GET FIT FOR CHRISTMAS
By Imelda Kearney

Christmas is approaching and many people dread over-eating which can be an unavoidable consequence of this festival.

Running is a useful aid to prevent the Christmas flab. Not only will you become fit, but running can also help to relieve stress while at the same time improving your mental and physical agility.
But a word of caution: running can be strenous so it is advisable to have a medical check-up with your doctor before you undertake this exercise.

It is always more fun to run with a group, so if you can enlist a few friends who will help you set up a running schedule on a regular basis this can be a great help.

Your basic equipment will be a good pair of running shoes with cushioning in the soles and heel. These cost between £25.00 up to £100.00. It is important to invest in a good pair of running shoes as these protect you from injury.

You will also need a pair of jogging pants a sweat shirt and t-shirt, shorts in the summer.
If you are a complete beginner, then set yourself a time limit of ten minutes, three times per week, with a combination of walking and jogging, at your own pace.

Then continue to build on this slowly by extending the time spent while reducing the walking. To maintain a good level of fitness, 20-40 minutes 3-4 times per week is more than adequate, but you may make your own decision as to how far you wish to progress.

Running in the park or on the beach is a good place to start because the surface is softer. After a while your muscles become stronger which will enable you to run on the foothpath. Sandymount strand is an excellent amenity at your doorstep.

There are a great variety of running magazines on sale in newsagents and these offer many training tips and advice about running, they also include training schedules, which are particularly useful.
Who knows, you may become a marathon runner, although more recently shorter distances have become popular and there are many events for serious as well as fun runners throughout the year both in Dublin and around the country.

Very often it is participation and completion of the distance which takes priority.

On Christmas day, G.O.A.L. feature a one mile event, which is four laps of the track, at U.C.D. in Belfield. You may join in anytime from 10.00 a.m.until 1.00p.m.

Crusaders Athletic Club also have a relay run round the R.D.S. in Ballsbridge. There are teams of four and they complete a distance of 1500m.

The event is open to non-club members and you should meet at Merrion Cricket Club, Anglesea Rd, at 11.15 a.m. on Christmas Day. Good luck! You just cannot start training too early!

 

CHRISTMAS PLAYGROUND

Children in Sandy-mount have never had a playground that can be called there own. The nearest playground with swings etc, is Ringsend Park, or Herbert Park if you want to walk that far.

Okay, there’s Sandymount Green, but apart from cycling your bike along the park, if you’re over four years old, there’s not even the chance of a game of football.

Surely it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to put a small play-ground area with swings and slides in the green. All the mothers and fathers who bring their kids to the green talk about a playground. Also, if you look in the green you will see what is known as “As As House”.

And what about toilets for the Green? Don’t get me wrong, Sandymount Green is lovely, but after you’ve sat, looked at the pigeons and talked to your friends there is not much else to do. It’s grand for the older generation but not for the little ones.

There are a lot more children living in Sandymount now and we should remember that they too need somewhere to play. Please, Santa, bring us a new playground for Christmas!

 

DISABLED DRIVERS' BADGES

Mr. Tony Regan of the Motoring Advice and Assessment and Tuition Services (MAATS) said that 1998 showed an increase of almost 3,000 new parking permits given out to people with disabilities, both drivers and passengers.

This was an increase of five hundred on the two thousand five hundred since last year. It was expected that this number will rise when the new criteria for passengers are introduced in the near future.

Mr. Reagan said that this rise was staggering, and he has asked the Department of the Environment to increase the number of parking bays accordingly.

Unlike the old disabled drivers’ stickers, which he said were being abused, the new stickers would have a photograph of the disabled passenger/driver incorporated into them, to prevent misuse and they would also only be valid for two years.

Under the new, amended Road Traffic Act, it is now illegal to park in a disabled bay without one of these badges. The original fine of £15 has now been increased to £150, and a second offence will cost more.

This can only be good news for the disabled driver. For further information contact the Irish Wheelchair

 


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