How to stay running over Christmas

Guest Blog - by Mary Jennings, ForgetTheGym

It’s easy to hibernate over Christmas and put off any exercise until New Year. So easy in fact that many of us have already replaced the running shoes with dancing shoes and have been making excuses since early December (if not before). There will always be shopping, cooking, cleaning, present wrapping, hangovers, parties and dramas that will take priority this season and most of us will convince ourselves we don’t have time for exercise.

If you are struggling to get out there but know you would feel so much better if you did get some fresh air and exercise, stop feeling guilty and decide to do something, even just something small.  If you are convincing yourself that it’s all going to be different in the New Year, remember that every day you put it off now is going to make it harder when you do eventually lace up the runners in the Spring. No matter how unfit and overfed you feel at the moment, make a little time for your fitness this December and it will help your mood, your stress levels, your confidence and your energy this Christmas.

Here are some ways to help you get motivated and inspired to get moving:

Find a partner in crime: You know how hard it is to go for a run on your own so agree to meet someone else, and insist they ignore your excuses and drag you out no matter how tired, hungover or lazy you are. Help each-other on the days when you can’t motivate yourself. Once you are 5 minutes down the road you will be delighted.

Support the GOAL Mile: No matter how unfit you think you are, you can still drag yourself around a mile this Christmas. Bring the family and walk/run your way around the 1 mile route. With over 140 events throughout the country over Christmas week, there will be local GOAL Mile close to you.

Improve your running while watching TV: Improve your running strength with these sitting room training routines which can be multitasked with baby sitting and watching TV.  Try these 1 minute and 5 minutes challenges and stay strong while you still have one eye on the Christmas movies.

Get the family involved: Running after kids on a bike, taking trips to the park, kicking a football outdoors – just move and make it fun. Running doesn’t have to be serious all the time. Have fun, run around and get the family, the dog and everyone else into the fresh air.

Be nostalgic:  Look back over your running year and write down your highlights, what worked, what didn’t and most importantly what you enjoyed most about your running in 2015. If you use a watch to track your runs, you can go wild with all your statistics now, adding up miles and speeds from the year just gone. Remember what running has done for you this year and how it has helped you in life outside of running too.

Run taller while standing still: Whether you area standing in a packed bar, or at the back of a church on Christmas day, you can still stand in good posture and practice your Chirunning posture stances. Improving technique is not just for when you are running. If you can’t hold the posture when you are standing still or walking, you most certainly won’t hold it when you are 4k into a 5k event.

parkrun : If you are lucky enough to live near Hartstown in Dublin, the enthusiastic organisers are putting on a Christmas day special parkrun. If you can’t make it for that, most of the other parkrun events around the country will be taking place too on St Stephen’s day – 5k that you can run, walk and drag the dog and the kids around too. There are over 20 now all around the country.

Set yourself a challenge:  Maybe 2016 will be the year you get faster, run longer or maybe even take the pressure off your running and enjoy it more. Get inspired by Sports Travel International for some international adventures. Your goals don’t have to be about a race either – could this be the year you finally get injury free and focus on your technique and enjoying running more. Don’t get caught up in a goal just because someone else is excited about it – it has got to be something you want to do for yourself.

Enjoy the Local Turkey Trot : From 5k Turkey Trots to Christmas Cracker Fun-runs, there are so many family fun Christmas themed runs over the holidays to drag you off your couch while help raise funds for local charities. Check out Go Run for a full listing.

Read all about it: Get inspired by other people’s stories and adventures – from biographies to running adventures there is no end to the amount of running books on the shelves this Christmas. Who knows what you might find in your Christmas stocking. The Irish Runner Yearbook has always something for everyone from newbies to elites. David Gillick’s Kitchen cookery book will inspire you to eat better into the new year, and Two Hours – The Quest to Run the Impossible marathon might make you feel like you should just pop on your runners and get out the door.  

Remember, it’s not all about the running. Fresh air therapy of any kind works wonders in these dark days. Don’t let a day go by without getting fresh air. It’s proven to help your mood, your energy, creativity and sleep in so many ways. It will also give you a little chance for well-deserved ‘me time’ over the Christmas craziness. It’s too easy to make excuses and prioritise everything else. You have to accept you will never have everything done so commit to yourself to not let the next few weeks pass you by in a haze of Christmas calories. The 2016 version of you will thank you for it. 

