Apart from icy conditions I love this time of year for training. It's like a metaphor for life really. It's not always easy to get up and go (for a run). The (weather) conditions are not always ideal (for running). Getting up early in the dark or keeping going later in the day in the dark can be a challenge.
Yet all it takes is the first step (sometimes that means the first Mile) to get going and warmed up. And then the joy of having had the courage to take the chance makes you feel accomplished and real. You did it, you had the guts and put on the brave face. And the momentum of that mind set and all your experience to date does the rest and before you know it you are flying down the road.
On the road there are obstacles. Things (in running that is cars, dogs and bikes) come from nowhere to challenge your stability, you need to stay fresh and renewed to keep going (hydration is crucial) and you have to keep a balance (check speeds and length of runs) to stay happy.
Within weeks you have what's called a habit. I run now because I can, because it is part of my day. It is no longer if but what time and how far. I'm clocking 40 mile weeks without feeling in trouble within weeks of starting my new habit. If I can do that with running, I can do that with anything. And so CAN YOU!
Back to the challenge of 12 Marathons in 12 months in 2015. My first Marathon as you may know is Lilliput, Westmeath Saturday 24th of this month (in 8 days crikey!!). I also received the good news yesterday that the amazing people of Marathon Club Ireland (MCI) are organising Back to Back Marathons from UL Boat Club on February 28th and March 1st. I'll do the Saturday as my 2nd Marathon.
Other than that I did train through the conditions this week (3 sessions in 4 days) and am doing 10 K tonight, around 9 Miles tomorrow and whatever I get to over 14 miles on Sunday!
Please share my blog and donate on http://www.mycharity.ie/event/patrick_mercies_12marathonsin12monthsin2015
This is your challenge!! Are you willing to accept it? Donate and share my Blog and make me sweat buckets in the freezing cold!!!!!
Talk to you Monday.
Friday, 16 January 2015
Monday, 12 January 2015
40 plus a week! From cigs and drinks to Miles!
Lots has changed over the last 8 years in my life. It's been a long road full of learning and it's taken me that long because I made the mistake to do it alone most of the time but I'm getting there faster now that I know to ask for help more often :)
Far from me trying to bore you with my life story, here's what I think is an appropriate synopsis:
January 2007: Dislike my job, smoke 20+ a day, Drink 20+ a week, unfit, overweight!
January 2015: Loooove what I do, run 40+ miles a week (43 last week), no smoking for 7.5 years now, gave up drink completely for 2015 after cutting it down gradually since 2007, running 12 Marathons in 12 months for Gorta Self Help Africa!
Training schedule for last week: Monday OFF, Tuesday 6.21 Miles, Wednesday 4.67, Thursday 4.67, Friday 6.21, Saturday 9.15, Sunday 13.81.
I'm planning something similar for this week, maybe adding a mile or 2 on the Sunday run!
There are a few things you can do to help me:
1- Tell everyone I'm doing the 12 Marathons in 12 Months by sharing this Blog on your Social Media!
2- Sponsor me on http://www.mycharity.ie/event/patrick_mercies_12marathonsin12monthsin2015
3- Introduce me to a corporate or business sponsor. There are sponsorship packages available. Sponsors get mentioned online, on t-shirts, in all materials and in a Gorta Self Help Africa newsletter which I think (I'll get back with the accurate figure) has a reach of 40.000!
4- Run a Marathon with me.
5- Ask me to speak at an event you organise (I'm a motivational speaker as part of my business) and raise money for Gorta Self Help Africa!
Have a wonderful day and talk Friday for my next Blog!
Far from me trying to bore you with my life story, here's what I think is an appropriate synopsis:
January 2007: Dislike my job, smoke 20+ a day, Drink 20+ a week, unfit, overweight!
January 2015: Loooove what I do, run 40+ miles a week (43 last week), no smoking for 7.5 years now, gave up drink completely for 2015 after cutting it down gradually since 2007, running 12 Marathons in 12 months for Gorta Self Help Africa!
Training schedule for last week: Monday OFF, Tuesday 6.21 Miles, Wednesday 4.67, Thursday 4.67, Friday 6.21, Saturday 9.15, Sunday 13.81.
