Marathondreamer

Sat run- 11.46 miles....don't look to me to encourage new runners to start!

2012-02-25T13:26:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was 'worry day'....all day and all night this run was on my mind...this running malarkey is seriously turning me into a nut head...and I'm definitely not a poster girl to encourage anyone to start running!...definitely not...

A couple of things added to my worry..new route, a few of my comfort slow crew would be missing, Marcus not being there, and it was going to be 10 miles...or so i thought...my first double digit run....

Got up this s'morning...nervous...what else would I be...nut head tendencies kicked in during my nights sleep and I didn't sleep a wink running the route even-though I didn't know the route!

Started off in the aquadome....wasn't in my usual comfortable form...just knew I didn't feel right...Brian was our coach for the run...he explained the route and to be honest I hadn't a clue where we were going...off we go round the back of the aquadome towards Fels points...went onto the main rd and swung a right into the playground near lidl...couldn't get my breathing levels right...probably due to the loola stress levels...the group kind of split at this stage...headed up towards caherwisheen...hadn't a clue where I was...never been up that road before...worry sets in...where the feck are we going and how long for...as you know I like to know my route and didn't recognise any land marks..can't help it really...but nuthead here started to tense...tried to calm myself but it wasn't working...just at the base of the short mountain panic sets in...got a panic attack! couldn't breath and just lost it really...felt sick...with worry...knew it was coming on as my breathing was getting quicker and quicker and finally I just was gasping for breath like a fecking nutter...

I only ever had one panic attack before and that was when I was out cycling doing a 90k stint and I on the way home I fell off the bike and got thrown over the handle bars right into the middle of the road! Hands banjaxed, handle bars bent and couldn't see my mobile phone...and was out in the middle of nowhere....took ten mins to bring myself round with shock!

So with this one...stopped,calmed myself and started off again quickly...Brian waited up ahead a little...still wasn't settled...he knew something was up...but kept going...the sun was out...was sweltered...next week I'm wearing my short pants!...to be honest the rest of the run was a blur....went up toonavane...I'd say today was Brian's toughest day running yet...I gave him and Catriona abuse a couple of times ( in a nice way!) took a break up Toonavane...some of the rest of the group went on ahead up the trail route...that would be my worst nightmare...think half of them went missing but we headed back down toonavane and retreated along Kearney's rd again...the long rd home...about 4/5 miles left....some took the shortcut home and took a left back the rugby club road...but I said to myself that even if I walk ran the rest of the route I'm doing the whole thing...stubbornness set in...

Must say fair deuce to Brian for sticking with me all the way...myself, Brian, Catriona and Hazel did the last 3 miles together...no drink left, parched,boiling hot and feet sore...kinda-of hobbled into the Aquadome...home at last...

it was by far my toughest day yet...and Brian's!...but I didn't give up...and I did every bit of it...and I never said once that ' I'm giving up running'...but one thing I do know is that because I had a bad long run this saturday that next week I will come back stronger.....

11.46 miles...to be exact

P.S. thanks Brian

Wed night...4.3 miles...looking forward to Sat 10 miles

2012-02-22T13:06:00.001-08:00

Well,Fat tuesday is over and I've a long couple of weeks to go without the sweet stuff...why am I doing it...well why not! I have to become more innovative with my food to compensate...

The run tonight... Well because Marcus ditched us tonight....the fecker...I like routine and it didn't feel the same...but I still ran it...

I was saying to Catriona tonight whilst running I will have to stop being so negative about running...even in the blog..I'm not a complainer in general...quite easygoing in fact...but I can't start fibbing and make up airy fairy stories about my running...such as follows
" oh my run tonight was fantastic! Yippee.., I bounced and skipped the 5 miles...chatted all the way about life in general and I didn't sweat once, I feel wonderful"

Feck that...

Tonight was tough like every other bloody night..I plodded all the way,grunted a few times to let people know I was still there,sweated ...was in fact sweltering because it was so dead out there tonight and was glad I made it home! That's my version...I feel comfortable at my pace...10/12 min miles...everyone else runs like they belong in a greyhound track with them chasing the hare round the ring! I'm the donkey...happy out...long distances suit me...if you put me out doing a 5 k race I'd probably freak out with the pressure...

The group is doing Ballybunion Half in a couple of weeks as a baseline race so am looking forward to that...not! there's my negativity again...it will be my first proper race where I'll be running all the way home to the finish line...I'll have done two 16 milers before that so it should be fine...toes crossed

Roll on sat 10 miles or so...

Note to Brian: please please please take it easy on us for sat! Marcus is like a security blanket and it's hard to leave him go! But I know ul look after us...I won't give you any guff...

Tues 5 miles...today is Fat Tuesday!

2012-02-21T14:11:00.001-08:00

Normally I'd run on a Monday but The Boss ( aka Marcus) told me not to come...I should rest after my flu etc...finished work yesterday evening and I was thinking to myself what the feck will I do to occupy myself...no running...

what did I do before I starting running...tv,ate,tv,taytos,shower,tv,bed ( knackered normally)....now everything is different...as I've said in a previous blog since I've started this running malarkey I have not started any fad diets or normally Mondays would be Diet Day...I'd go all out-starve myself,pissey soup,water,pee all day and come 6 o clock I'd be ravishing and ate all round me...then the guilt would set in...a vicious circle really...but alas I am a changed nuthead....I have a routine caused by running and an added bonus is that it's a social thing also...and it's free...

So bored out of my tree last night, thumbs twiddling....I thought ' what can I do to make this running malarkey better'...well so far I've given up smoking,my daily intake of 5 cans of diet coke is a distant memory,I eat lumpy porridge and I prepare all my food for the day ahead ( stops me frothing about McDonalds!)....so me being a runner with a bit of a screw loose,Lent is my next challenge...and no I'm not a holy joe...I just like my food too much and sweet stuff...

I've come up with a new meaning to the word Lent....

Let's Eat No Treats...that took me ages!

So like a loola,.. Fat Tuesday (today) was my indulgence day... Pancakes galore! Woohoo ive probably put on a stone overnight but who cares I'll be sugar starved for the next forty days....well its actually 46...a child patient informed me today that it includes Sunday's...never knew that...when I was younger I'd bore holes in the back of my Easter eggs and sneakily eat the back half to get a head start...and then head into confession...stuffed may I add... and lie through my teeth...I'm sure every kid lied in confession!!

Might try this trick to keep me away from the sweet stuff.....

So I'm cutting out all sweet stuff....

The shakes are setting in already...but I've my final bag of Taytos to munch through tonight and then I'll be T-total....

I can do this...

If I can do it anyone can do it...I've just emptied my sweet cupboard out...looks very bare and lonely...sad day...and my lunch for tomorrow looks very bare...sandwich, apple, banana, kiwi,water and that's bloody it!

Ran 5 miles tonight...pissing rain, windy, and paddy last....but I did it...it was tough after missing so much over the last two weeks and I wasn't sleeping properly over the coughing with the chest infection...Mags and Sheila were with Catriona and myself tonight.....not used to running with real people...nuthead...

4 miles tomorrow...1st day of ' Let's Eat No Treats Campaign'....tough....

Back from the flu...9 miles saturday run...feck!

2012-02-18T12:16:00.001-08:00

Chest infection really knocked it out of me for the last two weeks...am a very bad patient and didn't go to see the GP until tues last...pig headed and self medication wasn't working...went back to work Monday and still felt shite...so took tues off and went to see the doc...had no choice as I was never going to make the sat run if I didn't go...

So off I trot...pleaded for an appt and it worked..went in , explained that I needed a quick fix with a tormented look on my face...coughed and splurted like a nuthead...told me I was too stubborn for my own good... I agreed...

So he put me on a nebuliser for 15 mins...never in my life have I had any breathing problems but this made me feel like ' puff the magic dragon'! had a plastic mask over my face and everytime I breathed steam comes out... Christ all I needed was the rocking chair and my dressing gown to fullfill the ould granny picture! But I felt so much better...armed with my prescription, i gleefully popped into the pharmacy for some proper drugs...woohoo am on the way to running my 9 miles! he asked me was I allergic to penicillin, me; not that I know of...on Thursday my face broke out like chicken pox! feck i was an absolute disgrace...if I drew lines linking every spot I could have played a game of join the dots!! It's bad when a patient asks me "am I feeling alright and you don't look too well"! Talk about ruining my day! Changed antibiotic and toes crossed its calmed down a good bit...

