St.Brendan’s AC members share their personal stories and different experiences of getting fit and embracing new challenges in recent years.
For the heck of it – Norma's story
For
the heck of it............ I always fancied myself as a bit of a panther
but sadly I was not bestowed with typical runner qualities.
Endurance
- only just enough to get me over a short finish line and it helps if there is
ice-cream at the end.
Flexibility
- I am cardboard stiff, although circuits has helped a lot.
Speed
- Oh my god, do you want to finish me off.....
The
lyrics to Bing Crosby's song 'Don't fence me in' aptly describes how I feel
'Let me be by myself in the evening' breeze and listen to the murmur of the
cottonwood trees. Running offered me exactly that, time for me to clear
my head with fresh air and take in all of nature's glories.
After
having two boys over a short timeframe I needed an interest to feel balanced
and get the blood pumping. So most days I went off round a ring near me
with two little boys in a buggy. I pushed myself with markers run a short
while and then walk and before I knew it I could complete 5k without
stopping.
So
off I went searching and online I stumbled across St. Brendan's Athletic Club Fit4Life.
The dark evenings were fast approaching and I liked the idea of running in a
group around town. That was November 2014 when I joined and I have never
looked back since.
Running
in a group was completely new to me. I was and still am in awe of members in
the club completing marathons and other endurance races. When I joined
first I thought I would never have it in me to run a 10k race.
I
looked forward to meeting every Monday and Thursday nights (winter time) and loved my chats
and rants with the other members. I also go to the strength and
conditioning class in Ardfert Community Centre on a Tuesday night and I find it
fabulous. I was such a novice I did not even know what a burpee was!
If disciplined one could do some of the stretching exercises at home, needless
to say I don't so at least on Tuesday night that time is allocated. I
also meet up with other members who do not run in town with fit for life.
The
Good Friday run in Killarney was a first for me, I got such a buzz when I completed
it. I did the Banna 5K, Killarney womens mini marathon and the Cork
womens mini marathon also. In January I completed the Kerins O'Rahilly
10K.
Over
the summer I discovered so many lovely placed in Kerry with St. Brendan's, many
places are on my doorstep and I can add them to a list of family days outs in
the future.
I
don't categorise myself as a serious runner and for me running =
enjoyment. It makes me feel happy and the best that I can be.
Running doesn't solve problems but it makes me handle them better and I love
the clarity of mind that it brings.
So
my advice to anyone out there who is reading this is if you are able bodied and
have access to a good pair of running shoes come and meet up and run with us,
I
promise, you won't regret it.................
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