Days Like These

You know the days when somehow the run just doesn't seem to work - Well that was me this morning.

Now I confess I am only slowly getting back into my running, and hence my fitness level is at the bottom of the scale, but I ran twice earlier in the week and those runs felt good, starting to feel I was getting somewhere. The weather has been bad the last couple of days, and lazzilly avoided running, but this morning, despite the radio telling me that storms were busy lashing the country, the day was relatively calm, sunny, and perfect for a run.

I laced up, gloved up (it was a little chilly), and out I went for a planned easy run along the quay - It's only 2.25 miles, a warm-up in the past for a long run, but at the moment, an easy "get back into it" kind of run for a Saturday morning. I felt terrible from the first strides. I can't put my finger on it - I was home watching TV last night, ate early, nothing too heavy, haven't touched alcohol for three weeks, and had a good nights sleep. Why was I running with lead weights attached to my legs?

I plodded down one side of the Liffey, dragged myself across the Sean O'Casey bridge and turned with trepidation for the long crawl along the North Wall to the East Link Bridge (It's no more than 2/3 of a mile, but seemed like the last 5 miles of a marathon today!).

Across the East link, and down the lane into Ringsend Village, over the short stiff bridge over the Dodder, today it was Everest, and even the down side of the bridge felt uncomfortable - what was wrong with me. Turning the corner I can see where I finish my run, my apartment block glistening in the reflected sun, but why was it 10 miles away, instead of 200 yards? - Who moved it when I wasn't looking?

I tried, I really did, but it was awful - My body was feeling like it had run Death Valley and back, and finally it was over, I stopped, my hands on my knees, catching my breath as it escaped in wheezes - Remind me, why do we run? I checked my watch, 19:59, only around 8:50 pace, not exactly racing along - Why had it been so excruitiating?

Maybe I'll never know why today was "One of Those Days" - but I do know something, I'll be out there tomorrow to try and find out. Oh yes, THATS why we do it!

Another week fly's past

Did you realise that we are already 4%+ into the New Year, and that it's only 49 weeks to Xmas :) -

There that made you smile -

Or Panic!!!!!!

So, a little running done this evening. Just a short run of some 2.25 miles at around 8:40 pace, but a nice little evening run all the same. I'm not clock watching at this stage, but I do still record my times, just to get an indication of pace for each run, and tonight's run was 2 seconds quicker than last weeks effort on this route, and it felt easier - so progress is there.

I thought I'd post a couple of pictures of my apartment, and the view from outside across the water. The top picture shows the view from the quayside outside the apartment across the dock, and the shot below shows my block on the left hand side - Gallery Quay - hope you like them, I love it here, and can't wait for the summer.

2006 Revisted and 2007 To Come

Reflecting on 2006, it was a year of two halves, with early promise turning into late decline. Whilst I can make some reasonable excuses for some of what set me back in the fall, most of my troubles were down to laziness and a poor attitude. Whilst the spirit may have been willing at times, and I can talk a good race plan and training regime, I'm afraid I need to be more disciplined in 2007 if I am to reach my goals.

2006 What went Right
The year started well with the Raheny 5(miles) completed in 36 minutes in January, followed by a 75:50 10 miler in Ballycotton. Then came Connemara and the Marathon, ran on a cold, wet day, and completed in 4 hours and 20 minutes, the first leg of what I had hoped to be a grand slam of the Irish Marathons. Sadly that was stopped before any further progress when I had to drop out of the Belfast Marathon after 6 miles - Oh well - Maybe the sign of things to come. The Prague Marathon followed in May and a much improved 4:07:57 was recorded and things looked good for the summer.

2006 What went Wrong
Hard to pin down really. I came back from Prague feeling confident of getting under 4 hours in my next marathon, but somewhere along the line my dedication seemed to wane. Looking back at my diary, the training in June was infrequent, with only 37 miles for the whole month. July was little different, and a vacation to the US in August really was the nail in the coffin.

OK, when I came back from the US I had a new job offer, and so I was busy closing my old job, and then starting my new one. At the same time I went through a relationship breakdown, and then moved into a new apartment - Added to all that my mum took seriously ill and everything seemed to happen at the same time. My year ended with an extremely heavy cold, lethargy and xmas parties, and no running.

