An Sean Madraí

Originally published on the Irish Biker Forum back in 2009. Re-publishing here by request. Harley Softtail - first Ride 15 JUNE 2009 Posted by  The Greek AKA The Cat      This has to start with a laugh and it is just going to get funnier. Shinwacker posted a thread here which in all fairness deserves a decent reply, so here goes! Stellar being the crazy mad person that she is decided she was going to jump out of a perfectly good aircraft and not only that but she was going to drag some others out of the aircraft with her. The Jump Me? Not a chance! But I was happy to organise a few people to go down and cheer them on. Actually it was more like shame them into going through with it. The truth be known I was envious. I would never have the nerve to do it no matter how much you paid me. So having cheered them all on it was time for breakfast and I can honestly say I have never laughed so much at a brekkie as Shinwacker was in great form. My face was hu...

The title might seem a bit strange but the simple fact is I don't like, not even a little. I find it boring. That might seem weird coming from someone who runs at every Malahide Parkrun that I can get to. I now even run midweek in an effort to improve my times.  Cycle 4 DSI 2013 I find it boring because I need to have a purpose for doing whatever it is I choose to do. I love cycling because I will set out either to get somewhere or to explore a new area. I never like going for a cycle just to cycle. I tried doing a lap of the airport a few times and it is fun trying to beat your time but ultimately that isn't what motivates me. Why do I Parkrun? The simple truth is I enjoy the community. I say hello to the fella who was congratulated one week for having completed 50 runs. I have no idea what his name is and I never see him on the run as he is up with the fast folks. But I know him and he is there almost every week. I do know more people by name from volunteering, ...

The First Hurdle…. ….is getting out of bed. I manage that bit easily enough. There was only a small temptation to use the bottle of wine consumed the previous night as an excuse to give the run a miss. So I am up and dressed and there is no point in having a shower as I have a 5k run ahead of me. It is about 5 weeks since my last run. I had been giving it a miss as my knee was giving me trouble but I felt like I could give it a go this week. View Malahide Parkrun, Dublin in a larger map The next decision is whether to cycle to Malahide park or take the car. Sammi, my daughter, decides for me, by telling me it is raining and we are taking the car.  I always prefer to cycle the 8km to the meeting point as it warms me up nicely but I really don’t fancy a cycle in the rain. So we make our way to the park having had a fine breakfast of weetabix, coffee and two pints of Miwadi orange. Did you know that the name Miwadi comes from Mineral Water Distributors? It is amazin...