IN WHICH WE REACH THE END OF ANOTHER YEAR, HOOK UP WITH OLD FRIENDS FOR A SING-SONG, MAKE ONE FINAL ASSAULT ON THE EVEREST THAT IS THE MARATHON PB, AND NEATLY WRAP UP 2022 WATCHING SOME REAL RUNNERS… You had one job. All you had to do in these final months was do your training … More I’m sorry you doubt me, brother
“July please,I’m on my knees,The smell of your fresh cut grass,Your blue sky grinsFor all its sins.” JulyMundy July has finally arrived. Not that it was early, or indeed, late. It arrived precisely when it was meant to. (Any similarity between this and Gandalf’s speech from the first The Lord of the Rings film are … More July, please
“Hot town, summer in the cityBack of my neck gettin’ dirty and grittyBeen down, isn’t it a pity?Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city” Summer in the CityThe Lovin’ Spoonful The city turns its back on its canals. I suppose Venice is an exception to this rule, or indeed, other towns where the … More Summer in the city
IN WHICH WE SET OUT ON YET ANOTHER JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY (WHICH IS REALLY JUST A FANCY-PANTS WAY OF SAYING I’VE STARTED YET ANOTHER TRAINING PLAN FOR YET ANOTHER RUN), AND WE CONTINUE TO DESPAIR AT THE STATE OF THE WORLD… This morning’s run was brought to you by the good people who built the … More The Soul of History
It’s something you might hear a lot in this house. Indeed, I probably said it this afternoon at some point to Saoirse before I headed out for an 18k ‘circumnavigation’ of the town, taking in Castletown Demesne and the Royal Canal, and finishing up through St. Catherine’s Park. I’m just going for a run. Okay, … More I’m just going for a run
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. This has given rise to a Chris Rea number. Quite a good one, actually, now that I think about it, and certainly with a lot more ‘oomph’ than Driving Home for Christmas; listening to that all the way through is like scoffing half a dozen mince … More New Year, Same Old Me…
IN WHICH THE DAY FINALLY ARRIVES AND WE HEAD OUT FOR THE INAUGURAL DOWN TO TOWN MARATHON The Down to Town idea came about when Dublin Marathon was cancelled for a second year in a row due to Covid. The marathon in the nation’s capital began back in 1980 and has been growing in popularity … More From the Hill of Down to Leixlip Town…
IN WHICH WE RETURN TO THE PROGRAMME, BECAUSE, WELL, IT’S THE PROGRAMME, DUMMY, AND WE SEE HOW THE LEGS ARE AFTER THE WILD WEST… The week draws to a close, and as is the way with Sunday mornings, they often find me out somewhere, running. And I’m nothing if not predictable, so yes, I had … More Half a loaf
IN WHICH WE HAVE A LITTLE DIP (AND NOT THE CELERY AND HUMMUS KIND), CONTINUE WITH PLANS FOR THE MARATHON, AND GET BACK ON TRACK Life is what happens when you are busy making plans, to paraphrase the great John Lennon. This week had that sort of vibe. In fairness, nothing extraordinary, and sometimes, that’s … More That’s life
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
unironedman 