Guest Post: A Journey... by Pat Walsh

 * A Journey *

A Journey of 10 years starts with a simple post. 10 years ago this weekend I put my first post on my page. It was this picture of some of my Ballycotton 10 running mugs in an effort to gain credibility as a writer about running. A start, one foot in front of the other.

I’m still struggling to get that credibility in my own head, as I regularly read the articles, posts, pages by other more experienced runners. People with honours and international recognition, runners that have achieved fast times, runners with degrees in literature who are far more eloquent and better wordsmiths than myself.

All you get here is ramblings and dubious quotes. From TS Eliot to T Swift, from Heaney to Eminem I have quoted, paraphrased, made curious analogies and generally murdered them all. But it has been fun doing it in an effort to encourage you all. And we are still moving and dare I say running.

One thing I have come to realise is that very few people talk to the ordinary runners of the world. The top elite are over represented in articles about how to do well on the international stage but very few write about the struggle to run a 5k in 30mins. We are all runners.

What the future holds for me I don’t know. 10 years ago I was running marathons, now I have a 5k limit on my runs. I’m being positive, I’m still active. I use these posts sometimes to analyse my own mental state and how I’m feeling. During Covid times they were vital to my mental sanity.

'Don't worry about the future
Or worry, but know that worrying
Is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing Bubble gum'…… Baz

Thanks to everyone who as ever contacted, liked, put in a funny comment, encouraged me or was just part of the page. I very rarely receive negative comments or messages thankfully and in the cesspit that can be social media I’m very grateful to everyone for that. I suppose if you try to be positive, funny, light hearted and encouraging, then it is hard to pick faults with that. Anyway I really don’t take myself too seriously so I wouldn’t expect anyone else to either.

I would also like to thank anyone who has ever approached me at a race or other event to say kind words about my posts. It is much valued and appreciated, as I sometimes wonder about what I write. Don’t ever be shy about saying hello, it is our social outlet.

I leave with my a quote from WB Yeats and my favourite poem, Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
Have a lovely weekend. Maybe next week I will write some brilliant analytical insight into the mindset of top athletes, or, maybe I won’t…….!

#pwr