On the list of must do parkruns since it started earlier this year has been Inis Meáin parkrun located in the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Access to the island is either by boat or plane. However, during the winter months, journeys to the island are less frequent due to low tourist numbers, and the weather also has a part to play. It’s not a trip you would make during the winter unless you had reason to be in Ireland anyway. Luckily, I visit Ireland often during the year and so there was no real problem if the weather got in the way, and I had to go elsewhere. I would have ample opportunity to rearrange for the summer months. My main stay as always was in County Laois, about a two hour journey to Galway. I didn’t fancy an early start, so I stayed at a B&B just beyond Galway City in a small town called Spiddal. I’d found a place called Aran View on booking.com at a rate of €70.00. Usually when I arrive at these places, it’s a case of “here’s your key, here’s your room, breakfast is at….”, and so on. This one was different. I was welcomed as if a friend or relative, shown my room, and then immediately invited for tea and biscuits in the front room, where the host Gerladine made me feel like I was in a friend’s home. She was extremely friendly and chatty. Soon after, another lady and her elderly mother arrived. They were also warmly welcomed, and immediately joined the chat. I was there for around two hours before deciding I had to go out to get dinner. The lady lent me a hi-viz so I would be safer walking back in the dark, and Gerladine very kindly said she would drive me into town and was more than happy to pick me up too – I just needed to call her when ready. A couple of Guinness after my dinner in the town hotel bar, and I decided to head back, except a pub across the road caught my attention so I headed in there to find some traditional Irish tunes being played by a couple with a guitar and accordion. I ended up leaving just after midnight and so too late to call for a lift. I walked back to find Geraldine in her front room chatting to another one of her guests. It would have been rude not to join them. I woke early the next morning for breakfast at 7:30, more chat, and was able to leave by around 8:10 for the journey to the airport. I must admit being a little nervous of the flight having never travelled on a ten-seater before. It turned out to be an enjoyable experience with a minor scare along the way – we landed after around ten minutes and as we parked up at the terminal building (like a small house), I noticed on the wall was the name of the smallest island. For a moment, I thought I had travelled on the wrong plane but was then informed this was a quick drop off. Around five minutes later, we arrived on Inis Meáin. I left the airport building and headed towards the Community Centre where parkrunners meet each week. Soon after 10:00, the day’s Run Director Doireann arrived. I asked if I could help in any way, and she promptly invited me to join her to drive the course planting the route markers as we went. When that was done, she took me on a whistle stop tour pointing out places such as the only shop and the only pub, but also driving to Synge’s Chair, and talking about her reasons for being on the island and some interesting facts such as how the land is divided, how it is preserved through not being over farmed, and so on. There’s clearly a wealth of information to learn about this island which may not be easily available on the web. There was also mention of a swim in the Atlantic which a few of islanders were going along to in the afternoon and I was very welcome to go along. I wimped out on the basis that I’m not equipped for such cold water, but in any case, I had nothing to wear for swimming and would have been cutting it fine to get back to the airport for my return flight. When we returned, more of today’s volunteers had arrived and I was introduced. We chatted a little and then shortly before 11:00 I got myself ready to start, and nearly missed it because of chatting to another volunteer in the hall. Fortunately, she alerted me, and I got out in time to walk the short distance up the hill and hear the briefing, in Irish Gaelic as well as English. The course is all on roads. There aren’t many cars to be seen driving around and so any car which did approach could be easily heard. The route took us up a short hill from the start before turning left and heading along a stretch of road which included the island’s shop and pub, as well as some traditional Irish country homes. That was along the highest section so when we turned left at the end of it, there were a couple of short sharp downhills, nice to counter the earlier up but equally requiring attention on the way down. Another left turn at the bottom and a long stretch back towards the start, interrupted by a right/left about halfway. Along the second stretch is the Inis Meáin Knitting Company before a final left turn and up the hill back to the start and onto lap two. The second lap completes by the community centre saving the pain of the hill we walked to the start but not forgetting there is still a hill leading up to the finish. I waited back to watch and clap other runners in, as had been done for me. Every person was warmly encouraged by name as they approached the halfway point and the finish, including me, the stranger from the city. This is what these people are about though, incredibly warm and welcoming. I also chatted to a couple of the men who hadn’t run but were just as much part of the event as everyone who had. One was a local, the other had recently moved from Brisbane, Australia with his wife. She was originally from the mainland, but they had moved to be with her mother who now lives on the island. Around midday, I thanked everyone and headed off to do some walking. The main site to see was Synge’s Chair (map location 53.084342, -9.612493), a place used by Irish playwright John Millington Synge. My phone’s directions were not perfect it’s fair to say. They took me to the end of the road but didn’t tell me exactly where to find it, which was across some grass and rocks. Fortunately, I found the map reference and was eventually able to find my way to the edge of the cliff and sit in the chair. The views are simply stunning and it’s easy to understand why anyone might want to go there to gather their thoughts. I made my way back towards the middle of the island eventually reaching the top of the hill I’d encountered shortly after the parkrun start point. On my way I passed a cow stood proud on a plinth-like piece of land, and a donkey roaming freely along the road. I just about made it to the shop in time to buy a drink before it closed for lunch, a nice reminder of the old days when the modern day demands which I’ve become used to were not there to cause us all the unnecessary stresses of today. I continued my journey and passed the