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Saturday 21 April 2012

Saturday 12 miles...testing out the Great Limerick Run route...

The big day is 2 weeks away...feck!

So off I go to the Limerick to see what's ahead of me..got up bleary eyed at 6...dressed...ate my big bowel of porridge...took me ages to knock it back and by the time I'd finished it,it congealed... lovely...twas like swallowing cement...the gulps started...

Headed off to the big smoke for my half marathon run...Catriona was my loola coach/running buddy for the morning...arranged to meet the Tri-Hards (even the name sounded intimidating!) near Thomand Park at 9....oh for fecks sake why do I put myself through this torture! but my new motto is ' what's the worst than can happen'!

Cops were out in force this smorning...they were everywhere...in behind bushes..sneaky feckers..I bet they wanted to ruin my run by pulling me over but alas...kept the leg off the accelerator..no nuthead driving this smorning...stopped in Newcastle west for a coffee..quickly bypassed the breakfast roll counter to the bathroom for my one of many pee pee's...stopped again on the dock road for another pee pee...maybe I should just bring a portaloo on the back of the car..I could just pull in and go! Maybe a Dragons Den application may be downloaded over the next few days...

Was meeting the Tri-Hard group in Shelbiurne Park...pulled into the car park at 8.30...twiddled the thumbs...hmmm we're a wee but early...look around the car park..woohoo spot another toilet! An electronic one may I add...very fancy..we've no lavatories like that down in Kerry..walk over...50p charge! Well talk about an expensive pee! Got to make to most of it..scour the car for a 50p coin...it played me soothing music...aawww how thoughtful...but no bloody toilet paper! Ok enough about my toilet experiences...

Ten to nine I get the bright idea of pulling out of Shelbourne park and go shopping instead...that idea was quickly dispanded as Peter the 'head honcho' of the Tri-Hards just pulled into the car park..feck...I'll go to the Crescent afterwards..

The rest of the group arrives..the nerves the nerves... we chat...they were all wearing Sketchers Go-run trainers..looked lovely...hhmm might buy a pair...they move with the foot and are brillant for supinators..then Peter decides to do a pre-warm up run around the park...what?!...a fecking warm up run! what planet is he on I need to preserve my energy!...off we go..at this stage Catriona was somewhere in the bushes going for a pee..ran out of 50p's! So no warm up for her...i ran along...happy happy...round the park..he tells us kick our legs...knees high..loola....it definitely loosened me up..rest of group came..so off we headed for half of the marathon route...sun blazing...love the heat...!

Hadn't a clue of the route...started off running down the Ennis road..down into O Connell Street...crossed road after road..took my mind off freaking out...ran up O Connell street..too early for people to be out shopping..Peter pointed out where the start line was...he got it right after 3 streets!...but at least I could visualise it...loola..

Headed out towards the crescent...passed McDonalds...swung a left and then a right...I clocked all the landmarks...like a CSI runner...cops come speeding down the road...woohoo maybe a robbery...no chance..peter was yapping away but I wasn't tuned in but one part of the conversation caught my attention...breathing techniques..breath like a train...ok I can do that! Choo choo all the way...it actually works! And expand your stride to lessen stiffness...he was dancing like a spider along the road...ok maybe I'll try it another day...did a loop round onto a dual carriage way...it's actually a nice route... headed on towards a big bridge passed Mary Imac college and onto crescent again..that was about the 5 mile mark...lovely jubleey...proceeded back up towards o Connell street...luckily our walk coincided with walking past Brown Thomas..gawked...

Headed towards Barringtons..tools a left over the bridge near the Absolute Hotel and past what we thought was Kings Johns castle...I had no glasses on so the eyesight long distance wouldn't be great..Catriona informed me the castle was up ahead..I squinted...didn't look like a castle..had a green plus sign on the outside...hhhmmm strange castle with a Pharmacy sign on the outside...it was a bloody primary care centre!
Spectsavers....

Plodded along..up towards Thomand Park...fabulous stadium..never been there..I said to Catriona let's make up our own 'runners Hakka dance'...she didn't engage with my dancing skills...ignores me...woohoo 3 miles to go...shower of rain..then sun..hit the Ennis road again...all the way up...and up..and up...back to the car park...lovely run...gulp back my yazoo...vom...

Delighted...love the route... not very hilly and plenty to gawk at...read an article in a magazine that after a long run you should treat yourself...so I stick by the rules and head off to the crescent...loola therapy..met Peter inside and he was having a ice cream....whereas my mouth was watering at the thoughts of KFC! Got a salad roll instead...I was good..but still starved after it! Headed down to the Sketchers shop to buy my new trainers...felt fantastic...bought a pair...won't use them till after the marathon...have a plan of upcoming races so It will take me a while to get into them... It's like barefoot running..we'll see how they go...

Came home to find that my doggie had broken the dog gate on the stairs and got into my room and ate a Power Bar Gel...she's bouncing all evening! Absolutely nuts....

Marathon is in two weeks...roll on the big day!

4 comments:

  1. fantastic girl sounds like you are enjoying it girl.wont be a bother to you girl. cracking here girl dying with the winter bug for last 6days so no running for me:(

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    1. Sorry to hear your feeling crap...knock back some berrocca boost...and just sleep it off youll be back in no time- the weather is a disaster outside so your better off not running!

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  2. good luck with the marathon, you/ll be fine just break down each section in your head and you'll see the finish line!

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    1. its will be a long morning! but im ready for it...roll on 26.2!

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If anyone has any advice or suggestions please feel free to post, im sure there are plenty people out there like myself wishing to run....