2.7 K
Today we planned a trip to Phoenix Park for a 2K run and then some Badminton with our new Tesco Value Badminton Set. However, the park was mostly closed for the Great Run Ireland. The adult race hadn’t started yet, but we got a glance at the junior 2.5K. The kids were adorable–and pretty good runners.
Not to be outdone by a bunch of children, we headed back home to do a pretty typical run around the ‘hood. Luckily we live next to the canal, so it’s a very nice place to run (even if it is usually colder and windier than anywhere elese in Dublin). The first 2.7K in my new shoes went well. Running in shoes designed for it really makes a difference, who knew?!
And my reward for the run, freshly baked homemade brown bread!
More Shoe News
Good news from www.onehomemanyhopes.org…
Laced with Joy
Clarks shoes will this month supply each child with a new pair of shoes for school. Simple black with laces, but a luxury for our ladies. Our volunteer group from Boston and New York will take the footwear to Mudzini Kwetu when they visit April 30th – May 12th. Anthony Mulongo, our founder once summed up the family spirit so important to us at Mudzini when he said “When we have shoes, we all have shoes. When we have no shoes, we have no shoes together.” Well this month, we all have shoes.
Lace Up
Running this 10K is a totally new proposition for me, so I’ve approached it as I do everything…by asking the essential question: What will I wear?
I took a look at my old runners bought from Dunnes Stores for €10 when I joined a gym 5 years ago and decided they just wouldn’t cut it. Out of concern for my desperately achy knees and wanting to do this the smart way, I headed to into town to get some proper running shoes.
This little adventure proved to me much more stressful than I thought. I can spot a killer pair of heels a mile off and know exactly what I want when it comes to fashionable footwear, but when it comes to performance sneakers I’m at a loss. Luckily Chris was there to help out.
My new runners!
I ended up with a pair heftily discounted of Asics from Elverys and new duds from Champion Sports (If you’re in Dublin and need running gear, now is the time to scoop it up some great deals).
These shoes are amazing! I can definitely feel the difference a good pair of shoes make. My feet feel cushioned when I run and Chris says my form is much better. Now it’s time to hit the road to test ‘em.
57 Days
Well, here it is my declaration to do what once seemed unthinkable. I’m going to run…for 10 kilometers (that’s over 6 miles for you non-metric people).
For some, this may not seem like much of a feat, but for me it is huge. I’m slightly less than graceful and have only run for the odd bus or train. (And lets be honest, even then I’d rather just wait for the next one). In primary school I went to great lengths to cheat at running the mile in gym class and my illustrious middle school track career lasted all of 3 days.
So when I lace up my sneakers on 1 June for the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin, history will be made.
Why am I doing it? Well, I like to keep challenging myself and in a moment of impulse signed myself up. The Mini Marathon is the biggest all women’s event of it’s kind. It brings thousands of women of all ages and abilities out on the streets of Dublin. It’s serious business for some (like Sonia O’Sullivan, winner in 2000) but for most it’s good for a laugh and a chance to raise the profile of your favourite charity.
I thought I’d use the opportunity to not just do myself some good by working off the Christmas pudding, but to do some good for other women in far off places. That’s why I’m asking friends and family to sponsor my run to benefit a fantastic organisation, One Home Many Hopes, a home for orphaned girls in Kenya. I worked alongside the founder of OHMH in Boston and have seen firsthand the passion and enthusiasm that drives the project to create a loving family for 35 young girls.
Stay tuned on this blog to read more about my adventures training for the Mini Mathon and to learn more about OHMH. Please donate a little or a lot!
