It's just therapy..

Training has been continuing for the Run Killarney Half marathon which takes place in 3 weeks.  Ahhhh!!!  It is still quite humid so I am just such a #sweatybetty. 
Monday I ran a solid 5 miles, Tuesday saw me in the park once more.. not as solid but we were smiling at the end of it..

Running selfies...

On Saturday morning, I met up with Anna and Tina, we were heading out on our 10 mile run. We headed off at a steady pace towards Fossa, the girls although decidedly faster on their feet stayed with me.. Today's run was about putting in the mileage! The sweat began flowing steadily around mile 4, sweat dripping into the eyes really stings.. But we moved forward at my tempo (slow and slower), so happy was I..

Scenery like this does help..

The miles just seemed to fly by and soon we were at 7 miles with only 3 miles to go and I hadn't hit my internal wall. Happy Running... We then came to the hilly portion of the run, happy running became the pain in my 'backside' run (I once again apologise to my fellow runners for the complaining...)

Sometimes you just have to stop and take a picture! 
Heading into the last  mile or so, I had a bit of a wobble, but the girls doubled back and told me to keep going we were nearly there and so I did!
Woohoo.. 10 miles done and unlike the last time I ran that distance no cramping. It went by so quickly we had run, walked, talked, laughed,supported and urged each other on..

Pushing on through...

Most runs are just that - a run, you moving forward in a continuous motion and faster than if you were walking (in theory!)  Sometimes you may have a bad run and other times you may have a good run on a rare occasion it will be great, this last week has been a mixture of good and bad. I'm hoping for great some day soon.

Anna and I, did an 8 mile run through the national park which really didn't feel like training I quite enjoyed it. There was no pressure on time and pace, we ran, talked, stayed quiet, pushed on, walked and got it done.
Monday evening, I met Anna, Karen and Mags.  I planned to do 5 miles which i did. It was just one of those runs were you just feel strong with each step and mile. Loved it!! I also met Tiffany who ran with us last year, she was also out for a run. As I finished Anna and Mags, were also finishing having done an extra bit. Karen was also waiting as she is still carrying an injury and so did her walk instead of a run.The following evening, I met up with Anna and Susan, 5 miles once more, but this time not so much a feeling of being strong rather an inner monologue of:-
'Will it end??'. 

Focus One More Mile... 

Shoe Tag came courtesy of Anna, it's sentiment was never needed more than on Tuesday or Saturday, read on..
The weather has been muggy and warm which means some days when I run I become a #sweatybetty. Saturday was one such day, it was glorious blue skies and warm weather but for running it meant sweat, sweat and more sweat. We also should probably have ran earlier in the day than we did but there's always next week. Mags headed out a bit earlier but finished her run by doing the canal loop as we started ours. As Anna, Michelle and I headed off the plan was to do 8 miles, you know the saying best laid plans... We headed towards Ross Castle, we ran and walked as needed, I wasn't feeling it, Michelle is nursing an injury but Anna was chief cheerleader. I had a very robust round of TRX Friday evening and each hill was making my backside burn, which I shared with the girls at the top of each hill... And to them, I say Sorry!
The views are always good but as it was a true blue sky day so they were fantastic..

Running Views

As we came up on 5 miles, I tried to persuade Anna that we could finish up, we had  done well etc.. I tried earlier to but to no avail, I thought I give it another try. She was having none of it.. 
So on we ran, there was sweat falling into my eyes, not pleasant.. Michelle, who loves the parks larger residents the deer was in her element when we spotted a doe with a little fawn..

Park residents..

I knew I hadn't another two or so miles in me and it really was hot.. and so 8 miles became 7, and we headed up Knockreer hill and then down to the car. Having done 8 mile runs the previous two Saturdays, I didn't feel too bad about the lost mile or so.
Each mile of Saturdays run was hard fought mentally, slower than previous runs but quicker than this time last year, so progress which is always a boost!!
As I am in training for the Run Killarney Half Marathon, next weeks long run heads into double digits. I can't believe its that time of year.. My plan for next weeks run is to just put one foot in front of the other, with no pressure for time or pace.
#Funtimes...

Beach, Sand, Sun,...Running is my therapy...

Last week saw us heading to Ballyheigue, where Bernie did out our route, we were aiming to do 8 miles. It was exciting to be running somewhere different and the beach setting was just a thrill. Although dry, it was quite breezy which meant it was a tad chilly as we set off.. I soon warmed up!

