The weight issue.....Episode 1 season 1....

I always say ' I've been on a diet since the day I was born'.....it has always been a pain in the arse and it affects everything.....put on the weight when I was 12/13yrs old and it went up from there....and up and up...

Was never an exercise person...hated it and I mean hated it...my mother used to drag me around Rossbeigh beach like a deadweight...dragging the two legs behind me swealtering and pissed off at the fact that she thought walking the legs off me would slim me down somewhat...I just went slower to piss her off! Great Craic...the walk used to be the 7 mile stretch around past the shipwreck and then onto the back beach...sher I'd go home and scoff niceties in protest for the torture that I'd gone through....nightmare

Ross Castle was another favourite of hers...the minute we pulled into the car park the aches and pains started.... 'oh my leg is sore,my arse is tired....anything that came to mind...I was desperate!! We'd do the Coal Miners ring and then head back towards the car...thank god its over...she keeps walking and walking .... and walking....past the feckin car...and she's heading towards the Demense! The cheek of her....c'mon woman,get your eyesight checked,, did you not see the car back in the bloody car park!!!I was so far behind that a cry for help with my slow legs would have been wasted....

Always always hated clothes shopping....I do remember one particular incident when I was younger....was shopping in Cork. Always loved cords and I still do... went into Diesel in Merchants Quay... Saw the cords...brown Levi ones....fantastic woohoo!....I wanted them.... go up to the lady... She asks my size... Ahhh haven't got a clue...that's your job woman! was probably more conscious of the fact that I didn't want to admit my size to myself....gives me a pair to try on ...I toddle along with a spring in my step... I distinctly remember the changing room doors were like the ones you see in a wild west bar... they flapped back and forward...fecking brilliant cords at last!! Off with the pants.....I was like someone standing on hot coal- all excited.Pull up the cords... Feck... They won't go past my hips...Christ that can't be right...surely not...try some suction techniques...Not a hope in hell did that work... called my mother over...'maw (thats her nickname) need a bigger size..' she says 'are you sure they won't fit,maybe you might grow into them' ..... What!!!!! she was probably planning more blooming torture walks... The lady comes over and starts chatting to Maw.... Afraid they don't come in a bigger size....bang...run me over with a steam roller....and a JCB while your at it.... deflated (pity that didn't apply to my waistline)....

Still haven't got the brown cords but I will....

Poser......as you can see ive had the ears done.....

Current thought: running requires an effort every time.What I enjoy about it is, not the run itself but merely what running has made me change in my everyday life.I've lost count of how many mondays I've spent starving myself...gobble back rice cakes, pissy soup, and vom green tea...haven't had a Monday like that since I've started running...

The pleasure I get from running is from the fact that I've actually gotten up off my chubby ass and ran....tis now I only realise it.

To be continued....

Goodbye to my last 3 miles....mileage going up next week...

It all started in November, nearly quit  back then but am delighted I didn't...

Will have done 17 miles this week inclusive of this coming Saturday...mad! But the real running starts next week...

Wednesday's are my toughest running days...half the group are always missing on a Wednesday and I completely understand why...I'd love a doss day and I do have many the argument with myself as to why I deserve a doss day..'ah sher I'm shagged tired so I won't go: response:I can't afford to miss a day as I'll fall behind even more...and I need to build up the stamina in my legs...but I haven't missed a days training yet which is a good sign...

For the shorter midweek runs I always feel under pressure...I do prefer longer distances which is strange but I feel a lot more confident about the Saturday runs...there is something about them that sets u up for the rest of the week...maybe they are a confidence booster...

Tonight...3 miles...did 4 miles last night...it was bitter cold and I thought my fingers were going to drop off...my calfs wouldn't warm up and I felt like faking an injury just to stop...my legs were frozen...but who was I going to fake my injury to?! the rest of the group were gone ahead! Maybe if I screeched like nutter it might have worked but who's doing the running?me...this was going on in my head all the way round...I have fought the breathing battle: never out of breath now only going up ' the dreaded hill', fitness has shockingly improved...but the mental battle is the toughest..why? Haven't a bloody clue...I've tried counting sheep, counting cars passing,counting anything to be honest...one night I counted potholes...I was desperate! ( lost count on the pothole one, there were too many! Typical...)

Maybe I should just try and enjoy myself...and maybe crack a smile! might try it Saturday rather than being so tense...smiles all round for Saturday it is...  :) ...loola

Thank god thur and frid are rest days...need the break and can't face lumpy porridge in the morning...plain ould toast...just for one morning....

Roll on Saturday...7 miles...woohoo!

How to train for a marathon?

My offical entry for The Great Limerick Run....WOOHOO!

D-Day

Week 3 of Marathon training...13 weeks to go

It's strange how running changes everything...

Eating habits,work energy,sleep patterns,clothes,deciding on whether to drink or not to drink, social life, preparing for the day ahead....all that has changed...how?

1)I eat breakfast : never used to eat breakfast,rushed out the door in the morning and was starved by 11 o clock so would eat crap...bickies or whatever I got my hands on

2)hop out of bed in the morning like a jack in the bean-box: before I'd roll over and get up feeling tired constantly...

3)I prepare my lunch the night before: previously I used to go out for lunch or head to Garvey's for a chicken roll and a bag of Taytos...now i have sandwiches made and and salad, also I'd knock back a pint of water, used to have a can or two of Diet coke...am off it nearly 4 weeks... haven't had one drop of fizzy drinks

4) Clothes: I've lost a stone and a half, I can now go to the bathroom without opening my trousers...just pull them down! have another two stone to go but I will get there....

5) running is a social thing: I've met some lovely new people and the group seems to gel quite well...

I didn't realise it at the start but slowly but surely you start to become more focused...now I understand why so many people are out there running...the amount of money I've wasted on gym memberships is scary...ive done all the hotels from the Brandon to Manorwest...the closest i got to them was driving past them...the only bit of exercise i got was turning my head whilst driving past thinkibg to myself ' jesus i must go there some day!' ....never went!

Tonight was the first night that I truly felt comfortable doing the 3 miles...wasn't stressed..no nail biting thinking ' can I do this'...actually I'm beginning to enjoy running...at last...