An amazing few days, an unbelievable experience which I will never forget.

The day itself was very tough. The run was gruelling. It’s like nothing I have ever experienced before. Some of the climbs were so high that it wasn’t actually possible to run up them –you could only walk them. However, the Alpine scenery was spectacular and the views were amazing. It makes you wonder how people can go back to just running regular marathons after the Alpine Marathon experience.

The most important thing is that we finished it and lived to tell the tale! It was the greatest feeling in the world to cross that finish line!

Went for a few celebratory drinks in downtown Davos on Saturday night, although most of us didn’t last too long due to the sheer exhaustion of the day.

Had some further celebrations when we got home, I even wore the medal out with me on Sunday night–created quite an interesting talking point!

Still can’t believe it’s all over. Even though it was tough going, it was worth all the pain. If someone asked me to do it all over again, I would. I’m now entertaining the thought of doing the New York City Marathon next.

It’s certainly been an inspirational experience. Despite all the blood, sweat and tears we got through it. All our hard work paid off.

We never gave up and that’s what got us there in the end.

Reg

It’s hard to believe that in less than 24 hours we will be finally hitting the road.
Trying not to stress about it too much now, as they say worry is like a rocking chair, gives you something to do but gets you nowhere!

Been taking it easy for the last few days, just getting a few massages done to make sure the body is ready and refreshed for the task ahead.

Sometimes I stop and think, what have I signed myself up for here? For someone who never classified themself as a runner, I guess I’ve come a long way. I keep reminding myself of what I was like when I first started those 6 km runs all those months ago and how far I’ve come since then. It just goes to show what you are capable of when you put your mind to something.

I know it’s going to be a huge challenge but it will all be worth it in the end once we cross that finish line.

Guess there’s no turning back now, we just have to get out there and face it!

So fingers crossed we all make it back in one piece!

Reg

We have hit the final week now, so just taking it handy with the training. Did my last long 18mile run last weekend and actually found it ok, even in the torrential rain/sandstorm I got caught in out at Sandymount! Figure if I can survive that- I’m set for anything!
Went for a short run over the weekend, and will wrap up with a run today and tomorrow just to keep the legs going.

I’m just focusing on getting myself physically and mentally ready now.
Had a massage at the weekend aswell, just to get the lactic acid out of the legs and ensure that they will be in good shape for the climb.

The nerves have begun to creep in now, I think the reality of it is really hitting home. But there’s no point in over-thinking or stressing about it too much now - worry is just wasted energy at this point- just have to deal with it and focus on the task ahead.

Looking forward to getting out there now, my mum and sister are also travelling over, so it will be great to have some moral support on the sidelines. I just want to get on with it now. We have all done as much as we can at this point and I figure I’m as ready as I will ever be – so bring it on!

Will check in later in the week before we take off!

Reg

Delighted to report that I still have a clean bill of health, a little over a week back in full training.

Hannah is still confident I will have done enough to do myself justice on the mountain. What she says is good enough for me so that’s OK then…

This week I have done a couple of three and five mile runs with no ill effects on my foot at all. In between I am spinning every day up in Westwood and that helps a lot as well. This weekend I will do a two hour run. Hannah says it is important to get time on my feet as opposed to distance and I am hoping to cover 12 miles or so tomorrow.

I rang a friend earlier in the week and hit a moment of panic when my normal line of ‘it’s at the end of July’ turned into ‘It’s at the end of …this month.’

Getting scary but as they say, Never Give Up.

Reg

I am back in the saddle and pounding the streets following my lay off that forced me to miss the Mourne Way Marathon.

The last few weeks have been really hard and to be honest, I am terrified at the prospect of cramming enough into the next few weeks to make Davos a reality. Hannah though is confident I can make it and seeing Angeline and Trevor complete the Mourne Way was a huge boost for all of us.

I have been through X Rays and MRI’s at the Santry Sports Clinic and they say there is nothing ‘structurally’ wrong with my foot, just that my rugby frame is not best suited to the punishment I was giving it.

Things started going wrong three weeks ago in the middle of an 18 miler and running in relay to Carlow for charity the following day added to the pain. Complete rest and reintroduction through spinning classes have got me back on track though and yesterday I did 6 miles no bother despite the heat.

I am waiting on a pretty gruesome training programme from Hannah and will let you know next week how things stand. The clock is ticking fast and loud on the Alps but I’m going to give it everything from now until the Swiss umpire signals the start of the race!

Reg

This has been some week and more to come. I did my longest run ever on Monday. Sandymount out to the Forty Foot, back through Blackrock, around by Mount Merrion, down the Canal and back through Irish town. 16 miles and I ran every inch. I was slower over the last section but great to be ramping up the miles.

