Easter Festival Stars

I haven't checked the statistics in detail but feel sure that the entry for the Easter Festival is the best for some years.

Congratulations to everyone involved but particularly Kim Harding, Chris Quine, David Ronan & Paul Jackson who took the event by the scruff of the neck a few years ago and have transformed it.

Although it has never been an event that I have focused on, what I like about it is the age profile. The majority of the entrants are young and close to their peak. Maybe some of them use it as a springboard just before they reach their peak, but that makes it really interesting when, a year or two later, the stars of the Isle of Man Easter Festival become the stars of the track.

What has been slightly less pleasing has been the decline in local runners competing. There is a bigger representation from the Manx Fell Runners this year (the Manx Mountain Marathon will not be staged until the end of September), Manx Tri club are there, the host club Manx Harriers have a reasonable turnout, and there are a few from Western AC and the Veterans club. But there is not a single male entry from Northern AC.

Rosy Craine lines up in the 339 strong field for the Good Friday 10km. Late entries can be made for an extra fee and   I hope more local entrants will be among the final 400 or so expected.

Northern AC will be commencing their five round Ramsey Park Run series, sponsored by Up &  Running, nine days after the Easter Festival and there is another chance to compete against local opposition four days before that in the Scott Physiotherapy sponsored Dave Phillips Road Races (same week as Easter).

Wrong side of the candle again

I didn't mean to be working this late but I got home at about 10 and soon after started to attack some paperwork.

I've  also posted the latest Parish Walk entries, there is distinct lack of under 21s, and have been searching for a suitable photo to promote the Narradale Fell Race. Alas I couldn't find one and a final cup of tea of the day is more attractive than continuing the search.

May have an update for the site at lunchtime. Hoping for one last nice day (at least) for running.

60% mental

One of the questions put to the panel at the Manx Telecom Parish Walk Talk last night was to estimate the percentage of the effort that required to complete the course that was a mental achievement and what part was physical.

Without any knowledge that the question was to be asked, as quick as a flash, Graham Young and I turned to each other and muttered 60% mental. Jock Waddington was the last of the panel to answer the question and his answer concurred with Graham's and mine.

I am sure that other people would apply different percentages but I think it is the mental approach, the desire to achieve something, that tips the scales in favour of that achievement in virtually everything we do in life. You certainly can't walk the Parish Walk course in a little more than 15 hours, as Jock has done, without supreme physical fitness but that ability will never be converted to a result without a purpose and inner need to do something.

My day was rather like that yesterday. Wrapped around my day job I had a crazy number of things to do. I might be able to run, publish websites, take photos and videos but from somewhere I had to satisfy my brain that each one was worthwhile.

Should I ignore the alarm at 5 am? No, I was on the road at 5.30 to complete 12 miles around Baldwin well inside 7 minute mile pace. As well as a quick spell on the website, shower and breakfast I had to make sure I tidied the house sufficiently well in the hour that I occupied it before setting off to collect Marie from the airport. I had taken the bus home from work the previous evening so that she could then take the car and I had one left at the office for a quick getaway in the evening.

I was due to interview Maurice Herriott yesterday lunchtime. In some ways it was disappointing when he came and popped his head round the door mid morning to say he had to postpone the interview as I have been more than two years in trying to set it up. In other ways it was a relief because I don't know when I would have found the time to edit the video.

On to the Parish Walk Talk at the museum with my bag of cameras. I was only due to spend an hour back at the house and warm up some food to keep me going. I had hardly begun to learn about Marie's weekend away when Andy Garrett appeared at the door. Sadly, Andy is back from New Zealand because his father passed away recently  and it was only right that we found time to talk to him over a few cups of tea.

It would have been the easiest thing in the world to have skipped attendance at the Medis Cross Country League presentation but again I found the desire to support it and went armed with my camera too, albeit that I was late. I was pleased that Ian Astin was already in full flow with his and so I took the opportunity to chat as well as clap.

Leave the video editing until today? No I couldn't do that because I am need to be at our holiday cottage to work the next couple of evenings and and I also need to take Robbie his cross country league award.

So it was a little before midnight when I finished at the computer and then updated the website as soon as I was up at 6.30 with Ian's photos from the cross country.

Thank goodness I didn't have to find the will power to go and run in the rain. It was a fantastic morning to pop out for a quick run so the physical aspect took power. There has to be a physical aspect too to running from the promenade to the grandstand within that run so I'm sticking to my belief that the Parish Walk is no different to anything else in life. I'm 60% mental. Are you?

7 days until the Olympics begin?

Well almost. Alan Sandford and Keith Green are among the runners using the Olympic facilities.

http://www.nationallotteryrun.com/EventInfo/Default.aspx

Alan Sandford said: "I managed to get into the Red wave near the start although there will be 1,250 others crammed in the pen. The course meanders past the main sites & entertainment looks good.

The list of what "not" to bring suggests Security is tighter than boarding an aircraft - a test for the main event."

