Well folks,

Sorry - I know it's been a while since my last update but, I had a bit of a set back in training but I've also had some positive news since my last post about the Wicklow Way Ultra.

The week after the Wicklow way ultra I hit a PB (Personal Best) in 5 km - I've been trying to beat 20 mins for a long time now and wasn't feeling comfortable heading into Marley Park. I was picked up by the ever reliant Pegger family Dave, Sandra & Etain. Even the warm up wasn't great, I still thought of pulling out but when I have runners on pulling out is not an option. Thinking to myself anything close to 20 mins would be ideal. We approached the starting line and soon after we were off - I took off as usual like a sprinter doing 100 metres (don't think I'll ever learn) but doing 5 km. As the 1st km went by I felt quiet good so kicked on and next thing 2 km & 3 km were gone too. Coming to 4 km I started to feel pain and decided to pull back a bit. All in all in managed to pull out a 18.54 so I was happy out!

The Follow weekend I was off to Galway to run the Connemarathon 39.9 miles. Myself and Rob Moran headed over on the Saturday afternoon and got there  in good time and everything went according to plan. Race numbers picked up, belly fully fueled and a good nights kip. Up early Sunday morning and off to the start line about 10 miles away. The weather was fit for Eskimo's cold, cold and cold. From the hotel to the starting point is only 1 mile but they still bused us out, that would have been a extra mile though and 40 was enough, I'll tell you.We stayed on the bus for as long as possible and then off the bus and straight into the unknown.
The race started off quiet well and I was enjoying it but that soon changed - the first 15 miles went quiet well and my pace was steady but a bit to hot then this happen,
The Ultra in Connemara was the toughest day I've ever had. My body gave out with 20 miles to go but my mind was strong and I was mentally focused until mile 30. My mind started to wane and not long after it was gone…No body and No mind, I was both physically and mentally broke …New territory for me.  I had to dig deep, very deep and battled for 5 miles and at 35 miles I was a beaten man, so I stood still for a few min’s, thought of why I’m doing this and thought of Super Gavin and the fight he has everyday, I only needed to fight for 5 more miles, come on 5 miles, I can do it and with that I lifted my head looked straight out in front of me, put 1 foot in front of the other and pushed through. A quote from Scott Jurek always come to mind – “Sometimes you just do things”

Since then - I've been out of action with an ankle injury that I picked over the two weeks but I'm back now and looking forward to the next adventure. 

                                                                "Happy Running"

Year-to-Date
Distance	1,144.3 km
Time	105h 23m
Elev Gain	13,815 m
Runs	75

Hi Folks,

Well what a week I had,
I had week off work so, I based myself in Enniscorthy for a few days to change up the scenery of my training and get some proper down time before the Wicklow Way Ultra.
Everything was going to plan, until the track session on Wednesday night, got a little niggle in my knee but, I've learned my lesson from before and I stopped immediately. I went for a 20km run on the Thursday morning in what seemed like storm chasing conditions that just got worse as we went along. I felt a bit better so decided to rest up for the day and took Friday off, with Saturday looming on the horizon, and bringing with it the 51km Wicklow way ultra.

                                                 "Wicklow Way Ultra 51km"

This was my 1st of 4 events this year for Team Gavin Glynn.
The race kicked off at 9.30 in snowy cold conditions. Knowing the hills that lay ahead of me I decided to put in a good effort at the start so not to lose to much ground on the hills. All going well as I approached the hills with 15mins in the bank to get up to the boardwalk where I could kick on and get to the turn around point by 12pm - Nope, not happening, the course kicked back the wind wound up in anger and stopped me dead in my tracks. Each time I tried to run and fight the wind, the wind fought back harder, each time my two feet left the ground I was thrown about like a leaf that had just fallen from a tree. Time to change tactic's, hunk down, dig in and walk, All I wanted was to get off the boardwalk to where I could settle down into a run again and make up for time lost.
Once I got off the boardwalk I knuckled down and headed for the turn. I did manage to pick up some time lost. As I approached the gate I was greeted by David, Sandra & Ethan Pegman all smiles and shouting encouragement. In turn, this gave me a timely boost, quick sip of coke and water and away back up the hill to the boardwalk (again), the thoughts going through my head were - not the wind again, no, I couldn't possible do that again, then my phone went and a text message from Andy Hayes with his usual wise words that gave me a good pick up and on I went. Got up and over the boardwalk and got in a good downhill all the way to Crone Wood and again picked up time, all looking good - stop, coke, water, send update by text to Andy (crone wood in 3:55) and back on the road again. I had just over 1hr to get back to the finish line. Dug deep (probably could have dug deeper now looking back) and hit the road knowing I had a massive climb to come, so, need to move as quickly and as effortlessly as possible. Got to next check point at 4.30 and 30min to get to finish line, but, but, but, the hill in front suggested not, I knew once I got to the top I could free wheel all the way to the finish, mission 1, get to the top, 1 foot in front of the other, just get there. As I approached the crest of the mountain I couldn't help but get excited by the magic of  the downhill that greeted me, off I went and just kept passing others who seemed to have ran out of steam, as I kicked with each stride, harder and faster, I knew at the bottom there was road and as I hit the road I knew I was home, time to open up and kick for home, 2km to go, lets do it. Up the last hill onto the main road, Boom, hat, gloves and jacket off, lets finish strong, as I came closer to the finish line I saw the familiar face of David Pegman (again), again I picked it up, handing him all my gear, I knew I could run harder again.
Knowing I had just completed my first IMRA and my first race for Gavin Glynn was amazing and to be able to finish strong felt even better. I was aiming for 5hrs but none the less, 5:22 was a good result and I went home happy finishing in 21st.

