National Cross Country Championships, Derry 2025
The photos of finishers at the end told the story. Mud splattered from head to toe on winner Brian Fay. … Continue reading National Cross Country Championships, Derry 2025
British & Masters International Masters Cross-Country
Leeds, England, 16 November 2025 I wore an Irish singlet with pride. A tough and memorable course. A day spoiled … Continue reading British & Masters International Masters Cross-Country
Dublin City Marathon 2025
I rolled the dice on Sunday. 13 years after my first and last DCM, I was back. Nothing to lose. … Continue reading Dublin City Marathon 2025
Wild Atlantic Way: cycling Ireland’s coast
• 2025 Donegal• 2024 Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal• 2023 Galway, Mayo• 2022 Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Galway• 2020/2021 Covid• 2019 Kerry• … Continue reading Wild Atlantic Way: cycling Ireland’s coast
The Joy of a National Championships
The GAA All Ireland Finals have concluded after four weeks in Croke Park. Every hurling and football player grows up … Continue reading The Joy of a National Championships
Diversions, debates, debriefs, dehydration and debutants
This 9-time WWR finisher reports out on a hot day out in the Garden County Plus ça change, plus c’est … Continue reading Diversions, debates, debriefs, dehydration and debutants
Cross Country a’ la Belgique
What’s it like running around a muddy field in Belgium? How does it compare to trudging through a farmer’s field … Continue reading Cross Country a’ la Belgique
Orcas Trail Marathon
2nd after 4h07m of running over 40km with 1,691m of climbing, on a small island in the Pacific Northwest of … Continue reading Orcas Trail Marathon
Frankfurt Marathon 2024
The runner achieved a personal best of 2:33:47 at the Frankfurt Marathon, improving upon previous times and demonstrating that age doesn’t limit performance. Encouraged by friends, solid training, and a positive mindset, he plans future races. Continue reading Frankfurt Marathon 2024
A summer of racing
As winter approaches, the author reflects on recent marathons and adventures in running, triathlons, and mountain races, emphasizing the joy of participation over statistics while preparing for the Frankfurt Marathon. Continue reading A summer of racing
Learning the TO ropes in Poland
1-2 June 2024, Kielce, Poland Sunday 9:00 PM: I’m in Azzurro restaurant, ready for pasta and vino rosso. Up at … Continue reading Learning the TO ropes in Poland
Wicklow Way Relay 2024 race report
A view from a Rathfarnham runner, taking part for the 7th time, running leg 7. Our team taking over 7 … Continue reading Wicklow Way Relay 2024 race report
Time to pass the baton
After 10 years, I’ve stepping down as race director, but stepping up in triathlon in other ways The Nancy Pelosi … Continue reading Time to pass the baton
Waking up in an ambulance. Again.
11th February 2024, Dundalk. Sorry for the alarmist headline. I suppose that’s a bit of the shock I felt when … Continue reading Waking up in an ambulance. Again.
Media Maratón de Getafe
No PB but a good day out outside the Spanish capital Madrid. 1:14:58 – 46th place (7th M40) of 2450 … Continue reading Media Maratón de Getafe
Media Maratón Sevilla – Los Palacios y Vilafranca
20th in 1:14:35 [3:31 pace], first M40 of 1,549 participants La gente me mola, la gente de aquí. “Tengo un … Continue reading Media Maratón Sevilla – Los Palacios y Vilafranca
Live every day – 2023 lookback
As another year draws to a stormy close, I’m thinking back on the highs, lows, memories and people. I love … Continue reading Live every day – 2023 lookback
National Cross-Country Championships 2023
Gowran Demesne, Kilkenny, 19th November 2023 Why? That’s the question everyone asks themselves before a race. Why should I go? … Continue reading National Cross-Country Championships 2023
Amsterdam Marathon 2023
15th October 2023 – running a PB of 2:34:08 to finish in 148th place out of 16,066 finishers, in the … Continue reading Amsterdam Marathon 2023
Wild Atlantic Way Cycle 2023
My fifth year cycling around Ireland to fundraise for the wonderful charity LauraLynn Children’s Hospice. This year we travelled 400km … Continue reading Wild Atlantic Way Cycle 2023
Inside the ropes as a technical official
26th August 2023, Dublin, Ireland Were you watching the athletics from Budapest last week? Sunday night was the last night … Continue reading Inside the ropes as a technical official
Should you visit the French Alps?
Undoubtedly YES if you love the outdoors. After my first summer trip with friends near Chamonix-Mont Blanc, where we explored … Continue reading Should you visit the French Alps?
LA MONTÉE DU NID D’AIGLE
22 July 2023 – 19.5km in 2h25m with 1700m of climbing in the French Alps The climb to the eagle’s … Continue reading LA MONTÉE DU NID D’AIGLE
How many times did you get lost?
Every week I’m buzzing after a midweek IMRA race, but last night in Ballinastoe was great craic. Jeopardy, risk taking, … Continue reading How many times did you get lost?