home of one of the day’s parkrun volunteers. We had a brief chat before she kindly asked if I’d like to pop in for a sandwich and cup of tea. I said I was fine and thanked her, but the kind gesture did not go unnoticed. I continued my way and noticed a craft shop. Outside was a sign which suggested it could be open and so I ventured through the entrance to the rear outside area to find it was closed. The owner was near the exit out the other side and she was so apologetic when I asked if she was open. It really wasn’t a problem, and we then chatted for a few minutes. Typical of these people, she also asked if I’d like a cup of tea. Again, I declined but thanked her. I continued my way and thought I now needed to be a little aware of time, although there was plenty to not have to rush. I came a across a small beach, with dark grey sand and lots of stones and rocks. The colour was set off nicely by the winter sun which had now broken through after an overcast morning. As I headed back up to the road, I bumped into another local and we chatted about how he’d grown up on the island and had returned there after spending some time in England. He didn’t offer any tea but then the nearest residence at this point was the island’s cemetery. He mentioned the island’s population had declined in recent years, down to around 140 people having been around 300 not many years ago. After moving on, I stopped to look into the cemetery. Doireann had informed me that the graves are laid to be facing the sea. It’s thought that this allows their spirits to go free and means the islanders won’t be haunted! So, it was back to the airport. I would be quite early but not a problem. I could sit in the waiting room and read. Silly me. This is not Gatwick. This is a small island with three flights today and so when I arrived, it was locked. I decided to return to the Community Centre to rest. Having done that, I started my walk back to the airport, reversing some of the parkrun route. As I approached the Inis Meáin Knitting Company building, I noticed a car heading towards me, so I stopped to allow it to pass, and raised my hand to say hello, as many do in the Irish countryside, only for the car to stop. Inside were some of today’s parkrun volunteers on their way to swim. They tried to tempt me again, but I had to decline again as I had a flight to catch. They headed on their way and shortly after, another car approached. I prepared in the same way, and the same result. This time was one of the finish line volunteers and her son, and it turned out to be the lady who had offered me a sandwich and tea on my walk. Those two cars were like the perfect end to my visit, showing off the friendly and welcoming nature of the people of this island. By the time I made it back to the airport building, the check in agent arrived and I was able to head in. I had about 45 minutes to wait but I was indoors now, and it was starting to turn colder outside. I got on the scales to be weighed, hopefully lighter than when I’d left Connemara earlier in the day, and handed over my ticket - a paper ticket. I very nearly missed the plane. Once again, chatting to the friendly check in agent at the door to the tarmac. Luckily, he noticed the plane being prepared to leave and quickly ran out to alert the pilot.
So that was Inis Meáin. A trip that was worth every minute. The weather behaved and there was no wind or rain, and although overcast in the morning, the sun came out for the afternoon. The scenery and views around the island are simply stunning, and the people I met made the whole day perfect. It was a place so opposite to what I’m used to in London. I plan to return during the summer months, maybe next year, and I cannot recommend this place enough. For parkrunners, this is an obvious addition to the bucket list, but I’ve no doubt when you have been you will love the place even more.
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As with pretty much anything I’ve entered in the last year or so, I entered Ride London 2022 with intentions of putting in the effort and training properly. Alas, it didn’t turn out that way. Probably not a surprise to anyone who knows me well. The additional reason this time was a rusty chain which I didn’t get around to resolving until late April. As the day approached, I was seriously considering whether or not I should take part. My last ride had been around 75 miles in June 2021 and my running in between had been sporadic, so my fitness levels were not in their best shape. There was the temptation of a London Classics medal though, and I think that’s what persuaded me in the end. I didn’t help myself by being out late on the day before and then not preparing my stuff until the Champions’ League final had ended. In the end, I got to bed just after midnight, with alarms set for 05:00, 05:10 and 05:15. I woke up on time and got up to eat breakfast – a larger than normal bowl of porridge. I’d looked at the weather forecast the day before and decided it should be fine with shorts rather than leggings. I couldn’t find my short sleeved cycle top so I went with the long sleeved jacket. That turned out to be a spot of luck. I got dressed and dropped my drinks onto the bike, and my hot cross buns (4) and gels (2) into my back pockets. I then headed out to ride to East Croydon station to catch a train to London Bridge. The 06:40 was the target but I arrived in no time and boarded the 06:32, even getting a seat. I thought I’d lean back and close my eyes until I felt my hot cross buns start to quash so ended up sitting upright to protect them – it didn’t matter as it turned out. They were quite squashed when I came to eat them later on. I was soon at London Bridge and the short ride to the start. There were plenty of other participants around to I followed the pack and soon arrived at The Mall which was adorned with the Union Flag ahead of the Queen’s 70th Jubilee celebrations. Onto the start area and time to dismount. I had to find an Information tent to pick up a London Classics wristband and true to the instructions, this was easy to find, and so it was continue on towards the start line on Victoria Embankment. There was around a 20 minute wait until we begain the final move towards the start line during which time I began to feel physically sick. Luckily that was as far as it went but I was briefly concerned while that was happening. At 08:10, I crossed the start line with 100 miles in front of me. The first three miles were largely a reminder of the London Marathon but in reverse, and were much more pleasant than when you reach that point in the Marathon. That was followed by the Limehouse Link Tunnel – hideous, and not GPS friendly with my device. The journey out to East London was a series of ups and down with many flyovers and bridges, but still felt relatively comfortable. Then it was on towards Epping Forest. The climb to the peak here was approximately 350 