As we started off, it was all good. The scenery alone would push you forward. Running with the Atlantic Ocean to your right really puts a smile on your face. My plan for the days run was to cover the mileage slow and steady and as I ran on the sand I knew the slow part wouldn't be a problem.

I ran across the sand and shingle.. Jeez, it was becoming apparent to me why Bernie was so fit. By the time, I reached the girls my backside was starting to smart. I kid you not!  The next part of our run was to take us into the sand dunes,  

The paths crossing the dunes were a maze, the paths was narrow, the ground was uneven and I found myself having to work harder to be surefooted as I ran. I was also battling against the wind. All these elements combined to make the run tough but thoroughly enjoyable. But the simplicity of the scenery was what made it wonderful.

And so as I reached the girls, I was smiling. Smiling because I was enjoying the run but mostly because I was delighted to see a tarmac road beside them. The joy of running on an even surface made me sing out loud as I listened to the song playing on my phone and so to the residents of Ballyheigue I apologise as they had to listen to my tone deaf version of  'Hakuna Matata'. (I listen to a varied and wide mix of music when running, don't judge on one song!)

As we turned onto the main road, the next part of the run was familiar, as I had run it as part of the Maurice Collins 4 mile at Easter. It all felt a bit tougher this time round. We were running into the wind and it felt you were battling up a mountain.. Soon enough this loop was done and we were heading toward the beach again. We regrouped, walked a bit and talked,  we headed up over the dunes and as we hit the beach we ran for only a short bit when my garmin told me, I had 8 miles ran. Immediately I pressed stop as by now my derriere was on fire. The girls ran on towards the car, I took off my runners and socks so I could walk in the salty water of the Atlantic ocean. As I walked, I  realised I was a bit away from the car I should have ran a bit further. On reaching the car, I knew sitting down was going to be painful. I was not wrong! 

But a rest day on Sunday a good long soak in a hot bath eased all aches..

Windswept..

Our little running group has for some time thought of giving ourselves a title or moniker and so after some thought, we decided on R.I.O.T runners. What does it mean I hear you ask? Well it is something that I and many more runners have said on more than one occasion.. 

'Running is our therapy'

Anna is the person who came up with the name. It just seemed to suit us..

We also decided to get a group tech shirt.  I know,very exciting!! Well after our run, we headed to collect our new technical shirts. 

And here they are... 

The front

The back

with our names and hometown on the sleeves.. 

We also set up a facebook page so that we can share information of our running, future events and past events we have taken part in. Also, we were able to pull our event photos into one page! If anyone wants to check it out www.facebook.com/Riotrunnerskerry

This week, I also officially signed up for the Run Killarney Half marathon which takes place on the 18th July, so the next few weeks will see me put all my running efforts into getting ready for this 13.1 miles.
#Bringiton

Cork city marathon...DONE! #runninghappy

What a day! The day itself started early, my resident chauffeur John (my poor running harassed husband) drove Susan and I, toward Cork city Monday morning, we were meeting the girls at 8 a.m. To say the weather was not great would be to understate it, there was wind, rain and it was chilly.

As recommended by the race organisers, we like many others used the park and ride which meant we arrived into the city centre just across from the City Hall. I didn't take a picture of the facade of this grand building which was our base for much of the day, but its beautiful features added a touch of grandiose to our day...

We met the girls, Nicola had gone to the expo the day before to collect our numbers and goody bags.. I  had the wrist band which was to be handed off by each person when they had theirleg of the relay done.
Unfortunately, during the week Karen had to pull out due to an ongoing injury, which was beyond disappointing as being the only Cork woman among us, it was her hometown marathon. For a brief moment, I had palpitations about running 10 miles but Michelle quickly volunteered to run the second leg.
As it turned out one of the other relays also had someone who was unable to run and Anna was sequestered on to their team, Anna like me was running the first leg. As quickly as we all met up, we had to separate and head off into different directions, Michelle was the first to head off on a bus to wait at the Silversprings for me.. No Pressure!!
The rest of us:- Anna, Bernie, John, Susan, Tina and I headed across to Patrick St., where the marathon was to begin.

We're all smiles with nothing ran...

As we were stretching and warming up, Karen appeared!  It was so great to see her, as she had been on my mind as this was her home run and she had battled hard to get here. Bloody injury!!!  She was on double cheer squad duty as her brother was doing the full.
Well the time had come, there really was no way to put it off so Anna and I lined up. To be quiet honest it was the most relaxed and at ease that I felt at any start line. Soon enough we were off...

