#CountyChampion- Louise- Monaghan
Hi, my name is Louise Byrne. I am from Carrickmacross and I will be representing County Monaghan in the 2021 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon.
I started running in 2013 and have enjoyed it ever since! I enjoy sports in general and being outdoors. I’m just an average person that tries to have fun while exercising! I love fancy dress while running too, which I found gives most people a laugh, which is what I think it should be about, giving people a reason to smile or laugh! I enjoy doing charity runs as there is always a great positive feeling and the food after is always worth it!
This will be my 7th time participating in the Women’s Mini Marathon. I really enjoy the mini marathon as there are so many inspirational women that participate, reading their t-shirts with the charity's slogan or photo of the person they are doing the mini marathon for. There is always a great positive vibe amongst everyone there, from the runners, joggers and walkers, each out to prove to themselves that they can achieve something when they set their mind to it. Everyone is cheering each other on with a great sense of camaraderie. The volunteers and spectators are second to none and provide such a boost as you are going along the route. In 2020, when it was a virtual run, people in my local town of Carrickmacross cheered us on while out running or wished us luck before doing the run and congratulated us after.
My running buddy, Karen Ward, is an inspiration as she had major heart surgery in November 2018 and was back out running in January 2019 and she is still going from strength to strength. We meet most Saturday mornings for our run and chat, which is great as you don’t notice the time going, before we know it, we have our 10km done!
I will be running the virtual Mini Marathon with Karen again this year and will raise funds for a local charity, Carrick Cancer Society: http://www.carrickmacrosscancer.ie/
They do amazing work in helping families affected by cancer, providing transportation to and from appointments, respite for families, provide helpful equipment for families, help to meet other necessary expenses resulting directly from the illness and lots more.
I think one person can make a difference, it can be doing something small like an act of kindness or thoughtfulness to help someone else, by just making someone smile or laugh it can then have a ripple effect and may help lift someone’s mood. Particularly during the pandemic we have seen how ones have been affected by Covid19 and by being considerate and more patient with others, this can really help ones in the community and further abroad. Then if someone is on the receiving end of an act of kindness they are more likely to do the same for someone else. We are “all in the same storm but not in the same boat”, so just be mindful of each other.
Anyone doing the mini marathon this year, I wish them all the very best of luck and although we cannot all meet in Dublin together this year (again) we will all be taking part in a great event, and to remember the reason they are participating. Best piece of training advice I have been given is to just enjoy yourself and think of the food and drink you can have after running/walking, guilt free!!
Hopefully we will be able to meet again soon for the next mini marathon and guaranteed it will be even better than previous years!
Wishing everyone participating in the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon the very best of luck and to any of the charities they may be running/walking for, they will be so proud and pleased for you! Most of all I hope everyone enjoys themselves and to have a treat ready when finished, of course!