feet from Stratford. Although I’m not one for climbing hills, this didn’t feel too bad, probably due to the combination of fresh legs and the climb being relatively shallow compared to what might be considered a climb in the cycling world. However, I was feeling some discomfort at the back of the top of my left leg. It didn’t help that it was resting on the saddle and was becoming increasingly problematic. Luckily, having reached the Epping Forest peak at 23 miles, the journey towards the first feed station started, mostly downhill with a few lumps here and there. I arrived at Chipping Ongar feed station (33 miles) in good time, around 2:25. I chose not to stop for too long as it was starting to feel cold. The long sleeved jacket was a much better choice at this point than a short sleeved top (had I been able to find it), but how I was wishing I’d worn full leggings rather than shorts. I ate the first of my hot cross buns and then stretched out my legs before topping up my water bottle and headed off hoping to warm up quickly, but that didn’t happen for some time. I’d gone barely a mile further before we were stopped because of an accident and so we were stopped for probably around 10 minutes. Hopefully nothing serious. The issue with my leg appeared to have been helped by the stop and stretch although by now I was getting quite saddle sore. Great Dunmow was the next notable town, soon followed by the next feed station at Felsted (53 miles). Before that, my current worst fears became reality and cold got colder with a short sharp shower around Leadon Roding (39 miles). Not a drenching by any stretch, but enough to make me damp and colder. Strangely, the cold didn’t last long and by the time I was nearing Felsted, I was dried out and comfortable, although my legs, arms and shoulders were starting to become fatigued. On arriving at Felsted, I noticed several riders were lying on the grass and so I thought this would be a good opportunity for some recovery. I worked my way through the next two hot cross buns and had a drink, as well as just lying and people watching. It was soon time to move on. My mindset at this point was the next feed station at 73 miles at Chipping Ongar and the next 20 miles is largely a blur, save for a stop at 60 miles and a short chat with one of the many road marshals on the course, and another accident around 65 miles which required an ambulance. I eventually arrived at Chipping Ongar and quickly found a spot on the grass to rest up an eat my last bun. Once again, I took the opportunity to watch the world go by, without taking any of it in. My Lucozade, somewhat watered down, would likely not last to the end and so I diluted a gel into my second water bottle just in case it was needed. As good as three quarters distance completed, I headed off towards the final stop at 87 miles. The next 14 miles included two more climbs, again not typical cycling climbs but nevertheless, with tired legs, they were a real struggle, incorporating many brief stops to drink and give my legs brief respite. By this point, just lifting myself off the saddle was very sore, ant because of my legs! On the second climb, we were rudely interrupted half way up by marshals allowing traffic to cross the junction. From my point of view, perfect timing and an enforced brief rest. Another brief stop to stretch and top up my bottle at the last feed station and I could see the finish in sight. The last 30 miles seemed to have flown by and so the next 14 must surely be the same. GIt wasn’t long now until I saw a London Bus Stop, a sure sign that there wasn’t far to go. The brief stop and stretch gave me a spurt of fresh energy, aided by some more downhills. The gentle inclines were still hard but I used my downhill momentum to help me up together with dropping down the gears. I’ve never been a fan of running or riding along concrete environments but today, the sight of the A12, traffic free was very welcome. The downside though was it is up and down and this is were my body had finally had enough. The ups and downs of the A12 were followed by similar as we returned to towards the City. What had been fairly straightforward on the way out earlier in the day, was now a real struggle. From this point on, it was frequest brief stops before resuming up the usually gentle inclines. There was nothing like saving the best until last though and our friend the Limehouse Link Tunnel. As I entered it, I saw my GPS signal disappear once again. More frustrating this time though was it meant the miles were not bein counted and so I couldn’t be exactly sure of what distance was left to the finish, or if my watch would record 100 miles! As it turned out, the full route must have been nearer 103-104 miles. The exit from the tunnel was far worse than I could have imagined. The road out seemed steeper and longer than I could remember going the other way. Eventually I made it out to the top, albeit with the needed stops. My watch regained the GPS and ticked over to 99.9 miles, but Tower Bridge seemed way off still. Fortunately only a mile and a half. I soon neared the crowds at the finish and finally made the left turn to the welcome sight of Tower Bridge. Even better, the finish line was at the near end of the bridge. The walk to the medal collection seemed long – over the bridge and turn right towards London Bridge. The medal was disappointing to say the least. Made of wood in the interests of the environment (so they said), and the sort of thing you might expect if you bought a job lot for a football competition among a group of mates. It’s certainly not in keeping with this being a major event. I wonder if the professionals were also present with wooden gold, silver and bronze medals? And how long before the London Marathon and Swim Serpentine follow suit? Anyway, fortunately the London Classics is still a proper medal, plus a bit more. During this ride, I encountered three situations where I feel I was almost taken out. I regard myself as having good road sense and always try to keep left whenever possible. A problem with mass events like this is you get a wide variety of abilities, as you would in a mass running event. However, with the added factor of closed roads and no cars, there are a small number of cyclists of high ability who do not necessarily consider those less experienced or not as skilled. One near miss was someone who undertook me at significant speed, who I did not see coming through. The other two overtook me and then cut in giving very little room. Maybe I’m over-egging those situations but as a novice cyclist, they are not situations I am used to dealing with. However, in the three mass cycling events I have taken part in (BM Ride 50K 2019 and RideLondon-Surrey 100 2019), I have come to learn the importance of being aware and alert to everything and everyone who is around you , and not to be panicked by it. I suppose no different to riding on open roads.
