No headphones in the Hills

You don't wear headphones when you run in the hills.


I was out for another amazing run in the Dublin Mountains this weekend. Made is all the way up to Three Rock (see inset). It was a day made for hill running, light breeze, sunny, smells of spring, clear views, and firm ground.

We went off the normal walking trail (becoming a habit) for some of the run which was a real plus, hard climb put amazing scenery and zen like peaceful.

On this run a thought crossed my mind, you rarely see hill walkers /runners with head phones on. The reason is obvious, with some much other stimulus around you why bother.

I think there is a lesson in training motivation here, if you find you are resorting to iPods, TV or even reading on the treadmill you are going to have motivational issue and need to change the training routine. I see some of the symptoms in myself so I plan to make some changes in the coming weeks.

Another observation about hill running and I guess life. Don't focus on the trail but the destination. Pick the point in the distance you want to get too, you'll always find a path it just might take a little longer.



Pylons on top of Three-Rock make a good fixed point to climb too

Other benifits from GFW prepartion

After the 100 push ups "bonus" in the last post I started thinking about the other benefits I am gaining from preparation for Gael Force West.


Some of them are:

• I weigh under 13 stone
• My shirts and collars fit better
• I feel more confident
• I'm back control again (well at least more than in January)
  
• Re-learning my body, what an amazing machine
  
• Sleeping better
• Strangely, I wake up earlier which gives me time to blog
• Improving my writing/blogging (grammar still not great, sorry mum)
• I watch less TV (no time left after work, family and training)
• I think about life more, during the runs
• Worry less, probably too tired too
  

I'm sure there are more but I've got to run, literally.

Unexpected benefits of GFW preparation

An unexpected benifit of my Gael Force training was completing the 100 pressup challenge


Before Gael Force West came into my mind I had been doing the one hundred push up challenge. Before I every got to completing the program I always seems to get bored or distracted by something else.

So over the last couple of weeks I mixed it into my GFW training 20-30 press ups each lap. Mainly to make the routine runs more interesting. Well last night I got the 100 done in one session.

I'm sure there are other benefits, aside from the fitness, that are coming out of the journey to Croke Patrick in August.

If you have any let me know!




What's this 200 sit ups challenge

Charity Made a little easier

This online service from www.MyCharity.ie makes donating very easy and should be considered by all competitors in big events like Gael Force West.


Originally I was reluctant to do Gael Force for charity, mainly because I had enough to do just preparing without the extra hassle of asking people for money.

I also think I was a little embarrassed. Once you start looking for sponsorship you are "above the radar" so to speak. Now that I am training regularly I am more confident and happy to talk about GFW and to get support for my cause Cancer Research.

MyCharity.ie was very easy to setup and it allows people to donate who might not have done so previously. It is particularly useful for social media as you can email, blog, twitter and text your friends and colleagues and give them an action.

My alter ego at www.RelationshipsInBusiness.com would of course say that there is no substitute for asking face-to-face but it is better than not doing it at all.



That all said, click this link if you feel like helping a great charity

Running for Cancer Research

I've decided to run for Irish Cancer Research. Please donate €5-€10 online by folling the link below. It's easy and a great cause.

http://www.mycharity.ie/event/piaras_macdonnells_event/


I am also accepting challenges/bets in aid of my charity, have you got a good one for me?

Happy Birthday to me

Happy Birthday to me!

I'm 39 today.


Anyone reading this will, I am sure, jump the the conclusion that GFW is part of a mid life crises. They might be right.

I have always wanted to do a big, physical/mental challenge. Something where the buck stops with me. Truth be told I hope one day to complete something like an Iron Man Triathlon, which makes Gael Force West look like a walk in the park.

There are lots of reasons people do these events for me it was about getting back a bit of control. The down turn in the economy has been hanging over all our heads and I found that I felt I had no control anymore. Then the idea of Gael Force West came along, a chance to feel you had some control again over your life, your destiny again.

When it comes to big challenges in life you just need a big enough WHY and the HOW will sort itself out. If that why is a mid life crises or something else, who honestly care. Take inspiration from where ever it comes.

Wait till you see what I have planned for my 40th :)

Up that Mountains - A great experience

Did my first hill run this weekend in the Dublin Mountains. A great experience but very demanding.


I did the Ticknock trail which is a 10K loop. Although it can all be run on a rough road surface we ran one of the off road trails for a couple of kilometers.

The off road mixed with the incline made it a challenge to say the least. You get 2 runs for the price of a normal one on flat ground.

The mountain trails are an amazing resource and the run was very enjoyable. I'll be doing more of them. It really motivates you to push yourself in such beautiful scenery and peace.

