Lest you think I’ve been lounging around…
Well, I’ve been running. I enjoyed a nice long slow run on Sunday. Eight and three quarters of a mile. Yes, I know, I know, should have pushed for the whole nine miles but I had a weak moment when the sight of my car coincided with 8.75 miles of running and well, that was all I had left in me.
Crosstraining on Monday consisted of mowing the half acre(push mower, mind,not one of those fancy ride on yokes!) and wrestling the brambles out of the hedge. At times like that I am really glad I run. It just gives me the physical and psychogical will to keep going. Well, at least up until the 8.75 mile stage of anything.
Tuesday and I made myself-literally, bribed myself-into running three miles. Actual running running. As opposed to jogging running. My pace has become positively funereal so I am pushing this week for more speed.
That should be “speed” since I am infinitely more tortoise than hare.
And yesterday, I took Teen Girl off to the park for a trot. Not any old park. This is the Phoenix Park in Dublin. It’s a favourite haunt for sports’ enthusiasts of all sorts. But, really, for all sorts of people following all kinds of pursuits.
Áras an Uachtaráin, President Michael D. Higgins’ home, is here. And well worth dropping into the Phoenix Park visitor centre of a Saturday morning just to get a guided tour of that house.
And Farmleigh House, where the government hosts states people from other nations, is also on the grounds of the Park. Tours available every day, except when we have our international guests.
And here too, is the American ambassador’s bolthole, just a short trot from the American Embassy in the city.
It was late evening when we arrived. A little too late, unfortunately, to pop in on Michael D., the Ambassador or any international guests. But perfect for an evening run. The place was nicely busy with cyclists, rollerskaters, strollers so you also get a sense of being part of a big, active group.
Sight of the Day has to go to the young family we spotted out for a stroll. A five year old, his parents and two double buggies. Yes, two, with twins in one and well, I couldn’t be sure if the second one was twins or siblings and Teen Girl was already embarrassed enough by my staring. So I just had to run on. And wonder at the marathon efforts it must take to manage that merry troupe.
The run? Well, just two miles of dashing around, stopping to take a pic and dashing off again. Since these efforts were cringe-worthy in Teen Girl’s book, she contented herself by doing her own thing.
Meanwhile, I’ve made a promise to return to the Park for a longer run. It’s the scene of a ten mile run in August and if I push beyond that 8.75 mile Sunday run, I just might make it.
redhenrun 
From the coast, to forests you really have everything in Ireland.x
Thank you for the photos of Phoenix Park, which brought back memories of the Dublin Marathon. 🙂
You ran Dublin?
Yes. That’s how I found your blog. 🙂 http://wyobraskatandem.wordpress.com/2013/11/09/the-2013-dublin-marathon-my-first-and-only-marathon/
Good running SV, and not neglecting the speedwork either. Memories of marathon training in Dublin – up the canal from town to Ashtown, an anti-clockwise circuit of the Park (seemingly endless) and a stagger back into town alongside the Luas tracks.
And you say you wish you’d seen more of Dublin when you were here… I think you’ve got up close with more of it than most natives, even.
Has the american ambassador’s house always been the american ambassador’s house (as in, did Joe Kennedy live there)?
Excellent question, Paige. Oh, we’ve a huge thing for the Kennedys here in Ireland, of course. Joe was ambassador in Britain, though. It was Jean Kennedy Smith, JFK’s sister, who was ambassador here in the 90s.
As to the ambassador’s residence, it was built during our time under British rule and would have served as a residence then for someone involved in the British administration.
I realized that Joe was in Britain after I hit the ‘post’ button! I did not know that about Jean Kennedy Smith, though. Most recently, I thought it was great when Caroline Kennedy got sent to Japan, although the Mister claims she’s not as much an icon over there.
Ah! didn’t know that about Caroline Kennedy. She’s always struck me as being a very wise person; she’s managed to keep out of the limelight, and manage the work/career thing. Much like you and me, really! 🙂 Anyway, a win for America and for Japan!
Thanks for this run in the park! To my shame I have never been to the Phoenix Park in adulthood – was at the Zoo aged three. I need to go! Lovely photos!
The park used to be a great place for people ‘up from the country’ to take out the ‘drop a tay and hang sanwiches’ on road back from Croke Park. Guess Donegal didn’t make it to Croker often enough! 😉
Two double prams…wow! I can’t contemplate that. Good running Red Hen and great pictures 🙂
Oh it looks lovely! I’d love to do a run in the Park.
Next time you’re home then!