The Road Less Traveled: IM 2012

Dory Dory · 29-09-2012 8:06pm

Never too late.

Solobally8 · 29-09-2012 10:15pm

Sorry to hear you're not feeling the best Oyrx. Hope you have a good day at the 10k tomorrow. You've had an epic season, no wonder you are wrecked.

Brick Session · 30-09-2012 11:08am

Oryx, since Austria which I must remind you had over a 20% dropout rate I feel that you have been hard on yourself over speed etc. You can feel very proud of yourself for finishing what will go down as one of the hardest days in IM.

Now it is time to switch off your competitive side for a bit and get yourself well again, do the odd event, spend some time doing light training and we look forward to having you back to 100% soon.

oh and remember: "you don't have to go fast, you just have to go"

Oryx · 30-09-2012 2:44pm

Thanks Brick. I kept that in mind for the run earlier. It was windy with pouring, sideways rain, so not ideal conditions, and a hilly course to boot. All set to be punishing. A totally local turnout so lots of familiar faces.

I kept it easy for the uphill start, and felt good for the first few Kms. Then we hit the hills which started with a long drag and built into some leg killing climbs. At about 7k I was pushing it a bit on a hill and my hr seemed to go a bit crazy and I got a wowzer of a dizzy spell, so had to keep that under control and relax a bit for the rest of it. Legs were tired for the latter half, and I am missing a lot of my oomph. I finished in 47.07 and that was as much as I'm capable of right now.

I'm happy I got it done without a disaster, in a time that is closer to what I know I can do. I need to run with a hrm for a bit so I can see what the palpitations are all about. But at least I'm not totally borked.

Brick Session · 30-09-2012 2:56pm

Oryx wrote: »

I'm happy I got it done without a disaster, in a time that is closer to what I know I can do. I need to run with a hrm for a bit so I can see what the palpitations are all about. But at least I'm not totally borked.

Yeah I think thats a good idea. I have only done a couple of runs since Hardman but I have stopped using the HRM, just want to run on feel for a little while. Enjoy your Sunday. Maybe try and get the feet up for a bit later on with a nice glass of wine and a bar of dairy milk.

Oryx · 30-09-2012 3:02pm

Brick Session wrote: »

Yeah I think thats a good idea. I have only done a couple of runs since Hardman but I have stopped using the HRM, just want to run on feel for a little while. Enjoy your Sunday. Maybe try and get the feet up for a bit later on with a nice glass of wine and a bar of dairy milk.

You KNOW what I like

Brick Session · 30-09-2012 3:04pm

Oryx wrote: »

You KNOW what I like

Female & wine & chocolate = Bliss

Dory Dory · 30-09-2012 5:41pm

10k in 47.07? I do believe that's faster than my PB. Sweet jesus, I hate to see what you are capable of when you're "on".

Oryx · 30-09-2012 5:48pm

Dory Dory wrote: »

10k in 47.07? I do believe that's faster than my PB. Sweet jesus, I hate to see what you are capable of when you're "on".

It must be a while since you tried a 10k

RacoonQueen · 30-09-2012 5:52pm

Oryx wrote: »

I have a 10k tomorrow which I am doing as its a charity gig and I cant get out of it. But it wont be pretty. As for the marathon, all bets are off. And whats worse, I dont even care.

That's how I felt about vitruvian and DCM it's a sure fire sign you need a break I think. Assume you're still doing the marathon, just for the fun?

Hope you're feeling better soon.

Oryx · 30-09-2012 6:20pm

I've paid for the mara, I may as well get the goody bag.

I just heard I won female vet today. The joys of a small field.

Brick Session · 30-09-2012 6:35pm

Oryx wrote: »

I've paid for the mara, I may as well get the goody bag.

I just heard I won female vet today. The joys of a small field.

Life really does begin at 40

Dory Dory · 30-09-2012 6:36pm

47.07 on a crap day?? And a win??? 4 weeks to marathon...pop those iron pills and shake off that down in the dumps attitude soldier.....get some extra sleep and enjoy running without worrying about the damn watch. Zero expectations, but embrace the race. You'll be more than grand....and you'll prob blow most of us away.

Solobally8 · 30-09-2012 7:05pm

+1 on all the above. 47.07 is a time I would dream of being able to do some day. Fair play to you, that's some going when you're not feeling well.

Kurt Godel · 30-09-2012 7:15pm

You should wear all your medals for the DM race. And start right up the front, you earned that right.

