Galway 5K series 2008

Hi lads!!!

Ireland is well known for it´s crazy abuse of alcohol, and I´m witness of this every single day (not to mention the weekends). However there is another face of Ireland, less know, but far more interesting though. There are lots of runners in Ireland.

In the Galway area several clubs can be found. 6 of those, the Athenry Atletics Club, Tuam AC, ,Craughwell Athletic Club, Clare River Harriers, Loughrea AC, Galway City Harriers, organize every year the "Galway 5K series". A series of 6 5k races, that take place in cities nearby Galway, and in Galway itself the final one.

This year more than 380 runner signed for the series, and amazing number for such an small country, and with such bad habits.

If we talk about me I have to tell that I´m quite happy with my performance:

• 1st race (Athenry): 21:06, 66th place
• 2nd race (Tuam): 21:10, 65th place
• 3rd race (Craughwell) 20:37, 62nd place

Today I felt terrific, and I could have pushed some more. Anyway next week will probably be my last race of the series, since I´m moving to The Netherlands, and i´ve heard that is the fastest route, this means that I´ll have the extra motivation of knowing that is my last race, and a little help from the route.

Update 22nd May 2008

• 4rd race (Claregalway) 20:17, 56th place

Amazing race with to "funny" uphills, and more tha 2k in "free falling", that made most runners improve their marks.

I want to thank you all the people involved in the organization, and of course all runners and walkers that create an amazing atmosfear, really, really enjoyable.


See you.

Going Forward :):):):)

Maree 8k, my first race in Ireland

Today I have run my first race in Ireland. It has been a great experience, and luckily the weather has been perfect. I´ve met a lot of people, all of them sports lovers, and absolutely kind.

This is me before the race (lovely weather).

It took me exactly 35 minute to complete the 8 Kilometers of the race. The profile of the race was almost flat, with two small hills, and I´m absolutely happy with my performance.

I went to the race with Valery and Monenna, two enthusiastic irish girls that are really helping to make my life better here. I first met Valery. She is the sister of one of my flatmates, so I met her in my house, when she was visisin her sister, and soon we began to train together. She´s really f***ing tough and keeps asking me to run 8 Miles although we eventually run more than 10.

Valery introduced me to Monenna. She never stops, is like a hurricane, talking laughing, moving, jeje, she is charming.

Monenna, on the left, and Valery, after the race.

Well, great sports atmosphere, a wonderful organization, tea, coffee, bananas, ......... An incredible Sunday morning.

These are to women that I met. The one in the blue jumper was the third.

This is pure and simple sexual harassment.

More news soon (promise!!).

Snow in Galway

The "Espantes" party in Fuentesauco

This post is destined all those irish lads with whom I share country right now.

Today I want to talk you about a Spanish ancient tradition. Spain is well know for it´s bullfighters and other related traditions. The Espantes is another kind of bull-involving tradition. As far as I know this tradition is only being carried out in Fuentesauco, a small village in the province called Zamora.



The ritual takes place in the meadow of the village. This meadow is surounded by a fence so that animals can not scape. The day of the party on one side of the meadow are a group of bulls and oxens and a group of men riding horses and controlling those, while on the opposite side are the people. At a certain moment in time the riders drive the bulls and oxens towards the people, and at the same time people begin to run towards the flock. When both, people and animals, are close to collide, animals get scared and, helped by riders, turn back away from people. This process is repeated several times, until people and animals get tired. Almost every year in one of this aproaches some bulls refuse to turn back and, as you can imagine, really thrilling situations happend.



I can tell you by my own experience that runing towars a group of bulls is an absolutely exciting activity, but of course is not without danger. Some people have died, but i have to say that most of them were very drunk and dare too much.

I recommend you to go Fuentesauco and watch this exciting ritual, but better from one of the meadow fences, where you´ll be more secure. Besides, this is only one small part of the big big party that goes on during almost a week about the first week of July.

New Look

I've been living in Galway for almos 2 months now. As a sign of a new life that it´s begining I have had my hair cut, and I have to say that I´m delighted with the results. I´ve have a Japanesse flatmate, she is lovely, and besides she is a hair dresser :). Here the results of such a difficult task (explaining her what style I wanted):

Galway, nice city

Hello fellows!!

Here I am, in Galway city, Co Galway, Ireland. I arrived in Galway on December 29th, 2007, since then I have't had many posibilities to write, actually I haven´t had any. So this is my first post after almost a month in Ireland.

Galway is a nice, quite small city, It has a University which gives to the city a lot of live, both daylive and nightlife. I came here to attend an Exam Preparation course, specifically the Cambridge First Certificate of English. This is my second week and the school, and unfortunately it might be the last.

One of the first things I did when I arrived was to send my CV to a recuitment agency. I had read tha CPL is one of the most important agencies across the country, so I decided to join it. I had uploaded my CV only one day before when a received a call from a recruiter. He asked me about my profile, my preferences and some other things. The fact is that last week a did two job interviews, and that next monday I begin to work as a software engineer in and Irish company called Goodside Software.