Adventure Race Training

The two teams got together at the weekend to train for the adventure race on 21st April. From Blessington lake we got onto the open Canadians and realised quite quickly how invaluable this training day was. The boats felt so unmanageable initially and they are higher than plastic boats so they get the wind a lot. We paddled around for about two hours with great instruction from Ciaran. He brought us up to where the race will start and showed us the area we would be paddling. We had paired off into what will probably be our partners on the day (4 on a team, two in a boat) so it was helpful to try out who would steer, who would go in front etc. because I was absolutely useless in the back and just as well we discovered that on Sunday and not on race day.
Sarah took the place of Bronagh who couldn't make it so the group was myself, Tony, Gary, Mikel, Krissy, Liam and Karen.
After lunch (I had made 'lashings' of home made energy bars, recipe here.) It was a short drive to the area where we would be mountain biking. It was lashing rain and the normally eager athletes were now procrastinating in their cars! We got going though and Brian took us to some great little trails, ideal for us lot, right in the area of the race. He gave sound advice which we all took on board and in no time were attempting things we would not have thought possible.
I hope the race day itself goes well and we all enjoy it. I'm hoping no-one takes it too seriously and that we all stick together, as is the rules. Of course an outing in Wicklow wouldn't be complete without me getting lost and that's just what happened when I went about 2 miles plast Zellars pub trying to get back to the car.

UPDATE: This post was so boring and doesn't contain the things I will really remember from the day so I'm updating.
1. Krissy talking about blokes all day and checking out anything with a pulse.
2. The 'cool' guy flashing his arse at us as he changed gear int he back of the van with the mountain bikes.
3. Liam being an absolute 'mentalist' on the downhills.
4. The canoe race we didn't win but stopped Tony from winning and that's the main thing.
5. Discussions on how girls always fancy instructors regardless of their handsomeness, though ours was handsome.
6. Me attempting to bike down a drop that half an hour earlier you wouldn't have paid me large sums of money to attempt. That's the point of good teaching I suppose.
7. Karen saying she was going to hang out later in ortmarnock and I pictured her in the park hanging out with some homeless dude, shooting the breeze.........
8. I wish I had a picture of Tony and his red bobble hat.
9. Krissy saying that we all looked like we had a willy in the wetsuits.

My Week

Things that are happening/ have happened this week:

1. Monday: the usual trip to Naas to see my Dad. He's looking very thin, it's still upsetting seeing him in there even though it's a super place. Monday was also spent entering two teams for the adventure race in April. 6 of us are in and we have to find two more.

2. Tuesday: Running with the club in Clonliffe: found my way out to Santry on my own!

3. Wednesday:Running last night in the freezing cold and spitting snow. It was great, there was only 4 of us so the pace was relaxed, good for me cos I'm racing Sunday.

4. Thursday: Gang arrived to do our front garden: they're pavers not landscapers but I'm so looking forward to having it done. Garden has looked like crap for years. Have to go shopping this evening for various birthday/ confirmation presents.

5. Friday: Heading to Wexford after work. Probably meet up with Brendan and Kay to wish her a Happy 40th birthday.

6. Saturday: Intend to relax in Wex. Who knows?

7. Sunday: Racing in the National Masters Cross Country in Santry. Hope it goes well, I'm only back running after France and this week has been tough enough.

I'm back cycling/ running in and out of work which feels great even if it is crap running in a city centre. At least when I get home that's my running done on those days. Eugene mentioned last night the possibility of me running in Jungfrau in the World Long Distance Uphill. Sounds brill! I would love to go. It would probably mean I wouldn't be travelling to Mont Blanc with Tony and the lads but it sounds like a great one to do. Must get in touch with whoever is involved there.

Haven't seen any news lately and if it wasn't for other bloggers I wouldn't have a clue what's going on in the world! Oh and Hope has the chicken pox!

The picture above has very little to do with this blogpost other than it's roughly the area we were running in last night and I find that blogposts often look incomplete without a photo!

