minutes).
Well we're entered now and it looks like we'll be the first to give it a go. Fingers crossed firstly that we complete it, all being safe and well. And secondly that it takes no longer than 24 hours. The big day begins in the early hours of Saturday 26th May.
Yesterday was spent runing legs 3 and 4 of the Wicklow Way relay. Again more blogging about that over at Wednesday Night Runners.

There's so little time for anything these days with all that's going on. Since the start of the year we had the Snow Race, the Connemara Ultra, the Adventure Race and coming up we have the Round and the Relay. I'm taking two weeks off work while Grace is doing her exams. Luckily for us she is studying while we're doing all this running so she doesn't mind that we're not around.

and yet more running......

Lots more running this weekend; should be the last weekend of serious running before our attempt on the Wicklow Round. We reckon it's at least 120k and it will probably take the gang of 5 of us about 24 hours. We plan on starting at about 2am so finishing hopefully the following midnight. It's probably the best time of year to attempt it as the weather is good, days are long, heather is short etc. etc. Lots of people have offered logistical support along the way which is great and we will really need it and appreciate it.
So early tomorrow morning we will head off for about another 8 hours on the hills. Forecast isn't great so will be carrying jackets, spare gear etc. and need lots of water for 8 hours.
Sunday then will be back on the hills with a gang to run legs 3 and 4 of the Wicklow Way relay. This should take about 2 hours and finish in Glendalough. I love all runs that finish in Glendalough. I love lashing in at the end, barging through all the tourists who get in your way on the tracks!!
Wednesday night's mountain race went well for me so was in good form for my day off work yesterday. Carpet delivered and done by 8am, shopping in the morning, 10 mile run in the evening and baked apple crumble for after dinner last night and it was yum. When I give up work I can see myself eating all day which won't be good for my running at all!

The Week in Racing....

I'm trying to summarise all that's been happening this past week. I've done two mountain races (Ticknock and Cushbawn)and including tomorrow nights race that will be 3 in a week. My legs don't know what's hit them but I'm doing speedwork too so hopefully that will counteract it. The mountains are fine for endurance but for speed they can cause you to slow down a little.
Tony and Gary and Niall went out on their reccie of the Wicklow Round. It's a project that's very important to Tony and although there's a few us who will be tagging along, it feel's like Tony's baby. He (along with us) will probably be the first to do it, haven't heard from anyone else attempting it yet so fingers crossed for him (and us). It'll be an 8 hour reccie on the hills of the second stage of it this Saturday. Let's hope we don't get weather too sunny as we will be carrying more water than we ever have before. Heavy!
Trail Blanch Font Romeu (finally) put up some photos of the snow race this year. Only one I noticed was of Tony, pictured above.
I'm still blogging away over at Team Geared Up and our own running blog Wednesday Night Runners. I'm hoping I'm not being too non-adventurous for Team Geared Up. I love running, that's all.
I'm still trying to put together final preparations for our all female team for the Wicklow Way Relay. I love the idea of 8 girls covering 120k of the Wicklow mountains and not being anywhere near last! Clonliffe girls are just the best, the club has come on heaps since Bronagh took over. We're running and winning all around us on the mountains!