WEEK 9: HALF MARATHON WITH 'SAINTS DAYS'

WEEK 9 HALF MARATHON 2018 with SAINTS DAYS 5K & 10K Training Plan
The fun continues this week if you are anticipating running the “tune-up” St. Patrick’s Day 10K scheduled in this plan. Last week’s post discussed how this shorter distance race fits into your half marathon training.
 
This week will be about the fun of the holiday! Did you know the Irish in the United States can take credit for the first St. Patrick’s Day parade? The year was 1762, and the day was March 17 which commemorates the saint’s death in the year 461.  A History.com item indicates that Irish soldiers serving in the British army had the bright idea of marching through the city streets that year in New York City, to celebrate the holiday.
 
“Early Irish settlers to the American colonies, many of whom were indentured servants, brought the Irish tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s feast day to America.”
 
In their home country, the Irish had observed this day as a religious holiday.   They attended church services in the morning and then spent the afternoon enjoying food and drink.
 
History.com says that over the years parades eventually they became “a popular celebration of Irish-American heritage”.
 
And here we are now, running races on that day as well! Enjoy your ability to compete that day, earned by hard work and perseverance, the post-race revelry, and the promise of spring.
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!

FULL PLANS: see the RESOURCES page
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http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-st-patricks-day-parade

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