Christmas Day - Ocean Swim and Norah's Bike

We had an incredible Christmas here in Dublin - our third since moving here. It was a quiet Christmas Day but over the break we spent a load of time with friends, did our first Christmas Day swim and felt so loved by family at home, who all sent presents from across the world.

See previous post for video on this.

Norah kept saying, for over a month, that all she wanted for Christmas was "a unicorn bike". She told strangers on the street as multiple people would ask, each and every day: "And what is Santy (Irish) going to bring??" Norah, straight faced, "A unicorn bike". Wayne and I were getting increasingly nervous as we couldn't figure out how to affix a unicorn horn onto the front of a bike in order to appease her (because that was the height of our creative thinking on the issue). We thought about using a paper towel roll but how could that not look terrible?? Cardboard and duct tape and inevitably stabbing people with the unicorn horn/jousting stick jutting out from the front of her bike??  My neighbor suggested getting a plain-colored bike and just putting unicorn stickers on it so I went on the hunt.... online. Well, as I scrolled through the choices at the very first store I see the label, "14'' Unicorn bike"!!! I screamed (full-on yelled) for Wayne, who was in the living room with Norah, and neither of us could believe they actually existed. We still don't know if this was something she imagined, or if she somehow saw another child with one of these. Probably the latter but I've certainly never seen one so I'd like to think, she conjured this mythical-beast-bike and I FOUND one! Still reading Joseph Campbell so I need everything to be an epic journey with battles (and unicorns).

Gorgeous Chrismtas Morning walking down to the 40 Foot for the Christmas Day Plunge! This line of cars is never here and they reach the next 1/2 mile, all the way to the swimming spot. I have NEVER seen this many people in Sandycove.

Arriving and meeting Joanna - we jogged down here to warm up (I'm still of the mind that's NOT what you want to do before jumping into ice cold water but I went along anyway).

You enter the 40 Foot just to the left there (a 200+ year old swimming spot in Dublin). Here's a short clip of the madness:

Instead of waiting in line, it looks like Ted lost it and just plunged off the side...It was now or never.

Graham making the jump (Wayne is in line just behind him and jumped right after Richie)

Buddy Richie taking the plunge from up top

Me, with my bare feet on the FROZEN stone and it huurrrrts. (This is my "AHHHHH! What am I DOING??"- Face)

Ohh myyy heavens....

Me pointing up to where Wayne is jumping (Joanna's taking pictures for us). I wasn't willing to jump the 10-15 foot drop where some of our group went so Clare and I....sensibly....walked down the stairs. Everyone thought we were nuts because we were knee deep in the water before we jumped off the side. In some ways its worse but I was way too afraid to plunge from the top.

 

This was taken by Clare's friend, Frank Miller, photographer for the Irish Times:

"Terror"

 Clare and I "swimming" around.

 Me at the top of the stairs (gasping), Clare coming out of the water and Wayne, center (also gasping).

 So proud to have done it! Merry Christmas! Now I'm Irish.

We brought a hot flask of coffee with us so we sat on the beach here and played for awhile. You're surprisingly warm and energized after an artic plunge (really not that bad, I'm not kidding) so we didn't want to head home.

Neither did these amazing dogs either. There were about 12 of them going absolutely nuts running on the beach. It was so sweet to watch.

 Heading down to the courtyard and looking down at Norah and her Daddy riding bikes. So sweet.

Google+ does these things and while they're a little odd, I love them! (Snow in the elevator?? Yes, please!)

Norah's gorgeous new coat and scarf from Aunt Mary. She has worn these two, every single day, since Christmas.

Week Before Christmas and THE Bike

(yes, its twinkling)

Norah made this at school! (they cut and dried oranges)

And this, an Irish 'Christmas Cracker' ornament (thankfully, it doesn't have the small amount of gun powder in it, like the real ones) They're pretty fun though, I have to admit. You pull each end, it pops and there are little toys inside. (reminiscent of those terror devices/dough tubes made by Pillsbury that would "pop" as you twisted the container. Oh, I hated those things) Anyway, the Christmas Cracker is sort of a staple at Christmas here.

And some mice carrying a Christmas tree on a skateboard, glued to a "takeaway" container lid, with glitter. What ELSE would it be?

Painting day, over break.

This artist doesn't just throw paint on there, willy-nilly. She is thoughtful....calculated.

Final product. We helped her fill in the white spaces but this is all Norah.

Headin' out for groceries with our stylin' wheeled cart. That's right.

Me and baby Rowan!

Mulled wine and mince pies at Kirsten & Goran's over break - including their real peat fire.

Group run on Christmas Eve morning - frrrrigid cold.

Also on December 21st/Winter Solstice (a few days before this), I did my first night mountain run with the Irish Mountain Running Assocation (IMRA) and I can say, unequivocally, I don't recommend it. It was up Djouce Mountain (one I had not been up before) and heard it is a tough trail in the Spring/Summer, in full daylight. It was snowing/sideways hailing, and full-white out by the time we reached the summit. And don't worry, I had full safety gear- first aid kit, emergency blanket, and whistle and the organizers were mountain rescuers themselves so I was in good company. Anyway, we wore headlamps and the night-running piece was actually great. I loved that - visibility was never a problem. It was just the sideways wind, snow and hail that was not so fun. Great experience and I'm glad I attempted/survived it but I don't need to do it again. No photos because well (1) it was so cold my phone battery was instantly zapped so no camera, and (2) by the time we reached the top our only thought was to get the hell off the mountain.   

