Great Limerick Run

This Sunday we participated in the Great Limerick Run!

There are three races, the marathon, half marathon and the 6 miler. As you can guess I am in no way ready to do a marathon much less a half marathon so the six miler it was!

A large group of my friends were all participating- the majority of us did the 6 miler but two of our group took on the challenge of the half marathon (and they did it as smokers as well- I have NO CLUE how they didn't pass out mid way through, but they made it with no problems!)


Here is the starting line at a place in the center of the city called Pery's Square. Its a great location right next to the peoples park with a large church at the end. There were about 4,000 people packed into this little square at the starting time. You seriously couldn't blink without touching someone else!


Here is the group of us who did the six miler warmed up and ready to go! (and it was mostly sunny the entire race! Thanks Ireland!)


An hour and 28 minutes later the finish line! It was right on O' Connell street, which is the main road through town (Little Irish fact for you, there is at least one large street in each city/big town that is called O' Connell street. I believe O' Connell was a major figure in the revolution here in Ireland. I should really know this by now haha!) It was so cool running through the cheering crowds to the finish line! Here are James and I with our friend Lisa sweaty and red-faced after the finish!
We all got really cool medals for finishing...they were shaped like the Treaty Stone, a major monument here in Limerick. I've never actually seen it, but I've walked past it about a million times. And I apparently cannot put on medals the right way round. Here is me fixing it and pretending I don't look like a mad scientist with all the hair.
Here is a group of us with our friends who ran the half-marathon all delighted with ourselves for a great finish!
We were running for the Everest 2011 campaign to support our friend Mark- He has been getting plenty of local press lately on his ascent to the summit- how cool is that?
And of course, the after race pints! I could only stay for one because I had to go and work after the race (and that sucked big time!) But all in all it was good times!
I'm really happy I participated in the race- It was my first time doing any sort of organized run and I had such a great time. I saw a really good side to Limerick that I hadn't seen in a long time, or really ever. I think it was really good for me to experience that because Limerick is my home now and I need to get some hometown pride! Honestly even though I was pretty tired after the race and working all night I was in a great mood, happier than I've been in months. I was so proud of myself, James and everyone who participated and I plan on doing the race again next year, and this time I want to run the entire 6 miles!