Join the dots will have to wait...

Marcus told me to come back running wed...he was 100% right that I wouldn't be ready till then..of course he was right as usual!

So didn't feel like it as I had been hibernating for the week and early bed nights made me even more tired but I had to go do I did...did 3 miles but stopped a couple of times...think mentally I was lazy..

How the hell am I going to do 9 miles on Saturday! fear, imaginary pains and mental despair set it...

Got back to my porridge breakfasts and benecol and in general proper food to build me up...drank plenty of fluid, peeing like a trooper I was going to be ready for Saturday if it kills me...

Friday night came...nervous...woke up at half three mid sleep dreaming of the route...shite..needed my sleep..took me ages to conk again...eyes rolling like a nuthead...

Got up Saturday morning...D-Day has arrived...my longest run ever...

Ate my lumpy porridge, benecol and tea..looked at my face in the mirror and I could still play join the dots so put on some make up to cover the rash, stupid really as I'd be sweating it all off anyway..but who cares it made me feel better! wore a hat...

Arrived into the aquadome shitting myself to be brutally honest! will I be able for this?, am I ready?haven't a bloody clue but I'll try...

The group has gotten so much smaller...I was going to put my heart and soul into this run...if I didn't I'd give up..

Off we go...10 sharp...down the beloved canal...hate the canal..normally I'd count the potholes but today we were jumping over big puddles like happy kids on a day out...1 mile down woohoo...

cross over at the bridge...towards the barge..new part of the route was to carry on towards the cockleshells..rough terrain..pain in the arse to be honest wanted to save my legs...jumping up and down and worrying would I fall flat on my arse...I didn't...thank god..

Hit Blennerville Bridge...nose flapping..I was worrying all the way back the bank was my nose dribbling and I didn't want to stop to blow my nose incase I fell behind..loola.. but had a blow coming up Blennerville...felt so much better! nose, clear, breathing controlled, sweating, hat felt comfortable,felt good.....

Trotted along...Catriona offered me a drink..told her to feck off I need to focus..Marcus was pacing us all the way..hit Blennerville pitch...sun was out..hate heat...so I started to swelter..couldn't rub my forehead as I was worried I'd smudge the makeup off and knowing me I'd have a big streaky makeup line across my face like a pavee! found that road tough...long...

Kept the head down.... I so wanted to stop, even for 30 secs...but didn't...

Hit the bend at the equestrian sign, turned right towards Toonavane...how the f$¥k am I going to make it up the dreaded hill....focus focus focus...tried to console myself..."c'mon you mental head you can do it"...had a good chat with myself...if anyone heard the conversation going on in my head, I would definitely be admitted with the white coats...

Hit the start of Toonavane hill... C'mon scitzo u can do it...poor Marcus has to put up with a lot...pole to pole...woohoo...fine smell of manure to coax us on...was tired and the smile on my face was weaning v quickly...up...and up....and up...and up....and bloody up...hit the top woohoo! kiss my fat ass goodbye,we got there!

Break?...no bloody break! I was expecting a camp fire and some sandwiches for the journey home....nothing! Feck Marcus anyway! Torture...not really, if I stopped running I think Rigor Mortis would have set in...

Trotted down the hill... Loved it no pressure on the legs... Meet a lovely doggie outside a house... Beagle I think... I'd swear he was smiling at us, he looked happy to see us...i was smiling like a delirious nut head...

Marcus gets chatting...get talking about the group... he tells us look behind...I saw no-one..." yeah, they're all at home and not running anymore"... smartarse...but a true smartarse! We are without a doubt the luckiest group out there...for all those reading this who have given up...it was very easy for me to give up running, but I didn't...the Born To Run Group led my Marcus and the group are the reasons I didn't...from this smorning with people asking how I was and the closeness of the group,these are the reasons why I got through today...running is probably the hardest thing I've done...got through university, worked deliriously long hours, climbed carrountouhill ( that was a bitch!)got through the recession...But running has been the toughest...but most rewarding...

Retreated back home...2 miles to go...hit just before the canal... No drink left! was bloody parched...started to faulter...fell behind a little bit but I was nearly home...happy happy...delirious...walked for ten secs to blow the nose...stiff... oh god it was the longest ten minutes ever... The rest of the group were a bit ahead...kept plodding along... hit the Marina apartments and I see Marcus coming back for us...thank f$¥k am nearly home...losing the plot at that stage..told Marcus that " that was the longest fecking mile ever and I hate the fecking canal!"... he didnt take any notice of me...could u not blame him...

oh my god...

9.36 bloody miles I ran...am delighted...over the moon...went to the Grand Hotel for my lunch...starved..but when I went to get back up the legs just seized!

Didn't care, I've just ran 9.36 miles to be exact...

( apologies for long blog but I haven't blogged for nearly a week and a half!)

sat run 8 miles...might have to wait till next week

2012-02-11T11:45:00.001-08:00

Friday came...the day before my long run...

Got up Friday morning, no work today woohoo! decided to eat my porridge as I hadn't eaten properly in 3 days.... didn't want to go back to bed as I'd already spent the previous day in bed so I decided to watch daytime tv... What a load of crap...mind boggling tv... I was already delirious from all the cold and flu tablets but watching jerry springer just tipped me over the edge...im not really a person for sitting down but what else could I do...then I watched Dr. Phil...then Sean The Sheep ( don't ask, it was quite deliriously funny...flu funny)...then another programme about doctors...at this stage I needed to be admitted to the psychiatric ward as I've never rolled my eyes so much and said ' what!' out loud...talking to myself at this stage was a bad sign so off I go into town to do my weekly shop...

Bad idea as I was parched and starved...was like a bunny rabbit with a trolley, my arms never got so much exercise, just fecked everything into the trolley...got a wave of tiredness and legged it home...tried to fight the tiredness but just conked...feck I've running tomorrow so it might do me good..got up at 7, ate a proper dinner and watched more tv...I hate being sick as I'm very bad at being sick...I constantly fight it and will only drop when physically I can't keep my eyes open...call it a stubborn streak or just mad cow disease....

Saturday morning..8 miles...woohoo...how bad can it be, did 7 last week so 1 more can't be that bad...

Got up at 7.30...ate my lumpy porridge...blew my nose a couple of times...surprised I didn't blow a blood vessel with all the blowing...drank 2 cups of tea...thoughts to myself ' must buck up if I'm going to run 8 miles'.....normally I get nervous before running but this time I didn't...

Roll on ten o clock... pulled into the aquadome car park..knocked back a gel for energy...mentally I was ready for it but the physical side was still deciding...missed 2 runs during the week and I had this notion that I would have to start from scratch...one minute walk one minute run ... that's if I missed the sat run so at this stage I had myself fully convinced that I could do it...loola...

Off we trot in swallow formation....head down..breathing was heavy...needed to blow my nose again but forgot my bloody tissues..plodded along...not my usual bouncy self...had new trainers on so it wasn't them...tried to focus but that mental trick wasn't working...got a mile down the canal,stopped to cross over the bridge....f$¥k felt dizzy... got going again and just knew that if I kept going I probably would be found in a ditch somewhere frothing at the mouth muttering ' have to do 8 miles,8 miles, 8 miles'.....

So I stopped....and at this stage I was so tormented cause I fought with myself all the way up the canal that I'll be fine...bottom lip gave way and the face went into bawling mode...nose dribbling...hiccups included....Catriona came up to me and rescued me with a tissue....thank god cause if anyone saw me they'd think what the hell!....the rest of the group carried on and I retreated to walk back to the car...the longest mile ever...I bawled again when I saw everyone's car in the car park...cause I should be out there running with the group-it's my bloody long run!

Just bawled all the way home....like a big baby....was delirious

my focus for the past few weeks has been toonavane hill and today was my day for getting up it...or so i thought...

The flu took a lot out of me and I chose to ignore it...I seriously did think that I could hurry up my flu by knocking back tablets galore but in actual fact it had to ride it own course...stupid really...

but wait for it....It gets better...

To cheer me up Catriona said she'll drive me up it just to get the feel for it in the afternoon...like a light bulb glowing over my head huh hmmm sher we could skip the 7 miles and just run up the hill...fantastic idea by moi! the nut-head....so off we go like fecking nutters.... armed with water belt to attack toonavane hill...we decide to park at the top and run down...and then run back up...2.4km up and down....

