This blog began back in 2008 because I felt the urge to write. But what to write about?
Well, it’s easiest to write about the things you love.
Running up Scarr Mountain. Thanks to John Shiels for the photo.
Well I love running. And I love travelling, and I do a lot of it for my job.
So far I’ve run in: Australia, Bali, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Hong Kong, Kenya, Laos, Myanmar / Burma, Nepal, New Zealand, Spain, Singapore, South Korea, Tanzania, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam. I did try to run in Afghanistan, but security staff told me it wasn’t allowed.
Miki and I celebrating our win at 4th Annapurna 71 Trail Race, Nepal.
I also love mountains. I love to run and bike over them, and to kayak around them. I’ve spent many a happy moment in Ireland’s Wicklow Mountains, but also am a huge fan of the Comeraghs, Mournes, and Mamturks.
Running off Ben Gorm Ridge. Paul Nolan to thank for this picture.
So that’s what I love: running, mountains, and travel. And so that’s what I write about. Hope you like it too.
Hi Moire, would you mind adding the previous details about my Caveman event to your blog.
Do you think you would be interested in taking part.
Thank you,
Kim
Fundraising and PR Officer for Muscular Dystrophy Ireland
Hi Moire
great blog. Now, do you have U o York connections (does Quad Dash ring a bell – former winner?). If so, would love to do a story on your activities. QD still going strong
bw
Neil
Provost, James
Hi Moire,
Once upon a time I was a runner.. So with tiny pangs of envy, I can relate and remember the sweetness of a good run over green hills and through valleys, in rain and snow…
I never got around to meeting up with the Hashers in KTM, I can’t imagine having to weave around Ring Road – yikes!
Though I’ve had to hang up my sneakers for awhile (or for good, time will tell), I’m happy to read about your mix of run+travel. Hope to see you in Cambodia (Battambang anyone?) someday..
Go girl,
Amit
aka healingpilgrim.wordpress.com
Great blog. Can you suggest a good pair of runners? I’ve been running for years and looking to try something new.
Amazing blog – I’m hooked!
quiero felicitarlos por el blog, excelente idea, que bueno saber de que podemos compartir nuestras experiencias atraves del blog roberto caro desde ciudad bolivar, antioquia colombia suramercia
Beautiful blog!
Moire, I’m so glad to discover your blog. You’re an inspiration! I really appreciate what you wrote about the Milford Track, as I’ve seriously considered going there (having run elsewhere in NZ). I recently launched a blog to motivate other runners to combine running and travel for more inspired running and more meaningful travel. It’s also to help runners (and people in general) keep improving and avoid burnout. It’s The Runner’s Trip: Run Long, Travel Far, Discover More (TheRunnersTrip.com). I will definitely add this site to my links. Good luck and happy trails in Cambodia! Where are you from originally?
Hi Sarah, Love your blog too! Especially love your blog posting, “what marriage taught me about running” – http://www.sarahlavendersmith.com/2010/07/what-marriage-taught-me-about-running/… how all very true.
In answer to your question, I’m originally from Ireland but am living in Cambodia at the moment. Its my work that brings me here, there, and everywhere, which means I get to run in some of the more unusual places in the world before I clock in to the office.
Good luck with therunnerstrip.com – and keep running, travelling and loving life!
hi moire, i just came across the blog whilst researching running in hanoi. i’ve just moved here last week and am planning a prettty serious attempt on the angkor 1/2 this year, but i also did a few imra races back home in the spring. left my trail shoes at home thinking i’d never use them here. r u still in nam? hanoi? i’d love to head off on a few runs if you’re around
hope all is well, luke
Hi Luke, Good to hear you’ve come this side of the world. Hanoi’s great – good food, beautiful place, and (compared to Ireland) really, really cheap! Great to hear you’re also doing the Angkor half – I did it last year. Was well worth the weekend away in Cambodia and the course is pretty neat too.
I’m afraid I left Hanoi in March and now am based in Nepal. However, I’d heavily recommend you meet up with the Hanoi’s Red River Runners (http://groups.google.ie/group/redriverrunners?hl=en-GB) who run on Saturdays, hold road races around Hanoi (They have a 10k and half marathon in December), and know what races to go to in and around South East Asia. You won’t use your trail shoes in Hanoi – its all tarmac running – so you made the right decision there.
Enjoy Nam and if I find myself around there again, we should definitely meet up.