Mountain Biking

Headed out on the bikes yesterday: myself, Tony, Gary and Liam. What a great day, weatherwise this weekend was terrific. We cycled to Slade via Tallaght and Saggart. Lots of deforestation there. We did a few loops there and then myself and Tony went to Butter Mountain which was a long slow drag uphill with the most spectatcular scenery at the top, I'm raging I didn't have my camera. It's not like me to leave home without it.

MDS and UTMB

The gang got together last night to have a look at Eugene, Gary and Liam's Marathon des Sables DVD. The took part in the 20th running of the event in 2005. Almost 2 years later and we're all still in awe of their achievements. The video was done by a BBC reporter and gives a great sense of the hardship that must have been involved. It really puts across well the physical difficulties that must have been excruciating; the searing, unbearable heat, the feet/ blister problems, the sand dunes that must have been so draining, the mountain climbs, the lack of food, the lack of COLD drinks! I'd imagine the mental challenges that they must have had to overcome far outweighed all of these. I doubt any of us can imagine what that was like unless we actually do it.

We've always provisionally said we would enter for 2009. So what will be the big challenge for 2008?

CAR GONE GUTTED

The car is sold and I am gutted. Never in a million years did I think I would bat an eyelid at selling a car, in fact I thought I'd be happy. But I'm almost ashamed to say I am distrauight that it's gone.

Trail Blanch Font Romeu 2007

What a week! We set off last Thursday afternoon on our flight to Girona, Spain. We had heard reports of snowless hills but were unconcerned. For me I hoped it meant the race was over-with quicker than in snow. Niall and Finn were set for the 11k along with Barry, who we were staying with. Kevin, Bronagh, Tara, Karen, Grainne and Greg were entered for the 23k and myself and Tony for the 51k. The first couple of days were spent relaxing in Perpigan and registering with the organisers.

It was an early start on race day, getting up at 5 and heading for the hills in Barry's van. There was the usual chaos at the start which was handily located in a gymnasium. Although we were due to head off at 8am there was a half hour delay for speeches etc., which caused much irritation as the nerves took over!

Then we were finally off! The 3 distances started together from a track and stayed on an icy trail together for a few kilometres. By the time we separated the sun was out and I was feeling quite warm already. The course took us off on some open mountain trails for a while till we regrouped again at the top of a cable-car section. this was the first really severed downhill and lasted about a kilometre. I was finding the ice very tricky and parts of it were starting to melt which meant mud as well as ice under foot. This wasn't my favourite section and it meant I was very slow descending. As soon as it levelled out onto trail I felt better but as soon as I picked up some speed I tripped on a root of a tree and badly hurt my hand. The French were so encouraging, every time I fell someone would ask if you were ok. They would offer a hand going across icy/ muddy sections. I think at one stage Karen got offered a hat to keep her warm, which turned out to be her own!
Luckily enough my hand wasn't too sore and I continued on to what was more and more icy sections and unfortunately rocky steep sections which had to be scaled with your hands and feet. I was finding this difficult (constantly in fear of falling) with the big lump on my hand and at one stage wanted to just give up! There was even a roped section we had to swing down! At this stage I was in 4th position of the women.
By the time I hit the 30k mark I felt better though. I decided it was time to start fighting back and lucky for me after one more tough climb there was lots of running could be done. There was lovely foresty zig-zagging sections which allowed for much greater speed and my spirits were really lifted to be finally moving quickly through the kilometres. We eventually got onto the Nordic ski tracks and although they were completely iced over I felt much happier to be climbing upwards with small steps. A few more kilometres of this and I was catching lots of people, many of whom were walking at this stage. Moving quickly through muddy forest trails and with about 5k to go I reached the woman in second position, Corinne. She appeared to be limping badly and struggling. We exchanged some words and she said she was ok. The last couple of kilometres included running up a ski slope, which last year I had to walk up at the end of 32k, but this year I was flying! I couldn't believe how quickly then that the finish arrived. I crossed the line in 6 hours 40 minutes, about 20 minutes behind the first woman. I really enjoyed the last 20k!