Mad I know but I needed a confidence boost... running up was tough and I only stopped once...I was so determined that hail rain or snow was I going up without a hitch...

And I did.... but skipped the 7 mile part....loola...had to get it out of my system...

what have I learnt? well flu pills don't bloody work and don't be so pig headed....oink...

P.S. and it hard to make me bawl...this running malarkey is taking over my life..in a good way...

Have the flu...feel like crap...

2012-02-08T12:35:00.001-08:00

Well, the aches and pains started in work yesterday....got up yesterday morning feeling a bit under the weather...knew something was up so I knocked back some Berrocca Boost...double dose...I thought to myself I can't afford to miss running or let the aches get one over me so I added some neurofen for good measure...roll on lunch time and I could barley swallow....what the hell I can't bloody miss running...decide to dose up again with Berrocca boost and more neurofen..I was desperate......toes crossed I prayed they would kick in...

Bob hope and no hope...a patient said to me I was very quiet...i could barely talk woman! normally I'd be chatting away but I could barely say hello not a mind have a full blown conversation...and I was trying to preserve my energy for the run that evening....

I was fighting with myself all day as to whether I was going running...I was a tormented ould soul....didn't want to miss running as I needed the mileage and I made the effort to eat my lumpy porridge in preparation...tried to swallow my sandwich...it was tough...and I love my food... still thinking il be grand for running...drank 4 cups of tea...normally I'd knock back 2 pints of water but just couldn't face it....I wanted my bed...tis rare I'm absent from clinic but my legs would have to be falling off for me to miss work...

Txt Marcus very disheartened...was a bit delirious at that stage...didn't want to give in....surprisingly enough it killed me to txt Marcus because I felt like a dosser...I haven't missed a day since November....very proud of that as the norm was to quit with every other exercise bout that I've had....

Retreated to my leaba all drugged up and very disheartened...remember I said i never miss work? Well I'm off for the next two days to recover...normally I'd go into work if I was sick...But this time i have to shake this flu off or ill lose the plot...sudafed,cold and flu pills and berrocca boost are my drug habits for the next 2 days...have to be ready for my 8 mile run and nothing is going to stop me...not even the big hill Marcus has planned.....

But at least Ive gotten my bloody flu out of the way before the marathon...:-(

Week 4 marathon training...wrong knickers nearly set me off...

2012-02-06T14:29:00.001-08:00

Tired after Saturday...I've had to sacrifice my Sunday cycles for the running... I used to go swimming on Monday nights and that's gone out the window also... Run run run...Eat run...pee run...sleep run...think run...shop run...blah blah blah...

3 miles tonight...Marcus makes us do 'the victory lap' around the Aquadome carpark after our run....sometimes I feel like jumping up and down like a nut-head and maybe throw in a few star jumps for variation but I don't think the rest of the group would see the funny side....

I nearly jeopardised my run tonite....freak attack inside at work...I finish at half five normally...routine includes tidy up, empty my bag and lay out my running gear just to settle myself... One by one ...out comes the trainers...my socks(have to have the same pair of socks every-time obviously washed!),fuzzy hair headband...then my running top and pants.....holy shit where are my fecking running knickers!

F$¥k... shite...feck...I'm a creature of habit and routine...i like to everything set out beforehand....oh my god how am I going to run without my ' special knickers'....anything could off set me....that's the problem..

what's so special about them?!well I bought them specifically for running in Nov..I'll probably have holes in my knickers by the time the marathon comes but who cares!......loola I know but everyone has their quirks...probably a bit of OCD I'd say...everything has to be right...I've a mild version of it! I had to settle myself and convince myself the 'knicker' saga won't ruin my run...i had to develop knicker amnesia for the duration of the run so I decided to push my lazy ass tonite and run faster...it distracted me...no ' comfy knicker thoughts or no ' can't run tonight cause I don't have my running knickers....it worked thank god because I have a history of looking for excuses not to exercise...running has deleted those thoughts .....nearly....

5 miles tomorrow night...ask Marcus the route...always like to know where I'm going just to feel secure...he smiles at me and says he'll decide tomorrow nite...the fecker!I think he knows I freak out a bit....coz I'm always asking him the route like a nuthead...still don't know the route....roll on the mystery 5 miles tour....with the comfy knickers ....

7 miles Saturday long run...how the hell am I going to do this?!

2012-02-05T09:37:00.001-08:00

7 miles...equals 11.26km to be exact...couldn't leave out the .26 part....cause my legs were falling off and scoliosis was kicking in at that stage....

It was a long ould week this week... work,run ,zzzzz, work,run zzzz, work run zzzz...but I'm committed.To set myself up for the week ahead I always do my shopping on a friday night in Tesco's...If I don't, I'll binge eat over the weekend in protest for no food being in the fridge...so I always head straight from work , starved may I add, and shop...pull out my family trolley ( need a big one for all the bloody veg and water that I buy) and stomp into Manor West like a starved animal...would have loved a dairy milk for the way round but 'no!'...I am a runner...a starved runner...

What do I buy?...well I always make a pre-list of my dinners...the ideal list would be as follows:
1)monday night: abracadabra- chips and burger...
2)tuesday night: Bella Biia -bruschetta and pizza...frothing at the mouth...
3)Wednesday night: might cut back a bit and have a kebab...

Those were the days...not any more.

I load up the trolley with veg(loads of it),Spuds,fruit,benecol,porridge,pasta,chicken,lucozade sport(for my longer runs),water ( 10 by 2lt bottles), miwadi sugar free of course,sesame sticks(my snack), I bypass the Diet Coke section ( I'm sure I heard voices saying 'pick me pick me!' when I passed the diet coke!) yazoo( I'll explain later)....Madeira cake is the only sweet thing that I buy...trying to steer the trolley into the car park with all the water is tough...might bang into the odd car or two but its a workout in itself...

But one thing I have learnt in regards to food is that if I don't do a proper shop for the week I won't eat properly...and I'll pig out...

Before every run I prepare myself the night before...get my clothes ready, fill up my fuel belt ( sounds good doesn't it!),fire in some Barley sweets and that's when the mind starts to go into overdrive...7 feckin miles...oh sweet jesus...I'll be counting sheep again to coo myself to sleep...doesn't work...start muttering ' I'm a lean mean running machine' with a bit of pillow dribble...what a load of crap...I'm definately not lean,I'm not a meanie,I'm barely a runner and I am turning into a machine...Marcus keeps telling us to drill that line into us but the problem is it doesn't feel right...so I've come up with my own version....'left right left right left right c'mon bitch run' ....simple...yep that feels right...

Started out in the Aquadome...standing in the car park frozen...big turnout..off up the beloved hill we go...the worry just lifts when we start running..say my hellos and put the head down...Marcus gathers his slow crew and he paces us...woohoo nice...past the rugby could feel my hair bobble bobbing up and down..feck I can't stop cause I'll be last again... So I decide to redo it at the top of the road before we turn...bob along like a horse with his tail flicking..very annoying! Stop at the top..quickly redo it and Catriona turns round and gives out to me for stopping! Feck u bitch I can stop if I want to... like a bold child!...but she didn't realise I was stopping to put a French plait in....loola

The first 5 miles flew...felt good..farmer joe wasn't out this week...the legs started to drag once we hit Blennerville bridge..Marcus took us down the to the Lough gates for the extra mile..wind was facing us and it was tough...u know when u see people jumping out of a plane and their mouths are flapping with the wind..well I felt like that but I had an added bonus...fuzzy hair and dry lips from the dribble...turned round at the end and retreated back towards the canal...I am now beginning to hate the canal...the longest bloody mile of my life...counted the puddles...counted the amount of dogs...counted anything just to get me home...crossing the road coming into the aquadome I decided to do my geriatric spurt to the finish...I passed two out! Result!

Sat into the car afterwards...brought a yazoo drink to knock back...it is recommended to drink this afterwards by running magazines for muscle repair ...but to be honest I wouldn't recommend it...vom...wretch...

8 miles next week up toonavane...plus the fact that the runs are getting bloody longer during next week...next weeks total will be 21 miles...what's's Marcus trying to do to me...make me a marathon runner! Mad....

Thanks Marcus....

The weight issue.....Episode 1 season 1....

2012-02-03T13:13:00.001-08:00

I always say ' I've been on a diet since the day I was born'.....it has always been a pain in the arse and it affects everything.....put on the weight when I was 12/13yrs old and it went up from there....and up and up...

