Run wild... it’ll take your breath away and clear the head
HAVE you ever wanted to run away? The stress of a busy life can get too much for the best of us.
I have to admit my new-found love of trail running is a perfect way to escape the daily grind.
Getting out in nature is not just good for your body – the head space is the real attraction.
Scientists say nature has a profound impact on our brain and our behaviour, helping us to reduce anxiety and stress, and boosting creativity and attention span.
I’ve always loved jogging – but running up and down hills I assumed would be for an elite athlete!
Not a mammy type who doesn’t have time for marathons.
Nonetheless I’m taking on the Eco Trail Wicklow this September.
You can opt for 18K, 46K or a whopping 80K, but beginners like me don’t have to run it.
The beauty of the event is you jog down and hike up.
So far I’ve tackled Bray Loop Head, the little Sugar Loaf and the Howth Cliff loop.
After the pandemic, it’s an antidote to loneliness and isolation.
Out in nature your worries evaporate.
My brain suddenly feels free and I go back to the good auld Scout days when the mountains and the leaders gave you survival skills in the great outdoors.
So far I’ve managed 7K, and apparently I only need to build it up to 15K before I take on the Wicklow Eco Trail. So it’s not just for the pros. I’m not bricking it as the race looms, because I know adrenlin and the awesome views will keep me trucking on to the finish line.
The reward when you reach the top of a trail is like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
When we got to Bray Head Cross on one of our training days, it literally took my breath away.
The smell of the flora and fauna is exhilarating too, a true assault on the senses.
You have to unplug and you can’t think of anything else as you try not to trip on the downhill!
It’s mindfulness on a whole other level.
Next week I’m hitting up Diamond Hill in Bengoorla overlooking Letterfrack, slap bang in the middle of Connemeara.
I hear there are incredible trails to discover the island over, and I’m just getting started.
There’s Leitrim way, Kerry Way, the Slieve Bloom Way... they are everywhere waiting to be explored.