I was eager to find out how the others had done, and how they had coped with the conditions. Bronagh had been badly bruised and Kevin had gone off course! The results were pretty spectacular. Finn had won the 11k. Niall was 3rd. Not sure of Barry's position. Bronagh and Karen were 2nd and 3rd in the 23k with Tara not far behind. Grainne and Greg had good runs also in the 23k. I'm sure Kevin was very disappointed, it's so frustrating going wrong, and especially if you've travelled a long was for a race it's a real shame not to finish. Tony finished strongly in 8 hours, finding like me the treacherous ice and rocks difficult but the finish runnable.

When I analysed my splits it confirmed that I had been moving much more quickly in the last couple of hours. After about 4 hours I was in 64th postion. The split that they call the 'retour' had me at the 12th fastest for that section. I finished in 42nd overall.

The next couple of days were spent skiing, which I was really unsteady at! I was petrified of falling but I suppose that was from all the falling during the race. Grace and Hannah also got to ski the day of the race which was thanks to Barry for looking after them. So they got three full days skiing overall and were experts by the end of it! The Clonliffe ladies ski team were ably assisted by Irish instructor Niall!

We stayed with Barry and Sharon for the week again this year in Villefranche de Conflent. We couldn't have been looked after better. Barry drove us around everywhere and saw to everything. Even at night time he was ferrying us around when he could have been at home with his family. We couldn't thank him enough for everything. Their home is so stunningly beautiful it's a real privilege to stay there. It looks like something from a fairytale!

I've put up photos here.

Dublin Masters Cross Country

I ran my first race as a Vet yesterday in the Dublin Masters Cross Country. It was held in ALSAA after the Council wouldn't let the event be run in Tallaght. Anyway it went well for me and I was happy. I've put up photos here. There seemed to be a friendly, laid back atmosphere to the whole event and that was great cos some of the other events at Dublin or National level can be quite nerve wracking and tense.




Fionnuala and Bronagh had brilliant runs in the Hellfire Mountain race,see results here. Well done!




Next up is the Trail Blanch Font Romeu. I blogged about it here and also here when I listed what we might need for this years race. We're flying out on Thursday but there's not a lot of snow yet so it may be more like a regular mountain run. That would hopefully make for a faster time as we spend less energy and time tredging through waist deep snow!
Looking forward to the holiday too and the couple of days skiing.

Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer

Tony and I went to the Olympia Theatre the other night to see 'Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer'. It was absolutely brilliant. It's a one man show - Aidan Dooley - and it recounts the adventures of Tom Crean from his life in Kerry, to joining the British Navy, which led him to his 3 expeditions with Scott and Shackleton. It is hilarious and poignant and sad and wonderful all the time. The stories and adventures are recounted so brilliantly that it seems completely effortless on Aidan Dooley's part, almost as if the man himself is telling it just like it was, for the very first time. The humour in it is totally unexpected and the way he addresses the audience is so surprising and engaging.
Well done to Aidan Dooley, incredible performance. The Olympia looks beautiful too. We must get out more often. I took some photos before and after the show but will add them later.

This is from Frank the Monkeys Entertainment Guide:

Written and performed by Dooley the story, a testament of human fortitude against all the elements of Antarctica, is brought to life in this dramatic solo performance. Crean’s thirty-six mile solitary trek to base camp during the Terra Nova expedition to rescue his comrades Teddy Evans and William Lashly; has been described by Antarctic historians as the “the finest feat of individual heroism from the entire age of exploration”. He was subsequently awarded the Albert Medal for his bravery.

Navel gazing? - 101 things about me

I've read a few blogs with '101 things about me' so I've decided to try do the same but feel I will probably run out of things at about 20 so here goes. Is this what they call 'navel gazing'?

