Well as you all know I have done very little running for the last year. On Tuesday the 25th of August I was in so much pain with my back and left hip and pain going down my leg.

I thought I would never run again.

I thought I would never walk straight never mind run!!!!!

But, thank God, I went to a chiropractor in Westport on Friday 29th August and I have been improving ever since then.

I wanted to do the Berlin Marathon but just could not get my head around it. On Sunday 30th August I did 4 miles in the rain, and I mean rain. Saturday the 5th of September I ran 14 miles from Salthill home and then on Sunday the 6th I did 10 miles along the famous Galway Bay 10 course. Then on Tuesday the 8th, I did 45 minutes with Ian Egan and GCH. I couldn't do track after that. I then took on a long one on Thursday the 10th and said to myself that if I get to 20 miles I'll do Berlin. So, off I went. I did 20.5 miles in 3hrs 35mins and was so wrecked could not walk or talk for at least an hour, but, I thought I'll give Berlin a go!

I did 4 miles on Sat the 12th, 5 miles on Sunday the 13th and 4 miles with Brid McGath on Tuesday evening with GCH.

That was it training done. So off I go to Berlin.

Sunday morning I got on to a crowded train. About twelve people from my hotel were from Ireland and all looking forward to a great day. "Will you do a PB?", they were all saying. All I kept thinking was, "Please God get me to the finish line!" I got down to the start and I was in corral F. I got off ok there was a lot of pushing and it was very crowded. I took it easy. I knew I was slow but all I wanted was to finish it. Did fine, got to half way in 2hrs and 5mins, but oh my God, at 30k I thought I will never finish this. My legs were tired and my back and my sore hip were in another world. I stopped and walked for a while, it was too hot. I was cranky-tired and like a bull. At one stage I thought, "My God, giving birth was easier than this!" At 34k I passed by the end of the road where my hotel was. I stopped and said "That's it! I give up!", but whatever drives us mad people on, I took two pain-killers and went on. It was tough but at this stage I had made up my mind I am going to finish this if it kills me.

From 38k to 42k was only 4k but felt like 20k every step of the way and them flippin' cobble stones at 39k - Jesus it was unreal. I went under Brandenburg Gate at 4hrs 30mins said, "Time to do my sprint!". I thought, well, just get in under 4hrs 35min.

So there you have it. I finished 4hr 32min. It took me an hour to get back to my hotel and was delighted to see my bed and lay there and texted a few of ye. I was thinking to myself, God Mick Rice is a fantastic man as he was also running at the weekend or else he is a complete lunatic!

Thank you all for your texts. What a fantastic club Athenry are.

All that worried me then was that I wanted to go and see Kerry beat Cork. Well, I was hopping Kerry would win. I went to the Irish pub and the first person I met was good old David Huane aka "The Sump". He did a fantastic time. 2hrs 57min. He was not happy and I nearly killed him. We had a laugh and a drink also meet Paul Keane from Loughrea who did 3hrs 11min. Larry Kelly was there and he did 3hrs 12min. Don Deacy did 4hrs 15mins and his daughter Nicola did 4hrs 20mins.

Did not meet Alan but he had a bad day at the office to quote himself but, Alan, you finished it so fair play to you. I am sure you will go again. We all watched the match and Kerry won. Well done Kerry! I went to dinner with the Western Alzheimers group and we had a great night. Don Deacy was a great entertainer.

That's it for now. Roll on Dublin. Best wishes to all training for it.

Never mind the time. Enjoy it!

There is nothing like the feeling you get when you cross that finish line !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!