Summer is a good time to take a break. We all need some holiday time to spend in rest and recreation, utilising the good weather and longer days to achieve some peace and restoration away from the busyness of ordinary day to day life. Recently I went on a summer road trip to Waterford in the southeast of Ireland. I have a particular love for this part of the country affectionately known as the ‘Sunny South East’. It helps that it is near the sea as being close to water I find restorative, which gives me a sense of stillness, peace and calm.
This was my third summer time to make a trip to Waterford. I am a creature of habit and I know what works for me. A return cycle with a friend from Waterford City to Dungarvan on the Waterford Greenway is always on the itinerary for this trip. Cycling this greenway is good for the soul, a spectacularly scenic 46 kilometre route passing over numerous bridges, viaducts, a 400m-long tunnel, all the way to seeing the sandy beaches and smelling the fresh sea-air on the final stretch of the journey, which provides wonderful views of the coastline approaching the harbour town located at the heart of County Waterford.
This year I also took part the Waterford Viking Half-Marathon. It was a great joy for me to participate in this event which was my longest run since the Kinsale 10 in February. It gave me a lift to race competitively again in a long distance event and to finish strongly in 36th place in 1:28:34, tenth in the Male age-group 40-49 category. It gave me renewed gratitude for the gift of running and fresh impetus to stick with my reduced mileage and cross training routine of the past few years, confident that my degenerate foot condition is improving.
The positive endorphins from running the half-marathon gave me an experience of ‘runner’s high’, that usually short-lasting euphoric feeling I often experience following exercise. This time however my positive mood was sustained when I made a visit to the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Waterford City for Sunday Mass. The Gospel reading repeated the words ‘do not be afraid’ and I was moved by the inspiring homily of the Bishop and his encouragement to have ‘rock solid’ trust in God and to renew that trust daily. I left that church in a state of inner peace and with determination to count my blessings.
Restoration would not be complete without time for actual rest and relaxation too. For me it is important to create opportunities for ‘doing nothing’. After the race I took my car on the short ferry crossing from Passage East in Waterford to Ballyhack in Wexford and visited Duncannon beach to reminisce memories of a summer from my childhood. I walked the sea shore collecting shells and then retraced my footprints in the sand. It was a great feeling just to breathe in the fresh sea air. I prolonged my coastal experience when I visited an almost deserted Woodstown beach later that evening. After heavy showers of rain I observed a beautiful rainbow. It was worth waiting for this wonder, a reminder that after the rain clouds the sun still shines; perhaps a sign of hope and new beginnings.
When I returned from my few days of holiday I felt more rested and settled in myself. I was more conscious of the immense gift of life and of all the blessings I’ve been given, particularly my gifts of running and writing which I believe in using. I felt renewed in my faith too. Taking time to do life-giving activities reminded me of the peace which can be obtained by living in the present moment, letting go of any negative emotions about the past or future; trusting that God is with me each day along life’s journey.
