WMM diary: ‘I switch things up so I don’t start to dread bits or get bored of routes’

She is finding it helpful to change the locations of her weekend runs in order to avoid boredom. Recently, she went to watch the sunrise on Killiney Hill, after which they ran around Dalkey until the cafes opened.

“We were running by the coast, it was gorgeous. It’s great to switch up the location because it’s so easy to get bored of your running routes. You get used to it and then dread certain parts of it — if there’s a hill coming up, maybe. That’s been helping me keep motivated.”

She also did a park run in Kilkenny recently with her mother, while visiting family. It was her mother’s first time taking part in such an event but she now plans to take part in the Mini Marathon.

“I tell myself even if the run was not great, it’s better than not going at all. Even just being outside in the fresh air, even just to do a walk, is better than not going at all. I would definitely encourage people, if you don’t feel great, or you don’t think you have enough time, you can probably dedicate even 20 minutes just to clear your head, go outside. Start off as a walk and then if you feel like it, maybe do a 30 second jog, and then walk again and then do a 30 second jog.”

Sorcha first began running after an illness left her fitness depleted. “My running has improved a lot since I started and I don’t struggle as much as I used to. That’s kind of leading me to enjoy it more and to be more willing to go for runs.”

​The 2023 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon takes place in Dublin on Bank Holiday Sunday, June 4 at 12.30pm. Enter today at vhiwomensminimarathon.ie