Guest Post: Lifebuoy ...by Pat Walsh

 * Lifebuoy *

Last Sunday I ran in Dungarvan at the John Treacy 10 mile race. First long run in 14 months. The sun shone and I was pleased. It was slow but honest, running every step of the way. It was the 1st of February, the start of Spring and it was a glorious sunny day to match my cheery disposition. Thanks Sheila and Anna for the team-tagging to get me around.

Great to meet so many friendly faces again and thanks to the organisers for another fantastic event. It gets better every year and getting 3000 runners around the course and over the line without a snag is a testimony to your professionalism. 

Injuries happen but if you honestly believe in yourself you will find a way back. Giving up wasn’t an option. Expectations will have to change, patience is needed by the bucket load and the watch will become an irrelevance bar logging your mileage. You must learn to ignore what others are doing and just focus on yourself and what you can and can’t do. 

What is ahead? Not sure. One thing I have learned (finally) is that after any prolonged effort of training and achieving a goal race, then the next step is a rest. Too many of us, myself included, ploughed straight into the next Big Thing without any sort of recovery built into a plan.

You will go backwards, that is in no doubt, but ultimately you cannot move forward if you don’t allow the body to rest, little niggles to clear up and build up reserves for whatever lies ahead.

Am I justifying my resting or taking a week off because the weather has turned s***e again. You decide?

New Year ahead and so much to look forward to. Make your plan, dream your dreams and get out there. No-one can do it for you, only yourself.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

Have a lovely weekend and if you are running don’t forget a lifebuoy and a snorkel.

John Treacy Dungarvan 10 Mile 

#pwr