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Pat Carey  FF has been named as the former minister under investigation for child sex abuse.....

I have to say there are some amount of "Knowledgeable" people from around the country on the inner workings of the county board and even more future intercounty managers who will be pacing the sidelines of Croke Park in the near future...Anyway, Mike Finnerty and John Maughan had a polite but narky enough chat about the weeks events on radio 1 earlier..Maughan reckons not one supporter he has spoken to all week  had backed the players, also he reckoned that there was never a problem in the set up, in fact it was never better over the past few years. Then the " two or three" troublemakers in the dressing room was mentioned, who's agenda was he serving today I wonder?

Haven't posted in here in ages, some serious runners in here now, I am running the Galway half on Saturday, hoping to break my PB of 1.50, i have a big awards night out the night before so we will see how it goes. I have signed up for Sea to Summit as well, dont know what to expect, it will be my first adventure race and am really looking forward to it, i have signed up for the supreme, have any of you done it?

Was talking to a current Mayo player in a work situation earlier today, he started both Dublin games and played well, there were two things he mentioned to me, one last in the League game against Dublin earlier in the year, the current managers asked the player what did they think was the best way tactically to go in the second half! Also, he claimed that there was no defined tactical plan going into the second game... it was said on the bus going to the match,"We will see how the first 15 goes, and play it in 10 minute segments after that"..i asked him about pressuring Cluxton on the kick out, the management told them  "The dubs will be expecting that, so we dont be using up your energy" ..... As he said himself, it was "Bullshit" from beginning to end. That's one man's story, don't know if that's how it was or not.

Today was torture.

When I sat in the car afterwards I saw it was 23 degrees, so I don't feel to bad.

At lot of people were walking, particularly in the last 3 kms, which was indicative of the tough conditions. A fella I met before the race came up to me afterwards and told me he didn't finish as his friend collapsed on the beach and was out cold. They took him away in an ambulance. Hopefully it was nothing serious. His mate reckoned it was dehydration.

I took the good advice given here after the DCM last October and got up early and had an electrolyte. I had never even heard of an electrolyte, but I was very glad at the end today I took it.

Results not up yet but it was around 2 hrs 7 mins which is a long way off what I did in November. But I was very happy to finish without giving up. The thickness got me home. The last 3kms I wanted to  try to keep increasing the speed but it was torture today and I slowed badly, except of course the daft 10 metre 'sprint' at the end, in case anyone is looking, which they aren't.

Anyway, we will see how the recovery goes before any silly decisions are made.

It was fair warm alright, but i have to say, the amount of water and bananas along the route was a credit to the organisers, fininshed in 2 hours bang on, really felt the last 2k, although we were lucky the wind was at our backs all the way round until the turn for home. A great event and well organised. A swim in the sea was after was almost worth the run.

I didn't see bananas along the route. I am guessing you did Achill? I did Clontarf.

It was Achill i did alright.

Today was torture.

When I sat in the car afterwards I saw it was 23 degrees, so I don't feel to bad.

At lot of people were walking, particularly in the last 3 kms, which was indicative of the tough conditions. A fella I met before the race came up to me afterwards and told me he didn't finish as his friend collapsed on the beach and was out cold. They took him away in an ambulance. Hopefully it was nothing serious. His mate reckoned it was dehydration.

I took the good advice given here after the DCM last October and got up early and had an electrolyte. I had never even heard of an electrolyte, but I was very glad at the end today I took it.

Results not up yet but it was around 2 hrs 7 mins which is a long way off what I did in November. But I was very happy to finish without giving up. The thickness got me home. The last 3kms I wanted to  try to keep increasing the speed but it was torture today and I slowed badly, except of course the daft 10 metre 'sprint' at the end, in case anyone is looking, which they aren't.

Anyway, we will see how the recovery goes before any silly decisions are made.

It was fair warm alright, but i have to say, the amount of water and bananas along the route was a credit to the organisers, fininshed in 2 hours bang on, really felt the last 2k, although we were lucky the wind was at our backs all the way round until the turn for home. A great event and well organised. A swim in the sea was after was almost worth the run.