Brick Session · 30-09-2012 7:22pm

Solobally8 wrote: »

+1 on all the above. 47.07 is a time I would dream of being able to do some day. Fair play to you, that's some going when you're not feeling well.

I'd take your off day performance anyday.

pointer28 · 01-10-2012 8:10am

I wish my good races were as impressive as your bad races!

Oryx · 05-10-2012 10:06am

Ive not been posting here much because if people want to listen to a whine they can just watch xfactor audition videos.

Things are mixed middling as my granny used to say. Were back into the winter swim sessions, which are great. On Tuesday, we tried tumble turns. I tumble, but I dont turn. It just makes me hit the pool floor a lot. But I managed a few in the deep end this morning that went ok, I end up going the right direction eventually, probably because the pool floor is another four feet away so its harder to hit. Short swim distances this week, focus is on doing it right, rather than doing lots of it.

I havent been on my bike in 3 weeks, which is shocking. Shows which is my most hated discipline though! But they say you never forget, so hopefully this weekend Ill put things right on that score and get a bit of mileage in.

And running. Well, long sloooow runs are ok, they just wipe me out afterwards. But short fast runs are just not happening this week. Everything I try is very slow, very laboured, and very hard.

Fatigue is still my best friend but me, him and the sofa are getting along just fine. We invited Brad Pitt and Moneyball along last night and shared a bar of dairy milk. It was special.

So ends todays whinefest. Many more to follow.

Oryx · 05-10-2012 8:44pm

Club 5k tt tonight (running). Gave a time of 23 mins and took off alongside two lads I know are solid runners. We stayed neck and neck the whole way, I think we dragged each other along, no room to slack off the pace at all. We only broke ranks for the sprint finish. Managed 22.25 for 5.2k which I'm dead happy about given the way things have been going. This running with other people lark is cool.

Brick Session · 05-10-2012 8:59pm

Oryx wrote: »

Ive not been posting here much because if people want to listen to a whine they can just watch xfactor audition videos.

Things are mixed middling as my granny used to say. Were back into the winter swim sessions, which are great. On Tuesday, we tried tumble turns. I tumble, but I dont turn. It just makes me hit the pool floor a lot. But I managed a few in the deep end this morning that went ok, I end up going the right direction eventually, probably because the pool floor is another four feet away so its harder to hit. Short swim distances this week, focus is on doing it right, rather than doing lots of it.

I havent been on my bike in 3 weeks, which is shocking. Shows which is my most hated discipline though! But they say you never forget, so hopefully this weekend Ill put things right on that score and get a bit of mileage in.

And running. Well, long sloooow runs are ok, they just wipe me out afterwards. But short fast runs are just not happening this week. Everything I try is very slow, very laboured, and very hard.

Fatigue is still my best friend but me, him and the sofa are getting along just fine. We invited Brad Pitt and Moneyball along last night and shared a bar of dairy milk. It was special.

So ends todays whinefest. Many more to follow.

you took the words right out of my mouth.

Impossible to get going with some regular training again.

RedB · 05-10-2012 10:38pm

Oryx wrote: »

Club 5k tt tonight (running). Gave a time of 23 mins and took off alongside two lads I know are solid runners. We stayed neck and neck the whole way, I think we dragged each other along, no room to slack off the pace at all. We only broke ranks for the sprint finish. Managed 22.25 for 5.2k which I'm dead happy about given the way things have been going. This running with other people lark is cool.

Again with the WOW!

Very nice time for 5.2k

Solobally8 · 05-10-2012 11:22pm

Super 5k time Oyrx. I know you are feeling the fatigue at the moment but you must be happy with the fact that even though you're not at your best you are still knocking out great running times like that.

Oryx · 06-10-2012 1:27pm

Paying for yesterdays jog today. Am pooped so its a rest day for me.

Oryx · 07-10-2012 1:16pm

Got out on my (road) bike today! And I hadn't forgotten how to ride it! But by 30 miles I sure could tell I hadn't ridden it in a while. Hard work! Did a forty miler out and back, and the out was fast and easy... Cos the sneaky wind that I didn't even know was there just killed me on the way back. Still. A good session seeing as I couldn't get to hell and back today.

Dory Dory · 10-10-2012 2:06pm

How you coping with taper madness??

Oryx · 12-10-2012 10:12am

Dory Dory wrote: »

How you coping with taper madness??

I've had the most insane two weeks coping with a project in work, which had me headwrecked anyway. It didnt help everything else.

