Odysseus's Journey

Odysseus

Hi to anyone who reads this, I think these logs are great idea especially to work on self motivation. Its a pity for me that they are so new, eariler in the year this would have been great for me, as I was training for specific goals. Whereas now once the Dublin marathon is over, I will be taking a well deserved six week break from running.

However, I'm sure that it will help track my prep work for the marathon. So far this year, I have done two marathons, Belfast 3.47 and Longford 3.40, as well as a 100k ultra in 12.18. It will be interesting to see whether I get any faster for Dublin as I hope to give up smoking at the end of the month:eek:

My log will focus on the two apsects of my fitness running and my martial arts training. Please feel free to add any helpful advice or comments.

Saturday 2nd Sept.

Ran 10k 0.46.41

One hour bag-work.

2x5 mins rounds. Warm up and cool down.
10x3 mins rounds.

90 sec break between rounds.

Tuesday 5th Sept.

Ran 10k. 0.44.44

Friday 8th Sept.

One hour bag work work.
As above.

I off for a run now so I add todays training later.

Odysseus

Saturday 9th Sept.

Run 20k 1.39.30.

One hour bag-work.

I noticing that my running times are getting quicker, which is interesting as I have'nt been running as much the past two month, and the distances have been shorter, not sure what to make of that except that I am cutting down on the smokes in advance of my stop day. It will be interesting for me to keep an eye on that.

Odysseus

Monday 11th Sept.

I had hoped to run 10k tonight, but chickened out when it started to rain heavy, I don't mind running in the rain once I'm already out but hate starting in it.

So I spent an hour doing bag-work instead, I have now changed my format to 10x5mins rounds. My rest period is still 90 secs but I hope to drop that donw to 60 over time.

Odysseus

Tuesday 12th Sept.

Went for run at lunch time 12.5k 59.00. Things are definitely getting better. I haven't used that route in about two months, I generally used to do it between 1.02 and 1.04. So I was well pleased to complete it in under an hour.

Odysseus

Wednesday 13th Sept.

Two hour MA training, hadn't been to a class for about a month, due to an injury, great to be back;)

Odysseus

Friday 15th Sept.

Standard one hour bag-work.

Odysseus

Saturday 16th Sept.

Ran 20k 1..35.59. Really enjoyed the run today, I'm lucky enough to live by a small fishing port, so the roads are usually quite and nice to run on. The was made better by the weather today, really enjoyed it as I kept telling myself we won't have many more of these. Then its back to running in the wet and cold.

This was followed by one hour of bag-work, and just to make things harder for myself [why do I do this? ] When the hour was up I decided to to a bag/push-up drill that I haven't done in a long time. Basically, hit the bag once, I use a heel-plam as no gloves are needed, the you drop and do one push up, then two... once I get to ten, I work my way back down to one. So you end up doing 100 push-ups, I like this drill but really do, maybe there is a part of my that's afaird of it;) However, it is a good way to finish off a session, as you certainly know that you do something.

Odysseus

Tuesday 19th Sept.

Attended a three hour MA class, psysically it was not as intense as where I usually train, yet, a good work out all the same. However, as there was a lot of weapons work, I found myself drained at the end. I think the fact that I was focusing on making such I did'nt get a smack of a weapon drained me;)

Boru.

If there's one thing I've learnt form training both myself and others it's to never underestimate the mental fatigue of a workout. Sure we can talk about the energy ourtput and calorie deficit casued by physicla training, but sometimes the best training you can do is all upstairs, that's what truly makes you stonger and capable of physically achieving more. But you know all this already so I'll shut up and just say -

Great stuff so far - can't wait to see how far you'll take it!
'

Odysseus

Cheers for that Boru. I find the psychological stuff sneaks up on me, despit the fact that I'm a psychotherapist, but when I'm training I not interested or focused on that.

Wednesday 20th Sept.

Attended my usual two hour MA Class, which was quite intensive last night, I found the class really pushed me last night, physically and psychologically, which was great.

Odysseus

Thursday 21th Sept.

One hour of bag work, followed by the heel-plam/push-up drill. The drill took me 5.37 to do. I'm going to keep a track of the times, to see if it improves as I do it more often.

Would of liked to go for a run instead, I have'nt run all week, however, I'm saving myself for the half-marathon on Saturday.

Odysseus

Friday 22nd Sept.

I wasn't planning to train today, however, since the high winds last night damaged my bike, I was forced to take the day off work in order to sort it out. So I thought I would take advantage of the extra time.

One hour bag-work, followed by heel-plam/push-up drill. The drill took 5.47 today an extra 10 secs compared to yesterday.

Odysseus

Saturday 23rd.

Dublin Half-Marathon my last organised run as a smoker[I hope], the one thing I miss since moving out of Dublin is not being able to run in the park. So it was nice to be running there again, I finished in 1.33.37 which is a fast time for me, I knew I was pushing myself, however, I was happy with the results. Later on completed the heel-plam/push-up drill in 5.44.

Odysseus

Sunday 24th Sept.

One hour bag work, followed by heel-palm/push-up drill in 5.24.

Odysseus

Monday 24th Sept.

Ran 12.6k in 0.59.52. Found it difficult to go for a lunch time run today. Motivation was low and I didn't want to push myself to hard. Even when I had started there was that lazy voice in my head telling to make it an easy run. This is a somewhat difficult area, because I do believe in pushing myself, however, I also need to remind myself that the only person I'm competing against is myself.

whitelightrider

Hey Odysseus,

What MA are you doing?

Odysseus

My base is Krav Maga, been at that for a little over four years, however, I train with any of the Reality Based people who come over, I'm a level one instructor in Jim Wagners programme, but also trained with Lee Morisson and Mick Coup so far this year. I'm also hoping to start some Escrima soon. Cheers mate.

