Everything looks brighter come spring

There is a bright, warm buzz about the place and I am beyond excited. It is the week before my Ultra Marathon, it’s finally springtime and I’m looking forward to all that is to come.

With a well-deserved day off for us all, in memory of our patriot female St Brigid, we are heading to Athlone for the Mayo Indoors. It’s all about the children today so no relays for me. With only five days left until an Ultra running challenge I better do what I’m told, which means no sprinting.

The early start begins, not hard for me but for the children it’s breakfast on the way and change in the car all to save time. On arrival to Athlone, a sea of children of all ages, gear bags, colourful vests, recognisable faces; Mayo is a small place. Straight to the club base for a quick warm up and with relays up first, we practise the baton, the hand change over and of course the rules.

The youngsters are all excited about the day out with their friends, the laughter, the hanging together, the sweets, getting to wear the spikes, not a word about the events but more about Mayo beating the Dubs, Ireland beating France and who got knocked out in Dancing with the Stars. I love the relaxed attitude of the youth; no nerves, no preparation, just pure running for fun not like us adults warming up; eyeing the competition, changing spikes last minute, surrounded by foam rollers and stinking of Deep Heat.

From an upstairs view, it fills my heart to look around the arena and see hundreds of boys and girls, teenagers and grownups all from Mayo, togged out in their local athletic club colours, raring to go. From relays to high jump, from sprints to long jump, from long distance to shot putt, from walks to hurdles, athletics in Mayo is alive and well.

To see our young people from tots to teenagers, enjoying their sports, running, partaking, sampling, learning and competing with pride. To see the youth totally engrossed in their coaches’ advice, immersed in exactly what they must do and there’s not a phone in sight. They don’t have the time, heed or interest while consumed here; no phone can help you win these medals, jump those hurdles or finish a race.

What I love about today is the participation, the genuine interest, the encouragement and support from parents, coaches and volunteers. It was brilliant to hear so many times today, “have fun”, “it’s not all about winning”. Of course, for some it is but for others it is about finishing the race, about jumping further than the last time, about winning the heat, about getting on the relay team and about the team surviving the challenge.

For some it’s their first time competing, for others it’s the practice, the experience or the improvements for brighter things to come. Everyone is smiling and clearly enjoying their chosen discipline. To see teenagers enjoying a tough sport, in the spotlight of a crowded arena, continuing to compete in such a competitive world where outside influences makes the challenge of athletics seem easier today, especially in a world where how one looks, feels, and one is portrayed can sometimes hinder one from doing what they do best; representing themselves, their families, their clubs and coaches and not caring what anyone else thinks.

If for nothing else today, our athletes gained confidence, achieved for themselves, competed in a non-judgemental, supportive and encouraging environment where participation was inclusiveness for everyone. The cheers, the support, the arena is alive for Mayo athletics.

My nerves are wrecked. Not competing is hard but in some ways it’s easier to run than watch especially when one knows how much can go wrong when one is jumping hurdles for the first time or coming out of the blocks having never practised. Sometimes not knowing what’s ahead is the best, the hurdles are cleared like a racehorse in Ballinrobe and the blocks are left like a spring lamb in Shrule.

On returning to Shrule the sun shines in. It’s still bright at 6pm after a long day indoors. A walk back the land is welcomed, wet and marshy, the rushes grow thick and strong, all the better for the crosses.

My granny always said no harm will come to people in the house with the St Brigid’s cross inside the front door, the bad luck will remain outside. Making St Brigid’s crosses always reminds me of brighter days to come, of Lent, of longer finer warmer days, of the flowers blossoming and nature blooming, a bit like myself coming out of hibernation.

In winter, one escapes to a dark place to survive periods of stress; for the animals it’s from food limitation or harsh thermal conditions. For me it’s from the demands of modern life and the weather. With weeks of impossible road training weather, miles of tough runs hibernating in the woods, now like the red squirrel, full of fuel, rest and nature, I’m mad to hit the road running. To get up in the morning and just run safely, to hear the birds, the baby lambs, to see the buds, to feel the warmer breeze, springtime brightens one’s day.

The hard work is done. I feel stronger from training through the harsh winter. The mind is clear and one is now ready for the challenge ahead. Getting to the Ultra is the difficult part. A week of not doing much of what one loves is as difficult as running a hard session. One must occupy the mind and body in other ways or damage could be done. One is told to rest, fuel up and relax, all things that an outdoors runner might not be so good at. The fuelling up can be good but can be on the wrong stuff. When one has time, temptation can take over; the famous tampering week can be challenging. Throwing myself into work, baking, cooking, and some books.

Reading is such a wonderful hobby that some of us don’t get to do as often as would like. To watch a child take up a book and to see their eyes flow quickly through the words is wonderful. With excitement, they ask the meaning of a word or explain the gist of the story. A child wanting to get stuck into the next book lights up one’s day, especially in a technology consumed world. To hold onto reading as a hobby must be encouraged.

After a busy day, I begin to read a children’s book about an adventure through the forest where one gets lost. They have no food or water and it takes them hours to return as they enjoyed the adventure and returned home safely. I tell the kids stories of our adventures as children and how, like in the book, we headed off in the morning for hours playing, getting lost, eating in someone’s house along the way, returning home later that evening.

The children are horrified! “How could ye do this? How could someone contact ye? I reply “Sure, they knew where we were”!

Reading has a way of distracting the mind from the current goings on and bringing one into another world, one forgets about their phones, their work and their chores. Children and teenagers need escapism as much as us grownups and to put the phones in the kitchen, on silence of course. Buy them a book, allow them the time and space to read and enjoy it, discuss the book with them and watch them grow in confidence explaining their side of the story. Encourage a child or teenager to write something, be it real or fiction, and sometimes the real comes out in the fiction.

I next begin to read an Ultra marathoner’s journey; a man’s struggle with life, drugs and alcohol addiction. Giving up the lot, he transforms his life, takes up running and eventually an ultra-marathon of 100km. Mine is only 50km, half what he did. Yes, his race was hard at times but nothing like giving up an addiction.

My 50km might be hard at times but it wont be as hard as trying to teach the youth of today to have a balance with phones. It won’t be as hard as a loved one going through severe pain. It won’t be as hard as driving long journeys in black ice. Nor will it be as hard as a child getting lost in a forest with no food or water, or a youth jumping, racing, or hurdling in a crowded, spectator arena.

On completion of the day, I know I can do this, I will endure the challenge, I will enjoy it because if I don’t then it’s not a nice experience and sport must be fun.

We must continue to encourage participation, particularly for young people in sport where everyone can have their own journey. It doesn’t always have to be about winning but competing, having fun with friends, gaining self-confidence, having pride in ourselves, not seeing or hearing the outside world but escaping to that feel good place where competition is safe, non-judgemental and inclusive for everyone.

We in Mayo are in a good place so let’s hold onto our youth in sport. Let’s build, get more involved and whatever your sport, hobby or pastime is, stand straight and tall, believe in yourself and the world will applaud you for being you.

Its springtime and everything looks brighter. The indoors was a great day, the ultra will be endured and St Brigid’s crosses will keep any outside demons or negative influences away. Run free everyone and let the green and red brighten the way.