Bring a guide or runner familiar with the trail the first time, it will make it less daunting and safer. Also check out DublinMountains.ie for details on all the trails and maps. If you are looking else where in the country check out Coillte Outdoors for trails near you and their details.

I have lived for so long near a fabulous resource and have only now discovered it. Don't make the same mistake I did, get out there and take a run in the hills and valleys near you. You won't regret it

Running with a Backpack

Started running with a backpack and water. A new experience.
I figure I'll need to carry a lot of water, rain jacket,food, first aid, etc on the day of the race so I might as well get use to it now


I have chosen the backpack photographed for the simple reason I already had it. That said it works well. The water pack is a platypus and it's a whole new skill trying to drink and run at the same time.

One of the lads in work who has experience of expeditions recommended that I over load it a bit during training so that on the day I have a lighter pack to carry.

I have adjusted the straps a few times to get it "settled" so it should be perfect for the big one.

I am going to have to make a list of things to carry, the minimum requirements are listed on the site, here is the current recommendations.

GF 6 Mandatory kit list

1.Basic first aid kit (Minimum: 1 x Dressing Pad for heavy bleeding (filed dressing); 1 x bandage, plasters)
2.Guide map (provided by organisers at Registration)
3.Survival bag
4.Whistle
5.Energy food and drink
6.Cycle, cycle tool kit, puncture repair kit, cycle helmet
7.Suitable clothing, to include:
8.Gloves
9.Hat (Buff Headwear or equivalent IS sufficient)
10.Spare fleece shirt*
11.Water-proof outers (top & bottoms)*
12.Sturdy walking / running shoes
13.Small rucksack or suitable bumbag

Can you suggest anything else I should bring for the run?

The hills are calling

What lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do.
- Aristotle

He probably wasn’t thinking about training for an adventure race but the point still holds. I’m at a psychological barrier at the moment. The evening runs although physically demanding are becoming a chore. Mixing it up with a bit of bike work helps. I think some serious hill running is required so I will head to the Phoenix Park at the weekend to practice and try to get out to the mountains next week. I have been sizing up some IMRA events which are on most Wednesdays. Time to get down and dirty, literally, I think.

Lessons Learnt from First Duathlon

I completed my first Sprint Duathlon in the Phoenix Park

2.7 Km Run followed by 13 Km cycle followed by 2.7 Km run

I was quitely hoping to do it in under an hour, I actually made it round in 54 minutes.


It was an ideal event to get started with. Familiar area, flat circuit, well run and a good mix of serious and not so serious competitors.

Competing in the duathlon although a success in itself was only a stepping stone to Gael Force West. What did I learn from the event?

• Get familiar with your route, it gives you confidence and allows you to establish split time goals.
• Register early, reduce the stress.
  
• Eat appropriately and at the right time. Stuffing a cereal bar into yourself as you cycle up to the event is not ideal. A late pasta lunch would have been more in order.
• Hydrate properly. I need to learn more about this but I could feel my body lift when I drank on the bike. Obviously that was too late.
  
• Prepare for a change in the weather. On the cycle up it was nice but it got cold and wet very quickly.
• Run your own race. There will be a lot of adrenaline at the start, ignore it.
  

There were other lessons learnt but now it's back to training. Could I break 50 minutes next month?

Word from last years winner

There's some good advice from last years winner Eoin Keith over at Kenny Franks blog Gael Force West 2009. Time to climb some hills!

Duathlon in the Phoenix Park

It's getting serious - I got the tri shorts

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."
- Mark Twain

It's getting serious, I bought tri-shorts. Hannulink Triathlon Gear to be precise. Like the socks post, the right equipment makes a difference.

You can read the spec at the Hannulink eBay store, lets just say it was worth the €46 (to-the-door). What was interesting was that I wanted to buy the shorts in Dublin but the service was so poor at 2 of the big sports shops I was forced to go online.

From my experience so for I recommend the shorts and the eBay shop. Tomorrow I will put them through their paces in a duathon in the Phoenix Park. I'll at least look the part, until I start running!

Gaelforcewest Adventure Challenge 2007

This was a sample of 2007. No GF 12 for 2009, just run, climb and cycle. No night stuff either.

Gael Force West Adventure Race 2008

A flavour of what it's all about

Cycling Equipment at Aldi

Thursday the 7th is Cycle Gear day at Aldi. I expect Lidl will follow in a week.

If you have no proper gear it's a good, inexpensive start. I suspect, like me, you will want to upgrade if you make significant use of the gear.

If you are inclined to have a "hobby drawer" you won't feel bad at these prices