HOW SARAH, CLAIRE AND PADRAIG ARE GETTING ON
SARAH NICCRAITH (10KM)
Another two weeks under the belt. They are flying by so fast it’s hard not to worry about progress. All in all I don’t think I’m doing too bad. I’m getting three runs in a week and slowly increasing distance – my pace seems to be level enough even over longer distance it isn’t slowing too much.
I’m not going into the 10km to worry about a time at all I’ll just be happy to finish. My injury has settled down now after my hike so I’m confident it won’t be an issue on the day.
I recently found a really good support page on Facebook called the Runner Support Page and the posts on there have proven invaluable so far for training. It has some really good tips and tricks and advice for running which as a complete novice I need.
I’m trying to find some good routes to run in town now closer to the 10km. I run the same road at home all the time but it’s too dark to run in the evenings after work so I’m going to move it into town. It also gets boring running laps on the same stretch of road so the change of route will freshen it up.
I’m really enjoying the runs too, after a long day in work it’s nice to pound it out on the road to unwind it’s a really nice feeling to finish a run too. Exercise really does boost the mood so if you have a bad day put on some runners and get moving, you won’t regret it.
CLAIRE MOLLOY (10KM)
My training for the last two weeks has gone smoothly. There have been no major problems and I am enjoying my runs more and more. I am really looking forward to the 10k and have even persuaded my eldest son Robbie to do it as well. All my runs are at least 6k and another huge well done to my running buddy Eva who ran 7k with me last week. It is so great to have someone to run with, it’s like a mini therapy session for me – it’s just like my Tuesday fitness class.
Myself, Eva and our two eldest sons Robbie and Dylan are doing the Blue Run this Sunday. I’m really excited about this one as it is for such a great cause and I hope it raises a lot of money for the autism unit in Scoile Mhuire.
As well as the Blue Run I have signed up to do the Darkness into Light run/walk in May. Pieta House does such amazing work, I’m sure there will be a huge turnout for that run. My Dad has signed up to do it as well, I am so proud of him and look forward to standing at the start line alongside him.
My Tuesday fitness class is still going strong and I look forward to the next class. We are all going to start our own little running group with the people from the class so that should be fun. It’s all about positive mental health and this group of people really do help me to fell good about the world around me.
PÁDRAIG DORAN (HALF MARATHON)
Two weeks closer now so it’s starting to set in now. I’ve been only out four times in the last two weeks but I’ve managed to keep my runs to 14k. It’s a lot more than I’ve been running in the past few years. One night I tried one of the Dragon pre-workout drinks that we sell in the shop. I drank it half an hour before my run then I took off like Forrest Gump. They are made in Enniscorthy and are 10 times the strength of red bull.
I’m really enjoying getting out running and feel way better when I’m finished the run. I kind of feel guilty if I don’t eat properly after it, nearly like I’m letting myself down. Which is a good thing.
The picture is me and Martin O’Neill manager of the Irish football team, at the Aviva. Martin got wind that I was back in training and tried to talk me out of retirement but I had to decline as the shop is just too busy at the moment.