I am walking a tightrope at the moment, trying to manage this semi burnout that Im trying to overcome. Not easy at the sharp end of a marathon schedule, and with a swim coach who has hit the winter season on a mission.

Added to that, Ive not followed any kind of a plan, (even though, thank you jb, you did give me details of one), I havent been able to stick with any regular training, just doing what I can as and when the body allows it. I can only hope that what did get done, and the base I have, will get me through without too much agony. Times don't matter anymore, I have to just do this to enjoy it. As Scotty says in star trek 'She canna take no more'.

tl;dr? There is no taper madness. There is just madness.

Dory Dory · 12-10-2012 1:23pm

If you haven't read Marthastew's Berlin race report, then you should. If you really feel you are not properly prepared to nail this race, then go out there and just have fun. Soak up the crowd and the energy.....pace it smart, smart, smart.....enjoy the scenery and the people....encourage people along the way, especially since there will be loads who will be struggling and needing a word of encouragement. There was this lad on Sunday who was running the marathon for no other reason than to have a good time and help others. I met up with him a few times - and one of those times was when I was struggling a good bit and he helped me take my mind off things with his singing and running backwards and stealing pom poms from the cheerleaders and throwing down a cheer with them. He was great. Share what you've got to help others meet their goals if you can. And enjoy the day.

RedB · 12-10-2012 1:31pm

Dory Dory wrote: »

There was this lad on Sunday who was running ......

Love it

She's been hanging out here so long you can't even hear an accent anymore

Dory Dory · 12-10-2012 1:35pm

RedB wrote: »

Love it She's been hanging out here so long you can't even hear an accent anymore

I know!!! Hubby rolls his eyes...some of the words are part of my lexicon now. I said "head torch" to someone at the bike shop the other day and they just looked at me.

Oryx · 13-10-2012 12:52pm

Another week done. Two weeks and two days till the mara, no targets hit, a few missed, but I tried, anyway. At the risk of repeating myself, Im tired. Which always makes me sing this in my head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uai7M4RpoLU

I can't do any tempo work, but I do have 3 20 milers in the bag. Which means I know I can get around, but I havent a feckin clue how to pace it. Im almost as bad as KG with his 3 week anyone-can-do-it marathon plan.

Kurt Godel · 13-10-2012 1:49pm

Oryx wrote: »

I can't do any tempo work, but I do have 3 20 milers in the bag. Which means I know I can get around, but I havent a feckin clue how to pace it. Im almost as bad as KG with his 3 week anyone-can-do-it marathon plan.

Offer- 3:45 pace to halfway, speed up/down/maintain until 20, scream profanities at each other over the final 6.2.

Oryx · 13-10-2012 1:57pm

Kurt Godel wrote: »

Offer- 3:45 pace to halfway, speed up/down/maintain until 20, scream profanities at each other over the final 6.2.

I like the sound of the screaming profanities bit.

Kurt Godel · 13-10-2012 2:13pm

Oryx wrote: »

I like the sound of the screaming profanities bit.

Well, the offers there if you want to brush up on your French. But don't let it stop you aiming for faster. What's your target? (Don't say you don't know)

Oryx · 13-10-2012 2:42pm

I had hoped to get a 3.30 this year, though it was an optimistic ask. Now I want to get as close to 3.40 as I can. Trying for anything less just doesnt interest me. I know Dory has said about running a fun race if I cant attempt a target, but my mind isnt there. So I'm going to run by feel for ten miles, then check my watch and see where Im at. If Im feeling good, Im going to go for the target. If Im not feeling good, Ill probably hail a taxi.

I appreciate your offer, but I find running a race with someone either keeps me too relaxed or kills me. I need my own pace.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi · 13-10-2012 2:43pm

Offer two!! You and Kurt head out with 3:30 group, blow up mile 18, scream profanaties at each other and at me for screwing up your race then slide off to the pub. Deal:rolleyes:

One benefit you have Oryx is there is absolutely no time pressures on you and you can just go out enjoy it and take everything in along the way.

Kurt Godel · 13-10-2012 2:51pm

Oryx wrote: »

I had hoped to get a 3.30 this year, though it was an optimistic ask. Now I want to get as close to 3.40 as I can. Trying for anything less just doesnt interest me. I know Dory has said about running a fun race if I cant attempt a target, but my mind isnt there. So I'm going to run by feel for ten miles, then check my watch and see where Im at. If Im feeling good, Im going to go for the target. If Im not feeling good, Ill probably hail a taxi.

