Good Friday Run Killarney

At training last Tuesday everyone seemed to be entering the Good Friday Run in Killarney so I decided to throw my hat into the ring too and I signed up on wednesday for the 5mile Run. After filling in the application form I felt sick to my stomach. Would I finish it was my concern. Everyone else was supportive and saying the right things. I visualised the route, I read somewhere this helps.

On the day I met Susan and we went to the Kerry Parents & Friends building in the Port road near the Cathedral and collected our race numbers. We also got a lovely egg cup as a memento of the run. As I pinned on my number on I thought to myself  'What am I doing? I must be mad? I'm not ready!' but regardless of these thoughts I made my way to the start line with Susan and Michelle beside me. 
It was a very cold evening and as I waited for the start I could see heads bopping in front of me as people tried to keep warm. And then I was off!

I had planned to take it easy find my comfortable pace which I have found recently when running. As we had lined up we were at the back and as we went off I found the pace quicker than my normal pace. I also found myself passing people out which would come back to bite. And yet it wasn't planned. I kept up this pace as I went up Mission road , Main st, High St and then I began to wane. People started to pass me out. I no longer could see  Susan, Michelle or anyone else I knew. As I passed the District Hospital for the first time Susan's godchild shouted hello to me. I gave him the thumbs up. As I came down onto the Port Rd, the top runners began to pass me by, they were racing each other to the finish line.  At the Cathedral the man said we had been running for 26 minutes. As I continued at my slow pace I gave in and walked a few steps. But then I began again muttering away to myself willing myself on. Going through the town centre put a pep in my step as I faced in to High St again  I felt quiet alone. I took some water which helped with my dry mouth, I think it was panic. Panic that I wouldn't finish, But, I continued on. Trudged on I suppose. I was next to a small group at this stage they were saying we were the last in the pack. Even though I had told myself I wouldn't mind I apparently did mind. I kept going on and arrived at the cathedral.  Some of those runners who had well finished at that stage buoyed me with their encouraging words. The man who said how long we were running for,  I couldn't make out what he said but he did say 700m. As I went up the Mission Rd, I slowed, stopped to catch a breath someone said you are nearly there I rallied.  As I came into Main St I pushed my legs forward and as I turned into New st and saw the finish line I ran as fast as I could. I crossed the line and my official time was 59.14 mins. I was not last and I had completed it in under an hour. Hells bells I had done it!!!

Susan and Michelle were both there, they had finished 3 &7 mins before me. So I wasn't so bad. Having done this run, I now know I have to work on pushing myself further and try to stop doubting myself. I am proud that I completed it and the time I did it in. As I said before I'll never win a race at the speed I travel at.  But the smile on the picture says it all (I'm on the right No 76)

GO TEAM

Hey just a quick note to say congratulations to Susan and Michelle who completed their first 5K today. Well done to you both.

Making progress!

It's been a few weeks since I last blogged, in that time my running has improved and I turned 40 Uhhhh!
After 6 weeks with Brenda and the runkillarney training group my fitness had definitely improved.  As I faced into the next 6 weeks of training I wondered how much would change.
The Tuesday before st Patricks Day I was 40 I also had training. It was tough we were doing hill training and also for a bit of fun sprint relays. I wondered was I going to have a heart attack at the thought of it, but I didn't. My relay group included the fastest in our group, so I gritted my teeth and when I came up to run I put head down and ran as fast as I could, now I didn't win but I put up a good show. At the end of the session I felt good. The group gave me a lovely card & flowers.
We got our training programme for the week ahead and now I could see the real work would be starting. I had a 2 mile run which I completed on Thursday, it was the first time in my training programme that the word mile had appeared, it was completetly daunting to me. I left the house and I set off. Looking straight I listened to the sound of my feet on the road and my breathing. When I reached the 2 mile mark I felt a rush. I punched the air, thankfully my neighbours were not around to see me dancing in the middle of the road.
On Sunday, I did a 3 mile run through the national park in Killarney I took my time slow and steady. Having run 2 miles on Thursday I wasn't as stressed by this run. What I have found out is that I won't be the fastest but if I can do it at my own pace I might prevail.
I will prevail.
On 16th March I went to Tralee to watch the Tralee marathon as I watched the runners cross the finish line I was full of emotion for them.  I imagined how wonderful it must be to cross the line the culmination of weeks & months hard work just having just been achieved.  Of course those in our runkillarney group John, Paul & Geradina did remarkably well.

So as the title of this post infers I believe I am making progress.

Run Killarney

I thought having re-read my last post I should explain that I am taking part in the Run Killarney Half Marathon on 20 July 2013. For all the information on the the Gleneagle Run Killarney Marathon you can go to their website at www.runkillarneymarathon.com they are also on twitter @runkillarney and on facebook.
So now when I mention Runkillarney you'll all know what I am talking about.
Maybe you'll sign up? Maybe we'll meet at the start line?

A few quick updates

Hi Sorry I haven't been on in a week. I just don't know where the time goes to.

Tuesday training was good, again I kept moving which I was happy with. Brenda also introduced Fartlek training. In our group of three Susan, Geraldine and I, someone said walk, then the other said jog & then another person said sprint. The kicker being that you had to continue until the person said stop, which is ok of you are walking but not so good if sprinting.  We cheered each other on.  I even managed to sprint. Geraldine is doing the half marathon in Tralee on 16th February so is very consistent and inspiring to those of us who haven't even run a 5K. When we reached the finish line (my dreaded STOP sign) Brenda said come on and I thought oh no we have to do it again, thankfully we were just doing our warm down.

In fact, I think that our group is quiet inspiring. I forgot to tell ye a few weeks ago one of our group Aidan headed off to climb Kilamanjaro. What an amazing achievement for him.

This week the weather has been all over the place dry, wet, cold, warm & as I write it is snowing outside. I will post a few pictures of the views I have seen as I am training.

As you can see from the pictures above The Run Killarney half marathon will definitely have one hell of a backdrop!

It was a good Saturday

As usual we met in the Gleneagle Hotel carpark at 8.45 as usual, it is amazing that in a few short weeks  that getting up at 7.30 on saturday morning is now the norm.
Unlike usual Saturday mornings, we had a new route! After the high of Tuesday nights session, I felt really positive both mentally and physically.
I was ready to tackle whatever was in front of me.
So I left the carpark with the group and headed towards Killarney town, I put my glasses in my pocket and took up my place at the rear. But I felt good I found my pace and settled into it. I crossed the bridge over the Flesk river and headed for the traffic lights at the Top of the Muckross road. I kept running/jogging until I caught up with the group. AND I DIDN'T WALK. 
We were inside the National Park in Killarney, seriously we really dont appreciate how beautiful  the place we live in is. 
I headed down the long road as I call it. . Having got a cramp I slowed down and walked. But picked up the pace again.
As I mentioned Brenda had said we would be doing hill training and so we faced a hill. Which on the road from Molls Gap will be handy. Up we all went and down we all came a few times.
After all this we had to face the journey back to the Gleneagle. I said to Susan and Michelle how will we do it? How will I do it? As before, we  set off now this time I confess I slowed down. But,
as I headed into the carpark I felt good and I felt strong. I must be improved because Brenda told us we covered the following milleage - wait for it-  4 MILES.  Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
God what a difference five weeks make, little over a month ago I was huffing & puffing unable to do a minute without stopping shucks what a difference. The training during the week and the lack of nicotine is all helping.
I must post in my entry  for the RUN KILLARNEY HALF MARATHON this week. I'm feeling confident .