"There are two kinds of people:
Those who say, "I will believe it when I see it."
And those who say, "To see it, I know I must believe it."
(Taken from The Secret Daily Teachings by Rhonda Byrne)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Gaelforce West
Now, one thing I would NEVER have put myself down for was any sort of endurance challenge (I was a sprinter as a kid and always had to be at the front of the pack!).
I've done the Women's mini-marathon for the past 3yrs and love doing it to raise money for To Russia with Love and just for the craic and the atmosphere in Dublin that day. I have a slightly competitive streak in me (my friends will probably laugh out loud upon reading the italics there!!) and every year I try knock a couple of minutes off my time, as you do.
Anyhooo, this year, as the hockey season was coming to an end, one of the girls came to me (why me??) saying "We have to do something to keep our fitness up over the summer Luc and I have just the thing"! Once she'd told me that there would be loads of HOT, fit men at it and the after-party would be "amazing", well, she had me at said men ;) (Am I really that fickle?!)
Before I knew it, I was on the Gaelforce West website, Credit card in hand and filling in a registration form. Then I decided I'd better check out what exactly I'd signed up to and to my complete disbelief, it was a mere 65K of running, cycling and kayaking..................SIXTY-FIVE KILOMETRES..........what the....? Oh, and just to throw a lil' sum'in, sum'in in for the craic, part of the 'run' (yeah right!) is up and down Croagh Patrick!!! How the hell was I going to do this?? I mean, yeah I'm fit enough to play a hockey match, but not 65K-fit!!
{to see full details on the event log onto http://www.gaelforcewest.ie/}
I just had to get stuck into then. I HATED cycling and to just give you an idea of how much: one year a now ex had given me a bike for Xmas and so I decided to cycle into work in Middle Abbey street. The buses scared me so much that I picked the bike up in my car a YEAR later!! I used to look at the 'wans' in the gym who'd do the spin class and think "Why would you do that to yourself?" but then I joined the 'wans' and am now a regular wan and in the running up to the "challenge" sometimes did 2 in a row (I KNOW ridiculous but I'd no bike and had to train!).
So, Gaelforce West took place last Sat. 22nd August and I managed to complete it as hoped, injury-free!! Luckily, I hadn't practised on the route because if I had known what I was letting myself in for there's NO way I would've done it! But after 6hrs49mins09secs of asking myself "Why the hell are you doing this?", looking around and thinking "hmm, he's cute" (on numerous occasions, yes you CAN focus on the challenge and check out the talent at the same time!!), having numerous PMA chats to myself and getting a 2nd/3rd/4th wind as a local Westportian is sitting in the most random of spots, cheering us all on..............I finished it!
It was definitely worth it, the feeling of crossing the finish line is incredible, completely euphoric. The camaraderie and sportsmanship is so encouraging and of course, the pints at the end are THE nicest pints ever!
2 days ago and yesterday, I was saying there's no way I'd even think of doing it again because I was walking around as if I was a 90yr old woman but today, now that I feel slightly more human and am walking in a more spritely way (kinda!), I'm already thinking "Maybe I could do it in 6hrs next year"!!!!
I've done the Women's mini-marathon for the past 3yrs and love doing it to raise money for To Russia with Love and just for the craic and the atmosphere in Dublin that day. I have a slightly competitive streak in me (my friends will probably laugh out loud upon reading the italics there!!) and every year I try knock a couple of minutes off my time, as you do.
Anyhooo, this year, as the hockey season was coming to an end, one of the girls came to me (why me??) saying "We have to do something to keep our fitness up over the summer Luc and I have just the thing"! Once she'd told me that there would be loads of HOT, fit men at it and the after-party would be "amazing", well, she had me at said men ;) (Am I really that fickle?!)
Before I knew it, I was on the Gaelforce West website, Credit card in hand and filling in a registration form. Then I decided I'd better check out what exactly I'd signed up to and to my complete disbelief, it was a mere 65K of running, cycling and kayaking..................SIXTY-FIVE KILOMETRES..........what the....? Oh, and just to throw a lil' sum'in, sum'in in for the craic, part of the 'run' (yeah right!) is up and down Croagh Patrick!!! How the hell was I going to do this?? I mean, yeah I'm fit enough to play a hockey match, but not 65K-fit!!
{to see full details on the event log onto http://www.gaelforcewest.ie/}
I just had to get stuck into then. I HATED cycling and to just give you an idea of how much: one year a now ex had given me a bike for Xmas and so I decided to cycle into work in Middle Abbey street. The buses scared me so much that I picked the bike up in my car a YEAR later!! I used to look at the 'wans' in the gym who'd do the spin class and think "Why would you do that to yourself?" but then I joined the 'wans' and am now a regular wan and in the running up to the "challenge" sometimes did 2 in a row (I KNOW ridiculous but I'd no bike and had to train!).