Was never an exercise person...hated it and I mean hated it...my mother used to drag me around Rossbeigh beach like a deadweight...dragging the two legs behind me swealtering and pissed off at the fact that she thought walking the legs off me would slim me down somewhat...I just went slower to piss her off! Great Craic...the walk used to be the 7 mile stretch around past the shipwreck and then onto the back beach...sher I'd go home and scoff niceties in protest for the torture that I'd gone through....nightmare

Ross Castle was another favourite of hers...the minute we pulled into the car park the aches and pains started.... 'oh my leg is sore,my arse is tired....anything that came to mind...I was desperate!! We'd do the Coal Miners ring and then head back towards the car...thank god its over...she keeps walking and walking .... and walking....past the feckin car...and she's heading towards the Demense! The cheek of her....c'mon woman,get your eyesight checked,, did you not see the car back in the bloody car park!!!I was so far behind that a cry for help with my slow legs would have been wasted....

Always always hated clothes shopping....I do remember one particular incident when I was younger....was shopping in Cork. Always loved cords and I still do... went into Diesel in Merchants Quay... Saw the cords...brown Levi ones....fantastic woohoo!....I wanted them.... go up to the lady... She asks my size... Ahhh haven't got a clue...that's your job woman! was probably more conscious of the fact that I didn't want to admit my size to myself....gives me a pair to try on ...I toddle along with a spring in my step... I distinctly remember the changing room doors were like the ones you see in a wild west bar... they flapped back and forward...fecking brilliant cords at last!! Off with the pants.....I was like someone standing on hot coal- all excited.Pull up the cords... Feck... They won't go past my hips...Christ that can't be right...surely not...try some suction techniques...Not a hope in hell did that work... called my mother over...'maw (thats her nickname) need a bigger size..' she says 'are you sure they won't fit,maybe you might grow into them' ..... What!!!!! she was probably planning more blooming torture walks... The lady comes over and starts chatting to Maw.... Afraid they don't come in a bigger size....bang...run me over with a steam roller....and a JCB while your at it.... deflated (pity that didn't apply to my waistline)....

Still haven't got the brown cords but I will....

Poser......as you can see ive had the ears done.....

Current thought: running requires an effort every time.What I enjoy about it is, not the run itself but merely what running has made me change in my everyday life.I've lost count of how many mondays I've spent starving myself...gobble back rice cakes, pissy soup, and vom green tea...haven't had a Monday like that since I've started running...

The pleasure I get from running is from the fact that I've actually gotten up off my chubby ass and ran....tis now I only realise it.

To be continued....

Goodbye to my last 3 miles....mileage going up next week...

2012-02-02T01:23:00.000-08:00

It all started in November, nearly quit back then but am delighted I didn't...

Will have done 17 miles this week inclusive of this coming Saturday...mad! But the real running starts next week...

Wednesday's are my toughest running days...half the group are always missing on a Wednesday and I completely understand why...I'd love a doss day and I do have many the argument with myself as to why I deserve a doss day..'ah sher I'm shagged tired so I won't go: response:I can't afford to miss a day as I'll fall behind even more...and I need to build up the stamina in my legs...but I haven't missed a days training yet which is a good sign...

For the shorter midweek runs I always feel under pressure...I do prefer longer distances which is strange but I feel a lot more confident about the Saturday runs...there is something about them that sets u up for the rest of the week...maybe they are a confidence booster...

Tonight...3 miles...did 4 miles last night...it was bitter cold and I thought my fingers were going to drop off...my calfs wouldn't warm up and I felt like faking an injury just to stop...my legs were frozen...but who was I going to fake my injury to?! the rest of the group were gone ahead! Maybe if I screeched like nutter it might have worked but who's doing the running?me...this was going on in my head all the way round...I have fought the breathing battle: never out of breath now only going up ' the dreaded hill', fitness has shockingly improved...but the mental battle is the toughest..why? Haven't a bloody clue...I've tried counting sheep, counting cars passing,counting anything to be honest...one night I counted potholes...I was desperate! ( lost count on the pothole one, there were too many! Typical...)

Maybe I should just try and enjoy myself...and maybe crack a smile! might try it Saturday rather than being so tense...smiles all round for Saturday it is... :) ...loola

Thank god thur and frid are rest days...need the break and can't face lumpy porridge in the morning...plain ould toast...just for one morning....

Roll on Saturday...7 miles...woohoo!

How to train for a marathon?

2012-02-01T06:02:00.000-08:00

My offical entry for The Great Limerick Run....WOOHOO!

2012-01-31T08:14:00.000-08:00

D-Day

Week 3 of Marathon training...13 weeks to go

2012-01-30T13:34:00.001-08:00

It's strange how running changes everything...

Eating habits,work energy,sleep patterns,clothes,deciding on whether to drink or not to drink, social life, preparing for the day ahead....all that has changed...how?

1)I eat breakfast : never used to eat breakfast,rushed out the door in the morning and was starved by 11 o clock so would eat crap...bickies or whatever I got my hands on

2)hop out of bed in the morning like a jack in the bean-box: before I'd roll over and get up feeling tired constantly...

3)I prepare my lunch the night before: previously I used to go out for lunch or head to Garvey's for a chicken roll and a bag of Taytos...now i have sandwiches made and and salad, also I'd knock back a pint of water, used to have a can or two of Diet coke...am off it nearly 4 weeks... haven't had one drop of fizzy drinks

4) Clothes: I've lost a stone and a half, I can now go to the bathroom without opening my trousers...just pull them down! have another two stone to go but I will get there....

5) running is a social thing: I've met some lovely new people and the group seems to gel quite well...

I didn't realise it at the start but slowly but surely you start to become more focused...now I understand why so many people are out there running...the amount of money I've wasted on gym memberships is scary...ive done all the hotels from the Brandon to Manorwest...the closest i got to them was driving past them...the only bit of exercise i got was turning my head whilst driving past thinkibg to myself ' jesus i must go there some day!' ....never went!

Tonight was the first night that I truly felt comfortable doing the 3 miles...wasn't stressed..no nail biting thinking ' can I do this'...actually I'm beginning to enjoy running...at last...

Saturday 6 miles....not what I expected

2012-01-28T14:06:00.001-08:00

There is a method to Marcus's madness...it's all in the pacing...

Got up this s'morning very nervous...what else would I be!! 7. 30 ate my lumpy porridge, knocked back my Benecol ...cup of tea and waited...for my first 6 mile run...

Met Marcus in Tesco's last night and he kind of put my mind at rest a little bit...he was dividing up the groups into fast and slow(that's me that's me!)...brilliant I skipped around Tesco's like a loola.....

We all met In the Aquadome car park at ten O clock...think there were about 35 people running this smorning which was a fantastic turnout..wondered how many would end up in the slow group..Brian comes over to me and slips me a gel like a druggie...my eyes lit up.. Woohoo might pick up speed with this thing... he advised me to take it after the hill...

10 sharp off we go...Marcus starts on the dot...up my favourite hill Ballyard..legs felt tired already...shite how am I going to run 6 bloody miles! Ok ok I got my breathing back..settled a little bit...got over the hill...and had a look around to see who was beside me..normally I kind of disassociate myself because I'm concentrating so much on my breathing and running that I just ignore everyone...and i grunt every so often... a lady ( don't know her name!) and Brian were parallel with me...didn't want anyone seeing me take the gel so I knew Brian was chatting away to her so sneakily I tear off the top like a mental head and knock it back...felt oily...look around, no one saw me woohoo! Thinking away to myself.. maybe I might get a spurt and pass everyone out! I think everyone would fall over with shock literally...anyway I kept dreaming away to myself...something is wrong here...I had to look around, I was still actually running with people...normally past the rugby club I start to drift back..and there were about 6 people behind me...fecking brilliant! Marcus was pacing us which suited me down to the ground...loved it...no more worrying bout catching up...nice and steady...felt good...

Marcus spurts out advice every so often...all I hear are the words ' nipple rash' and he telling us not to buy new bra's and knickers! so that means if I'm carried into the medical tent during the marathon for some mad reason there will be holes in my knickers and my bra will probably be falling off me at that stage! how nice....

hit about 4 miles and I see people turning up ahead toward tonavane ...this must be the extra mile that Marcus so generously is putting in for us...feck,where are we going... I knew this road but only drove it in the dark two weeks previously to suss out his route..still with the group...this is mad I thought to myself... hit near the end and turned..farmer joe was gawking at us on the way back up the road...peeping from over his hedge...he must have thought we were training for the Olympics as we were so chirpy! Sheila gives him a salute like a thoroughbred runner! We all laugh...strange how a group carries you along and you don't realise it...

