[tunguska]

Originally Posted by Lock

Splits according to Garmin:

1. 5:14
2. 5:18
3. 5:34
4. 5:46
(0:10)

22:02 for 4.04 miles

Before the race I ambitiously thought I could go under 21:30 if I knocked out some 5:20 miles back to back. I managed to stay in the game but coming back into the village with a mile and a half to go I just dropped a gear. I was slogging it out big time in the 3rd and 4th mile and once I knew a decent time was off, I gave in a little bit.

Lock if you were planning on running back to back 5:20s you'll need to be running mile repeats at a pace at least that fast. Looking through your log and you had nothing like that done. At the very least you'll need mile repeats but preferably sets of 2milers, maybe something like 3 x 2mile with 3mins recovery between sets. The 400s and 800s are great for running economy but for raw strength and mental confidence in longer races you gotta be knocking out the longer intervals.

[Lock]

Originally Posted by tunguska

Lock if you were planning on running back to back 5:20s you'll need to be running mile repeats at a pace at least that fast. Looking through your log and you had nothing like that done. At the very least you'll need mile repeats but preferably sets of 2milers, maybe something like 3 x 2mile with 3mins recovery between sets. The 400s and 800s are great for running economy but for raw strength and mental confidence in longer races you gotta be knocking out the longer intervals.

Yeah you said it man, I'm lacking strength big time. That sounds like a good session. I'd say I'd struggle to do 3 x 2 mile in 11 minutes each so 5:20 splits on Sunday was an optimistic goal. Thought I might get away with it with 4 miles but it wasn't to be. Back on the horse now and hoping to knock out some long strength sessions like the one you mentioned above in the coming weeks.

[Lock]

Monday: 10 miles in 67:36 (6:45/mile)

I was blowing off steam with this run so I went a tad too fast. Running steady and comfortable but I was working up any hills I came across. Trying to make up for a poor race which is not a very good idea!

Tuesday: So I planned to do some sort of session today. I couldn't make up my mind what to do and I still didn't know what to do when I was warming up. I laced up the spikes after deciding on 6 x 4 mins with 2 mins recovery might test me. My head wasn't in it at all. Doing it alone around the polo grounds at lunchtime with the sun beating down didn't help so after the 2nd rep I just said feck it and pulled the session. I hate cutting sessions short but I just didn't care.

Wednesday: Easy 8.08 miles in 59:36 (7:22/mile)

Thursday: 16 x 400m, 1 minute rest.

74.17
71.97
70.92
71.27
73.87
71.17
71.85
73.29

2 mins recovery

68.75
70.95
72.67
70.67
71.07
71.00
70.45
69.82

So this was a great confidence booster. I have never done this many reps ever. I just tried to ignore the fact that there were 16 to tackle. I kind of zoned out and before I knew it we had already done 10 and I was feeling alright. I took the first one conservatively as I didn't know how to pace it but from then on I went with the front group and after that there were three of us, each leading every 3rd rep. Having the lads to hold on to was a huge help. 400's aren't an issue. If this was 800's I would have had to let them go so that extra strength needs to be addressed.

Friday: 8.71 miles in 61:11 (7:01/mile)

[Lock]

Last week: Sat - rest

Sun - 14 mile long run. Forgot the Garmin but I was really rolling. (59 miles for the week)





Mon - 8 miles in 53:36 (6:41/mile)

Tue - 10 miles in 69:27 (6:56/mile)

Wed - 11 miles in 73:26 (6:40/mile)

Thurs - 4 x 1 mile, 75 sec recovery

Fri - 6 miles in 42:40 (7:06/mile)

Sat - 5 x 3 minutes, 90 sec recovery

Sun - 13.2 miles in 1:23:58 (6:22/mile)

60 miles total for the week.

I was up glued to the golf so just updating this now at the end of a good week á la Steve Way. So this was quite a good week's training that I'm proud to post here. Running steady has gradually creeped under the 7 minute barrier which isn't too important but nice all the same. On Tuesday, I had planned to do some fartlek but the wind was ridiculous so I just ran steady. Thursday's session was 4 x 1 mile in 5:13, 5:13, 5:19, 5:16. I really needed this session as I'm still lacking this kind of strength. I was hanging off the back of the group just grinding it out but got through it in one piece.

