Messages

How many times in the last 5/6 years have Loughgiel played St Galls in the first round?  Seems to stick out that's it been a fair few?!

I'd imagine dates will be around the same as normal.

Quarter Finals on the weekend of 27th/28th August.  Semi Finals a fortnight later, and final a fortnight after that.  Preliminary round played around beginning to middle of August.

Preliminary Round
Ballycastle V Clooney Gaels

Quarter Finals
A. Dunloy V Prelimary Winner
B. St Johns V Rossa
C. Ruairi Og V Creggan
D. Loughgiel V St Galls

Semi Finals
C V B
A V D

Inspection in a few weeks 

Best of luck Jim!  INSET day on Monday too...first year experiencing the 'back to school after two weeks off' feeling.  First year not getting away skiing at this time too..Easter seems like a long way away!

Thanks Seafoid. Looking at the French resorts they are a lot more expensive, and it seems that the French midterm is falling at the same time as ours this year which obviously jacks up prices too. Cheapest skiing seems to be in Andorra which wouldn't be the worst thing. Only downside would be that I've skied Andorra twice in the last three years and would rather broaden our horizons than go back.

Has any one any experience of skiing in Austria?

Thought I'd get this back to page one!

Any teachers/family skiers who have to go during holidays any advice?

I've always skied throughout my time at Uni and even organised university trips to Andorra and Val Thorens but now I'm out on the other side and I have to go during school holidays I can't believe the price difference! A quick look on Thompson Ski and the difference in going to Val Thoren during mid term week in Feb and the week before is £500!

Looking to book something lively for a group of teachers during Feb, 14th-21st. Is my best option to book everything separately rather than use a tour operator? Any advice appreciated!

Do any of you use insoles when running? Having to visit the physio more and more often with problems with my ankles and calves and she has said it's time to do something preventative rather than trying to fix the problems after they arise. She says I'm an over pronator (feet land on the ground outside first) and that I've really high arches so need to go for a proper gait analysis. Just wondering if anyone has any experience in this and what sort of money could I expect to spend?

Wee James called it 15 months ago about Micky Hartes men and their diving! Looks like nothing has changed... Hope wee Laverty didn't hurt big Seans tummy and he's fit to play on Saturday!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KPsofCVUu8

I posted a bit in here back in January/February when I started training for the Belfast Marathon and I just wanted to throw a quick comment in to say thanks for all the help and advice.  I had a read almost everyday and more than anything, I benefited from just reading everyone else's posts regarding training, nutrition and experiences and I didn't need to ask too much, so thanks.  I'd a tough enough time with training when it started to matter around the longer runs.  Had to take a 3 week break of complete rest in March when I tweaked my Achilles which meant missing out on long runs of 16, 17 and 18.  Came back in with 4 weeks to go and ran a 15, then a 20 the week after which was brutal.  Was fitting in hurling training too since January and think I was just doing too much.  Was lucky to get one rest day a week. 

Managed to come in at 3:46:46 so absolutely over the moon.  My aim was 4 hours so I am still delighted about it.  I agree with a lot of what TYP said in his brilliant round up a few pages back.  Relay change overs at the beginning were crazy, the tow path in along the M2 was horrific and the people on the streets are brilliant.  Miles 17-22 were the toughest for sure.  I was able to lift it back up a bit on adrenaline for the last couple of miles with the people on the streets again and the brilliant atmosphere.  Said during the last 9 miles that I would never, ever do another marathon and I meant it more than ever right afterwards too - though I think I am slowly coming round to the idea of it again, though I think I would only enter if I knew I'd a great chance of beating my time so timing and training would probably need to suit.  Just too competitive with myself. 

Fantastic experience and I made a new best friend..my foam roller! 

Just over 7 weeks to go until the Belfast marathon now and everything was going great. Did 15 miles a fortnight ago and felt good. Went out to do 14 on Saturday past and only managed 11 as my left Achilles was a bit tight. Rested since Saturday until today icing it every evening and it didn't feel bad at all. No different than normal. Just went out this evening to try a bit and got half a mile before I had to turn back. Feels tighter than ever. Panicing big time now about getting long miles in through the next few weeks. Advice really welcome.