Hit Blennerville football pitch...still going good... Marcus tells me to fall back behind him...maybe the gel kicked in...no one has ever told me to slow down! knew we were on the home stretch so I was probably getting a bit excited!

Turned onto Blennerville road, Marcus points out another runner coming towards us ' Stephen griffin' ..who the feck was he?! John Griffins brother the renowned marathon runner...you learn something new every day...hadn't a clue to be honest but I felt like giving him a presidential wave saying ' look at me I'm a runner just like you!' ...saddo...

Tried crossing the road before the station house..Sheila Gleasure our newly appointed slow group ' safety officer' directs us across the road on the bend! She bounced along, shuffling us all across like cattle in a mart...I was weaning a little bit...

On the home stretch , 1 miles to go... the fecking canal...it was the longest mile ever..but I kept the head down and focused on dodging all the puddles...met two lovely doggies along the way..I actually think they gave me a dirty look...could you blame them..
all they saw was a group of sweaty red headed runners plodding towards them....

Saw the aquadome...fantastic!! couldn't jump up and down cause I was so fecking stiff...near the carpark Marcus tells us sprint in...what planet is he on?! there's Bob hope and no hope that I was going to sprint into the car park like an arthritic granny...I've just done my first 6 miles dimwit! woohoo!

fantastic... only for Marcus and the rest of the group I wouldn't have been able to do it... I must say the group are a lovely bunch and everyone seemed to be delighted with today...so congrats to everyone..

I thoroughly enjoyed today...

But I did hear Marcus mention an added hill next week...feck must go for a drive tomorrow...

6 mile finish Aquadome Carpark

Wed run...3 miles...is this what s runners 'dip' feels like?!

2012-01-25T13:38:00.001-08:00

You know when things went completely a-wall tonight when I resorted to fibbing...I arrived into the car park and Brian asks 'how did the run go tonight? .... Ans.: great thanks, didn't do too bad.....' when in fact I bloody faltered on the hill and walked for 20 secs...don't know why but I just stopped dead on the road and frustration set in... I ate Catriona and told her to shag off and leave me alone...came back, sat in the car and the bottom lip started to go... but I kept it together...running three nights in a row is tiring but tonight has not put me off...I have a history of just giving up exercise and this time I said to myself...I will do this and dips are expected...

Work during the day is normally go go go all day,then running ( more stress! ), then dinner, prepare lunch for next day , shower and bang it's half nine/ ten before relaxation sets in for a half an hour then bed....z z z z z ...up at 7....groundhog day again...thank god thur and frid are rest days...looking forward to just doing nothing in the evenings...but one thing I am very sure of is this blog gives me motivation to get up off my ass...and people's comments are a boost mentally so I've no choice but to keep going otherwise I'm not going to let these running shoes join the badminton racquet, the wet suit, the body board, the treadmill, the cross trainer, the yoga mat,weights, the rowing machine all stacked neatly in the garage...but fair deuce to me I have knocked use out of my racer!

I am looking forward to sat 6 miles...

Tues 4 miles....felt disheartened...haven't a clue why...

2012-01-24T13:39:00.001-08:00

Tonight was tough.

Felt very disheartened after my run tonight..haven't a clue why to be honest...I have this thing in my head that I have to get faster and I just can't bloody do it...started off good tonight but then slowly but surely I start to fall back...and back...and back...tried running with longer footsteps but my calfs just went on strike...breathing was good but mentally it was very tough...so many times tonight I just wanted to stop ...chatting away to myself trying to convince myself not to stop...I didn't, I even ran up Ballyard hill whilst arguing with myself...great craic I must admit! Am I the only looney toon out there.....probably...

Wore a Garmin watch tonight...Catriona took me out running during the summer...one of my many running attempts..Decided to run walk a 5 miler on a sunny Sunday morning...off we go happy out..running then walking...started off running again , then I hear beep beep...beep beep..beep beep...what the hell was that?...every so often the beeps kept coming..of course I'd never used a Garmin before...not a mind do I not talk whilst running but it drove me bananas...I felt like I had a CSI agent beside me watching every move I make and watching my pace...so that turned me off garmins.. but Brian suggested I use it to monitor my runs...so I did tonight..no beeps tho..4 miles in 45.03 mins...

I do know there are going to be good days and bad days running....and I've a long road ahead of me ( including hills! ).... I take my hat off to anyone who has done a full marathon...nut heads...and hopefully I will be one of those nut heads soon...

Am going to register my online entry thur...might have to drive to Limerick to suss out the route...loola

Week 15 ....3miles...might change my tactics...

2012-01-23T13:30:00.001-08:00

My first marathon...that's my aim.... What's next? Well wait for it....roaming around on Facebook today a message flashed before my eyes..my glasses fogged with the hysteria... .I jumped up and down off my seat...all excited...Marcus (our Born To Run marathon coach) announces an Ultramarathon training group...it sounds lovely...25mins slow ( that's me that's me! jumping up and down off my seat...had to put the brakes on the chair with all the jumping!) and then 5 mins walk...woohoo I love walking... Why doesn't he let us walk for the five miles tho?! I bet he has an easy time with the other group strolling along the road looking at the birds and the trees ....while I sweat it out fecking and blinding along my 5 mile route...sneaky fecker....sounds lovely tho...if any of my patients asks me ' any plans for the summer?'... Well I was thinking of doing an Ultramarathon....mad! Maybe in another lifetime....I will offer my services as a ' Born To Run water girl' for their training if needed... everytime they'd pass me for a pit stop I could sing some of Brian's (Hayden) fav songs.... ' you're on the road to nowhere ( high pitched of course) or maybe ' I will walk 500 miles' la lala la la....

The run: it was grand tonight...Brian did give me one tip...try and take longer strides...I tried that coming around Fels Point ...didn't work...didn't feel comfortable but then again if it was comfortable I would be doing it already...so I'll try it again tomorrow night...haven't stopped once since my triumphant run up the hill the week before last...I've never given myself so many pats on the back! But if it kills me I will move up to the middle of the group... I'm getting faster slowly but surely,bit by bit....I have it in me but I just need to kick myself up the arse a couple of times and hope it works....must do some research on different food groups...am booking a Physio appt tomorrow to try and loosen out the legs ( aarrrgh do I have to strip?!) , and finally.....I can see actual real visible wear on my trainers...woohoo! I am a real runner now.....

34km cycle sun- a bit windy....

2012-01-23T04:01:00.000-08:00

Went for a cycle sunday... 34 km to be exact, how juch in miles havent a clue but what is it about cycling that makes you feel much better?!getting out of bed was the tough part....heard some wind outside and the flicker of doubt entered into my head...ahhh ill get blown off the bike ...so ill stay in bed... but then the other side of me thinks of the marathon and finishing it (coming in last that is!!!)and that quickly hops me up out of bed and out the door...cycling is great for getting rid of the cobwebs....3miles running tonight....off the diet coke two weeks now..woohoo...

Sat 5 miles...never eating fish again....

2012-01-21T04:54:00.000-08:00

Legs were very tired after wed nite,jittery and they felt swollen...kept having to widen my laces in work... normally I fly up and down the stairs,two steps at a time but thur and Friday I could have done with one of those stairlifts for grannies....bought a bucket of Epsom salts from Boots,had a bath Friday and it worked....now I can see why we need two rest days before the long run but my one fear on Friday was that 'how am I going to do this as I haven't ran in two days'...but once the legs got going that disappeared....

