Is it really my last night in Ireland? Has it really been ten days already? Where did the time go? All of it brilliant!

I started the day with breakfast and then with my printout of directions, I headed towards Kildare County, Punchestown Racetrack, http://www.punchestown.com. I got a little turned around, so I decided to try the GPS and of course, it didn’t work, so I followed my instincts and ended up where I was supposed to be! Go me!

I got to the racetrack exactly when the 5k started, checked in and took off five minutes after the start. I had to have a potty break of course, I had been on the road for over 1.5 hours! I got on the course, there was a 5k and 10k going on and it really was a beautiful setting, I even saw a rainbow as I was running!

As I came around the bend, about 4k, I was joined by the 10k’ers, all encouraging me to keep going, it was cool. There were some hills and lots of wind, but we all made it. I saw some signs that for mud runs that were held there too!

I finished 43:15, I was happy, especially for not having trained at all, I’ve been walking a lot this past week and a half, just not running. No tshirt, but I have a Bibb, I’m happy!

After the run, I headed to the hotel to shower and get ready to head out again. I got on the bus and went back to downtown Dublin, just walking around, experiencing everything, the sights and sounds. I was looking for St Patricks Cathedral, but go figure, I couldn’t find it. Not horrible, I toured Trinity University a bit, what a beautiful campus and walked around until I found a vegetarian restaurant then walked off lunch, what a beautiful city!

I think everyone who lives in Ireland was in Dublin today! So very crowded, bustling and busy, I loved it! This is not a place for the faint of heart! I walked into a shopping center, Powerscourt Commons, a lovely indoor mall of sorts, three levels, all brick on the inside. I was about to turn the corner and was greeted by a guy who was raising funds for the Heart Association. We started chatting and a very nice guy, I finally met a red headed Irishman! Well, the hair he had left was red, lots of freckles.

We talked about travel, he actually lived on Tybee Island for a summer during his time at university, then he recommended a great place for dinner and did I miss my opportunity, “would you like to join me for dinner?” Yup, missed it. Oh well, wasn’t meant to be…

After a less than exciting Italian dinner, I headed back to the hotel, started writing to you and now I need to pack to get ready for tomorrow, heading home. I can’t believe it’s been ten days, what a great ten days it’s been and knowing that I will come back to see the things I missed makes it easy for me to go home with a smile on my face.

I think it is so fitting that I finished my positivity challenge, three things I am grateful for for thirty days, on my last night in Ireland.

I hope you have enjoyed my posts for the last ten days, I have enjoyed sharing them with you. It may take a few days, but I will get my photos to you, I promise. My next post will be from Boston at my sister’s house. Have a great night!

Positivity Challenge – Day #30
1 – I am thankful that I finished the 5k this morning in really good time for not having trained.
2 – I am thankful to know that I will come back to Ireland to visit and see all the things I didn’t get to see and I know that the next trip with be with my twin, Nathan Beach!
3 – I am thankful to KNOB for tagging me to do this, it’s been wonderful.