Overall, and looking back, the day was mostly enjoyable, even if it didn’t always feel it at the time. Despite the absence of any cycle training, I surprised myself with the outcome and although I’m a little saddle sore, with tiredness and aches, I’m glad I persuaded myself to give it a go. Would I recommend it? The obvious answer to that is yes. While the medal this year is incredibly underwhelming, the event itself seemed well organised and the volunteers who actually do the work on the day were exemplary and clear with their instructions when the accidents ahead needed to be dealt with.
parkrun 283 - Avondale Forest, County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland
https://www.parkrun.ie/avondaleforest/results/110/
Back in Ireland for the second time in three weeks for my 283rd parkrun. This time back in the south. No away day this time so this time a choice of three on my agenda. First choice was Avondale Forest, located in County Wicklow. I’ve driven through Wicklow many times, although not usually the more rural parts. A couple of summer drives through the Sally Gap after visiting Glendalough, one in the summer sun, another in the Irish rain, both equally stunning, with parts of the drive through the Sally Gap a little hair raising if you’re not keen looking over the edge at a sharp drop.
My journey from County Laois was expected to be around 100Km and estimated at 1 hour 50 minutes. With storm Eunice having clipped the south east of Ireland the day before, I couldn’t be 100% sure that a parkrun in a forest in the south east would go ahead so time to look at alternatives. Mallow Castle near Cork was one option briefly on the agenda until I factored in the possible storm damage. The other options were in Dublin and completing a Bushy parkrun double. Dublin also made sense because half of my journey to Avondale Park meant I could check half way for any cancellation and the change plans. I set off at just after 07:00 and still in the dark. An uneventful journey followed towards Dublin on the M7 motorway, followed by a stretch of countryside main roads after turning off near Newbridge, County Kildare. As I headed south, the Wicklow Hills came into view, snow capped following yesterday’s wintry weather. I hadn’t looked properly at the exact location of Avondale Park, being lazy on my reliance on satnav, and hadn’t expected to end up driving through the Sally Gap. I stopped to take the occasional photo of the hills before eventually realising I was heading straight through them.
As I approached, the snow began to gradually appear on the road, not thick, but enough to make the road a little slippery. Parts of the roads through the Sally Gap are like ledges and are not for those of a nervous disposition. Add in the snow and they become more interesting. Luckily it wasn’t a proper covering. I’d planned for the odd fallen tree but not the snow. I made one stop around midway through the slippery section to take photos, thinking I was alone and parking up on the side of a country road but not in a cut out designed for parking. Then without warning, and while I was out admiring the scenery, five cars appeared out of nowhere. It was just like the sudden appearance of parkrunners on a cold Saturday morning, when none could be seen five minutes before the start time. Luckily nothing coming the other way so they were all able to pass without problem.
I could see my spare time beginning to run out so now it was time to get to the start. It was obvious by now that I was heading to the middle of nowhere, at least compared to the convenience of London.
Despite the photo stops, I still arrived in good time. On entering the Avondale estate, I immediately saw construction work taking place. A car park sign became visible which I followed. I briefly stopped again to check the course route against my location. I had no idea if the parking was nearby or maybe half a mile or so through the estate. Another car appeared from behind and proceeded past me. As I watched it past, I saw a hi-vis jacket in the distance and I thought I must be near. I followed the car and the car park soon appeared. It’s never a bad idea to check if a random stranger or two is here for the parkrun. Today the two people I asked were also first time visitors. We headed up towards where the hi-vis hero had disappeared to and chatted along the way. My two fellow first timers were visiting from Waterford, another county on my list for a parkrun visit. We reached the meeting area fairly quickly. The volunteers were very welcoming and chatted to me while we waited for the clock to tick around to 09:30. Their friendly nature was very typical of the countryside parkruns I have visited in Ireland. Today’s marshal explained to me that the current course was temporary while the construction work I’d noticed was completed. He also suggested that the course is probably 60-90 seconds slower for a 20 minute runner on a flat course. I wondered what that would equate to for someone currently struggling to get close to breaking 30 minutes again on a flat course. The Run Director then explained that the course was roughly a figure of nine, with two laps of the loop to be completed before returning to the start/finish. She also explained what to do if I should get lost - “just keep heading up the hill”. We walked the short distance to the start point where the RD gave her briefing. She reminded us all of what to do in the event of getting lost.
Off we went, immediately heading downhill, and downhill, and even more downhill. All very nice, except the more downhill, the more uphill there is to follow. Still, I wasn’t here for a time but more to enjoy somewhere new. It didn’t disappoint.
As we approached the junction of the loop we would later appear from, the marshal could be seen taking photos. A very kind gesture to capture us all looking fresh and showing our best form.
Eventually we reached the bottom and we began the climb back to the top. At least I thought we had. After a short climb, there was a further descent but this time it was to the bottom, and everything which followed was an incline until we reached the end of lap one. As I approached this milestone, the marshal was again taking photos although I was no longer fresh but very much beginning to tire.
I turned left to start the second of two loops. The incline had taken its toll on me and now the downhill felt hard work. I slowly made my way around the loop, needing to pause for some recovery with a short walk here and there. My third and last meeting with the marshal finally came along and this time I was to turn right back towards the finish. This meant another photo, surely now looking my worst, and of course another uphill. By this point, my legs were pretty much finished and so it was again run a little, walk a little. It reminded me of the hill at the end of the Weald St. George 10K. I made the top of the hill and then turned right again for a short descent to the finish line where I was greeted with kind words from the timekeepers and other volunteers nearby.
