Northern Ireland Running

OK....where should I train for cross country (ideally on grass for spike use). The obvious place would be playing fields but...dull. Can anyone suggest any slightly more interesting locations ideally around Ballymena, Antrim?

At long last I'm back to running pretty normally. Did the Downhill Demense race which exposed just how much fitness I have lost over the summer, and the remaining weakness in my hamstring which was still a bit painful after. Did 7 miles with club on Monday which was OK, still some pain and a bit of limp after for a day or two.

The best news is that I did a 4.5 mile run this afternoon with no ill effects at all! Think I'll run the Bann next week too Rodney.

Heather - that is so impressive!  Well done! You never know in a marathon how you're gonna feel from one mile to the next but it's great the way you kept going.  I'm training for Dublin mara  - is that an option for you?  Also doing Laganside on Sunday so perhaps see some of you there.

Irene where are you at the minute with regards to mileage for Dublin?

Can anyone tell me if the Waterside is now confirmed as one of the 8 races mentioned here-

"Any runner completing all 8 races will get a commemorative garment."

Larne Half Marathon – March 24th
Omagh Half Marathon – March 31st
Newry Half Marathon – June 3rd
Lisburn Half Marathon – June 20th
Ards Half Marathon  - June 29th
Dervock McArthur Marathon and Half Marathon- July 21st
Cookstown Half Marathon  - July 29th
Waterside Half Marathon-  Sept 9th (Awaiting final confirmation)

Yes Mark Waterside is the final race in the Up&Running series. I entered online last night.

Good luck to everyone racing this week end. I'm hoping to get another bask at the ECOS park run tomorrow.

Good luck to Springwell's Sally Brown who goes in the T46 200m heats today at 12.05.

Good luck with the XC training Paul it helps if you get a few runs in to get used to running in spikes. Most of the XC are round playing fields. We're hoping to run a real XC which will definately not be around playing fields. I should have more details after Tuesday nights club meeting.

Real cross country sounds great Kenny! I don't mind racing around fields, not sure I can face too much training around them on my own .

See you at Ecos tomorrow morning hopefully.

Great run Heather - especially with your problems in the last 6 miles!

Kenneth - when do entries close for Waterside? (cant seem to see a close date on website). Still trying to run/cross train through a niggle and have been leaving entry as late as possible.

Yes TG - it's her and this is her second.

Congratulations Ferdy

Hi Mark - did 16.3 miles last night and hope to do 18 next wkend. Hope to get a couple of 20 milers done but also want to do a few half maras so it's a bit ad hoc.  How are you getting on? (and any other forumites doing Dublin mara).

Irene, I'm in for Dublin also. I got in a 17 mile run last week and currently putting in about 30 - 35 miles/week. I'm doing the Newtownabbey triathlon on Sunday, and after that will concentrate more on the running and ramp up the mileage a good bit. I  won't be able to get to the half marathons, but should be able to make the Causeway marathon which I'm really looking forward to. The HR monitor is useful for keeping the pace under control on the longer runs, so thanks for that advice, C75 & TG.

That's great Paul - hope the tri goes well.  Am also hoping to do the Causeway but the half mara will be enough - really enjoyed my first attempt last year.  Any suggestions for accommodation in Dublin?

Ricky w: re waterside half: 

Can I enter on Race Day? Yes, but entries will incur the late entry fee.

Is there a closing date? No, but entries will incur the late entry fee How much is entry to the half marathon and 10 Mile Challenge Walk? £20/€25
Late Entry £25/€30

Second run out yesterday at the ECOS Parkrun. I managed to knock 1 minute off last weeks time. 12 miles with the Dublin Marathon gang this morning and naother lovely day for running.

Yes TG second international vest for Ferdy she is running well at the minute 3rd at Dessies on Tuesday in a PB time and new club record.

Ricky not sure when the late entry kicks in.

Irene, we always stay with relatives down there, so can't advise you about hotels. We've found though that if you're flexible about location, you can get some cracker deals in good hotels.  

How did you get on at Newtownabbey Paul.  As shorter races have always done, sprint tri's also scare the bejesus out of me.  I don't like the eyeballs out from the start stuff and would always prefer to do the longer stuff. 

20 miles run this morning in prep for Dublin.  Unfortunately I have had to step up sooner than I would have chosen in steps of 13,18, 20. 

But the bike miles from a season of bike and triathlon seems to have stood me in decent shape as far as the endurance, but with an all too obvious lack of pace.  In fact my pace is currently woeful and I'll have my work cut out to beat last years time.

Thanks for the company this morning Kenny, the numbers turning out early on a Sunday morning make all the difference to a long run.

Cheers Ray - doesn't make a whole lot of sense does it?! So when does an entry become "late"!

Anyway no matter - I am now entered online & looking forward to Waterside next Sunday.

Was hoping for sub 1:50 prior to my niggly ankle but training as been patchy since. Ran a 6 miler tonite at tempo pace in 49mins dead so maybe not too far away?? Low 1:50's will be an improvement anyway so will be happy with that.

Kenneth & Mark - maybe see you there... anyone else entered?