It's time for Trá Lí

We are creatures of habit. Every time we create a habit, we get a sense of comfort from that. And because we resist the one constant in our life, change; we crave that comfort we get from our habits.

I have it from great authority (clients of mine, the best authority on the planet) that awareness is the first step to a habit of challenging your comforts. Because real life lies outside those comforts. Growth, excitement, development and learning are all optimised outside that cradle packed with our comforts.

One of my habits was that every trip to Kerry meant going to Killarney for the overnights. This weekend for only the second time in my life, after spending the last 20 years in Limerick, I will visit Tralee. And I must say I enjoyed the first visit last year. Better not make it a habit :)

The scenery is amazing, the people give you a typical warm hearted and somewhat cheeky Kerry welcome. And the race I'm running, http://www.traleemarathon.com/ , is very well organised by Marcus Howlett (A Dub who settled in Kerry!) and crew. The sights among the route are rural, coastal and stunning; from Tralee to Ardfert to Fenit back to Tralee! It will be a pleasure to run amongst friends from the amazing Marathon Club Ireland, the slightly bonkers crowd from Born To Run Tralee and the inspirational Kerry Crusaders.

There is a Full and Half Marathon on Sunday and Tralee is buzzing before and after so I'm staying for 2 nights in the Grand Hotel in Denny Street. If you are around Kerry this weekend, come cheer us on.

This is my 3rd Marathon in a 12 Marathons in 12 Months challenge for Gorta Self Help Africa. You can donate €12 (€1 per Marathon) or any amount you want at http://www.mycharity.ie/event/patrick_mercies_12marathonsin12monthsin2015