1. I love to eat.
2. I love to run.
3. I remember the day Grace was born like it was yesterday and not 15 years ago.
4. I don't drink at all because it just makes me dehydrated.
5. I stopped smoking 6 years ago and that alone was life changing.
6. I wish I was an astronaut (love to go to the moon).
7. I hate not being in control which is why I'm no good at running or cycling downhill.
8. I love making lists and getting through them.
9. I wish I played a musical instrument (piano maybe).
10. I would never have believed in all that soul mates muck till I met Tony and now it feels a bit like we're one half of the same person, very Bert and Ernie.
11. I hate moody people.
12. Earliest childhood memory was aged 2 after drinking bleach. Lots more accidents followed.
13. I'm the youngest of 12 children.
14. Still find it hard to believe my mother is dead and that's after 8 years.
15. Favourite books are non-fiction and almost always about human endeavour e.g climbing Everest etc.
16. Favourite music of all time is probably The Smiths and Radiohead.
17. Favourite song of all time is Town Called Malice by The Jam
18. Movies: Cinema Paradiso, ET and To Kill a Mocking Bird.
19. No matter what we earn, we spend, so Tony and I have never had any money and never wanted for anything.
20. Always wanted a big family.
21. I drive a Beetle (for now), am selling it soon.
22. I'm essentially a very happy person.
23. Audrey has been my best friend since school.
24. We own two homes, the plan being when we're old enough we sell one and live off the proceeds.
25. My fastest marathon time was Chicago 2005 in a time of 3hours 13minutes.
26. The only pets we've ever had (besides fish) were two rabbits.
27. Favourite body part is my arms, least favourite is the shortness of my legs.
28. I hate bad manners and bad punctuation/ spelling. Especially when people leave a space before a backslash.
29. I have quite a severe fear of heights. I get dizzy and want to fall over at the thought of being in a high building or structure.
30. My middle name is Mary.
31. I'm really unphotogenic, every picture of me is bad.
32. I always vote Left.
33. Love holidays (don't we all!) but we don't go on half as many as we used to. Running takes up a lot of time and weekends away etc. I miss all the city breaks we used to have just for fun.
34. My job involves working mostly with men which is great as you don't have the bitchiness associated with working with women and I have found this to be true. The men I've worked with have also been much more open about their private lives and feelings than any woman I've ever worked with. That has surprised me.
35. I have scars from chicken pox which I got when I was 18 and doing my Leaving Cert. I sat my Aptitude Test for college with a face full of chicken pox sores. I remember thinking: I'm in a room full of people going to all corners of the country and I have a contagious disease....
36. I never forget any number, whether it's a sixteen digit credit card number or a hotel or flight booking reference. Tony thinks it's freaky and calls me 'rain man'.
37. I have size 4 feet. Handy for the sales, most women being size 5 or 6 and up and I can also fit into kids shoes.
38. I have a huge fear of failure. This became quite apparent before I ran my first Connemara Ultra. The thought of not completing it (which was a possibility since I'd never ran 39.3 miles before) was making me cry a lot.
39. I one dressed up as Wonder Woman for a fancy dress party. Tony was a lounge lizard.
40. I have a Diploma with Merit in Architectural Technology. Grace and my parents were at my graduation.
41. I have been running for 3 and a half years and have run more Ultra Marathons than Marathons.
42. Some day I want to climb Everest.
43. I once met Jamie Leigh Curtis getting onto the Channel Tunnel (Eurostar).
44. I won prizes in school for baking and English.
45. Only Tony gets who I am. He seems to understand.
46. I received contamintaed blood products in 1991 (Hep C/ Anti D Blood Scandal) but luckily didn't contract anything.
47. I cry easily at movies, even crap movies. You know that scene at the end of saving Private Ryan where the now elderly Ryan breaks down at the graveside and asks if his life has been worth it? I find that unbearable.
