In September 2008 at 18 st, I decided to do something about it. I began walk-running, dieting and rowing. I have a badly injured leg form a hurling injury a few years back and I let myself go to the dogs. After a few weeks I was running 5-6 miles non stop and decided to run the Belfast marathon in 2009. I trained hard, did a 5mile race on boxing day with my wife (an ex international cross country runner) along with 3000 other hardy fools and was getting into great shape. I did a half marathon in March the following year and got up to 22 miles and was tapering down three weeks before the marathon when I badly damaged my hip and ended up not being able to do the marathon.

I never enjoyed training for something so much and would love to get back at it but have been told to forget the long distance stuff - osteo arthritis in the hips wont allow it. I would encourage anyone to take running up and go slowly at it to start with and find a pace you are comfortable at - and good luck with injuries - you will get a few - but if you get good shoes and build yourself up with sensible goals you will finish your marathon - I recommend " The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer" by Whitsett, Dolgener & Kole, an excellent source of tips and tricks.

We have a situation here in Northern Ireland where there was quite a bit of religious discrimination in the past - advertisements read "Catholics neeed not apply" very similar to the racial discrimination in the states in the 50's & 60's. Now the make up of a workplace must be similar to the local community ( 55% / 45% - Protestant / Catholic). Even the police force has had positive discrimination to bring up the number of catholics (during the troubles very few catholics joined the police force as they would have been targetted by the paramilitaries). Again - ability is being sidelined for minority promotion - I believe people should be employed on merit - not their ethnicity or religion. Northern Ireland is a superb place to live but the sectarianism is still pretty bad and these Equal Opportunity Laws provide some protection to the individual but common sense seems to have been left out of it.

Only in Slaughtneil !!! They are covered in concrete now - the guns that is!! (Though there have been a few referees disappeared around Ballinderry!!)

Sponsors of the All Ireland Hurling championships - after about 13 pints I hurl everywhere!!!

Bom trabalho de David. Eu gosto do design ea composição das imagens, mas eles são um pouco escuro. Só preciso iluminá-las um pouco.

Good job David. I like the design and the composition of the images but they are a little dark. Just need to brighten them up a bit.

Adam

Brilliant looking design and really interesting project - this family are obviously golfing fanatics and Im sure the wife plays alot too!!

Great work.

Adverts - The death knell to exciting sport!!!

@phil meadows said:

I've never seen this either. This is how I always imagined soccer could be improved. A man should be allowed to uses his hands in a sport

Well we have that sport aswell - Gaelic Football - it has good hits , no pads, football and hands used. Another great game!

We export some of our best young players to Australian Rules - a guy on this clip Martin Clarke played for Collingwood in Australia for a couple of years.

Free????
Are you running a wire from the neighbours house Mike?!!

@Ross - No i never bothered for the reason Rich gave - It impaired my vision too much. I got split on the head a fair few times but not badly.
@Rich - I'll see you after the match is over !!And if you watch a match - try to get a local derby - the intensity is so much more acute!!
@Mike - Been there and done that. Still trying to overcome the trauma through counselling.

There is alot of hurling still played in the major US cities such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Boston. I played it in Boston in 1989 (easily the dirtiest (most violent) game I ever had the misfortune to take part in. The went around the spectators before the game looking for someone to referee as the offical one didnt show up!!!

Still wouldnt change a thing - brilliant memories and I can still enjoy it most Sundays from spring to September.

Amazing - he is one crazy guy - but Im jealous - what a feeling that must be to fly so close to the ground at that speed. Awesome.

I played this game for most of my youth until an untimely incident between me and a guy from Offaly ended in my right leg being 1.5 inches shorted than my left leg. He went to hospital in the same ambulance as me!!! I loved it and both my daughters both play the female equivalent (camogie)- have a look at the video clip just to get a flavour of the game - it looks dangerous but truly it isnt if played well.

Enjoy

Happy Birthday Mike - Have a good one!

@solo said:

@unknownuser said:

Not only is Hurling our national past time and institution.

Hmm... I dunno, I was led to believe that drinking and sheep-shagging was.

Dont get me started on the Welsh Solo - they are the world champs at that sport followed closely behind (erm....) by the Kiwis!!! Jaysus weve started something now !!!

By the way - James took the bait - wasnt long - lets see Tipp go for 5 in a row now that there manager took a nose bleed when at the top!!!

Oli

They are amazing renders - will this be built if you win? Good Luck!!

Solo

If you want to see the fastest, most skilful, exciting field game in the world (its official by the way) have a look at the Irish game of hurling, of which Rich's county Clare, are very good exponents!!. I can easily say it is the best game in the world to watch when played at county championship level. I spent a year in Boston in my youth and was a big fan of the Red Sox when I was there - really enjoyed baseball but not as much as hurling. Sorry for hijacking the thread by the way.

If theres weemin playin what exactly are these innings!!!!

We expect nothing less from Germany after SA. As long as we dont have to hear the phrase "since 1966" for a while we'll all be happy here!!!

Derry are in with a better chance with their new full forward just back from a bad clatter with a sliotair!! Clare are gone!!

Well Done Big Lad!!