Doing this releases you of a burden. And once you drop that burden, there is actually no need to pick it up again.
What is that burden? Others' expectations.
I recently decided to remove some of them to check what would happen. It is liberating. So now all your and others' expectations of me are of no more use to me anymore. I'm giving them back to you, they are yours to keep.
How does this Intentional Living work? I'll keep it short. You figure out what you love doing most and then simply start doing it. Then set an intention. Case in point is my love for long distance running.
My intention is to run for as long as I can, as often as I can, as far as I can go, as long as I keep loving it. Then I set a direction I want to take it in. This year that was #50at50. To have completed 50 Marathons before my 51st birthday. Then on a daily basis I do what I love most to move me toward that direction. Simple and oh so effective.
I try and do what I love most every day. Makes me happier, living in the moment, creating moments as they happen.
My 51st birthday is in February 2017. I completed the #50at50 yesterday, with more than 6 months to spare. Why? I just kept doing what I love most on a daily basis. Simple. And effective.
Medals 49 & 50, completing #50at50
These weekends are never just about running. They are about an extended family of friends who genuinely care for and support each other. Whether they are from Marathon Club Ireland, East of Ireland, East Antrim Marathon Series, Kerry Crusaders, Born To Run Tralee or any other Clubs that come to these smaller races. This was more than evident this weekend.
Big, massive thanks go to Brenda and Shane Dunphy who put us up in their home for the weekend and provided shelter, food, hot drinks and more. To Elaine and Denzil Jacobs and family for opening their house on Friday and Saturday evening to about 15-20 people and again providing food and beverages. To Maura Coppinger for the wonderful MCI Rocks cake. To Mary and David Toomey for the company and lifts. To Maryse and Derek Mackessy for being excellent company. To Catherine, Lindsey and Vincent Guthrie for everything you do for us and the Club. To Aiden Swords and Johnny Healy, Race Directors for 2 excellent courses and races!!
Running is Fun with Mary Toomey Roche & Brenda Barrett Dunphy.
The gorgeous MCI Rocks cake!!
MCI is one big happy family, hydration with Maryse O'Connor Mackessy, Derek Mackessy, David Toomey, Shane Dunphy and Brenda Barrett Dunhpy.
With Shane Dunphy in the 'Bog' on Saturday.
Big, massive thanks to all the runners both Saturday and Sunday for your messages of support and your well wishes (Yes Shaun Boyle that's you too and you are in the Blog :) ). Your words and hugs were very much appreciated. To Tiger O'Flaherty for your inspiring speech to celebrate your 100th Marathon, respect and congrats. To Eimear Hurley for the biggest hug I have gotten in ages and your kind words. To Theresa Grimes for continuing our Tag games. To Tiger, Shane and Valerie De Burca for the company in the bog. To Angela Ross Ines for the 20 odd miles of excellent company on Sunday.
The happy 4 who finished Day 1 together. With Shane Dunphy, Tiger O'Flaherty and Valerie De Burca. Both Tiger and Valerie ran their first ever Back to Back's.
Ran from mile 6ish to 26.2 in the Wind Turbine Farm on Sunday with Angela Ross Ines. Thanks Angela!
The hero of the weekend! Tiger O'Flaherty accompanied by his son Paul getting the 100th Marathon medal from Vincent Guthrie.
Group picture with 100th Marathon man Tiger!
Big, massive thanks to Carol Madden, Philip McEvoy, Carmel Doherty, Brenda & Mary for the pictures to remind me of #50at50.
And I'm probably forgetting people. Thanks to you all!
Saturday we started at the Club house of Clonmore Harps GAA club. Here's another thank you. To them for opening their facilities to us. We ran a 6.5 mile out and back route twice to make up the 26.2 miles. Some of this on country roads and then a couple of miles on trail of road. Trail? Or Bog? You decide. To navigate this section was interesting and a nice change. It was a warm and humid day and the lack of rain made the bog easier to negotiate. For once no rain was better :)
The Bog that was part of Saturday's Marathon :)
Sunday we ran the entire race in Bord Na Mona's Mount Lucas Wind Turbine Farm. This made my 50th Marathon a very unique experience indeed. We ran a 7k loop followed by 7 loops of 5K. While they are big when you stand under them, they don't make that much noise. We started of with a big shower of rain which made me smile and everyone else point at me, asking to remove the stupid grin of my face :)
The Wind Turbine Farm at Mount Lucas was Sundays scene for the Marathon.
The weather improved throughout the run and in the end we had blue skies and humid conditions.
That's it. #50at50 done within the embrace of the wonderful MCI family.
What's next? I'm taking a wee break from racing to build up some strength again via training. Next Marathon is East Cork Harbour August 20th. That's 4 weeks away for once :) After that I will run the races I feel like running for the rest of the year and see where that takes me.
Running is part of who I am and a big part of what makes me happy!
As for the intention. That stays the same. Run for as long as I can, as often as I can, as far as I can go, as long as I keep loving it. And I worked out my Direction for 2017.
12 Multiples or Ultra's for the year or 1 per month. Anyone know a good hashtag for this????
A Multiple is more than 1 successive Day racing Marathon or longer. Ultra's are any race longer than 26.2 miles. 12 of these for the year (and a few Marathons as training runs). Hopefully this will include races like the Quadrathon in Donegal, a multiple in Ballina, Connemara Ultra again, Tralee 100K and a Double Marathon in Sixmilebridge, the Wicklow Way Ultra etc...
Thanks again everyone for all your kind words, for reading this blog and for running alongside me. You are all awesome! You are all unique! You can all live intentionally too!!!
Miles with Smiles and 50 hugs each. xxxxx
Patte
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