#feelingnopressure...

Just checking in.. The weather has been great for getting out for a run. Blue skies, a rainbow of colours and shorts have been common sights so the rain of the past few days has been quite a shock to the system. Although, we have had a rain,  it has been very humid which if your like me just means more washing as I sweat a lot.. #Sweatybetty could be my middle name.
When we decided to do the marathon relays with Brenda, May and June seemed along way off but here we are a week before :- Anna, Bernie, Michelle and Tina do the Limerick Marathon. I get to be photographer and cheerleader for this one..  Thankfully, Bernie has recovered from her illness and is out running once more. Everyone has been taking advantage of the good weather, putting in the mileage.. Trying out new routes and adding miles onto old ones. Over the last few weeks, I have hit a few Pb's along the way which has been exciting and means that I must be doing something right..
Out in the park yesterday, it was very humid. I enjoyed the run as a whole but like all things there are moments when I wasn't too enamoured with it especially around miles 3/4 at I just felt tired. But the thought of the coffee at the end of the run spurred me on..

This day next week the girls will have their bling collected and Brenda will have marathon no.3 done..

And then, next up will be the Cork city marathon relay  #feelingnopressure..hahaha!!!!

Yes! I can..

I really have to get back into writing this blog more regularly as I feel I am forgetting stories, little anecdotes that  I could be sharing.

In my last post I said I had found my groove and it seems to have continued, I can genuinely say at the moment, I really enjoy when I run. I love feeling my muscles moving.. Muscles, yes I have found one or two and I am beginning to find more and most importantly, I am using them. In fact, so content was I one day when out for a run, I ran into a large bush/small tree. Clumsy could be my middle name...

The weather has generally been quite good there have been a few wet days but I choose not to dwell on those. The good weather has added to the pleasure of being out in the National Park .

#runningviews 

Blue sky running days are the best..

The longer evenings have been great, it means there are so many more routes available to run, you're not limited to running around the town under light..
Our group has been a bit depleted this month due to injury, illness and travel.. But whoever is around runs, sometimes this month our group has just been a pair. But when you run with someone they urge and push you forwards when that voice says 'No, no I'm done'.. When you are on your own it's easy to give up..
And then sometimes it's good to run alone, sadly my dog died this month he was old but it was sad to have to say goodbye, that evening I went for a run in the park  it was a run not about pace or mileage, it was about clearing my head..

This past weekend was Easter. The weather was beautiful. On Easter Sunday, I headed to Banna which is in North Kerry, to run in the Maurice Collins Memorial 4 mile run which was raising money for Kerry/Cork link bus,  and was organised by Bernie. The day was a real #blueskyday..
As we pulled into the car park, Tina was pulling up beside us, as we got out of the car you could feel there was a bit of a nip in the air but it was early morning and we were beside the coast. Over cross the field we all went to register, Bernie was there, telling me there was Nooo hills, having heard her say this on more than one occasion, I was slightly dubious.. Of course we then headed to the bathrooms for what can only be described as the 'nervous pee'. As we waited Brenda arrived, she was looking well especially as she is facing in to her second of twelve marathons this weekend  in Connemara, to follow her marathons-brendsasmercymarathonchallenge.blogspot.com

Waiting to start...Courtesy of Angela Stack Photography

We headed to start line, did a few stretches and then Bernie gave us a quick pep talk and then we were off... I tried to run a nice steady pace, Bernie gave a shout out as I passed. On to the main road, it was a nice straight stretch, there were two girls in front of me I tried to keep pace with them. The morning was just lovely, it wasn't humid and there was a bit of a breeze, I had as usual worn a t-shirt, so there would be no overheating for me. Some of the girls had long sleeve tops on and it was just too warm for that.. As we turned left, the route slightly inclined but it also stretched out in front of you, so I could see the road ahead which can be daunting,, I decided to concentrate on the runners in front of me, playing that game were you pass the same runner a few times because as you slow they pass and then you speed up and pass them. I could see it ahead of me, I would call it a hill, no matter what others say.. Deep breath one foot in front of the other, slow down, walk, keep moving, run.. Hill done! Woohoo!!  The view was just stunning you could see out across the ocean, I wish I had taken a photo but I didn't, next time..
I had passed my two runners which I must confess gave me a bit of a buzz. But there had to be some drama, as I headed into the last mile, I got a stitch on my right side, I stretched slowed down, walked, kept running, stretched AHHHHHHH!!! Frustrating, deep breath, suck it up, run on.. I could now hear the finish I kept moving, I saw my dad, Brenda and Tina but more importantly I saw Bernie at the finish line, I was done! I was given a welcome Capri-sun and my medal, more Bling #loveit..

Blinged up... Brenda, Me, My mum, Tina and Susan

Bernie on duty

I also achieved a 4 mile PB! After taking our photos, we headed for a welcome coffee. I really can't wait to go back next year, it was a lovely route, well organised (not biased!!),amazing running views and a worthy cause. I finished my trip to Banna by putting my feet in to the icy salt waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Heavenly..

Banna Strand..

So already this month a PB, plan for the rest of month is to be enjoy each run and the company I run with. The girls are running their marathon relay next bank holiday in Limerick so there will be plenty of running to do in between and I will make a bigger effort to share more of these running tales...

In January I made a concerted effort to reduce my body mass as it was reaching epic proportions, I also needed to improve my core stability which all combined would improve my running, big thanks go to Belief-fit, Killarney and the R.I.O.T. girls. Below is a picture which shows how the effort is going...

So yes, it's tough, in fact it's bloody hard work, but you know what ???
yes! I can do it and yes I will..