On Saturday I had planned to do 8 by 3 minutes. Laced up the spikes on some freshly cut grass and set off. I was feeling GREAT. Like really comfortable. To the point that I thought I was going too slow, but that wasn't the case. On the 4th rep I had some sudden sharp pain deep in my gut and I honestly thought I was going to vomit. 90 seconds later I felt okish so tried the next rep. Same stomach pain so packed in the session. I think it was just related to what I ate but I was so put off that I just walked home rather than jogging a cooldown. Didn't get out for a run until after 7 o'clock today but once I started I seemed to be in 5th gear. I held back for the first 4 miles but still felt great so put the foot down and despite rolling hills and a HUGE rain shower I finished soaked to the skin and feeling fantastic. Just one of those days I suppose but happy for it. I would have gone farther but it was starting to get dark coming home. No race next week so I'm going to plan to run 15 or 16 miles as the last 2 weeks I have felt really smooth on my Sunday runs.

I'm an inconsistent trainer and sometimes let laziness get the better of me but since the calendar has rolled over into April, I am determined to run every day this month as the Summer is looming large and I want to run FAST. Sunday and Tuesday I didn't really feel like heading out but I just got on with it.

[Lock]

Monday: 8 miles in 55:00 (6:52/mile)

Getting tired of these wet and windy runs. I've never checked the weather forecast so much in my life.

[Lock]

Tuesday: 8 x 3 mins, 90 sec recovery.

pace per kilometre according to Garmin:

3:09
3:10
3:11
3:14
3:17
3:15
3:15
3:16

So this was a huge success but I had to work really hard for it. Started off way too fast and it took until the 4th rep to settle into a groove. I panicked a bit as I thought I may have ruined the session but instead it spurred me on to maintain the pace and keep them consistent. Weather wasn't kind either but at least the wind stayed calm. Normally when I do a session like this, I do it around a few GAA pitches which means I'm turning 5 or 6 times per rep. Today however I only had to make one u-turn which really helped. This was a great session for me as I did it solo, and a lot faster than normal.

Really excited about my training at the moment.

[Dory Dory]

Way to go, Lock!! Well done, and love your enthusiasm!

[Lock]

Wednesday: 11 miles in 71:38 (6:30/mile)

Had my Dad with me for company on the bike. Managed to fit this in between rain showers. Faster than intended so I think I'll go for a jog tomorrow morning as I don't want to be stale for tomorrow night's track session.

[Lock]

Thursday: Pyramid session on grass tonight. The session was 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, 4 min, 5 min, 4 min, 3 min, 2 min, 1 min.

We had 1 minute recovery between each effort and 30 seconds between the 1 and 2 minute reps. I didn't bother doing any splits or checking the watch too much as we were going off time and not a set distance. I just listened for the whistle and kept the head down, or up rather. I do this group session every Thursday but this is the first time I've done it with a session already in the bag from Tuesday. I had some fatigue in the legs so I felt great after as I'm getting better at running fast when tired.

I have a hill session planned for Saturday too so if I nail that it will be my best week of the year. Probably why I'm posting daily here!

[Lock]

Friday: 4 miles in 29:42 (7:24/mile)

Saturday: 6 x 1 mile uphill

This was my first time trying this session. My Dad used to do this session years ago and has been saying for ages we should try it. The road he picked gets gradually more and more steep as I run up it. The last 400m is extremely steep and also quite exposed so the wind can blow you back a bit.

The only thing about this road is that there are quite a few turns and blind corners so for safety reasons (and to get a lift back down to allow for a shorter recovery) I had my Dad in the car shadowing me the whole way up. Fortunately there weren't too many drivers we got in the way of. It allowed us to get back down in between 3:30-4 rest, by which time I was fully recovered. This was mainly to save my legs from a steep downhill though.

