Guest Post: Lightenings ...by Pat Walsh

 * Lightenings….. *

So 2025 comes to a close and what did it bring for you?

Did you hit goals and PB’s, or struggle through the year, or find no consistent spell of training as life got in the way. It happens.

We all have different journeys through life and do we learn anything as we go along? 

The average race has people of all abilities, so don’t be worried about what anyone else is doing and just focus on yourself.

Last year on New Years Eve, I was preparing to go to a 10k race and I got a phone call to tell me I had a stress fracture. While I was obviously injured but not knowing exactly what was wrong, this was not the best news or a great way to end a year.

Today, I went back to Grange-Fermoy AC  10K as a runner and not a spectator for my longest run this Year. I closed the circle and finished the Year on a positive.

Thanks to the wonderful people who made this fantastic event happen. Slowly but steadily becoming one of my favourite races of the year. The organization was superb and the refreshments afterwards a joy to behold. 

Thanks to my new friend Naomi for the company and chats today. A pleasure.

Would this have been my goal or my dream a year ago? No

Was I was delighted with myself? Yes

What have I seen this year? The inside of a GP office, Consultant office, MRI chamber, A Bone density scanner plus Physio and Therapists treatment beds. Very exciting to be fair. Things I never want to see again.

What I have I learned from the Year? Patience with myself and the importance of strength work.

This isn’t a moan. My first serious injury in nearly 40 years and I consider myself lucky. I do think the year helped me develop a better overall perspective. I cycled as first bike in a race, I stood on corners as a volunteer, I went out as a spectator to offer encouragement or a bit of slagging depending who was passing. I tried to keep this column going, when it wasn’t easy and my heart wasn’t in it due to lack of running. Thanks to everyone who engaged in such a positive way this year. 

12 points for 12 months

1 I won’t ever take my physical health for granted again. 
2 Don’t neglect the strength work.
3 Try to stay involved in some way if you are not running.
4 Keep up the contacts. People go missing when you don’t run. Your phone stops.
5 Listen to the specialists. They have the knowledge. Their parents paid a lot to put them through college.
6 No of us is invincible or indestructible. Muscle and bones will only take so much.
7 Important. If it affects you mentally being injured, then seek help. 
8 Don’t take life too seriously as we don’t know what is ahead for any of us.
9 Thanks those who organize races and make your life better.
10 Give someone a hug.
11 Respect your birth-cert but don’t be afraid of it.
12 Runners are lovely people.

I will have to finish on a frivolous note. On Saturday 27th we had a spectacular sunset for about 15mins in Midleton. Pic attached, someone captured me while I was trying to take the pic. It is better than the photo I was taking. She is a PRO and I’m an amateur. That could be said for a lot of what I do. There is light in the Year ahead of us.  

‘Shifting brilliancies. Then winter light
In a doorway, and on the stone doorstep
A beggar shivering in silhouette’…. Heaney, Lightenings

Happy New Year to you all

#pwr