YEAR-TO-DATE
Distance	922.3 km
Time	85h 8m
Elev Gain	12,157 m
Runs	59

Well, that's rest week over, time to get the runners back on for another 6 weeks. When I say a week off I still did 39.9km last week which ended with the Derba - Wicklow Mountains 1/2 marathon.
Not your typical race to say the least, lots of varied terrain from Road, Trial, Rocks, Climbing (gates), Bog land, River Crossings, Mountain climbing basically it has it all, there is also swimming if you take a fall (I Did). Finished in 1:57:43 with a bloody nose and an upset stomach, never the less, that's another race under my belt and a good experience for Grand2Grand - "Always expect the unexpected".
Met a good buddy of mine Andy "Ironman" Hayes after for a Ginger Tea in The Happy Pear and showed me around the shop and introduced me to new foods (Thanks Buddy) followed by a nice cold dip in the sea to flush out the legs.
This was the Poem read out before the start of the Derba race on Sunday and I think we could do with reading it and appreciating what we have and what we can do for those less fortunate.

         "Keep Running, Cycling, Swimming or whatever it is you do but most of all, Just keep Smiling"

                    https://debraireland.org/news/a-poem-about-life-with-eb/#more-3394


                                         
 

YEAR-TO-DATE
Distance	688.0 km
Time	63h 30m
Elev Gain	9,001 m
Runs	46

Hi Folks,

Well, Training has picked up and I'm now full steam ahead. I'm on a rest week this week and a race coming up on Sunday in the Wicklow Mountains 1/2 marathon. I completed the Avondale 1/2 marathon 2 weeks ago in a time of 1:35:05 while carrying my new WAA ultralight bag.
I'm now get all geared up too - new runners arrived and will be testing them this week for the first time. I've also tried the food - lets just say "I'll survive"
Training now up to 5 days a week and will be 6 soon enough. I do 1 speed session a week (Wednesdays) and a few 20k /30k runs midweek and 50k runs on the weekend.  Training is a good mix of Road and Trail and plenty of hills (love the hills) to build up the upper legs.

I'm also looking at my diet and changing a few things. The latest is a huge influx of Guacamole and lots more greens - Spinach and Basil leaves specifically also finding Hemp a good source of energy too. My Calorie intake is also on the rise as I push toward 7,500 a day.

                               

YEAR-TO-DATE
Distance	666.7 km
Time	61h 34m
Elev Gain	8,500 m
Runs	45

Back on track after 2 difficult weeks, 2 weeks of slow recovery from my IT band and some good straightening has seen me bounce back healthy and strong.
Starting to put in some good back to back tough runs again. A couple of big weeks ahead with my first event of the year this Saturday in Avondale with a half marathon.
Managed 121km this week.

YEAR-TO-DATE
Distance	431.5 km
Time	41h 15m
Elev Gain	6,265 m
Runs	29

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Last week not a great week, picked up a niggle in my IT band, going to take it easy this week and hopefully be back in action shortly.
I only managed 37.5km of my 100km for the week, only a minor set back.

These were taken on a 25km run up Djouce Mountain with Andy and Keith.

YEAR-TO-DATE
Distance	219.1 km
Time	21h 0m
Elev Gain	3,142 m
Runs	17