The hill was exactly one mile, even though we weren't exactly sure of the length. Reps averaged between 6:10 and 6:15. There was a 6:20 on the first rep as I was just feeling the length out. The second one was a 6:07, after that they calmed down. I was nearly an hour on that hill but the last rep felt shorter than the rest, as I got used to the length. Legs were heavy starting this session but got through it great.

Sunday I have a Garmin 610 which will freeze on me every few weeks for whatever reason. This was the case on Saturday evening when I was checking my splits from the hill session. So a no watch long run it was!

15 miles, started slow and as a result felt I could run all day.

62 miles total for the week.

Monday: Watch still frozen but got out for a 72 minute run on a new route so don't know the distance. I'm taking it as 10 miles as again I intentionally ran well within myself.

Tuesday 8 x 3 mins, 90 seconds recovery.

pace per 1km:

3:14
3:13
3:13
3:13
3:16
3:15
3:15
3:15

Legs did not feel fresh at all starting this session. Hamstrings and glutes were still feeling the long hill session and long run weekend. Once I got going I was fine though which is a great confidence booster. It seems I feel crap before every session but once I start I'm rolling. Wind slowed me down a little so pace on the watch surprised me a little. Happy enough with it.

Wednesday: 9.49 miles in 64:31 (6:47/mile)

Once again I'm running really easy at the beginning of every run and without any effort I gradually pick it up as I go on. I'll be doing this from now on. I used to go steady from the start if I felt good but now I'm taking the first 4-5 miles really easy and taking it from there and its working well for me.

[Lock]

Thursday: Session tonight was 1 x mile followed by 5 x 800m off 1:45 recovery. Splits:

1 mile: 5:05

800s:

2:32
2:26
2:26
2:26
2:25

Felt really good on this session. I was the one overtaking the others after every 400m to try maintain the pace for the second lap so I'm definitely getting fitter. The last time I did 800s was some 7 or 8 weeks ago and I remember I was going through in around 75 and then struggling to run 80 for the second lap. Tonight we were cruising through in 73 or 74 and holding it there at that pace till the end. The first one was slow as stuck to the back but realised there were only 4 to go with plenty of recovery so I had a go at it. There were only 5 of them but with the mile at the start, we still did 14 laps at pace so happy with this.

Stepping on the track to race for the first time in about a year next Wednesday night in the first graded meet. Plan is to sit in and try hit 9 minutes. Looking forward to it tonight. Especially when all my training is in flats on a gravel track.

[Lock]

Friday: 4 miles in 29:34 (7:21/mile)

Saturday: 12 x 300m uphill, jog back recovery.

So this was the prescribed session, and I completed it in a roundabout way but my it was tough going. I have no splits but I timed the first and last rep out of curiosity. I was going up in a little over 60 seconds and taking a little over 2 minutes to get down.

Warming up my legs felt asleep which isn't good when you need to focus on knee lift tearing up a huge hill. I started with gusto and the first one came in at 63 seconds. I don't know the exact distance of the hill but I took that anyway and didn't look at the watch again until the final effort. Running up for the 12th time, I went flat out and clocked a 59 which I was delighted with. A really tough session but got through it ok. As it's only a minute running you always think you can go one more. Every time I hit the top I felt like cutting the session short but by the time I reached the bottom my thoughts turned to my race on Wednesday and my goal of getting under 9 minutes for 3k. I just kept saying "sub 9, sub 9" over and over in my head.

The interesting thing about today's session is this though. It was a mental battle the whole way for me. I ran the first 4 reps way too fast and when I got to the top of the hill I knew I couldn't keep that pace going. After the 4th I almost stopped the watch and sat down. Instead, I took a 6 minute break while I changed into racers having started the session with trainers and convinced myself to try some more.

Even as I got up for next one, I had decided that this was my break between 2 sets of 4. This was the halfway point and there were only 4 to go. Well I got to the top after the 5th at a more comfortable pace but still with burning legs and lungs. I said I'd only do 6.

After the 6th I felt I could do 2 more. After the 8th I thought I could get to 10 at a push. Standing at the bottom of that hill going into my 10th rep I just said feck it I'll do the 12.