I had promised my mate Fitzy that we would do the Docklands fun run together so Tuesday was another five miles but great to be running in a race rather than solo. Sometimes with the training runs I can never be sure if I am just tired or sick and tired of running. Not really, and it always feels great at the end. Is that how everyone feels?

We got the news about Hannah’s fall on Sunday as well. Today now she has confirmed the ankle is fractured! Disaster for her. I can remember how frustrating it was when I had a sprained ankle at the start of all this. She must be climbing the walls, though not any mountains.

Flights booked and tickets secure for Leinster on Saturday. I think we will win by 8 points. I’m not so sure about where we will stay after the game on Saturday night, though. All offers gratefully received…

Catch up when Leinster are ruling Europe,

Reg

There are some benefits to all this running you know. I always enjoy my Powerade before training, but I was told today by my dietician that I was allowed to have something sweet after my run as well.

It’s all about getting some energy back into the system, you see. Everyone gets the carbs in before the run, but apparently it’s important to get them in afterwards too, so you replenish your energy reserves for the following day. Makes sense.

The only problem is that she mentioned having a small scoop of ice-cream or a chocolate bar, such as a Mars. You see, she probably wouldn’t have mentioned the latter if she had known how many mini Mars bars I scoffed after the half-marathon on the Aran Islands a few weeks ago! Well, what was I supposed to do? I was hungry. Very hungry.

I missed my long run this weekend as I had pains all over - back, hips, bum, legs – you name it. That doesn’t mean I get off lightly though. I’m going to aim for a 16 or 17 mile-run this weekend.

The Mourne Way Marathon terrifies me if I am honest, but it doesn’t scare me as half as much as Angeline does! I saw one of the runs she did in the Mournes the other day and it was savage.

They sure make them tough up there in Down!

Speak soon,

Reg

Is there anything that compares to achieving something when most people expect you to fail? Take Leinster’s victory against the odds at the weekend…

It made me think of the Powerade challenge facing our own team this summer. If you had put me on the start line just after the final whistle on Saturday, I think I would have run the Alpine marathon there and then!

O’Driscoll and the boys were inspirational and their performance has further motivated me to complete what Trevor, Angeline and myself have set out to do. If we make it, I will be even more proud than I was in Croke Park at the weekend. If that is possible.

I’ll enjoy the Heineken Cup final on May 23rd, but in the meantime, training takes precedent. I have a 14-mile run pencilled in for this weekend. That’s a little longer than the half-marathon I did on the Aran Islands, so I expect the last few miles to be tough.

Meanwhile, poor old Trev is feeling the pain this week, but I have no sympathy for him! Munster have had their day in the sun. So have all those dreaded ‘Lunster’ fans for that matter…

Maybe now they will start supporting their own team!

Speak soon,

Reg

It wouldn’t be every year that I decide to run a half-marathon with less than two days notice, but then, this isn’t every year and it wasn’t just any half-marathon.

My friends Charlie and Grace rang me last Thursday and told me they were taking part in a race on the Aran Islands in aid of Temple Street Children’s University Hospital. They obviously knew I was running for Powerade and thought that I might enjoy the challenge.

They were right. A weekend away with a few mates and the chance to run my first half-marathon on one of Ireland’s most stunning destinations, well, how could I resist?

We flew into Inis Mór on a 12-seater courtesy of Aer Arran, who organised the event. It is obvious why the place is one of the top tourist spots in the country, but I had other things on my mind.

Over 150 people took part in the race and around 50 people ran the course. The wind was in our faces for the first 5 miles and mile 11 was all uphill, but I got over it and ran down to the finish. It felt great.

We went out afterwards but I was in bed by midnight. I had no choice, I was shattered. We woke up to fog on Sunday. For a moment I had a vision that I might get stranded on the island with a beautiful woman…

The fog lifted. My dreams were shattered. Still, maybe Leinster will make up for it this weekend. ‘Never Give Up’ boys!

Slán,

Reg

Life is funny sometimes. One minute I’m chatting with this guy on the side of a hill in Wicklow and a few days later I’m watching him on television accepting the Lions captaincy in front of millions of people in London. Mad when you think about it.

Not that I didn’t try and make Mr. O’Connell spill the beans last Friday mind you! I know it was no big secret, but I still could have made a few bob if he had let it slip that he had got the nod. No such luck.

It was great to meet Paul. It was definitely one of the best days since we were selected on the Powerade team. We spoke about everything from rugby, running, training, Munster, Ireland and of course, the Lions.

He even had the cheek to suggest that I wasn’t a real Leinster fan as I was from Laois. ‘Sure that’s beyond the Pale,’ he says. Very amusing.

Jokes aside though, his advice was well worth listening to. He was happy to hear about the progress we have made and told us to keep it going as it will get harder.

I still haven’t quit on any of the runs that Hannah has set me, including a 12-mile trek the other evening, my longest yet. Maybe ‘Never Give Up’ is in my blood…

Talk later,

Reg