bigfoodiemama

So the weekend had arrived when we were heading off to celebrate the Blonde's big birthday. Myself, The Wicker Keepers Mott ( WKM), the Financial Advisor (FA), Vanilla Ice and the Blonde headed off Friday afternoon to the mystery venue of Mullingar ! .....Yes, Mullingar !We checked into the lovely spacious apartments of the Annebrook House Hotel, popped open the bubbly and the party began. Night one saw us dine in the hotel restaurant, exclaiming over the dark brown bread like an ICA committee and thoroughly enjoying Seafood Bon Bons, Pork Belly, Butternut Squash Risotto and other such delights. Needless to say we had to wash it down, so a couple of bottles of the house wine did the trick. The FA and I who were sharing one apartment headed off to bed after a long weeks work, leaving the other 3 to enjoy a few more tipples two doors up. As a woman who had spent the previous night in a single bed with a nearly 6 year old, I was in my element at the prospect of an undisturbed nights...

Cantering Clare, MILF Mullarkey, Trotting Tracey, the BG and myself, still glowing from our first ever 5K decided to take part in this weekends 5K charity event. By committing to another 5 K so quickly after the first we were convinced, a) we could manage it and b) we were now athletes ! We gathered in the local football filled with all the other walkers, runners, cyclists and over our compulsory Jaffa Cake decided the first hill, about 200m into the run, was far too severe to actual run up, so we would use it as our warm up and run the rest. This was all very well but we forgot how excited we get when someone shout "Go" and shot off like women at an Arnott's Sale. Moments later I realised ,in shock, that I was actually running up a hill and that it was actually alright...so on we went. Yet again the BG, Trotting and myself took up the front row with the eminently sensible Cantering Clare and MILF Mullarkey taking up the rear ( unfortunate term!) Now, I could be wrong b...

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Saturday September 5th 2015 will forever be remembered by the Marathon Mary's. On that momentous day we completed the 5K we had spent 10 weeks training for. I was excited and nervous that morning and had an omelette for breakfast and my usual good coffee, and strolled out the back door for some fresh air, only to here GASP say " If you come out to the year I'll give you a bit " ! Well, I thought...has he no respect for the pre race ban on sexual activity???...turns out he was talking to the bullock peering over the ditch at the back of the house, and was referring to a bucket of meal ..... GASP took off with the two boys to have his car NCT done ,so I had some time to mentally prepare myself for the day ahead, thoughts of Heart Attack Hill invading my brain. I drove to BMM's house, on that very hill, to collect my t shirt and race number ( no.114) and realised the next time I climbed it would be on foot....gulp ! The Marathon Mary's looked totally fab in thei...

" I really hope Gentle Gary finishes us off" uttered one of the Marathon Mary's last Wednesday....you and me both girlfriend, and last night he did just that ! In his lovely bobble hat, he cajoled, encouraged and urged the Marathon Mary's to the 30 minute run....YES... 30 MINUTES !!!!!!Only Gentle Gary could have got me there, slowly, kindly building up to this fantastic climax....of running !! I was so delighted I gasped " I love you Gary" as he blew his final whistle, a sound I had been waiting for....for about 29 minutes at that stage. What a high ! I felt great, was delighted I had taken the decision to rest ( ie. drink wine, bake cakes, throw birthday parties and sleep) for the past few days in preparation for this. It was so worth it. Of course, my excitement is a little premature , as the main event is actually on Saturday ...the 5 K. Sonia O'Sullivan is coming ! She has heard there is competition for her crown no doubt . Gentle suggested strongl...

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Ah there's nothing like an experienced man ! As we gathered, like a flock of hens, around the Silver Fox , he gently advised us to take it "Nice and Easy" . " "Nice and Easy" he said again capturing us under his spell. He warmed us up slowly and expertly, until we were mere chicken tenders in his hands. Because of this, none of us thought to ask him what exactly he expected of us this evening, so we got to clucking between ourselves, heads bobbing and ducking as we wondered would it be a 10, 5, 10...would he go 12 and 12 ,or go the whole way to 22 without stopping....ooooh the fear of the unknown! Shortly after the whistle blew the wily old Silver Fox told us we were on a 15 minute run....oh boy ! His positive encouragement and occasional " well done, you are doing great" were the key to our managing our longest run to date. Bewitched by him, we took off for the following 5 minute run with smiles on our faces, but you should never trust a fox ! A...