me running…
Spartathlon – probably one of the hardest endurance race in whole World, definitely in Europe. Besides the toughness of the race that run is so nice. Nicest way to be introduced to ancient Greece, views and history. If finished you should run through Athens, Eleusis, Megara, Ancient Corinth, Ancient Nemea, Tegea and finishing in Sparta. But remember you still have to run alm
Start loop, conquer three hills, repeat… That in short is Achill marathon. In short but there is so much more to that run…
Achill Island itself is beautiful. That can’t be ruined even by Irish Summer (especially one we had this year). Of course with bad weather it is hard to enjoy views when you there but… you just enjoy being there… So, that what we did over that weekend. Weather wasn’t too bad. Kinda windy, little bit rainy (time to time) but that was expected. Running, walking, being amazed by views. This is Achill… But for all coming down there. Remember to have cash on you… Achill has just one ATM, which is located at the beginning of the island. Yep, that could be a small hiccup. Especially when you need to use cash to pay for B&B. But what will happen if only ATM is ‘OUT OF ORDER’? And that has happened that weekend. I you lucky and need just 100 euro or less you are going to garage. Trying to purchase products for 10 euro which will entitle you to cash back option up to 100 euro. But if you need more you will need to by for 10 euro amount couple of times… Kinda funny… but not when you need cash.
When comes to running shoes brand I’m very much in love with New Balance. Have tried many different shoe brands – Asics, Iv8, Mizuno, Saucony but still for me NB are the best. Keeping my foot where it suppose to stay, very light shoes as well. Only other brand regularly used by me is Hoka One shoes. Reason is very simple. Great shoes for ultra runs and recovery…
So, what you can get when you will combine love with practicality… You will get NB Fresh Foam Bracadale – 980. Have run just a short run in these yet but looks like it could be a contender for a Hoka substitution. Very light, cushioning big. Haven’t felt any pounding on my legs when run. But that just first impressions. Will see later…
There is that special place at the West side of Ireland and you cannot say that you have been to Ireland or living in Ireland if you never been to Achill Island… And with weather prediction showing really nice August that is the place to be at the end of the Summer. Sandy beaches, nice walking paths, breathtaking views and nice breeze (if weather little bit worse then wind could be stronger). So, if you think about getting last zips of sunshine before getting back to work go there. And if you a runner you will enjoy definitely ‘Achill Ultra’ event. 29th of August runner can try theirs abilities against hills of Achill on the three distances: half-marathon, marathon and ultra. 13.1, 26.2 or 39.3 choice is yours. Runners besides nice route with views you will be rewarded for your effort with great medal designed by race director Donna McLoughlin. Last year medal was ceramic so… what could be this year? For Donna sky is the limit so you can expect unexpected. Ohh, and I will be pacing 4 hours together with Cezary. We will be enjoying that run and hope that you will do the same with us or running at your own pace. Below you can find details for registration from active.com site.
Link to registration on active.com and the couple of words about that race.
… by Metallica was my song before the Vartry 50 miles race. Don’t know why really but on the walk with dog on Thursday I heard it in my headphones and that was it. Rhythm, music and lyrics somehow were accurate…
First Ultra and I went literally extra mile during that run… Should be very tired and wrecked after race but I wasn’t. At least not as I was expecting and not as bad as sometimes after marathons with high incline. I was amazed myself. I knew that I won’t be able to run as strong as usual on tarmac and I knew that I will be as fast so decided that I will run just run where ever and whenever I will be able. Rest will spent looking at the tremendous views. Especially that weather was so nice…
Fitness level – all time low. Unhealthy food level – very high. Eating – an addiction. Long runs predictions – looking bad…
OMG. That will be horrible horrible run for me in Donadea next Saturday. I know that I will be able to finish. No problem with that, but I know that it will cost me much more than if I would run that 6 months ago. As I was saying in one of the previous post, do not slip. And I did. I’m weak mentaly and physically. I know that I will eventually bounce back. But for now, I’m in bad place… Even during training sessions I’m not focussed on my goal, on ultra runs. In stead of slowly to finish line, keeping strenghts during whole run I’m trying to do a speed session from each training run. And why? Just because I can? Or maybe cause I’m not thinking. Need somebody to think for me? Hard to find positives now.
Recently I have been asked via my website for info about some Irish marathons in 2015 and since I look at all sorts of lists of marathons in and outside of Ireland I have decided to put together the list of Irish marathons for year 2015.
… Christmas. Of course, I should be in festive season mood now. But I’m not. All I can think of is running. Would I be prepared for the next season? Would I be able to run these ultra runs? All that sits in the back of my mind… I would say not even in the back of my mind, it is taking over my head completely. What races to run? What runs to jog? How to plan everything? And I would like to squeeze more runs into my calendar. Can I do that? In some cases yes but I need to remember that ultra runs need more recovery time, which will force me to choose the runs carefully…
Recently I was checking races for next year… which I can run, which I will need to pass and which I can run outside of Ireland.
I wanted to do maybe 4 foreign ones and the rest in here, in Ireland. Planned as well maybe 1 or 2 longer runs – ultra and that was already sorted out by My Wife when she have signed me into 50 KM run in Donadea in February. That was the plan. Quiet but still pushing me to get more marathon runs…