2007 - Here I Come
I'm over the colds, settled in the new job, love the new apartment, and am back in a relationship, so I have no more excuses. Mum is still in hospital, but I am able to deal with that, and so I am ready to give my running the priority it deserves if I am to achieve what I hope for.

My over-riding aim is to qualify for Boston for 2008. In order to achieve this I need to run 3:35:59 this year, so everything will be geared to that end. I'll start with the Raheny race at the end of this month again, then onto Ballycotton again in March, and the Connemara Marathon on April 1st. Next step will be the inaugral Cork Marathon on June 4th, and then I will build on these races with summer training with the aim for the Philadelphia Marathon in November as my attempt to run the qualifying time for Boston.

There will be highs and lows along the way I'm sure. Hopefully I can write more fluently on here and help myself keep my motivation. At the moment I am sitting at 195 lbs, and need to get below 180 to be running-fit, so a lot of work, but with help and support, I will be lining up in Hopkinton in April 2008, and hope to meet a lot of my fellow bloggers in New England next April.

I am still alive - And Ready to Run

Apologies for my failure to keep my blog up to date in recent weeks, mainly due to laziness, Christmas Parties, A lot of travelling, bad health, and did I mention laziness?

Well, I'm back, Christmas has passed, the decorations taken down, and work is back to normal - so I thought I should get back into my blog, see what the rest of the world is doing, and start to plan properly for my running in 2007.

I'll post a proper "Goals for 2007" in the next few days, but I thought I'd start by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year, and hope that all your dreams come true in the New Year, be they running dreams, personal ones, or work related. I have two out of three buttoned down, all I have to work on is my running.

Hopefully the blog has a picture of my daughter and son from New Years Eve. Liam Og works at one of Dublin's Top Nightclubs, and we managed to wangle tickets to their New Years Eve Party, so cocktails and champagne were enjoyed as Midnight Chimed, and the old year was seen off with a bang - Catch you soon.....

Back Running - Through a Tunnel!

Well, after all the trials and tribulations of recent weeks, and absolutely NO training, it was back to running, with a vengance. It was the First AND Last Dublin Port Tunnel 10K race, this Sunday, and having entered the race from the Apple Store in New York when I was there in November, there was a connection with my New York Flyer friends, and so despite no training, I was lining up at the start yesterday morning.

For those who have no idea what I am talking about, this race was devised to run through the new Dublin Port Tunnel, which is about to open to traffic next week, after 5 years of building, and way over budget! The tunnel is 4.8 km long, and 10,000 had entered for this unique event.

My son, Liam Óg had also entered, and along with an Italian friend working here in Dublin, Monica, we walked the short distance from my apartment to the race start at the Port entrance on the North Side of the Liffey.

It was an amazing experience, and amazingly (well it is Ireland) the race started with a climb up to the Tunnel entrance (We build our tunnels upwards!), and after a few hundred metres above ground we entered the tunnel to cheers and a surreal expierience as 10,000 people started to run into the hole. It wasn't a race as such for us, we were having fun, enjoying the singing as we entered the tunnel - It was the runners who were singing.

It was very hot in the tunnel, despite the weather outside, and after 2km underground, I was starting to feel the effects of the lack of air quality, what with 10,000 others fighting for the oxygen, but it was one hell of an trip. The view as we started to climb back up towards the exit of the North bound tunnel was amazing - The tunnel lights showing the heads bobbing ahead of us, turning around to see the mass behind, I hope that some pictures will be available from somewhere, sorry I didn't take a camera.

Just after half way we saw the light at the end of the tunnel, and emerged into daylight turning 180 degrees, welcoming the cool December air, and re-entering the southbound - downhill - tunnel. It was cooler and more relaxed as we jogged back towards the Port - Singing Olé, Olé, Olé - as we ran along, laughing, enjoying every second, and running very slowly. Eventually there was a little climb, light emerged and we ran towards the finish - crossing the line in a PW of 65:44 for a 10K (OK, it wasn't a serious race, just an experience), Monica loving her first race in Ireland, and for 10,000 of us, a unique medal, t-shirt, and when the congestion on teh motorways and tunnel syas there are delays of an hour on teh new tunnel roads, we will know, that we can run it faster :)

Good to be back running again, despite the pace - And just to let you know, mum is in a care home for a couple of weeks to get her strength back and looking great.

