June...Action Month for Fifo

Update on training for Hell and Back...I’m injured! So once again my running has diminished into a poor excuse of a shuffle...but this will not stop me! To make matters worse, my Hell and Back partner (brother-in-law/ best friend) Ciaran has destroyed his hamstring. Again, we are worth more than this and whether we walk, crawl or stumble, we will complete Ireland’s toughest 10km.

It looks as though I may not make my now unrealistic target of completing the course in one hour, however, I am going to use this course as training for October. Ciaran and I have signed up to the next three Hell and Back races – all for Fiona – and a bit of fun too (torture included).

So as it happens, June has turned into Action Month for Fifo with atleast one of Fiona's friends or family members taking part in an event during each weekend of the month. 

The first weekend of June sees Fiona's good friend Lisa McConnell from B&Q taking part in the Race for Life at Stormont. Our good friend Geraldine is then taking part in the Larne Half Marathon on Saturday 8^th June (which she is going to absolutely dominate). Me and my good friends Jeni and Nichola Casey, along with Ciaran and his friend Dave will be attempting (I mean smashing) Hell and Back in County Wicklow on Sunday 16^th June. The following week, Cormac (6ft 4 sidekick/ boyfriend) and I will be joining my dad on one of his lengthy cycle excursions An Post Tour de Burren in County Clare (void of any cycling training). And for the final weekend in June, my dad (at 63 years of age) is participating in the Co-Operation Ireland Maracycle. He takes to the pedals on Saturday 29th June, cycling from Belfast to Dublin and back again on Sunday. Good grief, what a man. I’m quite tempted myself, but I shall wait and see what my walking skills (let alone cycling skills) are like following the County Clare cycle.

Wish us luck!

Everyone has already been more than generous, but, if you’d still like to make a donation we would really appreciate it. Visit Fiona's JustGiving page to donate.

 

 

Back to Hell...and back again.

Training has commenced.

My second experience of Hell and Back is looming and I have made a promise to myself to complete the course in one hour (I completed the previous course in 1 hour 31 minutes). There is, after all, no better person to compete with than yourself (que motivational music and training video montage). 10km of muddy hills, dirty swamps and pride stripping obstacles – I’m excited.

Any training related to putting one foot in front of the other I.e. Running, has so far been sporadic, at best. I plan to couple running with weight training in order to reach that goal of one hour. As of today, I have vowed to run Divis Mountain twice a week in the run up to the event. As of yesterday, I have climbed Divis 3 times. First time round I stopped about 3 times and to be fair, Cormac (boyfriend and training extraordinaire) basically pushed to the top. Second time round, I stumbled to the peak, resorting to walking (and crying) five times. Most of these struggles were induced by the million squats I had completed the night before along with the hour long circuit class I completed directly before the run. Do not try this at home. For some strange reason I thought I was immune to burning out. It is true what they say, rest is a must. When you find yourself squealing at the thought of sitting down on the loo, it's time to call it a day (just the one day mind, I've training to do.)

I've known about this event for a couple of months so I really should have increased my jogging before now. In saying that, my friends will know that I am no stranger to a bit of tough exercise and with that, the occasional dose of tourettes. I’m hoping that this will stand by me – the training, not the tourrettes.

So this day in 3 weeks and five days I will be knee deep in sludge. I hope to keep you all updated on my training journey and together we can rejoice when I, mirroring something out of 'The Hills have Eyes', cross the finish line in first place (not actual first place, I'm competing with myself remember – que motivational music and training video montage). Wish me luck!

Clean as a Whistle...Hell and Back, February 2013