Running a great tonic for the mind and body

LAST Sunday afternoon while an understrength Louth team were completing their Division 3 programme with defeat to Sligo in Drogheda, I was tearing up and down the hills and glens of Tullyallen in the annual Glen Emmets 5K road race.

Over 300 people took to the roads around the village in glorious spring sunshine to raise funds for the club’s juvenile section in what was a great community day out.

Running is something I’ve always enjoyed since early childhood and indeed it was my first love long before I ever began to lace up those old Gola football boots.

Although sprinting was probably my own particular forte, there was always a great self discipline about pushing yourself to the limits in longer distance races, especially the cross country events.

Wading through mucky fields in the depths of winter while the rain bounced off your back was definitely character building.

In latter years however my rationale for getting the running gear on was much more straightforward.

Rather than any grand plan to improve my 10K personal best or run a sub four-hour marathon, my reasons were more to do with maintaining my health and weight at a reasonable equilibrium.

Unfortunately it was my social life that tended to dictate the pattern and frequency of my runs.

If the social calendar was busy or if I’d overindulged in life’s excesses then I was much more inclined to seek out the lycra and get out on the roads.

Maybe it’s an age thing but in the last few years I’ve also began to appreciate more the non physical benefits of running. The clarity of thought that I now enjoy while I’m out on the road is unrivalled.

I find this ‘think time’ very difficult to replicate anywhere else as it affords me the opportunity and space to think through different problems and decisions. It also recharges the batteries.

That might sound funny, especially to non-runners but running actually gives you more energy than it consumes. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and get yourself a shot of those endorphins.

In a completely unconnected aside, my old club Clan na Gael and North East Runners are hosting the annual PK5K road race held in memory of the late Patsy Kelly on Saturday evening next in Dundalk along the usual fast paced route.

Unfortunately this year’s event is clashing with Louth’s Division 3 play-off final with Tipperary in Croke Park, but event organisers are nevertheless expecting another bumper crowd that could surpass last year’s record numbers. THE aforementioned final will afford Louth some invaluable biggame experience in preparation for the championship clash with Wicklow in just six weeks time.

Although promotion was secured in Semple Stadium a fortnight ago Colin Kelly will still have his charges primed for Saturday evening’s encounter at headquarters.

It won’t be the end of the world if we don’t pick up the silverware on offer but it will be the team’s last competitive encounter before that first round clash on May 21st in Parnell Park. LAST week’s Sideline bet Monaghan almost pulled off a famous victory over the Dubs in Clones only for Jack McCaffrey’s late goal to swing the game in the All-Ireland champions’ favour. The US Masters begins on Thursday in Augusta and we’re putting our each way money on Marc Leishman at 60/1.