Guest Post by Mary Jennings, founder and running coach at ForgetTheGym and creator of The Irish Times Get Running Programmes. Mary coaches runners of all levels to enjoy running, improve technique and achieve goals they never imagined possible. Mary blogs about her own running adventures on Marathon Tourist. See ForgetTheGym for all her 2016 Running Classes, Workshops and Events. 

An Ode to Ballycotton

Entries to the 39th Ballycotton 10 Mile Road Race open on Tuesday 8th. Entry procedures can be found here. In honour of this historic event, here's a little poem. Hope you enjoy, I haven't written a poem since school!!

An Ode to Ballycotton

In early March, when the hares go mad

the average runner will follow suit just a tad

He'll wind his way down a Cork country road

To a place by the sea with hills by the truck-load

There's something special about standing in 'the field'

Unsheltered from the wind, with nothing concealed

Down to the start line, with the rest of the throng

Where you're released to the 10 miles before too long

Go fast or go slow, it won't really matter

10 is the distance, and it's not getting flatter

Drive up that last hill, and get over the line

It's worth every step for a another mug to call mine

And when it's all over, and you're down in the local

There's no such thing as being 'too vocal'

Gifts for Runners this Christmas

It can be hard to buy a running gift for that special runner in your life, as usually they have very specific preferences. They have a certain type of "heel strike" so will only use a particular type of runner, they will usually have a preference of a particular brand of running clothes, and they will use a particular GPS watch, so will track all their runs on that system (and won't want to change).

Sounds impossible, well here's some ideas that may help:

Ideas €100+

1. Training / Running Courses - 
• Champions Everywhere: Improve their technique or their output, either way a runner would like one of these courses as a gift: http://www.championseverywhere.com/
• Forget the Gym: this is mainly focused on beginners to running, so maybe for someone relatively new to running: http://forgetthegym.ie/
• Chi Running: work on running form for any levels from Catherina McKiernan: http://www.catherinamckiernan.com/ 
2. Hotel Stays around races - if your runner is planning a marathon / half marathon and there is a bit of travel involved, why not book the local hotel, it would be a great suprise. (Throw in a trip to the spa with massage for extra brownie points!)
3. Sports shop vouchers - It might be a little lazy, but if you are a voucher person, then they are likely to love the opportunity to buy a new pair of runners. (around €150 should do the trick).

Ideas <€100

1. Races - "Here I bought you entry to a marathon", sounds lovely right? Well actually if you know that your runner has an eye on certain events, then it's not a bad idea at all. This is one you can tease out of them (what's your favourite race, any big running plans this year, etc.)
2. Cool Training Gear - Even if you like a particular brand, there are certain things that you'll love to get, especially if they are for training rather than racing. You can't go wrong with a high-vis, light weight running jacket, have a look at this for example from Asics.

Stocking Fillers

1. Gels - If your runner uses gels regularly then stock him/her up. Buy a full box, you get better discounts, and they'll definitely use them if they have a long race in the coming year. (Don't switch brands though, stick to the brand and flavour they like, e.g. High5 or PowerBar)
2. Running Hats (either beanies for winter or running caps for summer). Or Gloves!
3. Magazine Subscriptions - I'd recommend Irish Runner here, but if they already have that then try Runners World
4. iTunes - if they use music during runs, you can't go wrong with a refresh of the playlist, an iTunes voucher would be nice!
5. Medal Holders - If your runner has built up a vast collection of medals, that are stuffed in a drawer, then help him/her display them with pride. Here's mine from earlier this year, just €15 from Kerry Signature Furniture:

Running Books

When a runner is not running, they like to think about running! So here's some books that will keep them motivated or inspire them further:

1. Born to Run - Christopher McDougall
2. Eat & Run - Scott Jurek
3. ChiRunning - Danny Dreyer
4. Who Dares Runs - Gerry Duffy
5. Running Full Circle - Frank Greally

Any other receommendations or questions, feel free to post below. I'll do my best to get back to you, without becoming a personal shopper!!

Templemore Santa Fun Run

The Templemore Santa Fun Run takes place again on 22nd December in aid of Temple Street Children’s Hospital. (All funds go to Temple Street)

The 5k race will begin at 15.00hrs with the run starting at the Garda College and entering the park in Templemore. All participants are asked to arrive in plenty of time beforehand to enjoy the festivities on the day. 

Prizes will also be given on the day for best dressed and best placed. You will not regret signing up what is sure to be a great event.

Full Details can be found here:

RNLI Reindeer Runs

At this time of the year there are numerous Santa Dash's, Turkey Trots and Reindeer Runs. And I for one, love them all, because usually they are great fun, they encourage new runners, and help spread the Christmas Cheer.....hurray! (As well as help with a little excercise during this season of indulgence).