Down Patrick Street we went, with the cheers of our little group ringing in our ears across Grand parade and up the South Mall, there were people cheering everywhere. The support really was amazing, I knew our group were heading for coffee and something to eat so when I heard our names called, I was a bit startled  it was Pat, Brenda's husband. It really does give you a buzz..
At this stage were moving along nicely, but I knew from the feel of my legs I couldn't keep up that pace continually (Someday, but today wasn't that day...). As, we passed the first mile mark and were about to cross the River Lee, the rain started.
We were chatting away, we turned on to the Watercourse road towards Blackpool..

 Running on...(Can you spot us??) photo by Derek Costello

We ran on, I got a bit of a stitch so tried to keep to the left. I slowed, walked and pushed on.. We passed Heineken, around little streets, people cheering us on, the Gardai came out of the local station to cheer us on. It was great to have Anna beside me, especially when she could have been long gone but the day was about supporting each other and Brenda's Mercy Challenge. The miles were flying by, I had a small bottle with me as is my habit, so I didn't make use of the water stations. I had a little moan to Anna as the rain fell and we hit the wind, I couldn't imagine running on for 20 something miles.. But thousands did with smiles on their faces, amazing..,
As we hit the quays, I looked around, there were a few ships moored. I noted the Odlums building which I hadn't taken any notice of before. In my opinion, the second last mile is always tough your nearly there but your not. We could see the route ahead of us, I felt myself slowing, I walked a bit but I said a quick prayer to St. Sebastian (The patron saint of runners) and we ran on. I was acutely aware that Michelle was waiting in the rain for me. Just before we arrived at the relay changeover, we had to run up a bit of a hill. As we came into the changeover, Anna met her next runner, I couldn't see Michelle for a while and then she was there. I gave her the bracelet there was no chat and she was off.
Woohooo!!!!! I was done!!! I looked at watch  I had run at a good consistent pace. Anna and myself did a little dance, the man beside us was smiling.. From the excitement of my dance you'd imagine I had finished a full marathon in record time.. but it was my own little achievement.

Smiles from START to FINISH... 

I have to say a big thanks to Anna who ran with me (especially as she is way faster than me), she made the experience of running in a big marathon all the more better.. you're a star!!!
There were buses to take us back to city hall but we like many others chose to walk back in to City Hall, which helped us stretch our legs.

We reached City Hall and the cheer squad went into full support mode, 'Quick change out of those wet clothes' said Tina, John had two hot coffees waiting. Coffee is there anything better? We changed into dry clothes and warmed up. Susan  was able to walk to her changeover in Victoria Rd, Michelle who was finished was coming back to City Hall on a bus. So, Tina and John waited for Michelle,  Anna and I headed with Susan to see her off and meet Nicola.

Time for another photo..

We waited, it was cold and it was wet. Worse since I had ran. At this stage the half marathons had begun, so the field of runners passing was quiet large. Brenda passed smiling she looked really well for someone doing their 4th marathon in as many months.. Then there was Nicola and so we sent Susan on her way. Meanwhile, back at HQ Michelle had arrived

Soon, we were all changed and in need of some much needed sustenance..Our cheer squad had a hankering for sausages.. Coffee got, sausage got, the phone rang Susan had handed off to Bernie. So we headed to find a spot near the finish line which was quite difficult and then with the volume of umbrellas up, we strained to see. The rain was really coming down, we were all once again damp..

Then

we saw Bernie heading down Patrick St and across the finish line..

We had battled our minds, the wind and the rain to run it in a very acceptable time of 4:11.

"Alone we can do a little, together we can do so much".. Helen Keller

There were a few other relay teams running who were also  #running4pat, supporting Brenda and the Mercy foundation, everyone did a fantastic job. To read about Brenda's experience of the day you can read brendasmercymarathonchallenge.blogspot.com.

Big kudos go to our cheer squad, they did a great  job!

What do you need? I have it covered!

We were out in the park running on Tuesday. I took my new tech t-shirt for a run. Now its time to turn my attention to the Run Killarney Half Marathon, fun times ahead!!

The run on Monday was about getting our leg of the run done, it was also about supporting each other, pushing each other to our best, laughing together as the rain dripped into our eyes , carrying each others bags, raising funds for a truly worthy cause, friendship -  I am so very proud to know and be part of this amazing group of women.

New t-shirt!!!