The Tourmakeady, Claremorris and Ballinrobe races will be trail runs, we are chip timing all the races, and each race picks what kilometer they want to time, it will be done using the chip as well. It is like a race within a race, we are hoping to add a few more catagories to the 1k section, most improved time, fastest average over the five races and so on. We specifically chose to run the events off quickly, keeps the interest up and a lot of other events will be going on March/April time too. The local radio and papers are putting together weekly training programmes and we are also hoping to tie into operation transformation groups around the area. Launch will be early Janurary in Claremorris, we are hoping to get a few football/soccer/rugby/ celebrity heads out to set some 1k times. Willie Joe Padden and John Maughan have already committed to it. Should be good craic.

Something that i am involved in putting together;

We are a local group setting up a new sporting event (The great lakes challenge Series).It is a unique series of running/walking races open to all abilities to take place in Co. Mayo and Co. Galway in 2015.

In each of these events there will be a recording of peoples' best 1km time over each event leading for the person with the fastest 1km time over the five events winning the overall prize.  Mayo/ Roscommon Hospice, Mayo Sports Partnership, Run Ireland and several local businesses are coming on board with us.

The dates for the series are as follows;

Dates                           Venue                           Distance
22nd February            Tourmakeady                 8k  (Through the Tourmakeady woods and around the waterfall, a stunning route).
1st March                    Clonbur                       10k
7th March                    Carnacon                    10k
21st March                  Claremorris                 10k
18th April                     Ballinrobe                   10k

you can find us on facebook (great lakes challenge series) or register on runireland.com. Reduced price and a technical t-shirt if you book all five events.

he was on Pat Kenny today, crying (literally) that his new missus was getting abuse on certain forums...she was interviewed as well, Denis helping out a pal perhaps?

It is possible to remember the war dead AND wear a poppy. Buying and wearing a poppy imo is not tacit approval of war (illegal or otherwise), in the same way that visiting Dubai is not tacit approval of the slave-like conditions of the workers involved in building your 5 star hotel, buying a cheap t-shirt undoubtedly manufactured in a sweatshop in SE Asia is not... etc. etc.

I'm sure you're right on an intellectual level, just as I could justify donning a Tipperary fleece if I was freezing cold. But on an emotional level I'd be thinking that there must be some other way to keep warm.

I'm in the same boat as yourself re. marital background and I have no issue with the children supporting a poppy appeal as long as I have set them straight on what it really means and they agree to not wear it in public  . I wouldn't miss the poppy if it never existed but I don't get my knickers in a twist over it either. I do however get annoyed when some unionist/loyalist no mark is attempting to use it to antagonise the other side.

As i am sure the Unionists get annoyed and antagonised by the wearing of the Easter lily. People can find offence with almost anything, if they are so inclined...

Decision made, after learning so much this year, am going back to give it a whirl next year....

Hardest thing I've ever done.
Legs cramped at 16miles and I walked/jogged to the finish line.
Brilliant atmosphere and a great thrill to cross the line.I was finishing no matter what so time went out the window after the legs went but I wasn't going to stop.I had to finish and I did.
4:59 in the end.

Just in the door LL.....Finished up in 4.57....I was going to head I to to the mosque with you at one stage...my first marathon, learned a lot to be honest, hydration is so so important....to be honest though didn't notice the heat too much...have a golf ball in my hamstring and my calf keeps locking up....I hear an extra large big mac meal is the perfect cure....well done to one and all all...We are in the one per cent club..unreal..

Looking for to Monday now, did a 12 miler yesterday, a nice easy week ahead, thank god!!

Thats a tough break CD,hope you can get it sorted, being off training all week with a flu/ chest infection, tried a few miles on Tuesday, got to three and had to walk home....off to Paris with the missus to run a 16k on Sunday around Paris...looking forward to it.

For anyone doing the long runs - have you used deep tissue massage?

Went for a second session there on Wednesday evening after 6miles. My legs were starting to feel a bit niggly, heavy etc after weeks of plodding away. The massage lasted 25 minutes, focused on my calves and took years out of my legs - would definitely recommend it as part and parcel of your training. Will go again in three weeks and the week before the marathon I'll get a full body massage to take all the aches out of the shoulders etc.

Had one on Friday, mainly focused on the hammers, glutes and calves...hurt like hell...went out yesterday for a 10k and had no power at all....did my long run this morning, 20.5 miles and I have to say, it made some difference, have any other booked for 10 days before Dublin...