This is a tough course for any level of fitness but the stunning scenery makes it well worth a visit for anyone who happens to be visiting the east of Ireland. The volunteers were so welcoming and chatty, making me feel like I could almost be a local. They were as much a part of making the journey worthwhile as the scenery. The surrounding area in County Wicklow is equally stunning whether it be the Sally Gap or the nearby Glendalough. You can even visit Hollywood while you here!
Finish time: 35:30
Event number: 97 I set off from Laois just before 11:00 on a journey of around 3 hours 30 minutes. I’d planned to get the 15:30 ferry from the pontoon in Castletown-Berehaven so had around an hour in reserve just in case. The first half of the journey was on the M8 motorway to Cork so nothing of any interest, except the toll just before the city at a cost of €1.90 - no change given so the actual cost was €2:00. After passing by Cork, the roads changed to a mix of fast single carriageway primary roads, to local country roads. Throughout this part of the journey we’re some great views, especially along the Wild Atlantic Way. A few stops along the way eroded my reserve time but I still arrived at the pontoon in good time, around 14:50. The ferry was still on its way across when I’d parked up. I saw another car in a queue (of one) position facing towards the ramp so I checked to see how things worked. The friendly lady asked if I was John and it turned out she was the owner of Martello View. We chatted for a few moments and it was then she said I should bring the car out and position it to reverse onto the boat. I can’t say I was looking forward to that, although she did say the skipper would do it for me if I wanted. It wasn’t as bad as I thought and so I was on the boat and ready to head across the water. The skipper came to collect the €25.00 return fare and told me the times for my return tomorrow. No tickets or receipts on this boat. All done from memory. The B&B owner had brought her car over ready to pick up the next morning to do what she needed to get on with and she was returning today by foot. I offered her a lift which she accepted - she had planned to walk back, around one mile as it turned out but with some very steep hills. The ferry holds only four cars so I’m guessing going as a foot passenger guarantees she gets the crossing she wants. There were three cars on my crossing including mine. The crossing itself was smooth and gives some great views. I was lucky to see sunlight showing off the surroundings as well as have rain clouds behind creating an equally impressive view. The crossing took around 25 minutes and as we approached the ramp, all didn’t look as clean as the landing at my departure point. The ferry parked up at a 45 degree angle, which was fine for disembarking, but leaving me thinking about reversing back onto the boat on my return journey. When off the boat, the B&B owner insisted I don’t drive too fast. The roads were narrow and winding, mostly enough room for only one car. She warned me that going to fast could not only result in meeting an oncoming car on a blind bend, but also that there was no guarantee the other driver would be insured. So, it was a mainly second gear crawl to the B&B which, when we turned off the “main” road, became proper single track country lanes with grass growing in the middle of the road. We arrived in strong wind and rain. She kindly got the doors open for me while I waited in the car. When open, I headed in to be shown to my room - a very comfortable bed and a spacious room. She was a very welcoming lady, showing me where things such as milk and tea/coffee were and to help myself if I wanted one at any time. Soon after, I went out to find somewhere to eat and headed towards the opposite end of the island. The winding roads I’d seen on the short journey from the ferry now included some steep inclines. There was still daylight which helped but it was beginning to fade. There was nowhere open when I reached the furthest point, so I headed back and stopped halfway at the Bere Island Hotel bar. The food was tasty and not expensive- duck spring rolls, followed by a cheeseburger with chips, plus two cokes, all for €18.50. The short drive back was a bit more hairy than the drive out because it was now dark. I usually prefer country lanes in the dark because the reflection of headlights of roadside trees and hedges helps with visibility. However, tonight there was none of that and so when it came to to steep inclines, I had no idea if there was a bend on the other side or not and so it was literally a crawl over the top and only then did I know if it was straight ahead or a deviation left or right. I made it safely back in the end and enjoyed the shelter from the high winds and cold temperature. So to the parkrun itself. A quick check on the event Facebook page the night before had me briefly worried when a post was put up asking for a timekeeper. No timekeeper and the run could happen but there would be no published times! Surely not. Anyway, as is often the case, volunteers appear from nowhere and come Saturday morning, the roster was fully covered. A sunny but cold morning was the scene. After parking my car in the village, I made the short walk to the start at Rerrin GAA pitch. The route was a tour of the local roads (lanes) but with some stunning views looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. Ireland certainly came up trumps for my visit with the clouds and rain visiting somewhere else. We set off and were soon on the way up. It wasn't long until the Atlantic view presented itself, set off magnificently by the winter morning sunshine. I had no choice but to stop for a couple of snaps! All around the course and there was nothing to disappoint, from the old world cottages, the Atlantic view, the battery near the turn point followed by the Rerrin military barracks, and finally the view across the water back to the mainland as you wind downhill before turning back towards the finish at the GAA club. I'll leave the photos to hopefully tell the story. The results can be found here. The route can be seen on this YouTube video, courtesy of Glen Harrington. So for the trip back to the mainland. I noticed on arriving that the ferry parked up at a 45 degree angle which meant one thing for the return - I would have to reverse down the ramp before turning 45 degrees onto the ferry. Hmmm. Not something I was looking forward to. Surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. There was the safety net of the ferry's captain being able to do the job for me but I'm glad I didn't have to resort to that. The sun was still shining on the crossing back, with the odd cloud getting in the way so all in all, a very pleasant trip to a very pretty part of Ireland. Well worth a visit if you happen to be anywhere near the south west of Ireland. Just be remember there are no petrol stations or ATMs on the island! A few photos below from around the island, well, mostly at either end of it. Apart from the pub, there isn't much in the middle apart from the countryside, which isn't bad in itself. To go hand in hand with my background as a football referee, I have very poor eyesight! In my case, I am very long sighted with astigmatism - prescription is +8.00 and +8.50! I've considered eye surgery for some time now. I initially looked into in in 2010 but other priorities meant it didn't go further than an initial assessment. My prescription excluded me from laser treatment and so the option was lens replacement. People have asked me what exactly that means - I guess the thought of what is actually is doesn't equate to thinking it can actually happen and be a routine procedure. Quite simply, the natural lens is removed from the eye and replaced with an artificial lens. While scanning over Facebook in early March, I noticed an advert for laser treatment. Something in me decided it was time to enquire again and so I booked an appointment for the following Saturday, 13 March. There was nothing particularly of note as the assessment. Much of it was carrying out tests which are usually done during an eye test and check up. Dilation of the pupils was probably the exception and meant I was unable to drive home. After discussing the results with the optometrist, I decided to go ahead and book an appointment. Wednesday 14 April was the date for a new eyesight. In between, there was a telephone call to be had with a consultant 11 days before surgery. This was to step through what was planned, and of course to make sure I had the paperwork to sign with all the disclaimers! It was also an opportunity for me to ask any questions. Finally, I was told I must not wear contact lenses beyond Tuesday 6 April. Surgery day soon came around and anticipated nervousness hadn't happened. I felt very calm about the procedure ahead. I arrived early for my 9:30am appointment, having been told to expect to be in the centre for around 3 hours.
