Mile 1: Urban Trails

Urban Trail Event
23rd February 2013, Marlay Park
4.4km and 8.8km

Perhaps I was looking a bit too comfortable on the sideline when coach Greally drew up my race plan for 2013. “A variety of different events across the four provinces to be completed by the close of the year” he suggested. Bearing in mind that I class myself as the clichéd female of the MAMIL species, mature active mum in leggings, I was up for the challenge. “When do I start,” I asked, already thinking of the numerous goody bags, souvenir t-shirts and new shoes that I was going to need.

So to kick off the Sole Sister series I took on the Urban Trails 4.4km event on Saturday in Marlay Park along with 750 other competitors. An opportunity for pavement pounders like myself to let loose through the undergrowth for either the 4.4km or 8.8km options. Seeing the occasional handbag being deposited in the baggage area was a good sign that this was going to be a very mixed field. Phew!

“It’s great for newcomers” said Miriam Maher (25) from Muckalee, Co Kilkenny who is a PE teacher in Loreto Foxrock. “It’s not on the road and has two distances below 10km which is perfect for so many people.”

The course was reasonably flat with a mix of open fields, a short single file trail and a small river jump, well marked out with plenty of friendly marshals on hand. Even as a regular runner in the park I was surprised to find some little nooks and crannys I wasn’t aware of.

In true urban warrior style, Ciaran Johnson (47) caught two busses from Castleknock to take part in the longer distance which was his first event of this kind. “I started running about three years ago and this was brilliant. I totally enjoyed it and delighted that the new trail shoes paid off,” says the IT security specialist who is FIT magazine’s biggest fan, assuring me he has every issue since it started. Giving it up for team Deliotte was Shauna Bonner (25) along with 14 members of their 200 strong corporate running group. But the real crowd pleasers on the day were Nastro with his owner Maire Mahon (33) from Greystones and Bella with her owner Sebastien Mahony (32) from Bray. It was a first for both rescue dogs and Maire while Sebastien has previously represented Ireland in Cani Cross.

This was a nice tight race organized by OutFront Events with good WC facilities and a very social free grazing post race spread which included plenty of fresh fruit and fruit cake. With a total of 207 finishers in the 4.4km race, my performance on the day gained me 26th overall and 2nd female over 40. Chuffed!

Fake It To Make It

Fake it to make it - On The Run For 2013

Check out the February/March edition of Irish Runner for my 2012 running progress and 2013 goals. Go Run !

Call Of Duty Urban Fitness

Sole To Soul

It's great to know that even the ordinary man in the street acknowledges running as a spiritual pathway.

Out for a leisurely trot this afternoon around Ballsbridge, a tormented auld fella shouts at me "Yuz will burn in hell anyway, even wit all dat trainin."

I couldn't help smiling! So with a big happy head on me I guess I am going to have to take my chances. Sole To Soul.

Half Marathon Debut - Tribal Rhythms

Getting into the hearts and minds of ‘the runner’ is best achieved by actually doing it for yourself.

Having just completed the Dublin half marathon, I feel proud that I can officially call myself a runner. After years of reading, writing, studying and chatting with the experts I have put it all into pure and simple one foot in front of the other 13.1 miles. “The mind will give in before the body does, so don’t let that happen. You can control that,” was the last nugget of wisdom I gleaned before being corralled into my ambitious 2-2.15 hour wave start. With my head still in alpha state from the previous nights drumming circle, I cruised the first ten miles of collective, energizing footfalls, like hands beating time with pure rhythmic harmony. Meeting old and new faces around the course, made me feel part of the tribe once again. Ten minute miles over ten miles up to that point was beyond my greatest expectation. I would love to say I stormed home over the last three miles but alas the body started to give in, not the head. I never gave up, even though I had to slow it down until I had the finishing line in sight. Sprinting across that last 300metres and just breaking the 2.15 was a massive achievement. So with a few extra miles now in the legs I have raised my expectations of myself and reinforced the importance of attitude over an endurance event, especially day to day living. Slow and steady, keep focused and allow yourself to tap into the wealth of uplifting energy that surrounds you in abundance.

“Who looks outside dreams. Who looks inside awakens” Jung

Awaken The Energy Within

FIT Magazine

Make sure you pick up your weekly copy of the Irish Independent FIT Magazine. Every Thursday.

Bootcamp For Buddhas

5 Weeks of Summer Fitness

For Further details:

Patricia 086 6482651
nutrishon@gmail.com