Hectic day in work friday so I was going to be adventurous and get something different for my dinner...of course I would have loved a McDonalds or the Burger Shack...anything other than pasta or veg..even the Big Mac with no chips-I would have made that sacrifice! but no I've running tomorrow...so bright idea like a light bulb glowing over my head...fish...it's good for me and haven't had it in ages...off I toddle into the Seafood shop...ask the question ' anything nice?' like a miss know it all...didn't see any battered cod with mushy peas...I see these small pieces with pink bits on the end of them...'what's that?'...scallops...how much?...well 35euros for a kg..do I look like a heifer?!....asked him what would a normal person eat...(if only he knew I was a ' runner'- maybe I should have went in my running pants and have a sweaty head on me!)....3-4 pieces is about right...ok I'll take them...hold on how do I cook them? pan sear them ...I just nod the head and pretend yeah yeah.......I had not a clue how to cook then...off I go home to pan sear my din dins... (don't even know if I've spelled it right! i am educated! )....plop them into the frying pan, turn them and wait...no instructions with them...split them all in half to see if there's any change...none so I decided to burn the arse out of them to make sure... Veg and scallops went down well but the rest of the night didn't...stomach churned and bubbled all nigh...was never so sick in all my life...didn't sleep a wink...learnt two lessons 1) I won't ask 'anything nice for my din dins' when I go shopping 2) never try anything new before my long runs, stick to pasta.....

Nearly didn't go running this smorning...felt crap...tried to force down a couple spoons of porridge... couldn't so had a slice of toast instead...but I knew I had to go, I'd be so disappointed with myself if I didn't ... So I did... Tried to chirp myself up in the car on the way in to running...drugs wouldn't have done the trick... 5 miles...was a bit slower than normal ( how much slower can I go! ) energy levels were low... Brian stayed with us all the way...yapping... and yapping....I gave a few grunts but did talk a bit ( its a start) ... he commented on my ability to talk...smartsrse....after the 2.7 mile to be exact.... It is true what they say ' you never talk about running when you're running ' and ' when your not running all you talk about is running ! ' drank all my drink... I think I had frought coming out of my mouth by the end of it...coming up to the Aquadome Brian informs me I have 50 seconds to make it to the car park and I'll have done the 5 miles in 1 hour to be exact... shite, my legs are about to fall off me, I'm starved and I've frought coming out of my mouth...and I'm sure my hair has turned into a ball of candy floss on top of my head from the wind and sweat....great I have to leg it like a looney tune to beat his clock...Catriona is in front of me running happily along...move bitch!I'm on a mission.....picked up speed... i'd say a granny with arthritis could have run faster...phew made it back ... 1 hour 4 secs he informs me.... Could he not have just lied to me the fecker! That's it, he's banned from talking to me....

Bought myself a running magazine today...and a dairy milk... the magazine said 'that there's a 39% reduction of cardiovascular disease and a 29 % reduction of strokes' ( in relation to chocolate) ....the running magazine has to be right....

Enjoyed today tho....15 miles this week woohoo! 16 miles next week.....

15 weeks to the big day.....

Wed night running 3 miles....tired tonight

2012-01-19T04:29:00.001-08:00

Just doing some calculations... (clever aren't I!)including the sat run this week we'll have done 15 miles this week!!! Woohoo never in my like did i think I'd actually run that amount....even with the hills! That bloody hill is now an obsession...it will not beat me...I'm just plain lazy...

Half of the group were missing tonight.....and I still came in last!!! not too far off tho...driving in from Killarney this evening I wasn't in the mood for it tonight...legs were sore after last night and calfs were tight...so I going to have to get some Physio done...To be honest I dread it because it means stripping off and lying there practically naked ...and me wondering..' oh my god I hope there isn't a hole in my knickers!'...only ever been to Physio twice...first time was when I'd a crick in my neck..went in sat down in the waiting room and I couldn't get back up off the seat...he calls me in...I lie down flat on my belly...he hops ontop of me like a sumo wrestler...click...screech....perfect! but I refused to take my top off...told him to work around it! Came out traumatised but no crick...

Second time was when my back went after a car accident in the states...went in not prepared to strip off...stupid really but I'd convinced myself beforehand that I wouldn't have to strip...was jet lagged and delirious from the tiredness...she somehow convinced me to partially strip...bottoms off... Starts stretching me ...the usual..I bought knickers whilst over and they were too tight so Mrs Bouquet comes into action..I made a big slit down the side with a scissors and forget about it!.....I never apologised so much and I cringed with embarrassment....let's say I never returned for a review....but for running I do know I'll have to go...i'd go to the doctor only if I was in dire straits...last legs..I'm booked in for next week so must go knicker shopping....

But my one aim for this challenge is to never miss a night training unless my legs or my arms have falling off for some strange reason...the running group acts as a surrpot network and without it i would not be able to do this...it is a chance in a life time opportunity (eventhough on mon,tues,wed and sat i dont feetl that way) and i would highly recommend it to anyone but its tough....and i do feck and blind a lot but sher if i didnt i'd be boring! Secretely, i'm beginning to enjoy running....just a tiny tiny bit....

Looking forward to Saturday 5 Miles....not!

Tues night- 4 miler...think I'm turning into a bit of a nuthead...

2012-01-18T05:12:00.001-08:00

4 miler - means changing my comfort zone.... I like routine and have to know the route beforehand, otherwise I start act like Fr.jack...hair starts to stand ontop of the head.... I get the wild expressions on my face and the bottom lip gets a bit of a biting....so as usual I dream about the route...round and round I go...i probably pant like a heifer in my sleep because I do the same when running! Will I ever not worry?! Haven't a bloody clue... Valium would probably help...although
I has a cyst in my eye two years ago...went up to Tommy Regan the eye fella....he looks and says ...' we need to remove it'.... How? Flap back the eyelid and scrape it out!....Oh for fecks sake... torture at its highest...crapping myself... He wouldnt knock me out because it's such a small procedure...
well not for me it wasn't! he gave me Valium... Went in on the morning for 'the small procedure' .... was a nervous wreck all week...was getting images of Clockwork orange where yer man used clasps to keep the eye lid open..aaaarrrghhh ...knocked back the valium beforehand...great this will knock the stuffing out of me...waiting...waiting...waiting...I might as well have knocked back a box of tic-tacs....think the eyes were probably popping out of my head by the time I got into him...' ok lie down and relax' ... What the hell am I going to do..your mental head tablets haven't worked!the nurse told me to put the hands underneath my bum...did she think I was going to whack her one or what?! I was so wound up I couldn't go through with it... Think I left them more traumatised than me....and low and behold the cyst went after a couple of weeks... It was meant to be... At least I figured out that Valium did nothing for me! Loola....

The Run: The one thing I have noticed is the my legs are getting stronger and I still have a mental battle every-time I run...it gets a bit dis-heartening when people just pounce along past me...you know those loop ropes cowboys use to catch horses... Well I might surprise Marcus one night and bring one...it would be handy wouldn't it....losing the plot definitely...but so what if I'm last..someone has to be...couldn't get my heifer breathing right until about the three mile mark....then when I got up the hill without stopping may I add...very proud... all the stress just seems to lift! even-though I'm practically crouched over at this stage...I had no Marcus or Brian tonight to feck and blind...I miss that....maybe if I start shouting from afar they might hear me! Today was a bad day for the cravings for diet coke....would have gone into any shop with a balaclava and grabbed a tinny for myself... Headline in the Kerryman newspaper' Born to run member seen legging it with a crate of diet coke-Runner all coked up'......

Did the 4 miles without stopping..

1st Official Training night for the Limerick Marathon! aaahhhh!

2012-01-17T00:47:00.001-08:00

Ok, 10 weeks down...of preliminary training... woohoo! Started our initial training on Nov 7th up in the IT Tralee with Marcus (Born To Run Marathon Training Group)...round and round the campus...never really knew that campus but now I do, including all the hilly bits...i do remember one (of many!)bad day of training....it was pouring rain, hailstones and wind... Stopped started that day and was tormented with myself... Brian had to drag me up the hill practically...and it wasnt really a hill...he was trying to tell me take small steps at a time but really in my own mind I was fecking and blinding him...would he ever shag off and leave me alone! (to be blunt!)... I sat in the car and said I was never coming back...but I had a good chat with myself...loola...and I did go back...if this marathon training was going to be easy, everybody would be doing it...slowely but surely,day by day, it gets a little easier....but I have to keep focused obviously...

The one thing that I have figured out is that running has given me routine...and structure...everything I do nowadays is based around running...here is a few examples...

Willl I go to McDonalds on a Friday night and scoff a Big Mac meal and people watch in the car park whilst filling my belly? No I've running tomorrow! and I want to run all the way...

Will I book a nice meal in Bella Bia and order the Brushetta (which kills me but it's worth it!) No, I've running in the morning....

Will I stay up late and watch a DVD or whatever....no I need to go to bed early for running tomorrow....

So I'm turning into a Nun...all I need is the Rosary beads and say ' bless you' more!