Moire
Hi there, I’ve been reading your blog for a while, it’s really great to see what kind of races you can do around the world! I started a shiny new blog a while back about women in sport, have put a post with links to this blog; let me know if it’s not your thing!
http://niamhgriffin.blogspot.com/2010/06/sweat-and-city.html
Don’t know if I should be making any top 4… the sort of girls you need to feature are the likes of mountain bikers Mel Spath (http://melaniespath.blogspot.com/) and Beth McCluskey (http://epicmtbracing.blogspot.com/2010/05/beth-mccluskey.html), not to mention ultra runners like Helena Crossan (http://www.ultrarunningireland.com/live/news/799.html). Good luck though with the new blog!
Could I ask you a couple of questions? Do you have any advice for aspiring ultrarunners? I’ve done several marathons (halfs and fulls) and want to try my hand at longer distances. Any advice would be great! Thanks!
And what charity do you work for?
Well, you’ve got a good start having already done a few marathons etc. I started ultra mountain running with doing three flat 70-90 minute runs during the week at a low heart rate, then a long slow mountain run starting at 20k, building up to 45k every other week, getting used to being on my feet for 6-8 hours after a few months. One day a week I also orienteered to help me not get lost during my long mountain runs! I only ran 5 days a week. I also try to do strength training / pilates / yoga twice a week. Having races to aim for also helped motivate to get me out to train. Also remember the key to long distance running is going slow – the recent Annapurna trail race I did all under 155 beats per minute
As for ultra-running on the flat, I’m its a different story and I’m not too sure what the best way. But all I’d say is build it up slowly. The best ultrarunners I know are over 40 and have been running for years. That level of endurance takes a lot of patience to build up so that you don’t end up injured. And most of all, enjoy it… its a heck a lot of time spent running if you don’t actually like it.
Hi Moire,
I’m writing now to share with you some great news🙂
We have a section on our website dedicated to Most Influential Runners and a few days ago we received an email from Peter with your nomination.
The nomination is up and can be seen
on this page: http://www.runreviews.com/most-influential-runners/
If you want to share this with your readers, you can use this badge:
by runreviews.com
Keep up the wonderful work🙂
Cheers,
Anna
Wow Anna, thanks so much… I’m honoured!
Great website you’ve got and wonderful to be included in a list of such inspirational runners, including Tony Mangan, one of Ireland’s most humble and dedicated athletes.
Keep fit and keep having fun!
Looks as though you are certainly a busy lady! Well done
Love your links, are you actually going to run then all?
Any tips for my husband who is builidng up his preperations for the Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc in 2011, via the Lakeland 50 and others this year? He’s new to fell running but feels he’s at a time in his life when he needs more challenges:-)
Cheers
UTMB 2011 – lucky man! I hear its really hard to get a place to run in it. There’s a few irish lads who have done it and always say it was one of their greatest events. For long distance events, its all about going slow and steady. On weekdays 70-90 minute endurance runs and then weekends, long days in the hills, anything from 4-10 hours, just walking up hill and running down keeping a slow and steady heart-rate (I used to go at 140-150 on those runs). Looking forward to seeing your posts to hear how your husband gets on.
As for the other links, lets just say its a wish-list… for the days when the Irish economy gets better and I can eventually go home again.
congratulations on finishing the wicklow round. i am not a runner. i’m a walker. we just hiked part of the wicklow way in may. i am deeply impressed that you ran from drumgoff… at NIGHT. my goodness. we hiked it in the daytime and that was enough for me. beautiful beautiful beautiful place you live.
Hi Laurie, thanks for the congrats. The best thing about going from Drumgoff through Glendalough at night is that it is so quiet and peaceful, with no one around – very magical!
Seems like you have hiked a lot of Wicklow when you were here. Just back from the Wicklow Way Relay (http://www.imra.ie/events/view/tab/details/id/612/) where teams of 8 ran the length of the Wicklow (the route marked by little yellow men you must remember!), a total of 104 km in just over 7 hours. Now that’s impressive!
Hey Chris, Cool site you’ve got going at seriousrunning.com!
My adventures at the moment are mostly in the Wicklow Mountains here in Ireland – not been travelling for the last six months😦 after a mad last year going to Haiti, Laos, East Timor, Congo and Rwanda! However the mountain racing season has just started here this week, so plenty of fun to be still had at home🙂
Enjoy the runs (and don’t be too serious!)
It’s a good thing you have running to de-stress from your work. However, it must be very satisfying and interesting to work for an International charity. I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures!