A club runner in Sheffield

Sheffield, England

When I came back from Belgium, I went straight to the Irish National Age groups and flew straight away to the British swimming Youth and Age groups championships.

As it was in Belgium at the European Juniors swim champs, I had a very small break between sessions and decided to write another small piece during my traveling as I received quite a large and positive feedback from my last article.

Introducing Sheffield

To introduce Sheffield, it is an old industrial City, associated with steel since the 1740’s it kept its renown for steel production and coal mine for longer than most industrial cities expanding over two centuries. After a tough 70’s and 80’s the City was revived in the 90’s after a revamp of the cities, roads, infrastructure and house schemes.

The town is very compact and my runs through it were quite difficult but after a few days of trying different path it got really interesting and felt like playing through path, walk ways, tram and bus schedules. A very busy little city to run through, or not runner friendly. The small city which took me less than an hour to do the full A3 ring road around it. But don’t get me wrong this is a place for sports, even running but not directly to the busy centre. I am not sure how such a compact city can be known as the greenest city in Europe even with parks and reserves, it’s just so compact.

On the other hand some nice fixtures and great for tourism or weekend away, with some interesting visits to the Sheffield Don valley the largest athletics stadium in the UK with a capacity of 25,00 or Hillsborough stadium, the English Institute for sports or the Pond de Forge Olympic pool, international Diving and Olympic swimming complex, and International hockey Arena. Sheffield is known for running international events even in sports like Snooker where the world championship was held or European Fencing Championships. For example the American Olympic diving team was training during the Championship. (VideoI made HERE)

Finding My Way on Foot

My first runs were a bit hectic, as previous weeks, I have been spending over 8 hours in a chlorine environment and was now on my 4th week of a chlorine environment, which affected my lungs and airways but survived quite well.

I stayed in the Novatel which I really enjoyed, especially the small pool to put my legs in after each run. The room was quiet, spacious and comfortable and food along with the services which were just the best you could ask for.

First run: I decided to just go through the town and find my way around. I found it very difficult and could not follow the direction signs I was looking for, and find very hard to find a decent path to run on without crossing or being in the way of pedestrians. I ended up running 12k instead of an easy 5km with a bit of walking and asking directions back to my room.

Run two: I decided to look at the Google map a bit closer and brought my Nokia N8 with GPS just in case. I tried to find the Ring road around the town for a 6mile run. I succeeded but find difficult to run over tram with many pedestrian bridges which splits to different directions when running over. On the other hand I saw some kind of long steps I was attracted to go for and other path for the following day.

Run Three: I finally started to find my way around, with passing by the Olympic pool, then the train station with a fantastic “water wall” and fountains. I went over those never ending steps and enjoyed myself. I went through small path between houses, some serious hills and went back around the town to pass under old bridges, discovered the abandoned steel manufactories around town and came back in to the centre with a lively town, a little Marina, music festival and a busy shop street.

Run Four: I repeated the previous run after a day off. I extended the run a little bit further, as there was a hill I cut through a small wooden path and really wanted to see how long it was going for. After 2 miles up and my heart rate being way off what it was supposed to, I finally went back down. The weather at that stage was just hot, very hot! Previous days I was thinking about having a tan, but after a few days, I was thinking about sun cream.

On the second week, I had a short run of 8km, 10k and 16k which was perfect. I had a small break down with a sore calf on my seventh run and from experience I decided this time to walk back to the hotel the last 2 miles after only 2 miles warm up. Maybe I got too excited in the hill work.

I was proud to have worked with or known most of Irish Olympians

Reflections on the Olympics

Well what can I say else, another trip abroad with some running done, and good coaching results with the Regional squad over there. I was going to go to the Olympics after but even if most people would not understand this, I just needed a rest. I was proud to have worked with or known most of the Irish Olympians, but thought this time it was just enough and preferred to work at home with my athletes who did not make it this time and train and watch the Games at the same time.

I suppose there is a time where in my coaching career, when my experience is longer than my life time I don’t really need to be there to say I was there. Especially I prefer to go with an athlete I worked with on a full time capacity and not going for the one I know, worked with or even coached for a day or a little while.

I want to say well done to the ones I know: Melanie Nocher, Grainne Murphy, Paul Hession, Olive Loughnane, Robert Heffernan, Sycerika McMahon and Hanna Miley (GB), Gavin Noble and Natalya Coyle, as I know the hard work they put in. And obviously to the rest of the team and Katie Taylor for that amazing fight and bring the Irish Fighter spirit to all!