All in all, a difficult time, but revitalised by the Port Tunnel Race, and a promise of better things to come.

Sorry Guys - ALL IS FANTASTIC

Really sorry I haven't been able to update this, but I was a little tied up in the last week, and I truly appreciate the emails and calls etc. I am VERY happy to report that mum has made a remarkable recovery and last Friday she was released from hospital, back home.

Yes, back home. Eight days previously I was told she wouldn't last an hour - and now, she is back home - recovering far faster than anyone has the right to. I hope beyond hope that I have inherited the same constitution, and can fight the same way when my day comes close.

I haven't laced my runners up for three weeks now, and will need to spend some time working on my body (weight!) and get going again. Now all is settling down, I can hopefully get back into things and back to running. Supposed to be running a 10K this sunday - God help me. Well, he helped mum last week so I reckon our family have had their fair share of his help this month - So maybe I should start training again.

Thanks everyone -

The Fighting Spirit

An update - Monday 27th -

Firstly may I say a BIG thank you to everyone who has posted comments, called me, emailed, and said a prayer at this time. I am eternally grateful, and appreciate every kind word and thought.

Mum is fighting hard, and stil will us, showing such spirit that us young ones should bottle and save for ever. She was tired on Friday evening, but chatting away. Saturday she slept all day, waking around 10:30 in the evening for a little chat, before settling down for the night. Liam Óg and myself managed to get some sleep in a bed, and Sunday morning I got a call from the hospital - Mum was out of bed, sitting in the chair, having a cup of tea, and spoke to me on the phone.

Sunday afternoon, I think half of Ireland was around her bed, the rules say no more than two visitors at any one time, well she's broke all those medical rules by coming back to us on Thursday/Friday, so who was going to care too much that at least a dozen people were there :).

Now, I'm not going to pretend that she has won the battle, but she is certainly giving Father Time a run for his money, and I wouldn't put money against her. It's a case of taking each day as it comes - some days will be positive, some will see set-backs. There is still fluid on the chest, and possible infection, so maybe I shouldn't be as optimistic as I feel, but I am so glad that Friday happened, and that memory will be with me for ever, even if she lives to 120 (She's threatened it!).

Thanks everyone - Liam and Liam Óg

No running - You'll understand

On Monday evening my mum - she's 92 and lives on her own (with good support), was taken into hospital after the doctor was called. She had a shortage of breath, and fluid around her heart. I took Tuesday off and went to visit. She looked poorly, but the medical team were clear she was in good form, they would keep her in for tests, relieve the breathing problem, and reduce the fluid issue, nothing to be unduely worried about. They would assess everything, and they would keep her in for a few days. They had my number, and would call if there was a change. On Wednesday I had to work, and I called the hospital, she was doing fine, and I made arrangements to go and visit on Thursday after work - I wasn't expecting to find her any different than on Tuesday - Full of life, and giving out to all who would want to hear.

So, I went up north, hoping to be back for dinner as I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast -

I didn't get back last night.

When I got to the hospital, around 6:15, mum had deterorated into a catatonic state and was clearly very poorly. I was asked to step outside whilst they tidyed up another patient, then the doctor came and chatted to me, telling me that things were grave, and they didn't expect her to last the hour. Obviously I was devasted - I was in a state of shock, I called my cousin, my son, family friends, and went and sat with her. They gave her a drug to try and stabalise her - miracuosly it did the trick and her breathing improved.

Things still looked bleak, and a family friend who is a nurse arrived, and was not optomistic. My son arrived from Belfast, and we cried together. This was now 8 pm. I called for teh priest and she was blessed with the Last Rites. Others came and went, but we sat with her all night - watching her breathing with her oxygen mask - expecting the next breath to be her last.

Around 5:30 this morning, she stirred, appeared to awaken - Up until then there had just been sleep - almost coma-like in that there was no response. She woke, she recognised Liam and I (My son shares my christian name), she tried to talk - She still looked awful - The nurses came, helped her and gradually over the next hour she "came back to us" - her few words became sentances, converstaions. By 8 o'clock she was asking for a cup of tea - And by 8:30 she was sat up eating porridge.