Don't really post much in here but read it almost everyday! If nothing else it's good to see others' successes and failure and it gives me some help!  Just thought I'd give a bit of an update about how I'm getting on with my first marathon (and first serious bit of running ever)!  Just in the middle of week 7 of a 16 week training program and it's going great.  Ran 4 miles on Monday and 6 miles yesterday afternoon and felt brilliant.  Didn't do anything at all last week and went out on Saturday and died after 3 miles so it was big relief to feel good during and after the last two runs.  Another 4 miles sometime before the weekend then we've a big charity run on Sunday from Ballycastle to Cushendall (15 miles).  Going to try and do the whole thing and focus on bringing the pace down a lot - 6 miles yesterday was at 8 minutes per mile which I know isn't realistic for longer runs.  Managed 12.35 miles a couple of weekends ago and it was 8:43 minutes per mile but that's probably still too fast?

Using an app on my phone called RunKeeper and it's great to try and keep the right pace.  Wee man tells me in my ear every five minutes what pace I'm running so it's a good reminder whether to speed up/slow down, although I'm still too competitive and hate when he tells me I'm slower than yesterday!

I think this is where it's really going to get tough with the longer runs during the week added in with training with the club.  Today's supposed to be a 'rest day' but we've training tonight! 

[You'll probably have a match on the Sunday beforehand lol]

Signed up for the full Belfast Marathon in May and intend to try and follow the program below for it.  Will be fitting it in around hurling training from now until the big day.  Started off on Monday on week 2, with 3 miles, and have 4 to do this evening, but my legs are in agony!  Did plenty of stretching before and after and spent last night doing flexability and foam rolling...will the pain get more bearable? Or are my legs going to ache for the next 4 months? 

Haven't done any proper running outside hurling training really ever..will I be able to do both effectively?   

Fair play, I'd say it will be hard enough to fit in with the hurling also, You'll probably have a match on the Sunday beforehand lol

Running on the pitch and running on the roads are completely different and you legs will ache till they adjust I'd imagine, trainers important also so look for the shoe that will fit you best and don't worry about price.

Seems grand up to week 7, the rest looks tough right through

Almost sure to have a match the day before so that should make things interesting!  Feeling better and a lot looser after yesterday's 4 miles (4.27m in 33:24) than I did after the 3 miles on Monday (3.19m in 24:52).  This is without doubt too fast as I'm punctured after it but I find myself getting bored when I try and slow it down.  Doing another 3 miles this evening so going to try and get the miles in and around 8:30min.  Nice big 6-7 mile run around Glenariffe forest waiting for me on Saturday!

Signed up for the full Belfast Marathon in May and intend to try and follow the program below for it.  Will be fitting it in around hurling training from now until the big day.  Started off on Monday on week 2, with 3 miles, and have 4 to do this evening, but my legs are in agony!  Did plenty of stretching before and after and spent last night doing flexability and foam rolling...will the pain get more bearable? Or are my legs going to ache for the next 4 months? 

Haven't done any proper running outside hurling training really ever..will I be able to do both effectively?   

[He injured his ankle]

The training didn't start in earnest until the start of June. Liam played/trained when he and the rest of the panel were under no obligation to do so before this Time. He also was about until recently. He injured his ankle. During this time he may or may not have contemplated retiring. As he has the right to do. Thankfully he'll be back to training next week. No conspiracy, no big story. Move along now, nothing to see here. 

SIE if he wasn't able to hurl with an ankle injury, how was he able to play for Ballymoney United last Friday?

Thats unbelievable

Think GAA was an after thought in the planning and it's primarily used for soccer and rugby. 

If your looking for a South Antrim venue for championship hurling what about Queens place? Sure does it not have a good stand and all the rest?

Top spot

Great set up, good playing surface and more car parking than Casement or Lamh Dearg.  Only downside is that it's too short.  There's only one 65' which marks the midfield I think, which I've heard is posing problems for Queens hosting the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon next year.