So, Gaelforce West took place last Sat. 22nd August and I managed to complete it as hoped, injury-free!! Luckily, I hadn't practised on the route because if I had known what I was letting myself in for there's NO way I would've done it! But after 6hrs49mins09secs of asking myself "Why the hell are you doing this?", looking around and thinking "hmm, he's cute" (on numerous occasions, yes you CAN focus on the challenge and check out the talent at the same time!!), having numerous PMA chats to myself and getting a 2nd/3rd/4th wind as a local Westportian is sitting in the most random of spots, cheering us all on..............I finished it!
It was definitely worth it, the feeling of crossing the finish line is incredible, completely euphoric. The camaraderie and sportsmanship is so encouraging and of course, the pints at the end are THE nicest pints ever!
2 days ago and yesterday, I was saying there's no way I'd even think of doing it again because I was walking around as if I was a 90yr old woman but today, now that I feel slightly more human and am walking in a more spritely way (kinda!), I'm already thinking "Maybe I could do it in 6hrs next year"!!!!
"Just Do it........"
Are there things that you regret abandoning/giving up? Have you always wanted to take up something but feel like you couldn't go on your own or you don't have the courage?
Well, the first week of 2008, I had a moment/realisation/awakening, whatever..............................but I decided that I had given up too many of the things that I loved to do, eg. Team sports, art (I'm not that good but I find it really relaxing), singing, dancing, acting.......and lots more.
So 2008 became the year that I started to get back into everything. I got straight onto the interweb and googled "Team sports in Dublin". Hockey was my first love in school, but I was into all sports. Dublin Indoor sports was the first link that came up so I checked out the page, registered as an individual for Netball and before I knew it, I was driving into the grounds to play my first game (after 12 years!!!) and not knowing a single individual. I'll admit, I was really nervous, trying to think of a reason not to go into the Sports hall and just dash home. I was 29 at the time and just had to say to myself "Luc, what are they gonna do? Laugh at you because you forget the rules or because you're not 'the best'?? And even if they do, so what!"
I went on in and was introduced to my team and had a ball!! I had a lovely team, everyone was so nice and encouraging and throughout the rest of the season, I ended up subbing in on loads of other teams when they were short! I now have 2 really close friends from it too:) Once the netball season was over, I'd signed up to join Muckross hockey club, I'm just about to start my 2nd season with them and am now addicted to hockey again!!!
The reason I post this is because, sometimes, we don't do the things that we really want to because we'd be "mortified", "too nervous" or we feel that we just won't be any good at it. Well, I encourage ANYONE to just go for it.................you'll be delighted you did :)
Well, the first week of 2008, I had a moment/realisation/awakening, whatever..............................but I decided that I had given up too many of the things that I loved to do, eg. Team sports, art (I'm not that good but I find it really relaxing), singing, dancing, acting.......and lots more.
So 2008 became the year that I started to get back into everything. I got straight onto the interweb and googled "Team sports in Dublin". Hockey was my first love in school, but I was into all sports. Dublin Indoor sports was the first link that came up so I checked out the page, registered as an individual for Netball and before I knew it, I was driving into the grounds to play my first game (after 12 years!!!) and not knowing a single individual. I'll admit, I was really nervous, trying to think of a reason not to go into the Sports hall and just dash home. I was 29 at the time and just had to say to myself "Luc, what are they gonna do? Laugh at you because you forget the rules or because you're not 'the best'?? And even if they do, so what!"
I went on in and was introduced to my team and had a ball!! I had a lovely team, everyone was so nice and encouraging and throughout the rest of the season, I ended up subbing in on loads of other teams when they were short! I now have 2 really close friends from it too:) Once the netball season was over, I'd signed up to join Muckross hockey club, I'm just about to start my 2nd season with them and am now addicted to hockey again!!!
The reason I post this is because, sometimes, we don't do the things that we really want to because we'd be "mortified", "too nervous" or we feel that we just won't be any good at it. Well, I encourage ANYONE to just go for it.................you'll be delighted you did :)
My first blog!
Hi there,
I've just decided that I am going to share the comings and goings that make up my life with whoever has the slightest bit of interest in them!
My friends tell me that I have so much going on I barely have time to pick my nose (if I did do that but I don't, it's a disgusting habit!!) but I don't really feel like I've loads going on at all, I kinda like to be busy and get bored if I'm not!!
Anyhooo, this is going to be my place to record everything (just so I actually remember!) from my sports activities, different jobs, general 'stuff' and lots of positive thoughts!!
If there's anything that you want me to mention or look into, please feel free to comment and I'll do my bestest!
Right, here 'goes..................................ENJOY :)
I've just decided that I am going to share the comings and goings that make up my life with whoever has the slightest bit of interest in them!
My friends tell me that I have so much going on I barely have time to pick my nose (if I did do that but I don't, it's a disgusting habit!!) but I don't really feel like I've loads going on at all, I kinda like to be busy and get bored if I'm not!!
Anyhooo, this is going to be my place to record everything (just so I actually remember!) from my sports activities, different jobs, general 'stuff' and lots of positive thoughts!!
If there's anything that you want me to mention or look into, please feel free to comment and I'll do my bestest!
Right, here 'goes..................................ENJOY :)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)