I appreciate your offer, but I find running a race with someone either keeps me too relaxed or kills me. I need my own pace.

That's all good. Too rich for my current state in any case. Sounds like you have a decent strategy, and with the training you've done its very doubtful you'll need taxi money. I'll hold onto a few choice cusswords just in case you're faltering over the last few miles, but I sincerely doubt I'll be using them. that you'll be within earshot when I use them.

Oryx · 13-10-2012 3:14pm

Its probably too rich for my current state, but I dont want to do a 4.xx.xx and be sick that I didnt try harder.

Dory Dory · 13-10-2012 7:25pm

I don't know if you have already checked or even have an interest, but I think all you need to get into Boston is a 3:45 (2013 is closed, so we're talking 2014) assuming I've got your age group correct. I qualified for 2014 with last weekend's time....so....if you happen to cross the finish line under that time in two weeks, then stick thoughts of Boston in your back pocket.....registration opens in September of next year.

Oryx · 13-10-2012 11:04pm

The joys of getting older

RacoonQueen · 14-10-2012 4:28pm

And I'll be looking for Boston 2014 if I manage to actually train for London 2013. Boards party in Boston.

Dory Dory · 14-10-2012 5:01pm

RacoonQueen wrote: »

And I'll be looking for Boston 2014 if I manage to actually train for London 2013. Boards party in Boston.

We all heard it here....the queen in Boston in 2014. Oryx, just come in under 3:45, the rest doesn't matter. And rumor has it Kurt is going for 3:15 to qualify as well. We may have to book out an entire floor somewhere.

Note to self: start training for the after party now.

Oryx · 14-10-2012 6:19pm

Ah but I'm planning another IM in 2014...

Dory Dory · 14-10-2012 6:40pm

Oryx wrote: »

Ah but I'm planning another IM in 2014...

So?? IMs and marathons are not mutually exclusive....and what better way to prepare for your IM than to have your running at "that" level a few months in advance. There are several rock star boardsies who do a spring marathon and summer/fall IM. I don't know which IM you are looking at, but I would imagine there will be 3 months or more in between the marathon and the IM.

Boston, Boston, Boston.....

RacoonQueen · 15-10-2012 7:48am

Oryx wrote: »

Ah but I'm planning another IM in 2014...

Sure a marathon is great training for an IM. Isn't there one after that long cycle y'do?!

Oryx · 15-10-2012 9:29am

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Sure a marathon is great training for an IM. Isn't there one after that long cycle y'do?!

I only remember crawling.

RedB · 15-10-2012 10:11am

Oryx wrote: »

I only remember crawling.

I only remember you running off into the sunset

My 2c off a similar setup in 2010. Run comfortably to 16M at 3:45 pace. Keep 100m -200m ahead of the pacers so you're pacing steady but in your own space. I was happy at that mark in 2010 and pressed on carefully to 3:42:46 and finished with a smile on my face.

Dory Dory · 15-10-2012 4:04pm

RedB wrote: »

I only remember you running off into the sunset

My 2c off a similar setup in 2010. Run comfortably to 16M at 3:45 pace. Keep 100m -200m ahead of the pacers so you're pacing steady but in your own space. I was happy at that mark in 2010 and pressed on carefully to 3:42:46 and finished with a smile on my face.

And a Boston qualification in your pocket....except for that gender thing.

RedB · 15-10-2012 7:15pm

Dory Dory wrote: »

And a Boston qualification in your pocket....except for that gender thing.

and the age thing (then)

menoscemo · 15-10-2012 11:00pm

Oryx, If you want to go sub 3:45 but don't want the hassle of a pace group just go in wave 1.
The 3:45 group will be at the start of wave 2 so you will have a few minutes head start....

Oryx · 15-10-2012 11:09pm

menoscemo wrote: »

Oryx, If you want to go sub 3:45 but don't want the hassle of a pace group just go in wave 1.
The 3:45 group will be at the start of wave 2 so you will have a few minutes head start....

I think I'm already assigned to a wave? I still don't know what I'm going to do but I'll start and see what happens.

Ran yesterday. Not stunning but the legs did have a nice bit of bounce on the hills. The two short runs earlier in the week had been the worst, felt sick and awful, so this was needed.

Swam and kettlebells (not at the same time

) today just for somethin different to do.

The Road Less Traveled: IM 2012

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