I’ve been a bit under the weather of late, and unable to run, but it’s good to have targets so I thought I’d write about my main racing target for 2019 – the Belfast Marathon on 05 May. It seems a long way off at the minute, but for most people January marks the beginning of their marathon training programme for Belfast. Due to this sickness, I’m not quite there yet but I’m hopeful the situation will improve soon.
This will be my 4th Belfast Marathon and my 10th in total. Not bad for the out of shape wreck who first donned running shoes almost five years ago. There have also been a raft of half marathon and 10K runs for good measure. Like last year, my warm up race for Belfast will be my home town half marathon, in Omagh, on 06 April. As with Belfast, it will be my fourth time running this undulating route.
Belfast will be particularly exciting this year, as it is a new route starting at the iconic Stormont Parliament Buildings and winding its way through all parts of the city before finishing off in Ormeau Park. There are several sections of the route I’m looking forward to, areas of the city I have never run through before. What won’t be different will be the fantastic atmosphere and crowd support. Belfast is a special city.
I’m not running for a charity this year, I’m doing this one for myself. Collecting sponsorship brings its own pressures and I think I’ll have enough on my plate just getting to the start line in one piece. And as for time? Well, I’d be delighted with sub 4 hours having run the other three in 3:56, 3:33 and 3:51 respectively. I’ll have to research the new route to see if it’s as challenging as the original course was in sections.
You might be thinking to yourself, is he mad? Hasn’t he enough to be getting on with? Family life is exhausting at the best of times, not to mention work, blogging commitments and the small matter of writing and publishing a book. But I need to run, even if it’s slowly and way off the pace I’m accustomed to. That is frustrating, but nowhere near as frustrating as not running at all.
There are physical benefits of course. Running keeps me in shape and I’ve worked hard at my fitness these past few years. But more importantly, is my mental health. Running maintains me on an even keel, it detoxifies and purges a lot of the nonsense that rattles around my head on a daily basis. It focuses me. I don’t want to run, I need to run. It keeps the wolves from the door. For there are many of them.
I’m heading out for a lunchtime plod later. It won’t be pretty and I’ll not be setting any personal bests. But I’m feeling a little better and I can’t sit around on my bum any longer. The pain in my legs afterwards will be compensated by the sense of achievement. 26.2 miles seems a long, long way at the minute but I’m going to get there, one step at at time. I’ll keep you all updated as to my progress.
Black Thoughts 
Good luck with getting back to running. I’m doing my first half in May, can’t wait to start training.
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Thank you Karen. I hope it’s a big success for you.
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Good on you! I hope you smash your previous times!
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Thank you very much Lena. I’ll do my very best for you all.
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Do it for yourself, not anyone else champ!
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I will 😊
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We may be on parallel training paths. I’m hoping to get fit enough to run the Winterthur marathon towards the end of May. I hope your health improves and I’ll be following your progress with interest. I know exactly what you mean by the benefits of running – it improves both the body and the mind. 😊
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Thank you. I’ll be forwarding your progress as well. I hope it is illness and injury free.
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Best wishes for a successful season of training. And congratulations on getting back on the road.
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Thank you very much Denny.
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When you are out running today just think of the lovely cushions at home you can relax and rest your tired legs on later just like you enjoyed resting your sore neck on one last night 😆 #LeaveMyCushionsAlone
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You are amazing! I hope one day to run in Belfast too.
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Thank you. You should. It’s a great city and a great marathon.
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Good health to you as you begin training! I’m with you on the reasons for working out…clears my head and settles my spirit for the day ahead.
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Thank you Meredith. I ran 3.7 miles, better than I expected.
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Excellent!
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🙏🏻🏃🏻♂️😊
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Motivational! I can’t even imagine running for 4 hours, haha. Right now I’m training for my first 5k in April. 3 months seems like plenty of time to build my stamina up. I’ve tried getting into running before but never while sober. So far so good. 🙂
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Wow, 10 marathons is impressive! My first marathon attempt ended with a cancelled race due to heat, so I’d love to try again someday. Best of luck with your training!
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Thank you. You definitely should go again.
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It’s good to have goals. Even if you can’t always reach them. I admire how you go about one marathon after the other. But I wonder: how much time do they give you to finish a full marathon? 4 hours, 5….? I think if I did one now, judging by the time I need for a mile, I’ll do 6 hours. 🙂 Take good care of you, Stephen!
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It varies from race to race as to what the cut off point is. It will say on the relevant website. I don’t think it’s normally around 8 hours so you should be fine.
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Oh I will definitively look around now. Though I won’t be ready anytime soon.
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Good for you! I’ll be cheering for you today. Running for me is all about that mental health release, perseverance and telling my brain to fuck off when it insists I can’t possibly go another step. You got this!
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Thank you. It went well!
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Outstanding! I haven’t ran a marathon in years. Better get off my kister and do so before I find I’m six feet under and have a really good excuse for not having done so.
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Go for it William! You can do it!
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Best wishes with the run! You inspired me to get serious about exercising more. I agree that it keeps the wolves at bay, and helps one stay focused. God bless and keep you safe 🙏🏻
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Thank you. Yes, I hope you get your exercise mojo back soon.
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I have faith that you’ll be fine – and maybe hit that magical PB. I hear running keeps the crazies in check, along with the wolves from the door. Maybe the wolves eat the crazies? Or the crazies chase the wolves? Either way, you can do this and we’ll be shaking our pom poms for you.
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Thank you Liz. I hope there are no crazy wolves on the roads next time I’m out running 🏃🏻♂️
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Hope your run was ok and did not set you back. May you be well soon!!
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Thank you. I’m getting there. Today went better than I expected Z
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Good luck man, sorry to hear you aren’t feeling well. Glad you have that drive to push through regardless of the feels though. Thanks for sharing your journey, running and excercise are escapes and reprieves for me as well. Hope you feel better soon. Keep doing you.
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Thank you very much Matthew. Much appreciated.
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I hope you feel better! Best of luck to you!!
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Thank you Michelle.
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Yes Stephen! Can’t wait to hear that you are back training again 😊
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Thank you. I’m going to take it slowly and hopefully get back to where I was before I got sick.
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Cheering you on. I wish I can be like you!
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Thank you. One small step at a time.
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Well you are my example. And thank you for that.
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I’ll do my best to live up to that 👍🏻
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I have my own set of targets this year. not as strenuous as yours, but you are a great encouragement to the rest of us. Keep on keeping on, sir; and if I may, “G’on yirsel’ mate!!”
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Thank you David. Mon big lad!! 😂
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Hope all goes well!
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Yes. Shae. Job done 👍🏻
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I hear you about the need to run despite other commitments. I am much better at the other tasks on my plate after I’ve had a run (whether that run is good or bad!). Good health and good weather wishes for your training this year!
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Thank you very much. Same to you 😊
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Thank you! As one of my favorite poets wrote, “and miles to go before I sleep” 😁
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Good luck to you!
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Thank you 😊
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