I used to be a big basketball player. I just couldn't get enough of the sport, I would play for 5-6 hours a day, and then go back to the gym at night to do some shooting practice. There was just one little thing that I didn't like ... conditioning. Now don't get me wrong I didn't have any problem running, etc while playing basketball, it's these little things that they make you do at the end of practice called suicides. I think the name says enough in itself. It's a dreadful line drill. Anyways that has always cemented in my head that running is punishment. So last year I foolishly took on the task of trying to run the Flora Women's mini-marathon, ok I was only planning on running like 2 miles and walking the rest.
Since moving to Ireland the only running shoes I had were shipped over to me by my mom because I just found it so difficult to find a shop with a good selection of women's shoes that weren't outlandishly priced. A runner friend of mine recommended stopping into Mick Dowling's. I was amazed at the selection and how helpful the staff were. They even set me up with some other gear that I would need to make sure my training went off well. Now unfortunately for my training, the pub was right near the gym, and instead of encouraging our training my friend's boyfriend encouraged our drinking. Oh well, at least I have the gear the next time I decided to take up running. read more