During the initial assessment, a multifocul lens was concluded as the best option. However, the optometrist was concerned this may not necessarily be best for me. He explained that my eyes were smaller than a normal sized eye. He also explained that with the multifocul lens, I could get excellent reading vision but distance may not be clear, and could be a little blurred which would mean I would possibly need some glasses correction. A monoclonal would give me good distance and intermediate vision, but may leave me needing reading glasses. We discussed the sorts of things I do - working on a screen, running, cycling, football, swimming, occasional reading books but not much. This made the sensible decision to go with a monofocal lens. I could live with needing reading glasses - they would be fairly weak compared to anything I'd worn over many years. The next discussion was with the surgeon. Again, he stepped through the possible outcomes of both lenses but the same conclusion was reached and so it was monofocals. Then it was back to the waiting room to be called. One of the theatre nurses came by to introduce herself. She also gave me a surgical net to wear on my head. My vision wasn't great at this point because of my pupils being dilated fully but I was able to see sufficiently well to be able to get myself around unaided other than my glasses. Finally, it was time to head to theatre. For the first time, I was a little apprehensive but still not overly nervous. The theatre nurse gave me a new face covering and put the hair net on me. She escorted me the a room adjacent to the theatre and I waited for the final preparation to be done. A few minutes later, I was taken into theatre and shown to the bed where the procedure would take place. I lay down and awaited the surgeon's appearance. In the meantime, theatre nurses explained their activity and applied a drape, completely covering my right eye while leaving the left exposed for the surgeon and stuck open. Before he started, I was told that if I needed to move at any point, I needed to say before doing it - makes sense but still good to be reminded. The surgeon pulled down a light consisting of two bright white dots. I was told to keep looking st the dots. The next phase was a bit weird to put it mildly. I couldn't really see the surgeon, or what he was doing, although I knew what he needed to do and also that he was doing it. In my mind at this point was that my natural lens was about to be removed, and what would I see as it came out. I could feel my hands becoming tense, a sort of mild fear going through me, but each time I realised this was happening, I was able to tell myself to relax a little and to follow through on it. At one point, I felt I needed to blink and so warned the surgeon. "Blink if you need to, it's fine. It won't work." Obvious really, my eye was stuck open by the drape. I can't say I know exactly when the lens came out but I can say when the new one was in place as the white dots suddenly went large. Throughout, there was what seemed constant anaesthetic drops coming into my eye, and in no time at all, that was it! All done. The drape was removed meaning I could now blink again, and a solid plastic protector lens was placed over my left eye. After the procedure was repeated on my rightbeye, I was asked to gently sit up, before stepping down and walking back to the recovery room with another of the theatre nurses. My vision seemed great although still a little weird. A combination of dilated pupils, the plastic protectors containing ventilation holes, and the new lens starting its bedding in process. The vision itself was a little watery, especially at the edge of the new lenses - there was a clear ring in my vision which was a little unnerving but I also realised there was a healing process about to start. The nurse then explained the medication to me: Antibiotic drops - one drop in each eye four times a day for 14 days; Anti-inflamatory drops - one drop four times a day for 14 days, followed by three times a day for the next 14 days. The immediate downsides then came. No running for a week. No cycling or swimming for two weeks. No driving for now at least. My first follow up the next day went well. The optometrist was pleased with what he saw with my eyes healing. My sight was tested and I was comfortably above the minimum driving standard, and my near vision was good too, a little unexpected so a bonus. I returned to work the following Monday and although mybeyes were a little watery still, my vision was fine. I went for my first drive that evening, assisted of course just in case. This took place when the sun was lower as I was hoping to drive the following evening when I hoped to run. I was expecting halos in the sunlight but none came. The drive was fine. I went for a run the following evening and again there were no problems, either during the run or afterwards driving home - the halos I had been warned about from other car headlights didn't happen. So that's it for now. As I write this ten days after surgery, things continue to improve. The watery eyes are now fairly normal although there is a little flickering sometimes for close up vision - not a problem though. My left eye is great - so clear. My right eye is a little fuzzy and I reported this during my one week on telephone consultation. I was advised as the eyes are still settling that I shouldn't worry at this point and that I should proceed to arrange my one month check up which is a face to face appointment. In general, with both eyes working together, my vision is great.
