It had been nearly 18 months since my last IMRA race. In the interim time, a baby and a move to Northern Ireland had put pay to my mountain racing days. But then Mick Hanney started posting pictures on Facebook. They were of rocks and mountains and muck and puddles. There were views from descents … Continue reading Irish Mountain Running and the Fountain of Youth
"I'm going to do an adventure race before my maternity leave is up." It was a promise I made to myself before my baby was even born. It was a goal I needed to mentally make, something to get me back on my bike and back wearing my running shoes within a few weeks of … Continue reading Ready to Adventure Race Four Months after Giving Birth
Who would have thought there were orienteering maps of in and around Derry? But on Saturday, I was treated to a fast sprint series around Gransha Estate. And then on Sunday, a technically difficult stint around Magilligan's sand dune system. The sprint was staged to select the Irish junior team for the European Sprint Orienteering … Continue reading The Coastal Warrior Weekend – 2 Days of Orienteering in Derry
Since moving back home, I’ve had a chance to explore the corner of Ireland where I grew up. I now live on the Inishowen Peninsula, which is lodged on the north-west tip of Ireland. It houses the island’s most northerly point, Malin Head, as well as harbouring some of Ireland’s most rugged, wild countryside. So … Continue reading Shore to Summit Multisport Race – Crossing Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula from East to West
It was billed as “The Big Weekend”, a veritable feast of Orienteering to be held in Northern Ireland’s County Fermanagh on 23-24 February. To begin, the organisers promised a midday kick-off on Saturday with the Northern Ireland Score Championships. Then six hours later, the Northern Ireland Night Championships, once it got dark enough to run. … Continue reading Orienteered out – 3 Races in 24 Hours
“It’s the biggest race in Africa. You have to run!” my colleague said. I had just arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city. In less than a week’s time, the Great Ethiopian Run was to take place. I didn’t jump at the idea. It is a 10km road race through the crowded streets of Addis … Continue reading Trying to enter Addis Ababa’s Great Ethiopian Run
“I see it is proposed to hold this years AGM in Clonmel (in County Tipperary). Who decided this and why? This to me is a recipe for a poorly attended AGM and is consequently undemocratic. 90% of IMRA's activity and members are based near Dublin/Wicklow and the AGM has been held there for as long … Continue reading Tipperary’s Slievenamon and IMRA’s AGM draws the masses
The Mekong River is the world’s 12th longest river. Starting in China, it passes through Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam before finally dumping into the ocean. Last Sunday I decided to swim a piddling part of it, 600 metres to be precise out of its total length of 4,350 kilometres. The Mekong River Swim … Continue reading The Murky Mekong River Swim
I like to run up mountains. But without any mountains around Phnom Penh city, I decided to sell my soul back in January and race up a set of stairs. Phnom Penh tower is one of the capital’s tallest buildings at 192 metres. And earlier this year, Child Helpline Cambodia managed to trick the tower’s … Continue reading 1st Vertical Stair Race in Phnom Penh
I met Dan exactly one year ago. I was looking for an adventure race partner. And so was he. Serge, the race organise from AMA, put us in email contact. The only hitch was that Dan is a South African who lives in Thailand. And I’m an Irish lass living in Cambodia. So we didn’t … Continue reading Team Work takes the River Kwai Adventure Race Title in Thailand