#newyearnewme..#newchallenges..

January has been hard! It has been tough to go out running, I could say it was the dark evenings but the evenings were dark in December too and didn't bother me as much. The group meets every Monday evening and for the first time ever I have been tempted to ring and not go, or I'm hoping everyone else feels the same way and we skip that week . But we don't and we head out.. Also, what's annoying me is my legs are heavy they won't lift off the ground and my pace is gone back.. but that's it moan over. I am looking at it as a temporary blip and looking forward to longer brighter evenings..

To counteract these dark evenings,  we have been meeting on Saturday mornings the girls do Cardiac Hill in the Killarney National Park these steps are high, get the heart rate going and the views are breathtaking as you go up and at the top (see below). Also, there is a nice trail run on the way down. 

I have been taking advantage of these mornings by getting a bit of a run in and doing the Torc steps which are tough,  #naturesstairmaster as I fondly refer to them but not as steep or high up in the mountain.. It keeps me sane and I look forward to the coffee and chat afterwards. #Smallpleasures. (2015 is a big hashtag year)..

the girls are somewhere at the top!!

The first run of the year is nearly here,  I am looking forward to doing the  local 10K 'Run for our Angels' on the 8th February, I say looking forward to...what I really mean is I will be doing it while trying not to let the panic of running in a crowd or race consume me. But I know the route well enough so the plan is to smile and enjoy..

For those that have looked at this blog before, you will have read about Brenda Doody an amazing woman who I met in January 2013. During 2014, her family had to deal with a serious illness but in 2015, she has set a goal to run 12 marathons in 8 months throughout Ireland, which just writing it seems incredulous, you can follow her journey while she marathons around Ireland on her blog http://brendasmercymarathonchallenge.blogspot.com.

Truely inspirational.

Bernie will be doing one or two of the marathons with Brenda, one or two of the other girls might do one marathon, (ANNA... nudge, nudge...).  There's also talk of a relay marathon which I maybe a part of, if not I will be cheering, supporting and doing anything I can to help them achieve their goals. #2015Bringiton..

2014 Summed up and looking forward to 2015...

I managed a run on New Years Day, it was good run were I nearly set a new Pb, I finished smiling but to be honest, I haven't been too consistent since. I did manage a 5 mile run which I found tough, my legs were heavy on the ground but I have decided, I am going to use this running route as a test for both my fitness and my running over the next year. It has a bit of everthing on offer straight road, different surfaces and gradients. Funtimes ahead!!

Last year I did a recap of 2013 which I found helpful in showing how far I had come, this year I decided to do the same;

My Running Year 2014

Total Mileage:-            570 miles

Highest Mileage 

Month:-                         May

Lowest Mileage

Month:-                         February

Runs done:-                  145

Pace:-                             Improved

My Races:-                    7

Half Marathon              Run Killarney

10 Mile                           Killarney

10K                                 Rose of Tralee

                                        Killarney Women's Mini marathon

                                        Clonakilty

5K                                   Santa Dash

Adventure                      D'hillbillies Mud Run

Pb's

HM, 10K, 5K, 1K,1M

Looking ahead to 2015 I have so far decided to do the following runs:

8 February  Run 4 our Angels 5K/10K, Kilgarvan

5 April        Maurice Collins Memorial 4m Road Race, Banna

18 July        Run Killarney Half Marathon 

(This will be the year I conquer it but running by best run)

16 Aug        Rose of Tralee 10K

19 Sept        Dawn Women Mini Marathon

26 Sept        Killarney 10 Mile

Some of these runs are now regular fixtures in my calendar and others are new, more will be added and some listed above may not be done.

With four weeks before the first run of the year, I better put on my runners and get out on the road. 

#GAMEON

Finishing on a high...

December was a busy month, last year the Clonakilty 10K was the last run of the year, this year a few more had been added. 

First up was the Santa Run in Killarney, a 5K through the Killarney National Park, this one I was walking as I had my godson with me but Anna, Michelle and Tina were flying the flag for the group. They dressed for the season and looked wonderfully festive. At the finish line, we all received lovely medals and goody bags..

Santa's helpers..

BLING!

At training on Monday, Brenda came to run with us and we had a catch up over coffee afterwards, it was the last training run of 2014. 

These Monday evening runs, are such a part of my weekly routine, I am as I write, looking forward to them starting up again in 2015.

But we weren't finished running yet, the following Sunday, due to our now legendary love of 'bling', Anna, Bernie and I entered the Santa Dash which was held at Inch beach, the girls were running the 10K so I persuaded John to run the 5k with me. It was bitterly cold, this and the strong wind added an extra dimension of fun.. We had to dress in full Santa suits which are made of felt so the less layers inside made for easier body temperature control, I thought this would be the hardest part but in fact the straight route out and back was tough. After the half way turnaround,  heading straight into the wind was work. But we did it, enjoying it and marvelling at how ridiculous we looked.. 

There was a choice of bling, some lit up, some played music.. I know very fancy!

Like most people Christmas was about eating too much and lounging around, but I got new running gear as a pressie so they had to be put to use and wanting to keep what fitness I had, I ran on the 27th.

This was my last run of 2014.

I rejoice in the improvements I have made in 2014 and look forward to what 2015 has in store. I saw the following quote somewhere over the last week or so and it is so apt to our group and to me especially, Its my motto for the year ahead 

" 2013 was practice, 2014 was the warm up,  #2015GAMEON "