Running has good points also...I eat porridge for my breakfast, I always pre make my lunch for work, bring my carbonated bottles of water everywhere with me otherwise I'd be legging it into the shop for the black stuff...but im peeing like a trooper! and I have a proper dinner...but to make all this happen I make sure I do a proper shop for the week and pre plan my dinners...if I didn't have everything planned I'd fall off the wagon...

After the run on sat I felt good... Delighted in fact...went for a 20k cycle Sunday morning at 8.30.....it was bloody bitter cold...stopped in Topaz at the Fat Mile for a long chat with the rest of the group... nearly cried with the pain in my fingers but I had to do this because I feel it helps my breathing etc...not worth it tho!

Ordered a DVD from the states called ' Spirit of the Marathon' .... I'd said I'd watch it when I'd hit my first milestone and the was sat, my 5 miler! So i watched it on sun afternoon...It's more a documentary rather than a film and it follows runners right through to the Chicago Marathon...loved it...I would recommend it to anyone as a boost mentally....but would have loved chocolate, tayto's, and pop corn to accompany me during the vid....anything really! had a chuppa chup lolly instead to keep the ould mouth occupied!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8XSit8XyeM

The Run: Ok was kind of looking forward to running tonight ( mad! Me like running , never!)..... came loaded with my tissue and barley sweets....Had a good blow in the car in preparation! Took off steady... But felt good...I don't talk whilst running...if anyone tries to strike up a conservation all I do is grunt....hit the corner by the aquadome before the dreaded hill...controlled my breathing...head down...talking away to myself to distract me... slowly but surely, and I mean slowly I start to go up, no pants falling down, breathing good.... up and up and up and up and up....Catriona tells me to relax...F&$k off you F$¥ker was my answer to be honest!! but I made it!....panting like a heifer!! result!! ....

This running business is a full time job....

Saturday run - 5 Miler- out come the new pants!

2012-01-14T14:41:00.001-08:00

Well, I spent thur night running the 5 mile route in my sleep...so when I went to bed Friday night- I decided feck this I have to come up with another tactic... So the mind starts to drift...z z z z z...z z z z z ran the same route again ..up the hill!.... Seriously since ive starting this training I'm constantly nervous before every run...and am not sleeping properly...maybe its the withdrawal from the Diet Coke woohoo 7 days off the black stuff!

Unfortunately, I sadly had to put my old running pants in the bin on friday....it was a year old, v sad day I must admit.... I had a bad fall off my bike during the summer and it was even on me for that but held up... R.I.P. pants.Had to wear the new ones around the house like a nut head...to break them in..

Route: aquadome, up the blooming hill, past rugby club to top of road, turn right, past playing field into Blennerville,along canal and home

Got up this smorning,ate my rocket fuel porridge, didn't go down too well but I force fed myself like a baby ontop of a high chair with a feeding bib!

Was very nervous... Started at the aquadome, running of course .... Up ' the hill' ... Brian Hayden (other coach) gave me a tip last Wednesday to breath through my nose... so here I go... Had to focus on my breathing and the hill....in out in out.... Shite I need to blow my nose... Ok I'll worry bout it later once nobody looks at my nose dribbling...I got up the hill ...fecking great! Had to control my breathing again.... In out in out... Brian forgot to mention the tiny matter of bringing a blooming tissue to catch the debris! I could feel my nose flapping and it was getting worse! Catriona to the rescue...out comes a tissue like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat! If anyone saw me they'd think I was having a good poke....I swear I wasn't!Had a good few blows....relief...

Kept running, the next obstacle I had to overcome was the slow incline past the rugby club... For the last two 5 milers I've stopped and walked...ok had to focus in out in out ... Blow ... Blow (my nose !)In out in out ... I said once I got to the top that I'd have a break but I took small steps and I kept going and going and going.... Delighted...just needed to get past that mental block about that part of the route....I did it...woohoo...
Kept running and running at geriatric pace .... Sipping, blowing, and in out in out....hit the bend before the football pitch....saw the rest of the group a good bit ahead... Had to catch them.... At this point 2 sheep doggies decided to give us a police escort all the way to the end of the road! Woohoo company at last- event if it was of the animal kind....I'd say they heard the strange noises and felt sorry for me!!

I got closer and closer to the rest of the group- - delighted I'm actually running with people, real people! found the last mile tough along the canal.... Told Marcus to bugger off, I had to focus but alas.... I did it... Didn't stop once... I am now a 5miler runner... But a long way to go to reach 26.2.....

P.S. walked past Der O Sullivans in the afternoon and started salivating at the window!!! Would have loved a bun... But no, feck him for putting them on display... Bought a bag of Johnny O rings instead... Have been T- total so I deserved them!

Wed run...3rd time unlucky but nearly there...

2012-01-11T01:22:00.000-08:00

Am tired tonight...had to drive to cork today for a meeting (did eat my porridge tho!)and was worried about being out of my normal routine...normally I'd stop in Lissarda for an oluld bar of chocolate and would knock back a diet coke just to break up the drive (and for a pee pee of course!),but this smorning I trotted away in,bypassed the sweet counter and headed for my carbonated bottle of water...I had to avoid looking at the sweet counter on the way to the till...stared out the window whilst paying!! Nuthead.,. Legged it to car, opened my water and it sprayed all over me...! Great soggy pants for the rest of my drive...ate lunch in Rochestown Park...scanned the menu and,went for the toasted special and salad and H20...she went on to name today's specials: beef burger,steak etc : does this woman know what I'm trying to achieve at the moment...Ballyard hill!

I'm going to tell a story that I have kind of pushed to the back of my mind...last April ,May I attempted running... Stopping and starting so Catriona (crap coach!) decided to sign a group of us up for the 5k race in Macroom in June...nerve wrecking week not a mind self destructing one... We all drove up happy happy but I was bricking it...I remember eating a twirl on the way up thinking it would help me! Race started...too bloody fast...it started at the Toyota Garage and I was walking by the time I got to The Castle hotel... the bottom lip starting going at that stage... walked,ran walked ,ran (multiply that by 50!) my mind was all over the place(fecking and blinding to myself....not good!) the route was a circle around Macroom and the end of the route came back down the big hill on the cork side of Macroom...at this stage I sneakily removed my number and tried to act like an onlooker ( as if! Who was I kidding ...the jogging pants,big red head and the bottom lip going gave it away!) walked up the town on the footpath and I stupidly refused to go through the finish line...I was like a baby throwing my dummy out of the pram! Worst day of my life...cried in the car and the bottom lip was still going!...never again I said... Am not a bloody runner, leave me be...but here i am...running...might be a tad bit slow but at least I'm not on the couch watching the box dreaming about getting fit and losing weight...

Nora Flynn from Killarney Fit For Life trying to coax me along....no hope!

Tonight I nearly did the hill...just nearly...with Brian's and Catriona's help ( thanks a million, I do sincerely appreciate their help-couldn't do this without them) was thinking of taking bets (might as well make a few bob outta this!) will it be Monday,Tuesday or Wed that I make it up this damn hill??? That's the question...cash in hand only...

Tues 5k inclusive of pants falling down....

2012-01-10T14:24:00.001-08:00

2 days off the diet coke....woohoo! Kathleen ( a girl who runs the office) is also a current advocate of diet coke...we were diet coke buddies..if I was ever running low she was always there to offer me my fix...those were the days..so today I was scoffing back my brown bread ham sandwich ( p.s. I did have my lumpy porridge this smorning - pat on the back for me!) and then I hear the sizzle of the can opening....gulp gulp gulp... It was the biggest gulp ive ever seen ( maybe this is an exaggeration because my eyes were bulging with the jealously!)...I retreated to my pre-filled bottled of Dunnes carbonated water and ribena...feck her anyway...I'm going to leave a ransom note in the kitchen tomorrow morning in exchange for her diet coke...great Craic...I do work by the way!