Wicklow Way Relay 2023
The annual team relay across the Wicklow Mountains celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, with new winners crowned after 7 … Continue reading Wicklow Way Relay 2023
There’ll be days like this: when it all goes well…
A race report from an amateur race director of the largest duathlon in Ireland Organising any event is more complex … Continue reading There’ll be days like this: when it all goes well…
Reventón El Paso – running around the volcanoes in the Canaries
11th place in 4h 18m after 41km and 1,750m of climbing in La Palma Insanity I just realised during my … Continue reading Reventón El Paso – running around the volcanoes in the Canaries
Race report: downhill skiing in Norway
Our annual college friend’s reunion moved from the Alps to Scandinavia – with a downhill race thrown in for good … Continue reading Race report: downhill skiing in Norway
Winter Racing Roundup
Six races in the last 2 months, so here’s how it all unfolded: friends & foes, age is a number … Continue reading Winter Racing Roundup
2022 Reflections
This year was when things returned to normal in some senses, but in others we all faced new challenges. The … Continue reading 2022 Reflections
Trail Minero Santa Bárbara
A tough day out: running from coal mine to coal mine, over the steep hills of Asturias in northern Spain … Continue reading Trail Minero Santa Bárbara
Crossing the Country for Cross-Country
National Senior Cross-Country Championships 2022 Healy and McElhinney may be the gold medal winners, who go on to even greater … Continue reading Crossing the Country for Cross-Country
Amsterdam Marathon 2022
A new PB of 2:36:54 in the Dutch capital, lowering my best by over 1 minute. Just shows that getting older doesn’t mean getting slower. My eleventh marathon, where my training plan is never conventional for a road runner, but gets the body fit for endurance. Continue reading Amsterdam Marathon 2022
Charleville Half Marathon
1 min off my PB yet 1 min under my target time, I finished in 1:14:48 for 19th place out … Continue reading Charleville Half Marathon
World Masters Mountain Running Championships 2022
29th overall and 6th in M35 category 50:43 over 10.6km and 500+m of elevation on a tough course in the … Continue reading World Masters Mountain Running Championships 2022
Map and compass: which way is up?
IMRA Nav challenge 1: 21st August 2022. 16km took 2:39min with over 900m of elevation. 4th The beauty of the … Continue reading Map and compass: which way is up?
Reeks Skyline 2022
16th July 2022 – over 4 hours traipsing around the highest mountain range in Ireland Time: 4h 27m (5th place) … Continue reading Reeks Skyline 2022
Sheephaven Half Triathlon
Downings, Co. Donegal, 25th June 2022 15th place in 4h47m (0:26 swim – 2:56 bike – 1:22 run) Leaving Cert … Continue reading Sheephaven Half Triathlon
Dingle Adventure Race 2022
After 11 years of trying, I finally found my way onto the podium, after adventuring around Slea Head and up/down … Continue reading Dingle Adventure Race 2022
Discovering Istanbul & Antalya (Turkey)
29 May 2022 – Antalya airport The past 10 days in Turkey have been memorable. A trip very different to … Continue reading Discovering Istanbul & Antalya (Turkey)
Wicklow Way Relay 2022: Winners Enclosure
Rathfarnham got their hands back on the prized granite trophies, after a gap of 7 years. The rivalry with TT … Continue reading Wicklow Way Relay 2022: Winners Enclosure
Ballyhoura Trail Marathon
Running around the countryside of south county Limerick, great fun altogether 3h 49m to cover 42km and 1,300m of ascent … Continue reading Ballyhoura Trail Marathon
The Director’s Chair: Duathlon in the Park
Reflections on organising the Phoenix Park Duathlon 2022. Plus there’s a quiz to test your knowledge on behind the scenes … Continue reading The Director’s Chair: Duathlon in the Park
Trail Running around the Canary Islands
Do you like exploring trails, powered by your own two feet? If so, read on. If you’re a runner or … Continue reading Trail Running around the Canary Islands
Running in the Rain in Tenerife: Trail Vilaflor
Trail running in Tenerife: 21km, 1000m of climbing, 12th place, through mud, slippy rocks, pine forests, steep climbs and technical … Continue reading Running in the Rain in Tenerife: Trail Vilaflor
Document shuffling with Russia and beyond
Note: while I abhor the situation developing in Ukraine at the moment, this post is in no way a support … Continue reading Document shuffling with Russia and beyond
Masters in the Mud
13th February 2022, Castlelyons, Co. Cork “Hallelujah!” was my first thought when I arrived into the village of Castlelyons in … Continue reading Masters in the Mud
Curiosidades Canarias – Canarian Curiosities
In nearly 20 years of visiting Spain, I’ve learnt the language, made lifelong friends, walked the Camino de Santiago, cycled … Continue reading Curiosidades Canarias – Canarian Curiosities
La Gomera: nature’s paradise in the Canaries
This blog recounts my experience of running and walking around La Gomera in December 2021. A week exploring this small … Continue reading La Gomera: nature’s paradise in the Canaries
The Joy of Reading
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most in the past few years has been reading books. Spending more time at … Continue reading The Joy of Reading
David Power Blog - Silence is the Question 