48. The first car that technically belonged to me was a Renault 5 that I never actually drove.
49. I've had a lifetime's ambition to drive an Aston Martin. I read a blog once where someone said they had always wanted to do this and Aston Martin arranged it for him. You never know.
50. When Tony met me he said I was the only girl he had ever met who watched/ taped Top Gear.
51. I am right handed.
52. I got married in Rome.
53. I hate crowds or being round lots of people (odd for someone from a large family?!)
54. I have blue eyes.
55. I've never lived more than 15km from the house I grew up in.
56. My husband Tony's real name is Robert.
57. I can get my toes in my mouth, if i want to that is!?
58. I hate scary movies.
59. And rollercoasters.
60. I am extremely stubborn.
61. I don't drink alcohol.
62. Tony and me judge every restaurant on how good desserts are. We love Eddie Rockets.
63. I passed my driving test first time at the age of 25.
64. I'm obsessed with flickr photos, I think it's fantastic!
65. Myself or Tony never pass a homeless person without giving them money (or gloves).
66. The number of the house I grew up in.
67. I did a gardening course once. I propogated hundreds of plants, gave loads away, then moved house and now have none of them myself.
68. I learned to type properly when I was fifteen.
69. I have a huge collection of shoes (not expensive types) but get to wear any of them rarely as I wear steel toed boots in work at all times.
70. Favourite food is Italian.
71. I own 3 bicycles.
72. I've been clay pigeon shooting twice and loved it both times.
73. I went to the first midnight screening of Star Wars Episode 1. I'm not normally a fan.
74. I love camping.
75. I love rain.
76. I once owned a beautiful racing green Vespa scooter for 4 months. It had a brown leather seat.
77. It was stolen from outside my house.
78. I'm very analytical.
79. I haven't made a Will.
80. I don't know why I like to blog.
81. Family nicknames for me are Asho and Ashbox(?). Some workmates call me AK cos they think I should have my husband's surname. I find that quite sweet for some reason.
82. I never drink coke (or any other fizzy drink besides water).
83. I can juggle to balls one handed and 3 balls two handed.
84. My blood type is O-Neg. (related to point 46).
85. The kiddy-catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang bang is the scariest film baddy of all time. My niece can't watch it without Tony being there to bash him.
86. I love idealists and those who strive for things.
87. I've never bought or sold anything on e-bay. But I have searched on it for moon astronaut stuff.
88. I reckon I eat twice as much as a person of my size.
89. I absolutely hate when people make noise as they eat or the noise they make while sucking their fingers when they eat. The noise drives me crazy and I can't eat myself then.
90. I can't dance.
91. I'm going to the Olympia theatre in 2 hours to see 'Tom Crean'. *Went to see it last night, it was brilliant, must do a post.*
92. I love buying stuff in Penneys but you can't help thinking with clothes that cheap that someone is being screwed over.
93. I can't sleep on my side if my knees are touching. Have to use a pillow or I'm in pain.
94. I was a vegetarian till I was 20. Started eating meat again when I was expecting Grace.
95. The first album I ever bought was 'Everything But the Girl's' Love Not Money.
96. I am a person of complete polar opposites. I have lots of really-girly-pink-fluffy tendencies on the one hand but am also one of the toughest people I know on the other. Everything with me is either black or white, no grey areas.
97. I once went to a modern ballet with Audrey and we had to leave as we could not stop laughing. We found it to be the most hilarious thing we had ever seen even though it wasn't meant to be.
98. We had gotten free tickets and met our Business teacher at it.
99. I love buying jackets, they are my favourite item of clothing.
100. I used to be great at de-cluttering and throwing things out. That was until Tony built us a walk-in wardrobe and now I can't bear to throw anything out.
101. It has taken me three days to write this list (not continuously).