2020 was a year of irregular running, if any running at all for some periods. So come 2021, I decided I needed to try to get some routine. Having started well through January and February, I'd become lazy again in March, and so with clubs runs allowed to take place from 29 March, I wanted to use them to help with routine.
I'd completed my first run on Tueaday and wanted to take advantage of the Good Friday groups. A couple of groups which may have suited me were right on the cusp of where I see my current level, and so rather than risk holding them up, I opted for a group offering slowest runner pace. When I first started running, I thought it was all about running in the fastest group possible every time, but I subsequently found that slower groups also have their benefits - time on feet, fat burn, and more relaxed. Today's group certainly met those objectives and it was with a friendly group with a good sense of humour. I'm not usually a chatty runner but today's group lent itself to that. Today was a casual venture into High Elms. I'd never really been a fan of trail running until recently and so although I hadn't expected to be off road, I wasn't a disappointment to find that's where we were head. There were plenty of stops or walks, mainly to allow others in the park to pass, bit it didn't detract from enjoying the surroundings. After a few ups and downs, we finished with a short detour adding in a final hill up towards Farnborough before returning downhill to our start point. Overall distance was 4.63 miles at an average of 13:29 per mile. I'd considered I might add some miles by running part way home. The end point was simply whatever place I became tired. So a brief walk back to the A21 and then see where I'd reach my limit. The A21 is a mental test more than anything, a long drag which can feel like it's never ending. A few months ago, I'd have struggled with the mental element but I've started to get through that more recently. The route is also a little undulating and so although I still felt relatively fresh after my earlier group run, there was still an element of the unknown for the home run. As I approach Norman Park, I had a choice - cut through the park or take the longer route on pavement. I was beginning to feel tired and so I opted for the shorter route. A check of the watch as I entered the park and I decided the opposite corner or 6Km would be my finish, whichever occurred last. 3.8 miles (6.1Km) was the final distance at an average pace of 9:40 per mile - very happy with that. Overall miles for today was 8.43. For the first time since August last year, I was joining club run. The last had been my only outing with Eynsford RC at the end of a warm summer's day. It's fair to say my fitness was probably at its lowest point that evening and although I managed around 7 miles in total, the second half was a struggle.
Tonight was the first opportunity to meet others outdoors since the second lockdown started in December, and my first run with Orpington Road Runners. I opted for a group advertised at approximately 5 miles at a pace of around 10:30 per mile. Being the first run as a group in a few months, the idea was also to take it easy so a nice reintroduction to group running. Our meeting point was outside The Buff although no opportunity to pop in as pubs are still closed. The route itself was part off road before returning to pavements. The group itself was made up of a pleasant group of 6 who all took their turn to make me feel welcome and in what seemed like a blink, we were nearing the end. The pleasantly warm evening made for a nice feel too, setting off in the last of the daylight and finishing in the lit main road with a spring feel in the air. Even more refreshing was a feeling of what used to be a normal Tuesday when I got home from my run having worked during the day, and mixed with others outside of my immediate family. Hopefully we can now continue down that path. Overall, a pleasant venture out amd happy with the pace and distance. 5 miles in 57:28. As lockdown took hold and everything sporty was cancelled, I was set for a period of working at home, with opportunity to get a good fitness routine established, despite club runs and parkrun being cancelled for the foreseeable future. Of course, as mentioned earlier on in these posts, my training isn't always conventional, nor is it well routined when left to my own devices. It followed that I didn't get out very often at all as far as running was concerned.
A Virtual Relay was established by a couple of friends in early lockdown, 5K for each runner with teams made up of approximate equal ability. This was a great idea which still exists today and although I haven't joined every week, there is great banter and fun on the group's WhatsApp with a fair few runners I have never met! A gout attack brought my participation to a halt in June. I resumed my latest stint of VR5K in December but struggled and found myself unable to complete 5K without stopping for a walk break, possibly physical fitness but definitely mental. Finish times were now around 32-35 minutes. As we approached 2021, I decided I needed to get going again and set out in my mind to get a routine in place to get myself back in the direction of being fitter and towards where I had been only a few years ago. During the summer, I had joined Eynsford Running Club at the suggestion of a friend who had started running there. Unfortunately, soon after joining them, I changed job which meant it was unlikely I would be able to join them for their 7:30pm starts when I returned to working in London. This left me with a decision to make at the end of 2020 as I needed some sort of organisation to help get a routine established. I had spent just over 6 years at Petts Wood Runners before joining ERC but I decided to make the move to Orpington Road Runners to freshen things up. With a second lockdown ongoing, there was no prospect of clubs runs with real people and so I was reliant on virtual challenges. ORR had set up a RED challenge for January which seemed like a good place to start. Each run was to be logged and although it wasn't published, it was a motivating factor which began to get me out. I didn't run every day out of common sense (for me - others are able to run every day without any problems) but still managed to use the challenge as a vehicle to get a routing going. It worked! 52.8 miles covered in January versus 12.5 in December! February's ORR challenge was 21 in 21 - run 21 Km in 21 days, split into three runs (8Km, 3Km and 10Km). The first two distances were achievable by now but the 10Km was still into the unknown. I knew I would be much slower than I had previously been capable of so the priority for now was covering each distance without needing to stop, so discipline was the priority for the two longer runs. The 8Km was first up. I would have previously expected to complete this in around 45-47 minutes. This time, I was pleased to complete it without a stop in 53:15. Much slower but an important achievement on the way back to fitness. For the 3Km, there was no question of a stop - I was comfortably capable of 5Km by now. Pre-lockdown times indicate a likely finish of around 13-15 minutes. My current level allowed me to complete it in 16:13 - happy with that although the sub 16 minutes was not far away. So to the 10Km. This was the one I really wanted to complete non stop. I planned my route - no steep hills but a long gradual incline to finish. The first half went well but the inevitable fatigue began to kick in just after 6K as the long incline began to take its toll. I was determined not to be beaten though and I persevered my way to a finish time of 63:37. Still plenty of work to do but all is heading in the right direction. Total miles foe February was 64.5. tt's been the almost 3 years since the London Marathon - a few months of gradual build up to an expectation that wasn't satisfied, but with hindsight it was a satisfying result. The short break that followed was supposed to be just that, except it got longer, and longer, with the occasional sporadic effort thrown in.