I'm planning something similar for this week, maybe adding a mile or 2 on the Sunday run!
There are a few things you can do to help me:
1- Tell everyone I'm doing the 12 Marathons in 12 Months by sharing this Blog on your Social Media!
2- Sponsor me on http://www.mycharity.ie/event/patrick_mercies_12marathonsin12monthsin2015
3- Introduce me to a corporate or business sponsor. There are sponsorship packages available. Sponsors get mentioned online, on t-shirts, in all materials and in a Gorta Self Help Africa newsletter which I think (I'll get back with the accurate figure) has a reach of 40.000!
4- Run a Marathon with me.
5- Ask me to speak at an event you organise (I'm a motivational speaker as part of my business) and raise money for Gorta Self Help Africa!
Have a wonderful day and talk Friday for my next Blog!
Friday, 9 January 2015
It's all about the base, about the base!
Muhammad Ali
once said: ‘The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in
the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.’
It’s
the same with this challenge. The 12 marathons in 12 months are the highlights,
where I dance in the lights, run through finish lines, the adrenaline rush of
race day.
Before
and after the starting and finish lines are numerous mornings and evenings
before and after work where I get to enjoy what I do most, being present from
within accumulating miles. All going well this week I will break 40 miles, as I
will next week. And then in 2 weeks’ time, Saturday 24th it’s race day number 1
in Lilliput County Westmeath with all my wonderfully inspirational buddies from
my running club, Marathon Club Ireland!
Sometimes
help comes from angles you weren’t looking at. Collette O’Hagan, an amazing
member of the club from Dundalk, decided to launch a challenge on Facebook; and
is inviting people just for fun to run either 2015 Km or 2015 Miles this year. Challenge
accepted; it will make training in all weather that bit more interesting again.
Thanks Collette!
I
have also the pleasure to announce that John McNamara from Evolve Life Coaching
and Ronan Scully from Gorta Self Help Africa have committed to run at least 1
(maybe 2) marathons with me to help raise funds. Thanks guys, really
appreciated. If you want to run one with me as well, please let me know on
083-3008963 or patrick@forward2success.com
That’s
it from me this week folks. Talk to you on Monday!
Oh
and to donate ease go to http://www.mycharity.ie/event/patrick_mercies_12marathonsin12monthsin2015
Monday, 5 January 2015
It's all of a sudden become time to get serious!
Checked my calendar to find out it's actually January 5th 2015! I'm 5 days into my 12 Marathons in 12 Months year. So what's happened since Friday?
Yesterday I made a rookie mistake. It's good I made it during an 11 Mile training run as I would have been in trouble if it was in a race. For the last 2 weeks I had trained with double tops and the leggings of a track suit as the temperatures had dropped for my darkness runs. Yesterday it was 9 degrees and I wore the same. I overheated after 4 or 5 miles and was uncomfortable the whole way through my run. TIP: Dress for 7 to 10 degrees warmer than it is as that is how you will feel after 5 or 6 Miles.
Anyway I made it through the run and am increasing the distance again next Sunday to somewhere between 14-18 Miles. Meanwhile I will spend a minimum of 2 hours each day on either training or the organisation of the events. That's a minimum of 14 hours by 52 weeks = 728 Hours! And all I want from you in return is €12! (Or more if you want and can afford it).
Also I have given up alcohol for the year! I know that by staying completely sober me and my running will benefit. I'm changing my diet as well slowly in the next few weeks, more about that in next blogs!
Oh, here's the address on the Web where you can donate: http://www.mycharity.ie/event/patrick_mercies_12marathonsin12monthsin2015
Yesterday I made a rookie mistake. It's good I made it during an 11 Mile training run as I would have been in trouble if it was in a race. For the last 2 weeks I had trained with double tops and the leggings of a track suit as the temperatures had dropped for my darkness runs. Yesterday it was 9 degrees and I wore the same. I overheated after 4 or 5 miles and was uncomfortable the whole way through my run. TIP: Dress for 7 to 10 degrees warmer than it is as that is how you will feel after 5 or 6 Miles.
Anyway I made it through the run and am increasing the distance again next Sunday to somewhere between 14-18 Miles. Meanwhile I will spend a minimum of 2 hours each day on either training or the organisation of the events. That's a minimum of 14 hours by 52 weeks = 728 Hours! And all I want from you in return is €12! (Or more if you want and can afford it).
