Mother's Day

"Mother am I still your son you know I've waited so long to hear you say so
Mother you left and made me someone,now I'm still a child but no one tells me no"
MoFo-U2

Happy Mother's Day one and all,as is my won't when the schedule allows it I'm enjoying my rest day on a Sunday,but given a fluke of scheduling it's one of those rare Fuck Off Days where I don't have to be anywhere or do anything,given the week I've just had it's right on time but also w/ a race tomorrow it's important to relax and be well rested mentally and physically b4 my 5,000m race tomorrow nite.

I realize a lot of blog entries talk of my father aka "the ould fella"but not my mother{NOT the old lady cos I'd be crucified for calling her that!!!} funny in the respect that back in the day he was driving force in my running and perhaps my life but these days Eileen has taken that mantel.
I was thinking about it yesterday how we spent time together in New York City last fall and in particular our day at Ellis Island it was a unique day and one I'll cherrish for years to come.

Since it's Mothers Day and this is a running blog afterall I thought I'd share this classic tale from way back when.
Back in the day they used to run SCAAA{Southern Counties Amateur Athletic Association}meets at nearby Crystal Palace on Wednesday evenings,more often than not I made the short jaunt across South East London by bus but on this particular evening Eileen offered to drive me there and back for my 800m race.
The problem I used to encounter back then was being too old for the younger age group and subsequently the youngest of the older age group and always running against kids older than me{the delicious irony being these days the running shoe is on the other foot I'm the older guy running against college kids!!!}
Given it was an 800m race which could be physical at the best of times I opted to get out in front and avoid the bumping and banging plus elbows and spikes,I lead through 700m b4 being swallowed up by the chase pack and finishing 4th or 5th.

As Eileen and I made our way back to the car the inevitable conversation took place on how if I ate more vegetables I'd be stronger and able to compete on a more even playing field w/ the older runners.
To quote an old Irish expression I was a finicky eater at best and tended to pick and chose what I ate rather than eat what was quote unquote good for me,Eileen began to reel off a list of vegetables she thought I could try most of which I shot down Peas,Carrots,String Beans,Cauliflower,Cabbage,Broccoli then came the classic"what about Spinach?"again irony of irony these days I love Spinach but then .........."christ mum I'm trying to be Eamonn Coghlan not frigging Popeye" came my response.....I don't think think she drove me to anymore meets after that......but years later she is my #1 fan and the first person I call after a race......and I
eat more veggie these days too.........
Happy Mother's Day.