This time of year not only means 40-odd days until Christmas shopping, but it is also the last business quarter and therefore often chaotic. Work stress, coupled with sedentary Brandy-soaked holidays, is not good for one’s health, but we all saw what Forrest Gump did when he couldn’t take it any more: he ran. Here are a handful of Irish running blogs to get you over the starting line.
This running blog begins with an inspirational quote from Muhammad Ali: “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.”
Those moments on your own, in the rain, ahead or behind the crowd … that’s what Darren Spring expresses with a wonderfully written inner dialogue about running.
He also maintains RacePix365.com, a free photo-search community website for Irish runners, plus he has a Twitter list of Irish athletics people that tweet (url.ie/2voo).
Diary of a Rubbish Marathon Runner
Thomas Bubendorfer is a runner with a meticulous blogging method. Every detail about his run – fellow participants, the environs and his condition throughout – is carefully noted. Short of shadowing the man, you couldn’t ask for a better insight into his running journeys.
Humorous title aside, this is serious stuff: Bubendorfer has plenty of stats, including his personal bests and marathon history. This is a good place to learn the lay of the land if you’re a beginner to running.
This blog actually belongs to outdoors apparel store Ger’s Running, which has gear for running, marathon running, hiking, cycling and general outdoor activities.
The blog adds value with training tips covering ladder drills, two-mile repeats, how to keep your heartbeat at an ideal rate and other insights.
There are also some promotions and product news to whet the runner’s appetite.
This intriguing blog is written by a woman who decided to take up walking and running after finding herself overweight and in poor physical health.
Seven stone lighter, she takes it all in her stride now and tests sports gadgets, to boot. A pinch of common sense, a dash of inspiration and lashings of good humour pervade this London-based running blog.
By Marie Boran
Photo: The ‘Private on Running‘ blog.