My cousin came and the doctor who had told me last night she had an hour was absolutely beaming with radiant hope - and my mums Lazarus like recovery to date was astounding - she is in her nineties.

My cousin has stayed up in Newry - They are going to try and discover why she lapsed last night, and will try and treat her respiratory condition today. I'm going to rest, try and get a few hours sleep, then drive back to Newry this evening. I went last night expecting an hour visit and a chat - home by 9 and dinner. What I got was an emotional roller-coaster. Maybe it's a false dawn, and tonight may be the same - I hope not - Us Mycroft's are hard, stubbon folk, mum never knows when it's time - Long may it continue.

But if you have a minute - say a prayer to whichever god you might believe in - She would be grateful.

I may not be around for a few days - You'll Understand

Finally - I'm back in the World of Internet

WOW !

These past few weeks have been hard. I never relaised how much I depended on the Internet for contact with the rest of the world - At Micro and Macro levels. If memory serves me right, it was around October 25th that I disconnected my previous service, began the apartment move, and here we are on Nov 21st and my first post back at my own desk in my own apartment. - a relief.

So, what has happened in my absence. Well, the world has moved on. The US has become a more liberal society, those two per cent of voters at the margin turned blue for a while, and the Democrats grasped the opportunity - let's hope that in two years time they don't revert (the voters that is), and more can be persuaded that things just might be a little better in teh world. Still, we have our own elections here in ireland next year to worry about, although somehow I don't think the world will sit up and take much notice, whoever wins here (and it won't make much difference anyway!).

So, what have I been up to. Well, I had a wonderful trip to New York with my 21 year old, to celebrate his burpday. The highlight of the weekend was undoubtably meeting fellow Bloggers on the Sunday. I just wish that more time had been available to chat with everyone. My great new friend Sister Smile was a brick in getting everyone together, and although I have thanked her directly, I must do so again. To those who were sat at awkward ends of the table, I apologise, and I promise that next time I am in town, I will sit next to you, and talk you to death - personally (BCG and NYFG - you know I mean you, in the nicest possible way).

As an aside, and at the risk of sounding sexist (you have permission to slap me!), I can honestly say that running must be good for you, as all the folk I met in NY look so great (JBL and Skylight - don't take this the wrong way either!). Maybe it's something in the water, or the beer, but you girls were a delight - Maybe I could move to New York :) (OK, enough of that - editor!).

So, this is supposed to be a running blog, so what about my running. Ummmm, well, it's been slow - very slow. With everything happening to my private life (like I have one!), in the past month, running has taken a back seat, and my weight is hovering around 200lbs again. I have a couple of races planned in December, but they will not be run hard, although given my shape, they will be hard to run. The first is a 5K, Jingle Bells run, good fun on Dec 3rd, followed by my training partners daughters christening, then on December 10th we have the Port Tunnel 10K. This will be a unique race, with some 9000 taking part, running through the new Dublin Port Tunnel, which officially opens for traffic the week afterwards. So a one off, and a kick start to me as I begin my serious preparation for Connemara next April.

I'm back, and it was long, and I have more news somewhere in my head to share, I'll let you digest this diatribe first.

New Apartment - No Internet Yet, and New York

Really sorry that I have been unable to post to my blog for a couple of weeks. As regular readers will know I have been moving apartments, and my new place does not have interent wired up as yet. It will be at least another week before I can get connected, so please bear with me, and don't think I have been ignoring everything.

Unfortunately, my lack of Internet availability has dovetailed with the Dublin Marathon, and I do promise to give a reprise of events that took place last Monday when I get back on line.

It had also came at the same time as I am heading over to New York for a weekend, and I am planning to meet up with as many bloggers and friends as I can. Sister Smile has very kindly organised a gathering on Sunday (12th) at the West Side Brewing Company on 76th and Amsterdam, from 2 pm, and I look forward to meeting up with as many fellow bloggers, runners and friends, who can make it there.

This post is coming to you from an Interent Cafe in Dublin, and in just 48 hours I will be in New York - Small World.

Congrats to all who ran Dublin, New York and anywhere else in recent weeks. I promise to catch up with everyone very soon, and will be boring you with the details of my new place and how my running is going - Yes, I am running! New routes to be found, and new friends to make.