Also I have given up alcohol for the year! I know that by staying completely sober me and my running will benefit. I'm changing my diet as well slowly in the next few weeks, more about that in next blogs!
Oh, here's the address on the Web where you can donate: http://www.mycharity.ie/event/patrick_mercies_12marathonsin12monthsin2015
Friday, 2 January 2015
12 marathons in 12 months start lines!
It’s the 2nd of January, 2015. Wait, does that
read 2015, like Two Thousand and Fifteen? Flip, that means it’s challenge time.
I have been thinking about this and training for this for a while now. 12
Marathons in 12 months for Gorta Self Help Africa. In 2015. That’s NOW!
I’ll let you know more about my first event in my blog on
Monday, so keep your eyes and ears out for that!! Today I just want to let you
know what Gorta Self Help Africa do so you get an idea where your sponsorship
money will go to. Talk to you again on Monday! BTW the page you can donate at
is: http://www.mycharity.ie/event/patrick_mercies_12marathonsin12monthsin2015
And if you know farming or sports related or any other companies that want to sponsor me, please put me in touch via 083-3008963 so I can tell them what they get back!
Self Help Africa is an international development agency that seeks
to end hunger and poverty in Africa.
Their efforts are focussed on farming
and food production. Why? - because 80% of Africans rely directly on
small-scale farming for their survival, and because most land has the potential
to grow much much more.
They help rural households to grow
more food and earn more from their work. They help families
to diversify farming activities, and to access markets for
their produce. They help African women - who do the bulk of
the work on most small farms.
For 30 years Self Help Africa has
been working to with rural communities in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana,
Kenya, Benin, Malawi, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
Self Help Africa provides training
and technical support, and assists rural poor communities in a wide variety of
ways to produce more food, earn more from their land, and create opportunities
to improve their lives and circumstances.
Monday, 29 December 2014
Sacrifices, or how everyone's reality is different!
Hi all,
I hope and trust you are all keeping well and making loads of plans for the New Year and for some of you shedding the lbs gained over the festive season. I am back from a week off work. I took it to celebrate my 20 years in Ireland with a trip to Killarney but also to spend some time with relatives in Dublin.
While in Dublin I was reminded of the challenges life throws at you when my niece's daughter suffered a burst appendicitis on Christmas morning. She was rushed to Crumlin and operated on the same day. Later on in the week she got a bad reaction to morphine but is still keeping strong. Her mother and partner haven't left her side and sacrificed everything we took for granted on Christmas Day; family, food, drink, cakes, sleep, TV. The lot.
And that got me thinking about what I am doing, running my 12 marathons in 12 months in 2015 for Gorta Self Help Africa! My sacrifices compared to those of the women that will be supported with the money I will raise.
My sacrifices are time (training, fundraising, races etc...), food (cutting refined and added sugars, bread, restaurants etc...), alcohol (no more until I have reached my target 12 Marathons then a bottle of bubbly) and weekends (training Friday, Saturday and Sunday or racing).
The sacrifice of these women in Africa is to get up every day (365/year) and to do whatever they need to do to keep themselves and their families ALIVE!
If I don't succeed, I will feel horrible. If they don't succeed, there may be death.
That's all the motivation I need, trying to make a difference and make some other people's lives better. That is my purpose in life and through my running we might be able to set up some smallholder farms for these women to become self sufficient.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: -You can support me by following this Blog every Monday and Friday for the whole year and by sharing it with your friends.
-You can donate €12 (€1/Marathon) or a multiple if possible at http://www.mycharity.ie/event/patrick_mercies_12marathonsin12monthsin2015
-Helping me find companies or organisations that would like to sponsor me for the year and whose names will be on newsletters, t-shirts, social media etc...
My training programme this week is 1 x 4.6 miles, 2 x 6.21 miles, 1 x 7.2 miles and 1 x some distance over 10 Miles. The other 2 days will be covered with some Core work.
Have a wonderful day.
Patrick
I hope and trust you are all keeping well and making loads of plans for the New Year and for some of you shedding the lbs gained over the festive season. I am back from a week off work. I took it to celebrate my 20 years in Ireland with a trip to Killarney but also to spend some time with relatives in Dublin.
