Poem to inspire

My comfort Zone

I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn’t fail

The same four walls and busy work were really more like jail

I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before,

But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor

I said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing much

I said I didn’t care for things like commission cheques and such

I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone

But deep inside I longed for something special of my own

I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win

I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin

I took a step and with new strength I’d never felt before

I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door

If you’re in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out.

Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true
Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you.

 (Author unknown)

 As read in Gerry Duffy;s 'Who Dares runs'

Longest run done! YEAH!!!

Saturday morning, I met our group in the Gleneagle hotel car park at 8 a.m.  It had been raining earlier but had dried up so as I set off it was a fine fresh morning. We all stayed together until the Lake Hotel where we did our stretches and then we continued on. 
As I continued into the national park I was happy enough, I just went at my own pace. Before long I had passed the Abbey and was heading in the direction of  Muckross house, before the house I turned right and headed toward Dinis Cottage.  Basically you are running round the lake.
I saw no one in front of me but  I felt comfortable as I ran. Then, I saw Caroline and Aidan coming against me, they had all started their run at 7, they looked good for what they had run.
As I was running, I found myself smiling I was enjoying myself so far! The route is very hilly, some of which aren't too bad, some of which are, but it really is a beautiful part of the national park. After passing the 'meeting of the waters bridge' and just before 'Dinis cottage', I met Liam coming against me, I think I was smiling when I passed him as I continued pass Dinis Cottage and onto towards the car park on the Molls Gap road, I wasn't smiling as much. The hills seemed harder to climb. I met  Lisa, Tina, and Geraldine they were running well. As I turned and went up the next hill, I thought "I must be nearly there",  At this point I met Susan and Michelle they were cursing the hills.  Then after few metres I turned the next corner and I kid you not the climb up to the car park was very, very, very steep.  As I got to the top, I stopped to retie my laces which had come lose. It had been annoying me slightly.
As I set off, I couldn't settle into it for a while. To settle myself, I broke the run into small and smaller parts, I was telling myself " run to the next corner", "run up the next  two hills" with the end of these phrases ending with "without walking".  I met a runner at this point running against me, he would pass me once more before I was finished, as slow as I am he was really quick. As I passed the copper mines, I had a few jelly beans. On my last long run I hadn't taken any, so this time I remembered to take a few. 
The rain had held off, the worst I had was a light mist which was quiet refreshing. As I reached the house at the beginning of the trail I felt good because I knew that barring serious injury was going to complete the run. I met three jarvey's which I had to pull in from and as I arrived at Muckross Abbey once more, I said a quick prayer.  And I thought about the book I had read during the week Gerry Duffy's 'Who dares runs', Brenda had recommended that I read it and I found it truly inspiring.  I thought of the old man in Dublin telling Gerry

'put one foot in front of the other and I promise you that you will reach the finish'

and I kept moving forward. As I approached the stop sign at the Gleneagle Hotel I thought I was done but no, I had to continue towards Randles garage and return. As I headed to the stop sign for the second time, I felt my feet quicken once more, I wanted to finish strong with a smile on my face. Which I did  and in doing so  I ran 13 miles.
YEAHHHHH!!!!!!

New Shoes and blue skies

 

They arrived a few weeks ago and they are seeing plenty of use!

 

 

It makes it easier to go out and train when you can look at a blue sky above you. I was out in Muckross today, plenty of people around. I really enjoyed the run today.

Run Killarney its in sights

This is the promo for the half marathon I'm running.

This week I feel good about my limited abilities. I have realised during my training I can push myself when needed or if needed.
I am doing my last long run next Saturday 13 miles. When Brenda said it again yesterday my heart was palpitating. But what I have to keep in mind is that I have done 10 miles, no it wasn't pretty but I did it,  My goal this year is to cross the line. This time  next year I hope to be a better runner.
During the week, I have been training in the Muckross part of the national park , as it still holds some kind of mental block over me when I run. I stop, start, stop, start. I get so cross with myself.  I am determined to conquer this inner demon over the few weeks I have left.
I was late for training yesterday morning and had to catch up with the group, We were doing hill training in the demesne . How do runners go up  mountains and hills at pace in the adventure races? I was winded half way up the hill for the first time.
All I can do at this point is keep training and give it my all.

Here comes the Summer

Well Friday evening I did feel better and went out for 4 miles. I tried to stay to the shadier routes. People were sitting out and it seemed more people were out an about than usual. I actually enjoyed it. Saturday morning, we had training the sky was blue and you could imagine you were in the tropics. We all set off on our run, I just got on with it, yes I slowed a bit at times, yes I stopped to get my breath but I kept going. And this is the thing, This time next year I will be so much better. But today I'm so much better than I was in February.
I enjoyed Saturday morning, Aidan who is running in the marathon in July was doing a longer run and he is an inspiration, he is always smiling as he runs.  Brenda told us on Tuesday that  are 13 mile long run is on Saturday 22nd June, we would be starting at 8 am. On Saturday, Brenda told us some wanted to start at 7 am so we have the choice to start at 7 or 8. I'm going go at 8 am because the half marathon will start at 8.30 am and I want to practice with eating before hand, hydration etc..
After training on Saturday headed to the beach Rossbeigh it was fab!
On Sunday, went down around Muckross again, I managed to do 3 miles. I would feel so guilty if I didn't go.
I am giving it my all for the few weeks that are left. AHHHHHH!!!!!!

