Just back from a fantastic weekend in Dublin with Danielle staying with our friends Derek and Fiona.
The plan was to run on Friday and Saturday and enjoy a chilled out Sunday morning before flying back just after lunch. The horizontal rain and gale that greeted us put an end to that. I prowled around Derek and Fiona's flat down at Sandimount by the sea just a few minutes outside of Dublin's centre hoping the rain might relent and wind might drop. No chance and I might be mad but really didn't fancy getting completely hosed.
Friday evening was spent at the Sky Party that followed the opening of the new office that had taken place that day. The place was buzzing when I arrived at the back of six. These Irish guys know how to party! The evening sped by chatting with the guys who had completed the fit out and Danielle took me round the office which is fantastic. It was a challenging project that they pulled off and they should be proud of the awesome office that they created.
So after a long lie, Fiona and I set off for a run. Fiona is a fellow multi sport athlete having completed the London to Paris bike ride with husband Derek and many sportives and bike races. She's also a keen swimmer and I got the impression an all round talent (triathlon beckons). We set off running down to the shore line and onto the beach - although it was windy and freezing it was just brilliant running on the beach. We reached the point passing the kite flyers and cockle pickers and turned back towards the flat on the road.
The paths were very muddy with all of Friday's rain and whilst Fiona gracefully picked her way round the flooded mud fest I slipped and slided my way round with my uncertain foot placing and half expecting a major fall! The paths were busy with runners and I was a bit surprised at how few people respond to a wave or hello. The runners of Dublin are very focussed.
After returning towards the flat we went back down to the beach and head down into the wind we ploughed along the hard sand. I love running on the beach but sadly haven't done it very often. Fiona cautioned me to watch out for the water rats that run out of the gabions that form the sea wall - that certainly focussed the eyes and I ran on full alert along the beach.
Fiona turned out to be an excellent partner and we blethered the entire way round. She is an excellent runner with good style in the way she runs and I reckon with a bit of speed work could be very fast. We finished up back on the road and picked up the pace to complete 5 miles back to the flat.
After a brilliant day and night out yesterday comprising some Guinness, a nice meal, some tourist river dance dancing and some diddly diddly music last night it was back on with the running shoes this morning. Fiona was up and ready when I wandered through to the lounge.
We set off, avoiding the swamps and ran along the coast and back through the village. We both felt pretty strong and pushed the pace coming back on the 5k loop back to the flat. I was loving being out so carried on and did loop 2 so finished up with 5 miles yesterday and 6 miles this morning.
It was a fab weekend with great friends, 2 awesome scenic runs and the best Guinness I've Ever tasted. We also saw a band playing in the street who were really good and I now own their back catalogue of Cd's having bought them on the street on Saturday. They are called Keywest
Dublin is a great place for a weekend!
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