FW: Bra Dashes 2012

From: Angie Aire [mailto:angie.breakthrough@live.co.uk]
Sent: 22 March 2012 23:10
To: Angie Aire
Subject: Bra Dashes 2012

---

Pop on a bra & pop down to your 'local'  Bra Dash !

Come in a TEAM or Dash with us!

BRA DASHES APRIL  2012

Friday 27^th                      DOUGLAS    1.15 pm

                       CASTLETOWN    1.30 pm

Saturday 28th          RAMSEY  12.30 pm

                                          PEEL   2.00 pm

Photo’s & info  www.bradash.com  

Enquiries          bradash@manx.net

Might be of use to someone going to London for the Marathon

 From: Travelodge [mailto:travelodge@email.travelodge.co.uk] 

Sent: 22 March 2012 10:40
To: murray@murrayandmarie.com
Subject: Murray, £20 off London hotels with your exclusive discount code PG74422G

Can't see this email? View the online version Unsubscribe here Save £20 on London stays - book now Staying overnight in the big smoke won't break the bank with this special discount of £20 off a night in London. There are 17 central London hotels available in our offer including hot destinations such as Covent Garden and Tower Bridge. You'll have everything you need for a good night's sleep on the doorstep of where you want to be in the city. Use discount code PG74422G to book a stay between 15 April and 30 May 2012*. Hurry, offer ends Wednesday 28 March. Sign up for newsletters Terms & conditions *Travelodge discounts can only be applied to bookings made online at www.travelodge.co.uk. Discounts cannot be applied to bookings made on the Travelodge corporate website (www.travelodge.co.uk/business) or any other website owned and/or operated by Travelodge Hotels Limited. To redeem discount, enter correct code when prompted during booking process. Discount will be automatically applied and you will be shown the new value prior to payment. The discount code PG74422G is only valid for flexible rate room bookings at the 17 London hotels listed above for stays between Sunday 15 April - Wednesday 30 May 2012 (excluding Saturdays and certain event dates by site). Please note not all dates within the stay period will be available at the participating hotels, you will be notified during booking if this is the case. Rooms are subject to availability at the time of booking. The discount of £20 will be applied to one flexible rate room for one night. If booking more than one room, the discount will be applied to the first flexible rate room night in the booking. Offer valid from Thursday 22 March to Wednesday 28 March 2012 (inclusive). Limit one discount code per booking. Not valid on past purchases and not exchangeable for cash. The discount code may be used in conjunction with a Travelodge e-voucher but no other promotions or discounts. Travelodge reserves the right to change or cancel the discount code campaign at any time. Once you have made your booking, the price you paid will not change. All bookings are subject to Travelodge's standard terms & conditions. Should you need to amend your discounted room booking by changing your stay dates or hotel choice to those outside the terms of this offer, or amend your booking after the expiry of the offer, you may be required to pay the value of your original discount. Travelodge's standard amendment terms for flexible rate room bookings will apply. Should you cancel your booking, you will be refunded the price paid, subject to any standard cancellation terms that apply to a flexible rate room booking. Booking with Travelodge All rates are subject to availability at the time of booking and may not be available at every hotel, every night. View our full terms & conditions Receiving emails from Travelodge Add travelodge@email.travelodge.co.uk to your address book or safe senders list to ensure you get these emails. You are currently subscribed as murray@murrayandmarie.com. You have received this email because you have opted to receive marketing emails from Travelodge when making a room booking online. You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time, but if you've been sent this by a friend and would like to subscribe, it won't take long. If you'd prefer to receive these emails at a different address, you can update your profile. Please don't click 'Reply' We don't monitor emails sent if you click 'Reply'. If you do have an enquiry about a booking, or any other question, visit our online help. Travelodge is a part of Travelodge Hotels Ltd. Registered Office: Travelodge Hotels Ltd, Sleepy Hollow, Aylesbury Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3AT. Registered No: 769170 VAT No. 805367726. Subscribe Terms & conditions Privacy policy Unsubscribe

Runner required for Manchester

From: Doyle, Mary (Hospice) [mailto:Mary.Doyle@hospice.org.im]
Sent: 21 March 2012 10:42
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: FW: Manchester 10K - Be a Super Hero for Rebecca House

Hi guys,

One of our runners for the Great Manchester run has had to pull out so I need one more runner – can you help by spreading the word please:

Get running for the Children’s Hospice – Rebecca House. We have one space left for the BUPA Great Manchester 10k on Sunday 20^th May 2012 contact Terri Cook, Community Fundraiser and Events Coordinator on 647434.

Kind regards

Mary

 Join us at The Mount Murray Hotel to kick off Children's Hospice Week 2012 with a fantastic Superhero Ball for Rebecca House Children's Hospice.  Please contact Terri Cook, Community Fundraising and Events Coordinator on 647434 or email terricook@hospice.org.im for more details.