I can't remember the last time I've trained and wanted to quit so early. It might be just the nature of hill sprints but MY GOD there was just this crazy inner monologue going on my head the whole time. Two voices arguing. Wanting to stop at the next even number and the other saying to pull through.

2 things brought me through to the end:

1. The race on Wednesday
2. Knowing that I'll be doing this session again soon and not wanting to fail my first time at it.

I'll run long tomorrow and hit around 60 miles for the week again. Plan is to return to this bitch of a hill for 8 reps on Monday and then an easy run Tuesday that will bring me to Wednesday night's race. I haven't raced since bonking in Dunboyne at the end of March so looking for redemption.

[Lock]

Time to update this getting a little lazy with logging runs lately.

Sunday 22nd April: 14.7 miles in 1:40:39 (6:50/mile)

Monday 23rd April: 8 miles, no watch

Tuesday 24th April: 4 x 3:15 mins w. 75 sec recovery

Wednesday 25th: 6 miles in 44:39 (7:26/mile)

Thursday 26th: 8 mins, 7 mins, 6 mins, off about 2 mins recovery.

Friday 27th: 6 miles no watch

Saturday: 12 x 300m uphill, jog back recovery (same as last Saturday)

Sunday: 8 miles in 59:34 (7:25/mile)

Monday: 8 miles in 57:57 (7:14/mile)

Tuesday: 6 miles in 40:48 (6:47/mile)

Wednesday: 10 miles in 69:30 including 5 long fartlek efforts.

Juicy Details

So last Wednesday I as supposed to race a 3k on the track but the weather forecast for that evening was not conducive to fast times so my coach and I decided to give it a miss. I'm not one to skip a run/race when the weather doesn't cooperate but I was going for a time and I think struggling in the wind and rain for 9 minutes or so wasn't worth the effort.

Last week I knew I had a solid month of training behind me, and I was due a bit of a break or down week. So I've been taking it a little easier recently. When we decided not to do the 3k, I headed out to do a session Tuesday evening of 8 x 3:15 mins with 75 seconds recovery. I just felt a little too tired for my liking. I felt like I wasn't getting any benefit from the session and that stopping and resting would be better for me, so I just cut the session short. On Thursday I did the club session of 8 mins, 7 mins, 6 mins. Pace was 5:25 on the first rep, 5:19 on the second and 5:18 on the final one. I was a bit cautious running this as I was feeling tired but it went well overall.

On Saturday I did my second hill session of the season and it went really really well. With only 300m to run, fatigue wasn't an issue. Concentrated on leg lift, posture and form. It went much better than last week. The session comes to less than 4k so that's why I felt OK.

Yesterday I ran 10 miles with a few pickups within the run. I did two mile efforts within the first 4 miles (5:37, 5:39) as the ground is reasonably flat there. I felt I was running harder than the pace showed but obviously not. As the route got a little hillier I did two hard efforts uphill that came to around 3 minutes each. Then on the way back I decided to do one last fast mile and clocked a 5:07. I then ran the last 2 miles home easy. I was surprised by the final effort as it felt the same as the slower miles but I had warmed up properly and been on my feet for almost an hour.

I managed to run every day in April which was a big goal for me. Bit of a silly goal really but there were loads of days I didn't want to run and I wouldn't have made the effort to get out the door if I hadn't set this target of 30 runs in 30 days for myself. I didn't race once which to be honest is catching up with me. I'm getting restless and I haven't really enjoyed the last week's training. I'm racing the Leixlip 5k on Saturday so hopefully my enthusiasm for getting out the door will be renewed after a PB, maybe even dipping under 16 minutes for the first time. This is a long update so I'll stop rambling.

[Lock]

Thursday: 7.94 miles in 54:29 (6:51/mile)

Friday: 4.06 miles in 30:06 (7:24/mile)

Feeling good. Hoping to be near the front of the field tomorrow morning. Waiting to unleash a month worth of training in 3.1 miles. Good luck to anyone else running in Leixlip.

[tunguska]

Well done on the win lock.