Grafton Street on Christmas Eve - we went in to see the annual busking concert with some big stars. Its very informal and not advertised but we saw Glen Hansard, Bono and Damien Rice. It was great to see them but frigid cold and raining so we didn't stay all that long.

Not sure what's going on with this photo but it appears, google added sparkly lights?

Bono arrives and the camera's shoot up!

Back in our cozy warm home, opening our one present on Christmas Eve (was my family's tradition that we've decided to continue) and then off to bed with this munchkin.

Such a fun parenting moment - putting together our little girl's first bicycle!

Starting with opening, then a clip of her riding in the living room, and then later Christmas Day, riding in the courtyard outside. It's not easy being away from family on Christmas Day but the one upside is that we had the entire afternoon open, to play. I made a very small Christmas dinner as it was just the three of us but it was good and just what we needed.

Dun Laoghaire Pier Runners (DLPR) 2nd Christmas Party

 This year was the 2nd Annual Dun Laoghaire Running Group (DLPR) Christmas Party. Last year we had about 20 people come to the pub and one member, Rob, gave out a plastic medal to Donal for running the longest distance (Dublin Marathon), in the fastest time. (He had the best time of the 5 marathon runners last year.) It was a really casual night - more of a night-out for all of us and a chance to see each other in something other than running gear. 

This year though, things have changed, and grown and the bar has been raised. High. We had 10 runners complete the Dublin Marathon (8 of which were first time marathoners). Many of us started doing regular races with the Irish Mountain Runner's Association (a grueling club). And, the best part, I was able to get some proper medals and prizes to honor these amazing runners.

 (Boring story, short: I manage this Dun Laoghaire group but there are two leaders above me who oversee ALL the running groups in Dublin. I asked them if there might be any funds for us to buy a few medals (meaning about €20). Well, they went way above and beyond. With that, I was able to order full medals, each engraved, some other prizes (and even had some gear donated by a local shop (Dublin's REI) who sponsors our group). It was incredible!

Here's a shot of all the loot.

-10 medals for each of the Dublin Marathon Finishers

-3 Medals for each of the "Most Improved Awards"

-3 large medals for the big honors:

Fastest Dublin Marathon Time (Billy 3:29)

Fastest and Longest Mountain Run (Donal)

Fastest Park Run (5K) of the Year (Alan, 19 mins)

 

Clare, my partner in crime.

Readying myself with the excel spreadsheet of awards! Little nervous to start screaming out to the huge group in a very loud pub.

This was a long time in the making. Clare made this spreadsheet of all 40 of our club's runners which was such a huge help. It was surprisingly difficult to decide all of this because you so badly want to give a prize to every person.

These two won the award, "Sportiest Couple on Earth" - Paul & Maria met early last year and started dating - since then, they've done a 150-mile bike ride together, run several 10K races, a half marathon, Paul ran a full marathon, adventure races (running/biking/canoeing) and each, (separately) have walked 100+ kilometers of the Camano Pilgrimage in Spain. They are...rock-stars. Their gift was a bottle of wine and a wooden spoon to chase each other around the house. haha!

 Handing out the 10 marathon medals. All of this was a surprise at the pub so it was really fun to hand them out!

Gary - 1st time marathon finisher

Cousins, Donal & Ronan - who hadn't seen each other for 15+ years until both, separately, started in the group. Whhhat??

 So, some people, like Billy here, got multiple awards - he received this Dublin Marathon finisher medal, an award for fastest marathon time and then a bottle of wine for "1st DLPR Wedding" - as he and Stephanie were married this year.

Vanessa here set up our group Facebook page so we can all share our photos and set up runs. 

Billy and Stephanie - "First DLPR Wedding" (no, they did not meet in the group but their wedding was a big deal this year so they deserved a prize) :)

 Backstory here: We had this Bray to Greystones cliff run back in December. It was on December 7th - my Dad's 70th birthday, as well as John's birthday (49, if you can believe it).

(Us out there - with a sign reading, "Happy 70th Birthday Dad!")

Well, there were about 12 of us who met in Bray (15 mins. south) and were waiting for one last runner before taking off. Unfortunately, as we went to head out on the trail, John went into the bushes to use the "facilities". He did not mention this to anyone. So, when the last runner arrived, we took off. At the turnaround point (30 minutes later) - we're all going, "Well, where's John??" "Was he with you?" "No, was he with YOU?" "What if he fell off the cliff.....on his birthday??" So, you can imagine we felt a little.....terrible.....when we got back to the car park and realized... we left John. We left the poor guy, on what was meant to be his "Birthday Run".  

So, as a bit of a consolation - I awarded him one of the larger gifts. A pair of compression tights  (€95) which were donated by the outdoor store. The name of his award: "Most Likely to Be Left in a Car Park/Best Sport" - and thankfully he was a good sport about the award too.  

At the end, Clare hands me a little package.

Me, freaking out.

 'Thank you' hugs.

Clare made me the first ever DLPR T-Shirt

(that's a Martello Tower on the front, they're every mile or so here in South Dublin. They were military outlook posts for Britain, some still have their canons on top.)

DLPR and the Tri-color, on the back (the Irish Flag)

And 9 of the 10 Dublin Marathon Finishers from this year.

Looking forward to starting the 3rd year with this running group. So thankful for all of them. I can hardly believe what it's become since that first day in January 2012, when a random American started a running group in Dun Laoghaire. Who'd have thunk. :)