I just… felt like Running.

“Nobody ever mentions the weather can make or break your day”

It’s great drying weather out there. The clock’s have sprung forward and it couldn’t have come quick enough. The inevitable “There’s a great stretch in the evening” memes are more than welcome this year. Honestly, it’s felt like a Game of Thrones type of Winter with no end in sight. Being Irish, we should be prepared for all kinds of bad weather yet we batten down the hatches at the first sight of rain and I’m as guilty as anyone.

Yesterday saw the first real sunny day of the year and I knew I had to capitalise on it. Between the constant rain and snow, the opportunities to go for a run have been few and far between. The less active I am the less active I want to be. Inactivity creates lethargy. First thing’s first, I put the washing out on the line to dry; this was too good an opportunity to miss. No sitting in the kitchen drying on the clothes hoarse for this wash!! Then, I got my running gear ready, done the obligatory few minutes of stretches to get the blood flowing and body heated, and off I went.

Even as I set off I had no idea which route I would take. I was just glad to get out. For the day that was in it I decided to run to Clontarf. I knew even before I got there that I would see family’s out and about, with their children and dogs, cyclists, other runners, the abundant variety of birds hovering on the shoreline and, of course, the Poolbeg Chimneys majestically overseeing it all. It was a no-brainer really.

I hadn’t planned on it, but about 15 minutes into the run, I started to get notions. I’ve always intended to go running on the beach at Dollymount Strand but I’ve never got round to it. The furthest I had run, from my house, was as far as the Wooden Bridge which is a good 5km into my run but it’s at least another km further to the beach. That’s an achievable goal for me to reach, still the problem would be the return home. My fitness is not at that level yet and I’d be foolish even to chance it.

A while ago I got an email from a girl in work, Jill. In the email she asked for sponsorship for a 10km she was running to raise money for MS Ireland as her sister had been diagnosed a number of years back. I knew straight away the email was sent to me in error as we didn’t really know each other back then and there was no way she could have known about my diagnosis at the time. Anyway we got chatting as I thought it was a strange coincidence that I received an email about MS by mistake. Naturally, I donated. Now I chat to Jill regularly in work. Not only that but she has convinced me to sign up for the Dublin City Half Marathon in September in aid of MS Ireland. It’s funny the impact MS has had on me; both good and bad.

Feel free to join us, the more the merrier 😉 –>

http://sseairtricitydublinmarathon.ie/race/dublin-half-marathon/

So there I was, yesterday, as I reached the Wooden Bridge at Clontarf; “Feck this, I’m training for the Half Marathon. I’m going for a run on the beach!” Sometimes you have to act the fool. By the time I got to Dollymount Strand I had pins and needles in my right foot and couldn’t feel a thing. The sensible thing to do was to stop and walk until the feeling returned or at least turn back. I get very stubborn when I run though. I ran the length of the beach and turned off to run toward the Bird tree-top sculpture at Saint Annes Park. The pins and needles persisted so I start running faster even though my energy was rapidly dwindling. Luckily, as I ran faster the feeling soon came back to my right foot and I managed to continue jogging albeit at a much slower pace.

Me and my pals Peter and Gar at the Bird Tree-top at Saint Annes Park: Sept 2016

I had threatened to do this run for such a long time but had no intention of attempting it when I left my house yesterday morning. I was in no way completely ready to do it. But I wanted to stay out while the sun was still shining and try get Vitamin D naturally for once. The sun once was a deterrent for me going outside, now it’s the protagonist. I was being both foolish and stubborn and I regret nothing.

I kept thinking on the home straight about Homer Simpsons attempt to jump Springfield Gorge “I’m gonna make, I’m gonna make it, I’m king of the World!”. Of course, Homer didn’t make it (click here for the link) but as with most things in my life there always has to be a Simpsons reference to fall back on. I finished the run in 1 hour 48 minutes and 25 seconds. I practically crawled for the last few kilometres but I did it and I’ll do it again. Just as inactivity creates lethargy; energy creates energy. I done my stretches when I got home and felt a few pains today but nothing I can’t handle. I even went for a walk back to Clontarf with Michelle and Oliver 🙂

I have set up a charity page for the Half Marathon for anyone who would like to donate; https://give.everydayhero.com/ie/half-marathon-for-ms

My MS Update

I have had to go back to the hospital, for blood tests, every month since last September when I started on my new medication. My white blood cells are not at the level they should be which means I’m more susceptible to infection. I may have to consider changing medication again if it persists. All part and parcel of having a chronic illness I suppose. My next MRI is booked for May so that should tell me more, particularly about any additional lesions; which I suspect there are. In which case I mightn’t have a choice but to change meds. I’m lucky that my mobility hasn’t been affected since my initial diagnosis, however, there are other constants like spots in my vision and fatigue that just don’t go away. Running, I find, is the best way way to alleviate these.

Yesterday’s run is the most I’ve pushed myself since as long as I can remember and I’m really feeling the benefits of it.

“Nobody ever seems to remember life is a game we play”

#KBYerrr