“When I came to live in Leixlip in 1975, St Catherine’s Park was privately owned. I used to delight in sneaking into the dense woodland area with my young children.
It was a beautiful place then and it still is now. The big difference is that nowadays you and I own it.
Though I’m in my 65th year, I am blessed with the health to be able to run in the park every day, whatever the weather, mostly in the morning. I usually run for about an hour but that can go up to two hours some days, depending on what I am training for.
I lost 3.5st in weight slowly and surely, almost exclusively down to my activities in St Catherine's
I often then go back to the park in the afternoon for my beloved lazy stroll. I am a retired civil servant and I still pinch myself to think that I live so close to a place that makes physical activity such a joy.
From the time I retired from work eight years ago, I lost 3.5st in weight slowly and surely, almost exclusively down to my activities in St Catherine’s. I was an athlete in my younger days and went back to competitive running with the Le Cheile Athletic Club in Leixlip when I was 62.
Having the fitness to be a competitive athlete again was the furthest thing from my mind on retirement. St Catherine’s Park and the time to enjoy it brought that about.”
- Tell us about the activities or sports you love. Email magazine@irishtimes.com with "Why I Love To" in the subject line