While in Dublin I was reminded of the challenges life throws at you when my niece's daughter suffered a burst appendicitis on Christmas morning. She was rushed to Crumlin and operated on the same day. Later on in the week she got a bad reaction to morphine but is still keeping strong. Her mother and partner haven't left her side and sacrificed everything we took for granted on Christmas Day; family, food, drink, cakes, sleep, TV. The lot.
And that got me thinking about what I am doing, running my 12 marathons in 12 months in 2015 for Gorta Self Help Africa! My sacrifices compared to those of the women that will be supported with the money I will raise.
My sacrifices are time (training, fundraising, races etc...), food (cutting refined and added sugars, bread, restaurants etc...), alcohol (no more until I have reached my target 12 Marathons then a bottle of bubbly) and weekends (training Friday, Saturday and Sunday or racing).
The sacrifice of these women in Africa is to get up every day (365/year) and to do whatever they need to do to keep themselves and their families ALIVE!
If I don't succeed, I will feel horrible. If they don't succeed, there may be death.
That's all the motivation I need, trying to make a difference and make some other people's lives better. That is my purpose in life and through my running we might be able to set up some smallholder farms for these women to become self sufficient.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: -You can support me by following this Blog every Monday and Friday for the whole year and by sharing it with your friends.
-You can donate €12 (€1/Marathon) or a multiple if possible at http://www.mycharity.ie/event/patrick_mercies_12marathonsin12monthsin2015
-Helping me find companies or organisations that would like to sponsor me for the year and whose names will be on newsletters, t-shirts, social media etc...
My training programme this week is 1 x 4.6 miles, 2 x 6.21 miles, 1 x 7.2 miles and 1 x some distance over 10 Miles. The other 2 days will be covered with some Core work.
Have a wonderful day.
Patrick
Monday, 15 December 2014
Maybe strong is what you have left, when you have used up all your weak!
The title line is from an ad for Saucony; a company that makes amongst other things, running shoes. It always resonated with me and I figured out the reason for that recently. I was using all my weak in my running efforts. I am a better runner than I have been. I did the minimum of what I had to do to finish marathons.
So I needed a bigger challenge, one that would frighten me into action. I decided that 12 Marathons in 12 months was scary as I did an average of 2.5 marathons for the last 7 years. Today, Monday the 15th of December the start of that challenge is a mere 2 weeks away. 12 in 12 for Gorta Self Help Africa.
Funny how setting challenges that seem impossible focus you into action. I ran PB's for both the Half and Full Marathon this year at the age of 48! I just ran 29 miles over 3 days this weekend a week after my Half Marathon PB. I'm feeling better, stronger and fitter than 20 years ago when I was into sports but also into cigarettes, junk food and alcohol. The cigarettes have long gone, the vast majority of what is left of the junk food and alcohol are going January 2nd. This year is about breaking through to the other side of running; one that finds peace in pain, one that finds meditation in distance.
And one that will see me raise €12,000 for Gorta Self Help Africa. And that's the bit I need your help with. I'll let you know next Friday what you can do to assist right now.
Have a wonderful week and remember; run with a smile!
So I needed a bigger challenge, one that would frighten me into action. I decided that 12 Marathons in 12 months was scary as I did an average of 2.5 marathons for the last 7 years. Today, Monday the 15th of December the start of that challenge is a mere 2 weeks away. 12 in 12 for Gorta Self Help Africa.
Funny how setting challenges that seem impossible focus you into action. I ran PB's for both the Half and Full Marathon this year at the age of 48! I just ran 29 miles over 3 days this weekend a week after my Half Marathon PB. I'm feeling better, stronger and fitter than 20 years ago when I was into sports but also into cigarettes, junk food and alcohol. The cigarettes have long gone, the vast majority of what is left of the junk food and alcohol are going January 2nd. This year is about breaking through to the other side of running; one that finds peace in pain, one that finds meditation in distance.
And one that will see me raise €12,000 for Gorta Self Help Africa. And that's the bit I need your help with. I'll let you know next Friday what you can do to assist right now.
Have a wonderful week and remember; run with a smile!
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