Goals for 2007

Looking back over 2006 it was a very successful year for me in the 3 main areas: personal, running , job.

Personally I'm essentially a very happy person and that doesn't ever change much. It was a good year for getting my Dad sorted as he is now well cared for, clean and safe. It is still upsetting seeing him disoriented or confused or agitated but the main thing is that he is well looked after, well fed, clean, has company and is minded by caring professionals.

Running wise, it was a great year. I won the Trail Blanch Font Romeu 32k event. I won the Connemara Ultra. I came 2nd in the Scottish National 50k. I won the Leinster Mountain Running Championship for the second year and the Mountain Running Winter League earlier in the year. I completed the North Face Ultra Trail du Tour du Mont Blanc.

Jobwise: I've had a good year but am intending a big move!

For 2007 in reverse order:

Job: Hopefully the big move happens soon!

Running: After Font Romeu this year and Connemara Ultra again, I might consider the Anglo Celtic Plate 100k depending on when it is run. It might occur too close to Connemara though. after that I'm hoping to train for a good fast marathon in the Autumn.

Personal: This will hopefully tie in with the big move mentioned above which I will blog about when it becomes public knowlege. Probably later this week.

Recipe for Energy Bars

Here's a recipe for energy bars that I'm gonna try out. It's from a Runner's World forum. Wonder how long they would last (not long in our house if we cover them in chocolate!)?

Mountain Skills Course Part 1

Spent the weekend on a Mountain Skills course with Liam and Bronagh. Really enjoyed it. Had wanted to do the course in order to get the necessary skills for navigation races and that type of thing but it's good to know all by itself. We were with a really good group and had a laugh also. We started out in Laragh, Co. Wicklow and walked around Brockagh on day one and Cullentragh area day two. They are areas we had run around plenty of times before, but as usual when you're running everything just flies by in a blur. We have to practice our new skills now so we may find ourselves out roaming round the hills like those walkers we're always slagging! We'll be brushing up on our feature recognition and taking bearings all over Wicklow!

Check out these photos.

Ha Ha - Tony will love this.......(it's from flickr toys)

Reasons for Running/ My First Marathon

A lot of people start running in an attempt to lose weight or get fit or be healthy. I don't fall into those categories even if I did want to lose weight/ get fit/ be healthy. Those just aren't my reasons and I'd say for most they aren't the reasons people keep running especially after those goals are achieved.

When I started running 3 years ago at the age of 32 (I had run as a child but stopped as a teenager) I had one purpose and that was to complete a marathon. I looked on this as the ultimate goal and looking back now it really was. Now matter what running goals I've achieved since, even completing or even winning much longer ultra events, nothing would ever surpass the magnificence of training for and completing a first marathon. I had an image as I stood on the start line of ''putting my head above the parapet'' for the very first time in my life. Other more important events had occured in my life, like having Grace or getting married, but for some reason though this seemed to be a much more public endeavour. I was on my own, stood on the start line with tears in my eyes, scared sh*tless of what was about to occur and more fundamentally scared of FAILURE. What if I didn't complete it? What if I just collapsed in a heap at 18 or 20 miles. I would have been devastated beyond comprehension.

It was May 2003 when I decided that I was going to enter for the Dublin City Marathon in October of that year. So I thought I better start running and went out in my Penneys gear and ran about 2 - 3 miles. It wasn't that bad but it took a few weeks for the feeling to subside of "I just want to stop" the whole time I was out. I had plenty of trouble along the way, I should have done what I would do if I was tackling anything now, and that is, read a book telling you how to do something properly. I didn't know about increasing mileage slowly or taking water on board. I wrecked both my knees by July of that year and could barely walk never mind run. But they did heal and I got myself up to 17 mile runs on my own at night through Clondalkin and Tallaght. Not to be recommended to any woman running solo. I tried a 20 miler, on my own, without water, and collapsed at 17 miles, puking my stomach up on the Belgard Road.

