Sod it let's run

First time running anything not even for a bus in 18 months so eased into it with a 10k (just over 6 miles) just over the hour mark according to Garmin fenix 3 with 6:26/km so 1h 6min 9sec for 10.27km 1264c

East Coast Harbour Marathon - #runnin

Reasons

At the end of 2015 my wife and I were delighted to learn that we would be blessed to have a baby due on the 17th August 2016. We were aware at an early stage that the pregnancy wasn't going to be "easy" but then we found that our baby wasn't growing as much as it could be. At this point we started having move regular scans and tried to identify the reason. Friday the 13th of May we had results back that identified the baby had what's known as "Edwards Syndrome"

"The conditions are associated with severe mental handicap and several physical defects. Most affected individuals die before or soon after birth and they rarely survive beyond the first year of life."

Our beautiful angel fought on though and got to a point in time that meant the best possible timing for the worst possible outcome - we've all said that Louis Joseph looked after his mummy and he did so till the end. His little heart stopped beating and on July the 13th 2016 he was "delivered to the angels".

So in honour of his fighting spirit and memory I took on the East Cork Harbour Marathon  - the full marathon - I had a few people doubt I'd make it weighing in at over 17 stone and being 6'4" I'm not exactly built for distance running. I finished in 5 hours 7 minutes and to boot I really enjoyed the experience - having a few difficulties with calluses on my feet - especially the left - but other than that all good. I even had the pleasure of meeting two lovely ladies who guided my round Eimear and Ann - and even stopped for a coffee in Inch at about 20 miles lol.

Go Fund Me page

Corkbeg 4 mile road race (running!)

So the running continues with my first ever "race" - my first on the road and in memory of a local lad Robbie Steele.

Well I made it round without stopping and learned some valuable lessons
1) if you start the race in last place (ie last to cross the line) no one can overtake you - unless you overtook them first - so doesn't really count lol
2) if you start last it can be awkward....
3) old people and young children are faster than me
4) if your calf muscle hurts before the start it gonna throb like a mutha after
5) VERY IMPORTANT # know where the finish line is so you don't try and sprint 600m out trying to overtake the young ones... I would have had them if that extra few hundred meters hadn't appeared.
6) apparently my heart rate does go over 200.... (see photos)
7) get out there and take part - it's actually enjoyable even for an old fart like me

the start

 

the finish

6.2km road run

Out at lunch for another road run - tied the laces in the "heel lock" way to stop the second toe banging on the end of the shoe - which seemed to work - although my left foot on the soul seemed to be getting hot towards the end - need to watch that - last thing I need is a blister there

 

10k run for a fat lad (110kg)

Garmin link