Yep, I can think of at least a hundred other things I could be doing with my time off, but hey whaddya gonna do. So where are we so far? Ok well, as I was explaining, last year actually on Valentines weekend, I started to train for a small event called "Between the Bridges race" It was simply an event to mark the official opening of the westlink and the unofficial drying out of the underpass (He he). Having not ran much ever I entered into the 5k race and got round it Ok. I couldn't help but be impressed by the people who were running the 10K and thought mmmmmm I'll have some of that please! I loved the sense of occasion at the event too and I remember a man who used to come and get his terminally ill wife's scripts of me. She passed away about a year or two before this day and there he was with, his young son and other members of his family wearing T-shirts in her memory, doing this walk/run for charity. It was the first time it really struck me about the positive things people do having come through such hardship. I've often seen people on telly do things in memory of loved ones, but never really gave it much thought until it was someone whom I knew and saw what suffering they had endured. I must say, I just loved the occasion and the positive atmosphere and I wanted to be part of more events like this.
Late March 2009, my attention turned to Omagh and the 4 mile fun run. Had I'd known the route ahead of me (Up by those hills at Coolnagard for those who know Omagh) I'd of probably not done it, but as I was only informed by a fella at the starting line, I had no real choice lol! So off I went and feck me it was tough but I got through it and again just relaxed and compared times with a fellow competitor, one of the local Undertakers!!!!
Two events down and it wasn't long before the next event popped up. My sister's Financee (He he) was raising funds for his charity trip to Africa to help train people on computer technology. He decided to enter two relay teams into the Belfast Marathon, which I am glad to say I was a member of one. So off I went training for the 5 mile final leg of the run. I must say I never experienced such a great day as last years Marathon day, 10,000 odd participants in the various events available, the atmosphere was electric and the feeling to run to the finish line was something I'd never experienced before. It was a great day!
July 09, I then took part in the Dromore (Co. Tyrone) fun run which was part of a fundraising event for The Spirit of Paul McGirr, a charity set up in the memory of Paul McGirr who tragically died after a bad collision during a Tyrone Minor Match in June 1997. It was a beautiful day (although thunderstorms had been forecast) and I got sunburned and roasted because I had prepared for bad weather, I even got a big cheer from my Granny as I passed her house or maybe she was trying to chase me away from her gate. Now I was up to running 10k which is about 6.25 miles.
During the Autumn and Winter, I kinda slacked a bit but in November/December time I pushed myself up to 12 mile runs, something I never thought I'd ever do! I took part in the Greencastle 5 mile race on Boxing Day. Such a bizarre day, it really was a winter wonderland, running on slushy country roads in the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains, nothing but white and a thick fog. Was a very unique occasion, and the hill at the end is a right pain in the Ass/thighs/calves etc.
So in the New Year period, I thought I'd train for the Belfast Marathon. The winter weather though had hampered my training so far as the frozen snow and icy footpaths were much too treacherous to run on, so I had to wait until things got a wee bit warmer, which eventually it did and off I went. So it's now March 19th My last long run was 16 miles last Tuesday and I'm aiming to do my first 18 mile run tomorrow and then go to Etoile and stuff my face with steak and maybe sneak a wee drink in the Errigal for my Birthday. Wow not a bad first blog, I promise the next ones will be shorter. Con DONATION WEBSITE http://original.justgiving.com/connormcgee
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