But there I was that October, tears welling up, on the start line. I stayed well at the back too scared to be in the crowd. And then the gun went and then nothing. No movement for a couple of minutes which was really spooky. And then we were off. I was fine for about 12, 13 miles but I hadn't taken on enough water at the earlier stations. Tony was on the course on my Vespa scooter but I didn't see him between miles 10 to 18 and there was no water at 15 so I was dying! I was so thirsty I even considered taking a gel! Lucky enough I ddin't as that would have made thigns much worse. Eventually I got to 18 and Patsy and the Kiernans were there in force with Tony. I was in so much pain at that stage. I was too mortified to stop and walk. By 20 when I saw Lucy it felt like someone was beating my with a club and saying ''stop runnning!''. The pain was incredible! I kept going.

By the time I crossed the line at just over 4 hours I was ready to collapse. I did manage to walk to the baggage area where Eugene was. I cried and cried for ages, having no idea why really. I remember speaking to a woman who seemed to completely understand, even though I thought I was the only one to cry after their first marathon. From all accounts it seems to happen to almost everyone.

I met Tony at the meeting point and collapsed into his arms. I went home in a taxi, puked a few times and got into bed. I could barely walk for a whole week, luckily enough I was off work as I was changing jobs.

Nothing will ever live up to that first marathon. Getting yourself there is the biggest battle. Months of training and personal commitment. But the sense of achievement far outweighs all the pain. People talk about their 'marathon moments'; something special that sticks in their mind about the day or something that happens along the way which makes them sure they're going to make it. I can't think of one particular moment from that day, it was the whole experience, tears, pain, pride, everything.

I trained for my first marathon on my own but soon after Tony took up running too and we both joined Clonliffe harriers. It's been great and we've had 3 wonderful running years since. we've travelled to some amazing places, the Pyrennees, the Alps, Chicago, New York and hope to add to that list in the coming years. We've also made lots of new running friends with whom we've shared some real life changing experiences.

Here's to many more successful, happy, healthy running years!

Ben and Sue's Wedding

I didn't want to blog about Ben and Sue's wedding in Jamaica until I got my flickr photos sorted. We had such a brilliant time and it was great to be a part of their big day. It was well timed too as it came just after our big trip to Mont Blanc. Myself, Tony and Grace flew out from Dublin via Amsterdam, Cuba then Montego Bay. Grace had one of her fainting spells at the airport which, if it had been any more serious, would have meant Tony going alone. Lucky enough she was ok.

Our hotel was themed on Sesame Street and was all inclusive so we made sure to eat at least 5 meals a day, since we weren't getting our money's worth cos we don't drink!! Cookie monster cookies everyday too!

The wedding itself was really special, lovely romantic ceremony and music. Sue looked absolutely stunning and together they looked so perfect. The meal after included dancing waiters and a proper reggae band! Some of the photos are from our boat trip the next day, organised by Ben and Sue (big thanks!) The braver souls took some dives from some very imposing cliffs (scared the hell out of me, I couldn't even jump from the boat).

I'm so glad we were able to go on the trip. The holiday was terrific as we did lots of things like scuba and gorge walking that just made it great!

Here's to many happy years together!

For the photos go to the badge I've created on the sidebar.

Grace

Grace was assaulted by a couple of girls on Saturday evening. Herself and Sarah were coming from the Luas station at Lucy's house and one of the girls grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the ground. They didn't steal anything and luckily they didn't hurt her, they threw some water at Sarah. They weren't known to them because this isn't where we live so it appears to be completely random and unprovoked. There were two girls and two blokes. What kind of people raised children/ teenagers to do something like that. Although it's not at the most serious end of the spectrum, I believe this is only the beginning of what could be something very serious. Grace was understandably very shaken and upset. We drove around the estate in the hope of seeing the thugs but couldn't find them.

Later that night we got the luas with Hope into town and wandered round the Christmas market near the IFSC. I posted some shots on flickr but I'm not great at the night time ones! You can use my new flickr badge on the left to access them.

Happy Birthday to me........

I'm 35 today and in running terms that makes me a VET.
Because of my obsession with flickr and all things photographic (I'm not a good photographer just an obsessed one) Tony bought me my own digital camera with loadsa millions of pixels (and also the running book Feet in the Clouds by Richard Askwith which I've been trying to get my hands on for about a year).