I'm melting

Well having recovered from the big run on Friday night, I headed out on Sunday morning for a 5 mile trek, which felt good. Training on Tuesday night, was tough it was very warm, I was sweating. There is NO glamour in running. We had to run down at a standard pace and then sprint up to that STOP sign. Oh No! it was not pretty. But you know what it is,  when you are in the middle of it and you can't catch your breath or your legs are heavy,  it feels UGHHHHH and then you finish and you feel so great. it's a real rush.
I went out on Wednesday morning, it was a beautiful but it's so hard to run in this heat. I am slower than usual but the weather is so fab. I did 5 miles on Wednesday and headed out to do 7 miles this evening, oh oh.  I was so tired and the heat, it felt like hard work.
Hopefully after a good night's sleep, I'll feel fresher tomorrow

I did do it!

Well I DID IT! YEAHHHH! I completed 10 miles, double digit figure. The most overwhelming emotion I felt at the end was relief. Relief that I can and will be able to do the distance. Now having said all that there was nothing graceful about my 10 mile performance, at the end of it I looked and felt shattered.
John dropped me into Killarney, I was to meet Brenda at the demesne at 5.15pm. I arrived early, the evening was fab, there was blue sky which is always a bonus. As Brenda arrived so to did Mags and Tina, Brenda handed us a little bag of jelly beans, they put them in the pocket of their running leggings. Of course mine, had no pocket so I put mine in my running bra, the Glamour of it all.
Soon Aidan appeared, Brenda said Susan was coming but being a bank holiday weekend  the traffic had held her up a bit. We all ran on together Susan caught up, we stretched together and then we all set off. Everyone was nervous about this run, its the psychology of the double digit. Aidan I should point is doing the full marathon, he was doing a 15 mile run.
So I was off, on my 10 mile run. I let everyone off, in fact I didn't think about them for the most part. I headed off on the path towards the Castlerosse hotel, I had never used this path before. So when I got to Castlerosse I had to have a look around for the rest of the path which I did see and I continued on towards the Killarney Golf Club. At this point I hadn't walked. I kept looking ahead and as I turned into the Killarney Golf club driveway I realised I wasn't really sure which way I was to go next. I had google mapped it, Brenda had explain it and Mags & Tina had explained it, yet I was a bit anxious. I went down the driveway and I turned in to the road by the lake. There were golfers were on the greens, you know the way your suppose to be quiet I could hear the bag of jelly beans in my bra as I ran I was hoping the golfers couldn't hear. At one point the road breaks off to the right nearer the lake, I thought maybe I should take this but I realised quickly this was not the way. Having gone on the right road I asked a group of cyclists if this road took you to Killarney, they answered yes. So I continued, I went through black gates and found myself at  the back of the Castlerosse Hotel I met Aidan coming against me smiling. At this stage of my run I was smiling myself. I saw the cottage then there was a fork in the road one going slightly downhill the other going slightly uphill. I like an eijit (I'll explain later why) chose the slightly uphill path, it lead out into a familiar part of the demesne. I then turned right down to the end, followed the route left and kept going until I turned left again up the hill towards entrance to the demesne.
And then I started again, I heard Brenda shout out my name in  encouragement she was out at her car waiting for the rest of the group who were starting at about 6.30. I should say I had no watch etc.. on me. I continued on, now I needed to talk to myself a bit more at this stage which was 'I can do it, I have done it, I will do it'.
I was definitely slower this time round and as I turned into the lower road at the Golf club, Lisa and Caroline passed me they really do make it look easy but as usual they give words of encouragement. Not long after them Duracell Liam passed , Brenda came on her bike she gave me more water which was welcome, she also told me to have some jelly beans, which I didn't. But I should have, my tired legs needed the boost. LESSON LEARNED. As I passed the back of the Castlerosse hotel Assumpta and Joanie came up behind me and passed me, now remember the fork in the road uphill or downhill, the road to take was the downhill one I had added to my first journey, not by much but still what an eijit. I continued on, at this stage I have to say I had walked in patches but remarkably not as much as I thought I would. As I reached Brenda heading in to the last two miles, I felt heavy but I knew I could do it. I had to go out to the horses crossing and back in again. As I went out I met Michelle who was doing some of the run.  I was walking as I saw Susan heading towards me nearing the end of run. We ran on, at the horsescrossing I said goodbye to Michelle and wished her well she is doing the womens mini marathon on Monday. I was reciting my mantra all the way back, I met Liam I was smiling. I passed the children's playground and  I put myself into the highest gear my legs could find and ran to meet Brenda and Susan. I HAD DONE it wasn't pretty but I HAD DONE IT.
As I did my stretches my legs felt heavy.  I couldn't believe it a few months ago I was smoking 20 cigarettes a day I couldn't run 500m without coughing & spluttering. Thanks to Brenda and the support of the group  I had changed.
Its the day after and I drank plenty of water last night to get rid off the acid in my legs, so I have to say the legs aren't too bad. Now I have to a small twinge in my left knee but I mostly feel relief as I said at the start.
I am taking a rest day today and I'll get back to training tomorrow.