by Julie

First impressions

So I made it to India. I’m currently on a bumpy bus with a group of very nice people heading to Agra, and tomorrow we visit the Taj Mahal. The main inspiration for visiting India. But that’s for tomorrow. So far the overwhelming impression of Delhi is the crowds and the traffic and driving. To say the traffic is crazy is an understatement. Bikes, rickshaws, tuk-tuks, buses, cars and pedestrians all share the road, and everyone just navigates their way to where they went to go. On larger roads lane discipline is non-existent, they drive…
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by Julie

A humble ambition

For my fifth marathon I am finally trying to do it properly in terms of strength and conditioning. To that end I have joined a gym that is across the road from me, and engaged a personal trainer for four weeks to teach me how to lift weights and generally cop myself on when it comes to strength exercises. I'm not expecting miracles between now and the end of October, the date for the Dublin marathon, but I would like to be able to run the whole thing, and not need to take any walk…
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by Julie

Summer in Ireland

I'm posting these photos to remind myself that summer does occasionally happen in Ireland. This was last Saturday on the Old Rail Trail in Athlone - the old disused railway between Athlone and Mullingar. It's where I did my virtual marathon last year, and I absolutely love it there. Go a few miles out and there is no-one on it - it's rare (for me) to be somewhere so quiet and empty and peaceful. I was thinking of going out there this evening but the weather is back to normal - wet and windy and…
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by Julie

A great day out – London Landmarks half marathon 3 April 2022

I had a fantastic week in London in April - have been thinking about it ever since, so tonight is as good a night as any to post for posterity. It's dark and gloomy here in Dublin - the usual disappointing Irish 'summer' weather - and it's in no way good for my mood, so I am distracting myself by looking at my numerous photos and getting them ready for posting here. The thing that got me there in the first place was the LLHM - I think my entry was from 2020 maybe, rolled…
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