Gary, Eugene and myself did a run around the featherbeds in the Dublin Hills this morning, about 17 miles, and it was just a beautiful morning. Tony cycled alongside us because he's injured and so he took these photos while we ran.

We're heading into town this evening for a birthday meal and a walk through the kriskindle market on the docks.

Great birthday so far!!

Alpe d'Huez

We'll be watching out for a meteor shower as we run over the hills this evening (sounds very Sound of Music doesn't it?). We actually saw what must be called a lunar rainbow last week. It was incredible! Don't I sound like a right anorak.....
The picture below is what it was like but darker sky. They seem to call it a Moon Bow. I got the picture from Atmospheric Optics, I hope they don't mind.

It's mad the things you see when you're running, we saw a horse being born once.


We do a run of 13 miles each Wednesday evening around Ballinascorney/ Glenasmole/ Tallaght Water Works. It's a great run during the day also as it's so scenic and only minutes from Tallaght. There's two savage hills on our usual route, one of which Tony has christened Alpe d'Huez!

Dublin Port Tunnel 10K and Milano's with Clonliffe Girls

Well it was great! We arrived good and early and landed ourselves up at the front. Clonliffers did a brilliant job, the baggage area was super and the place looked great. Tony had spent Saturday helping set up so he knew where everything was. We had parked at Spencer Dock and walked down. The walk down was just like the very early bit on the morning of the marathon; lots of worried looking beginners heading towards the start.
Of course Liam knew absolutely everybody, Tony calls him the Lord Mayor. There were lots of familiar faces when myself, Tony, Liam, Gary and Tommy (who disappeared, barely saw him the rest of the day, never met Ken either) landed ourselves on the start line. Zoe was there stewarding at the start along with Jean Carr and Eugene. There was great atmosphere; eager and exciting (and Frank handing out new Irish Runners annuals!) It felt like such a long wait till we finally got going adn the gun went, downhill start but relaxed enough pace.

Soon as we got into the tunnel it was spooky but in a really good exciting way! Lovely surface to run on and the gradual hills didn't start for a couple of kilometres from what I can remember. Myself, Liam and Gary had done a long run the day before and were probably feeling the slopes more than most and we actually stayed within metres of each other the whole time. The best bit of the tunnel was the amazing mexican roar that happened about 3 times while we were in there. It was UNREAL. It sounded like a jet engine coming behind you, and then suddenly you realized it was a roar from the crowd moving it's way through! Bloody brilliant.

People complained of the heat in the tunnel but I wasn't overdressed so was OK. It was warm but tolerable for me anyway. After a couple of kilometres you were dying to get out of it though, even for just a couple of seconds at least! As you came out of the tunnel at halfway you could see a bridge with a big banner for the race and the only spectators we saw for the whole race. After a really sharp turnaround we headed back into the tunnel again. Lovely downhill for a couple of kilometres which was great! I never spotted any mile markers so was just guessing from my watch but with about a kilometre to go my legs went completely to jelly. Liam reckoned it was some kind of lactic acid thing in the legs cos of the long run we'd done the day before. We finished together in about 41 minutes, not a PB but it was still a great experience. Tony was a few minutes behind in about 46 minutes.

After we finished we had mucked in to help in the big clean up. (Included in the things we picked up from the START line were lipstick and a pair of knickers!) There was a great atmosphere among all the finishers including all the mountain runners we met. I think people really felt they had taken part in something special and because it wasn't a long difficult event everyone could really have fun with it. I really enjoyed it, the whole day was great from beginning to end. I met up later with the girls from Clonliffe for a meal in Milano's in honour of all the hard work done during the year by Bronagh and Eugene. They both deserve medals for their commitment to the club and all the personal time that their efforts must take from them. 3 cheers!!

If I get some photos I'll post them here

Happy Birthday Grace!

Check this out for some historical events on this day and this from the BBC also................
Have a great 15th. Big hugs and kisses.