"I was born in sixty-seven, the year of Sergeant Pepper, And Are You Experienced..." (© Porcupine Tree). I've decided to do an Iron Man race before I turn fifty. Not so much a rage against the dying of the light, as being slightly miffed at the brevity of the sunset. That, and I've noticed I'm holding jars at arm's length in order to read the labels.
IN WHICH WE REMIND OURSELVES, YET AGAIN, THAT MY AGEING, CREAKING BODY CAN RUN A MILLION MILES* BUT 90 MINUTES OF FIVE-A-SIDE IS TOTAL MADNESS AND MUST BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS… Today marks the end of Week Five of the Programme, and so far, the wheels have not come off. Mind you, the long … More Eastbound
“I’m the Dude, so that’s what you call me. That or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.”The DudeThe Big Lebowski There is a ten percent ‘rule’ in long distance running training. In simple terms, increase your mileage by no more than 10 percent per … More The programme provides. This dude abides.
I suspect I am no different to most casual runners; we sometimes need a little ‘hoosh’. Given that most of us are not performing in a competitive manner in our chosen sport, it’s other motivating factors that keep us going: simple fitness, the joy of exercise, the chance of a new personal best… And the … More In praise of the programme
IN WHICH WE PONDER THE DEEP MYSTERY OF WHAT IS OR IS NOT COMING HOME, AND CONTAINED WITHIN THIS POST IS SOME SWEARING, SO IF WE’RE ALL COOL WITH THAT, LET’S CRACK ON, SHALL WE? Look. If this whole ‘it’s coming home’ business has passed you by, that’s probably not a bad thing. What’s coming … More It’s coming home. Allegedly
IN WHICH WE HAVE AN INTERNAL DEBATE OVER CHOICE OF TITLE FOR THIS POST: ‘GRACE OF DUBLIN BAY’ BEING ONE, AND ‘MISSING: ONE MOJO’ BEING ANOTHER CONTENDER… “The Cambrian sediments in Howth and Ireland’s Eye to the northeast of Dublin have been mapped and the submarine deltaic Censure Group and the overlying Nose of Howth … More Have you seen the head lately?
“There are places I’ll rememberAll my life though some have changedSome forever, not for betterSome have gone and some remain” In My LifeThe Beatles Okay. Don’t panic. For my friends and dear readers abroad, that’s a little bit of Irish. I know one of my blogging colleagues will not only recognise it, but will understand … More Ar Nós na Gaoithe
IN WHICH WE DRAW A TENTATIVE LINE UNDER THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF TURBULENCE AND GET BACK TO A LITTLE BIT OF RUNNING, WHICH IS, AFTER ALL, WHAT KEEPS ME GOING. DID YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE? DID YOU? (YES, YES WE DID. ED.) In every superhero partnership, one is the sidekick, said my … More The Middle of Nowhere
IN WHICH WE MAKE PLANS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT’S GOOD TO HAVE A PLAN, AND ALSO, IT’S A ROUTINE FEATURE OF LIFE ON THIS PLANET THAT EVERY PLAN YOU EVER MAKE IS SUBJECT TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS (OR THE ‘PUNCH IN THE FACE’ THEORY, ACCORDING TO MIKE TYSON…) Let’s get to … More Tales of the unexpected
Last week was a so-so week, training-wise. After the long run with Gary along the canal, I managed one mid-week run before hitting the canal with Gary once more, for a more modest 16.5k. It was a broken up run too, because we are pitching an idea about the Greenway and it necessitated multiple stops … More Spin cycle
My feet are here on BroadwayThis blessed harvest morn,But oh! the ache that’s in my heartFor the spot where I was born.My weary hands are blisteredThrough work in cold and heat!And oh! to swing a scythe once moreThrough a field of Irish wheat.Had I the chance to wander back,Or own a king’s abode.I’d sooner see … More The Ghosts of The Old Bog Road
unironedman 