Soon after London 2017, I had been persuaded to enter Dublin 2018, mainly because there would be a bit of a social element attached to the weekend with some of my fellow club runners. It was also an opportunity to achieve a target, not defined at that time. Sadly, the latter was not to be. Laziness crept in and fitness declined. Despite the lack of fitness, the Dublin weekend was a great experience, and great fun. I had done some training but it was very much back to the old methods of some consistency without pushing myself to do what really should be done for a marathon. In fact, it wasn't really that good. More sporadic really. Nevertheless, I did "enough" to get myself around. I'd had a bet with a work colleague leading up to the weekend that should I break 5:30, she would buy me breakfast when I returned to work on the following Tuesday. I somehow delivered, and claimed my reward. The period that followed included much time following my young Son's football, with stints of refereeing, alongside a continued decline in my commitment to running. I took part in The Big Half in March 2019 but with little training it was a case of dragging myself to the finish line. During the stint of refereeing, some touchline issues rekindled my football interest and I re-registered as a Senior County football referee in April 2019. I was fortunate to be allowed to join the Southern Counties East Football League - SCEFL (formerly the Kent League) for the 2019-20 season on the supplementary referee list. I was struck down by gout during the summer of 2019, living the high life I guess but was able to return to football as a match official in September as an Assistant Referee on two games on the Kent County Football League, a level lower than SCEFL, but intending to get a feel for the game again. My first referee appointment was at the end of September in SCEFL Division 1, Rusthall v Meridian VP, a match which ended 3-0. I was fortunate to have two experienced colleagues as my Assistant Referees that day and their feedback was complimentary, very pleasing considering my last outing as a referee was in an FA Vase match early in the 2003-04 season and my fitness, in my opinion, was not where I wanted it to be. One AR described my last 10 minutes as "leggy", a fair comment. Unfortunately, a pop in my left heel during the Rusthall match caused severe pain within an hour of completing the match and I had to withdraw from a couple of appointments which were scheduled soon after. I returned on 9 November in a match which I would describe as fairly unpleasant, not so much in the obvious nature of the game, but an unpleasant undercurrent of unnecessary comment, not just in my direction but also between players. It was however interesting to hear the work the home side does in its local community in their efforts to give young people a chance to be involved in something positive and irrespective of my views of the match itself, their efforts should be commended as they will benefit many more than just the players who get the opportunity to play football. As things stand, 28 December 2019 is a date to be remembered for me. At the time of writing, my last referee appointment on SCEFL in a match between two teams who shared the same ground. The home team included an ex Charlton player who felt he knew the laws/rules better than everyone else, or was he simply trying to assert himself over me and my team to get decisions in his favour? My saving grace was being green behind the ears again, I was always reading and questioning 'what if this happens?' as well as watching football on TV to support my re-learning and so I felt fairly comfortable to be able to deal with his challenges. There had been some major law changes at the start of the season and so it was important to me that I wasn't caught out. I got through the game but my still rusty skills were exposed a couple of times where I should have intervened - the game has changed from my previous time where a referee could manage a game, to today where players and managers ask why there was no yellow card! Feedback from my colleagues was again positive but I knew my performance wasn't at the level it should have been. That may well turn out to be my last senior referee appointment My running throughout 2019 had been sporadic, as it had been since London 2017. I tried to introduce a little more discipline in the latter stages of 2019, to support my football but also because I enjoy parkrun and club running. As we moved into 2020, I decided to make a positive effort to instil some discipline into my training. Tuesday night club runs, Thursday night track sessions, and Saturday parkruns would help me get back towards my previous fitness levels, and these would support my refereeing. As it turned out, work interfered with football and with the upcoming COVID-19 pandemic, I did not referee again that season. I did maintain parkrun most weeks until it was suspended, and I also joined the Tenterden 5 Mile race in February. My last running event was at Crystal Palace parkrun on 7 March and in football as a Referee Mentor/Observer for a new referee the following day. Lockdown was imposed two weeks later and despite good intentions with working at home, laziness set in further and over the months which followed, fitness all but disappeared. |
ABOUT MEHaving completed 5 marathons between 1999 and 2016, I decided this year, I would try to do it properly and plan my training! Alongside, I wanted to keep a blog as it went along, partly to look back on, and partly to help anyone else who may benefit from my own experiences. Archives
November 2023
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