I decided that I'd like to highlight the RNLI Reindeer runs. This is because they do amazing, brave work as well as being nicely organised races. Added to that, is the fact that there are a few of them:

• 22nd November - Liss Ard (apparently it was good, I missed it)
• 29th November - Fota House, Cork (great location for a run)
• 6th December - Marley Park, Dublin 

Also for our UK friends, there's one this Saturday in Dorset.

Registration

There is a 10K and 5K distance at all these events, as well as a "1k saunter", You get a t-shirt and 'reindeer antlers' for the 10k and 5k races. Here's the prices:

• Adult 10K - €22
• Adult 5K - €20
• 1K Saunter - Free
• Child Ticket - €10
• Family Ticket (2 adults, 2 children) - €55

Follow this link for Registration

Small bit about RNLI

I had the pleasure of going on-board the LifeBoat down in Castletownbere this summer. This was really interesting and enjoyable. They are some people (both the volunteers and the full time staff) and it was some machine. This picture from the RNLI lifeboat in Cliften, posted yesterday, says a lot about what they do:

Fitness TV Shows

This evening I'm really looking forward to Iron Mind by Bressie on RTE2 at 9:30. In this show Bressie is gets 4 ordinary people to train and complete a half Ironman. The idea is to prove the link between positive physical health and positive mental health (something I think that most regular, and irregular runners would testify to).

This got me thinking about the TV shows that we have on terrestial TV these days, and in general I feel pretty positive about the influence that they are having on the country. These shows can, and are, changing the culture of the country to a more fitness focused one:

• Operation Transformation - I've watched every season of this, I think it's 7 seasons now, and I believe this has had the most profound influence on the country. The massive crowds coming out in local towns to complete runs during dark winter nights is incredible.
• Ireland's Fittest Family - Perhaps this doesn't 'influence the nation' as strongly, but it makes for great TV, and regularly sets a good example for a variety of fitness across different sports and disciplines
• Iron Mind - as I said, eagerly awaiting this one tonight, it could have a very strong influence.

The one show I'd like to see now is a reality TV show focusing on first time marathon runners. I'm not an expert on creating TV shows (obviously) but I'm sure there's an interestng twist that could be put around this. The marathon is on the bucket list for an awful lot of people (not just runners). And it would be a great way to prove that it's an achievable feat for almost anybody (who is willing).

What do you say RTE......let's take it a step further.

 

 

Clonakilty Marathon Preview

Run Clon takes place on 5th December in Clonakilty and incorporates full marathon, half marathon and 10K races. This is the 6th running of the event, that started with just the marathon, but has expanded since. In 2010 the marathon had approx. 200 finishers, last year the marathon had over 400, the half marathon had over 700 and the 10k had nearly 800 finishers. With nearly 2,000 runners hitting Clonakilty, this will be one of the last big running events of 2015.

Route

There are three new routes this year for all the events. In the past, I was put off the event by the fact that the routes were loops of the same course (just something that I personally don't like). They have changed that now, so it will be interesting to see what the new routes will be like.

You are guaranteed spectacular views, as the routes cover some amazing views out over the Atlantic. However, you also need to expect to be tested over some hills and there'll likely be a strong wind from the coast in places (so hide behind some tall people!).

Registration

• Marathon - €60
• Half Marathon - €50
• 10K - €30

The Marathon seems to be good value for money at €60. The Half and 10K may be on the high side, however, unlike a lot of 10k races (and some half's) you get a pretty nice finisher medal and technical top. Registration here.

Race Info

Race start is at the Quality Hotel in Clonakilty and is planned for 9am.

When you arrive in Clonakilty town, take the Bypass Road towards the Quality Hotel, on the N71, parking will be at the showgrounds (beside the hotel).

Race packs and finishing t-shirts can be collected upstairs at the Carbery suite in the Quality Hotel on Thurs 3rd 6-9pm; Fri 4th 10am - 9pm; Race Day 6am - 7:30am.

Weather is usually around 8 - 10 degrees, so bring warm gear!

Other

The atmosphere at this race is always enjoyable, everyone in good spirits. There's also some nice perks that are worth mentioning:

1. You get Clonakilty Pudding - if you don't know what this is, you should enter just to find out!
2. Showers available in the Quality hotel
3. Post Race massage
4. Photo Wall - available after the race for you to get a proper high quality pic that you can then download for free afterwards