Turning a mule into a race horse.

It's time for me to venture back out into the world of boards.ie training logs.

In running terms I am a mule.



A slow mule and an overweight mule at that but we are making progress on this front.

Mules of course tend to be slower than horses and are stubborn creatures however in some circumstances can actually match and beat horses. Here's an old story about a pacing mule I found interesting. For the moment I don't mind being the mule but I do intend to race with the rest of the horses here some day.

History To Date:

I've made all the beginners mistakes - (and am ready to make the graduating to intermediate ones but am hoping a log here might help me avoid them) Ran like a lunatic every run, tried to beat my PB each run and was disappointed if I didn't. Set my goals too high, changed my goals too often etc etc.

I started running early in 2012 from a zero base. Literally off the couch. I was overweight (still am to be honest but we will get to that shortly ) I originally started off with a time goal for a 5 mile race following the couch to 5k program but as time progressed turned my sights to the 2012 Dublin marathon. Why you ask ? I fell into a trap where I equated distance with success. After getting to 5k I wanted to be able to run 10k at a time - then a half marathon and ultimately an ill fated go at DCM. It never sunk in that progress could be made dropping times on shorter runs too ! An injury sustained about 6 weeks out knackered my training at a critical point but I went ahead and ran anyway (ran / walked to be more accurate) covering the distance in 5 hours 36 minutes. Realistically this injury was caused by doing too much too soon, off too little a base and carrying too much weight.

An attempt to restart things early in 2013 was also scuppered by injuries and personal circumstances changing but I eventually got back out there in August and have gradually brought some fitness back - starting off with the smallest of runs 2 or 3k at a time and bringing things up to a LSR of up to 12k.

Current Official PB's are:

5k 28:24 (Remembrance Run Nov 2013)
10k 1:02:51 (DLR Bay 10k 2012)
Half Marathon 2:18:30 (Race Series 2012)
Full Marathon 5:36:53 (DCM 2012)

So most definitely mule standard at the moment.

The Goal:

I want a proper crack at a marathon and am targeting DCM 2014. In perfect hindsight jumping into marathon training so soon and carrying the weight I was carrying was a mistake which led to the injuries I sustained so DCM 14 is the goal to give me plenty of time to build a solid base before embarking on marathon training. I will know by August if it is feasible this year but if I need to push that out to spring 2015 then so be it. Along the way I need to shift some weight. Back in 2012 I was just shy of 17 stone. Weight has fluctuated since then - had gone down to 14 Stone pre marathon, back up over 16 stone (to my shame) when I was off injured and currently stands at just under 15 stone.

Getting there:

I'm joining a club at Fit4Life level. I wanted to do this last year but couldn't get a club training at a time that suits. Good news though is circumstances have changed a bit and I should be able to commit to at least one day a week at a club. I will continue to gradually increase distances and improve paces, keep the diet in check and hopefully will see some good results later in the year. Shouldn't be too hard to improve on the current times.

Between the guidance and support of a club and you good folk I know I will be in good company along the journey.