The run: only had half a banana at 4 because the rest of it was black! Recessionary banana I'd call it..I was starved still...Marcus forgot about the walking again tonight...fecks sake...note to self:must remind him. I have this philosophy where if I stay at the top of the pack and dont let anyone pass and create a traffic jam things would be great! If I keep my hands in a star shape that would help!!!...loola. God the pace was fast tonight...was under pressure to control my breathing but I was determined not to fall back to the geriatric category...passing the tennis courts my pants starts falling down... What a sight with the passing traffic...cringe... Heavy breathing like a pregnant woman in labour and high waisted pants falling down!! Next comes 'the Hill'.... Catriona forgot her knitting needles to poke me up the hill so she threatened me tonight with a blow torch!!! Great puncture wounds and arse burns!! A & E would love me... Nurse would ask ' what happened?'...Me..'.just out running...you should join its great craic!' stopped again (yawn yawn...) up that bloody hill, I will beat it. Ran fast down the hill but the pants keep dropping... I only ran fast because the feckers in front weren't too far ahead and I could'nt catch them...Blame the pants...but I bought a new one over Xmas and much prefer my comfort pants for the time being...made it to Aquadome gate and Marcus was with 'the new girl' and he states to her ' your did very well tonite,the rest of them have been training for the last ten weeks'.....but I think to myself ... Well feck that anyway....in my previous life I never even ran across the road...and now I'm running up the road but I keep on running...

Monday 5k run inclusive of hills.....great

2012-01-10T01:09:00.001-08:00

Ok...today is monday so it's a fresh start...I'm giving up diet coke and am going to start eating porridge for breakfast. Woohoo I might as well detox if I'm going to do this marathon.To be honest with myself I'm practically addicted to diet coke...I drink (or should I say drank-today is day 1-might set up diet cokers anonymous if anyone wants to join!) 3-4 cans a day...those 24 can offers in Dunnes are to blame..went into Dunnes sunday and bought carbonated water and Ribena (sugar free of course! ) Sunday night the cravings set in....the shakes..oh jesus dreaming about the fizz.....nuts i know but i loved it....I will do this.

Porridge is the next implement (vom....)lumpy breakfast for the next few months - but I had to have it with milk otherwise I might as well join the nuns...
Brian (Hayden - he's the other trainer with Marcus ) quoted porridge as being 'rocket fuel' - brilliant I thought to myself...finally something that will help me keep running...happy happy...delighted with myself the cupboards are stocked with porridge...mmm if anyone calls to the house instead of tea it will be 'porridge anyone?'.

The Run:the nerves started at around 4,whilst scoffing my banana...will I ever be not nervous?? It gets pretty tiring worrying...I went to bed last nite and instead of counting sheep I was running up Ballyard hill....amazing I did it (in my sleep!..ahhh loola! Seriously!)Run started from the aquadome...I think Marcus forgot to start the walking part tonite!...maybe I might remind him that a stroll at the start is good for the legs...I'd say there's Bob Hope and No Hope!

Was fine for the flat part... little bit slow but like I said if Marcus let me warm up with a nice little stroll ...perhaps past the viewing tower...anything would have done! Then comes the hill...oh for gods sake what am I worried about its only a bloody hill! Thank god it's dark coz I can't see it properly...I stop half way up...shite...if only I was doubled jointed I would have loved to give myself a kick up my own arse!! Catriona (my support crew-thanks!) She threatens me that she's bringing a knitting needle tomorrow nite to poke me with every time I stop! Great, I love going into work with puncture wounds!! Loola...I get going again and stop once more....aarrggghh where's my knitting needle! But finally I run all the way home...only because it's downhill! must have some sugar free fizz...by the way the porridge didn't work Brian! But I will keep eating it..love a lumpy breakfast....

7th Jan 2011 2nd 5miler

2012-01-09T01:34:00.007-08:00

Was looking forward to my 3 mile run on sat.even posted on Facebook 'looking forward to it'!...stupid eejit ..Marcus texts fri evening with the news of a 5 miler! Bloody great...ruin my nights sleep again! Wasn't on form to be honest...did my usual mileage during the week but with going back to work after xmas I was absolutely exhausted.

The run: great news no walking just running...how nice Marcus..thanks a lot for ruining my life!

D-day:I had to run up Ballyard hill...shoot me now..he had the cheek to make us run from the car park....no looking at the viewing tower, just head down and run...didn't see any ambulance men waiting at the top so I figured I had to keep running...again I stopped at the bloody same hill...

First 5 miler:

2012-01-09T01:34:00.005-08:00

Route;aquadome,Up Ballyard Hill ,past rugby club,turn right along back of Blennerville and back along the river.

Had to ask Marcus were we running up Ballyard Hill? No! Woohoo whehey!!!!!party!!!
That settled me a bit but it was still 5 miles...we start off walking..lovely jobeley, I even take time to look at the new viewing tower..ahhh it looks lovely... Up the hill a little bit... 'ok start running'... Shite you must be joking me,I'm not bloody ready you fecker! Ok had to pace myself... Christ I going so slow I'm causing a traffic jam with the rest of the group behind me...please let my lace open! Any excuse will do....

Ok twenty mins in and I start to struggle..I can feel a hill coming on (am going to call this fear hillitis from not on!)

I stop.....

Why?havent a bloody clue...I have a couple of excuses 1)didn't sleep a wink last night worrying 2)had a very upset tummy from the worry 3) mental failure..need an NCT

Ok I look to Catriona for support...she sees me struggling..'c'mon keep running'...shag off and leave me alone!she gets the hint and we walk for 2mins then run again..Marcus stays with us...gee thanks for staying back with the geriatrics...but I kept running once I was past the incline(Marcus would probably consider my incline a speed bump...oh I'd love to be a runner).

Ran all the way ... 5miles took 1hr 4mins. I was delighted.even-though I was last in the group I didn't care.

We'll skip to Week 4-pissing rain....

2012-01-09T01:34:00.003-08:00

Look out the window at work-absolutely pelting rain outside-texted Marcus with fingers crossed that running would be cancelled.

Actual txt:is running still going ahead today?!
And:yes

That's a definite then Marcus!shite forgot my hair dryer.ok I have to go....oh god almighty this is going to be tough..Rain and wind..5mins walking,15mins running inclusive of a hill aaahhhh....conked at the base of the hill..so disappointed with myself for giving up.feck it anyway why do I put myself through this...talking away to myself ' I'm not doing this anymore,can't be bothered with this crap,feck Marcus'. But I'm not doing it for him..I want to go to New York and he is giving up his free time dragging deadweights up this blooming hill! God help him for the next few months because he doesn't know what he has left himself in for with my mental abuse!.

Marathon Runner?Me?.....not a hope in hell

2012-01-03T01:34:00.000-08:00

What I want to achieve:To run a marathon...

Me:33yrs old,overweight (not telling you my weight but I need to lose 3 stone),hate exercise and have never done any exercise....until recently...midlife exercise crisis I'd call it.

Ok all this started last summer 2011...I climbed carriuntouhill (can't spell it!) oh jerseys even the thought of it sends the shakes...it has been the toughest thing I've ever done..weather was hurricane like, fog and was ill prepared...literally I thought I was going for a leisurily long stroll but in actual face the guide had to tie me onto a dog leash to make sure I got down the mountain...soaked wet,feet blistered ,cranky and starved(couldn't eat my Mars bar coz I was so tired....but I did it! (7hrs later!).would I do it again...definitely not!

So from that running started,did bits here and there but never really accomplished much to be honest with myself.I'm a bit like Fr.Jack from Fr.Ted..mad looking from the fact of actually doing the exercise and a teeth grinder from the fustration of running.I hate sweating(sweating=exercise) and I hate hills....get the shakes like a belly dancer....and the sweats again.

Have done all the quickie diets...none worked..a warning should come on the packet:'don't forget to sit back from the table'.so this time I'm going to convert from a jhogger to a runner if it kills me.

Nov 7th 2011 I decided to join Born To Run running group Tralee with Marcus Howlett being the head honcho.

Aim:Limerick Marathon in May and New York Marathon in Nov (to be honest Limerick hasnt got the shopping appeal like NY-but I will get there if it kills me (to the shops that is-Starbucks and Macy's here I come!).

1st day:oh christ what am I doing..the drive in the car takes 8-10mins from work and the legs start to jitter...must go for a pee but decide to hold it in.I have the gear on,sucking a glucose sweet and the mind goes ninty...5mins walking(ok that sounds nice) and 5 mins running(shite:is there hills?..I hope not).the rest of the group looks fit...I will do this. The walk was lovely then I hear 5,4,3,2,1 oh god here we go...shoulders gone on strike,hands clench and have to keep focused..can't stop on the first day. Keep chatting to myself to keep me focused but it's tough chatting to a loola.Marcus tells us that it's 26 weeks till the marathon...oh shut up and let me do 5mins first.What planet is he on seriously (this is the inner jogger talking Marcus,not me).