Odysseus

Tuesday 26th Sept.

One hour of bag-work, followed by heel-palm/push-up drill. The time is up for question on my watch told me it was 5.10, and I did push myself tonight, however, I have a little doubt that I may have skipped one of the higher numbers, I'm not sure, but time will tell on that. It can be hard to keep a track on how many you have done when your trying to hit the bag as fast as you can, drop to the floor, do the push ups, hop back up and go again.

Odysseus

Wednesday 27th Sept.

Two hour MA class, apart from this being a very physical class, it additionally supplies a social element to my training, which is very important as most of my training is done by myself.


Friday 29th Sept.

Ran 20k 1.34.36. One hour of bag-work, followed by heel-palm/push-up drill in 5.05. I seem to be getting faster at this drill, it will be interesting to see how it developes.

Odysseus

Saturday 30th Sept.

Ran 10k 48.15, one hour bag-work followed by heel-palm/push up drill 5.03.

I was not a happy bunny when I awoke this morning! My plan was to run 40k yesterday, however, for some reason I felt it was best not to and done 20k instead. When running yesterday I noticed that I felt a bit chesty, but put it down to reducing the amount I smoke in preparation for next Saturday when I plan to quit. When I awoke today, I knew I had a chest infection, I was planning to make up for yesterday by doing 30k today. I had been in bed early and even got a full nine hours sleep.

Hence the dilemma, I knew that I would be pushing it to try going with my plan for today, so a compromise was in order, and the above was what I ended up with. I did not like the run, I know how I am doing, by what song is playing on my mp3, and comparing it with various land marks on my run. I knew I was slow and did'nt like it, I kept catching myself trying to move the pace up and had to force myself not to, bummer. I will rest for the rest of the day and all of tomorrow, and see what happens. Luckly, as I work in a medical setting I had a supply of antibiotics, which will hopefully clear it up. Even though I hate having to go down that road.


Forgot to add my total for the month, I have been keeping a track of it since the start of the year, so I may as well add it here.

Total k for Sept: 136

Total k to date: 136
+1674
1810k

Odysseus

Tuesday 3rd Oct.

Ran 10k 47.22, one hour bag-work followed by heel-plam/push-up drill 4.51.

Still not fully back on form, however, I felt good enough to start back, just not pushing myself on the run. My timing on the run is slower than usual, but it is a case of getting stuck in by doing the run, but at the same time acknowledging than I'm not fully recovered and allowing myself to coast a tad. I'm very suprised with my times for the push-up drill, it is almost a minute quicker than when I started with it. I am thinking of sticking with this for a month, then doing the push-ups with push-up bars for a month. The plan then is maybe to switch between push-up and burpees on different days. However, it is merely a plan, I like to have a plan in mind, yet keep my options open.

Odysseus

Wednesday 4th Oct.

Two hour MA Class, had to take it easy with some drills as I was ground-work, and my rib injury is almost there, but not fully healed yet.

justsomebloke

hey hope the chest infection has gotten better aswell as the rib injury. and just think after the 10k on tuesday you now only have 180k left to do before you hit the 2000 mark so well done. Also on a side note have you managed to kick the fags yet

oh I would say good work so far, but after doing the 100k earlier this year we all know you are well capable of putting in the time and effort to reach your goals, but really nice work so far this year anyway

Odysseus

Cheers thanks for that mate, the chest infection is almost gone, my rib only gives me a bit of a problem, if I'm banged down on the ground or if there is a lot of pressing on it, i.e. someones knee. So while I was fine last night, I took it easy on some of trhe stuff. I plan to stop smoking on Saturday, last smoke before bed on Friday night, I attending a MA seminar Saturday and Sunday so that will help I hope. Yeah the 2000k mark I plan to take a six week break after the Dublin marathon, would have liked to have reached it by then, but its looking uncertain. Then again its another reason to go for long runs;)

jsb wrote:

hey hope the chest infection has gotten better aswell as the rib injury. and just think after the 10k on tuesday you now only have 180k left to do before you hit the 2000 mark so well done. Also on a side note have you managed to kick the fags yet

oh I would say good work so far, but after doing the 100k earlier this year we all know you are well capable of putting in the time and effort to reach your goals, but really nice work so far this year anyway

Odysseus

Thursday 6th Oct.

Ran 10k 47.07. One hour bag-work followed by heel-plam/push-up drill 4.31.

Still not back up to speed on the runs, body is willing but all the shi*e in my lungs is stopping me from going for it, never mind getting better. I just hope that after giving up the smokes on Saturday, that I don't end up getting more chest infections, the Gods of Irony always seem to shine on me:rolleyes: JSB have given me an idea, since I am so close to the 2000k mark my goal is to have 2000k done by the time I finish the marathon. The distance is not a problem in July I covered +300k, however, the difficulty is getting the time. When training for Lapland I would the a day off each month to do my long run. This month both work wise and with my personal life I'm very busy, but goals are there to be achieved. I'm pleased with the push-up drill still getting faster, so well pleased:)

Odysseus

Saturday 7th Oct.

Four hour MA Class, it was supposed to be five, but as it was my first day of the smokes, I found that I needed to left after four.


Sunday 8th Oct.
Three hour MA Class.


Monday 9th Oct.

Ran 20k 1.37.11. One hour bag work followed by heel-palm/push-up drill 4.28.

Third day of the smokes today and I really felt it on the run, I was coughing up all types of shi*e. I was looking forward to my first run as a non-smoker, but it was only enjoyable in a perverse way, I didn't enjoy all the coughing but knew it was clearing out my lungs. The 20k run leaves me with 150k to do before the end of the month.

Odysseus

Wednesday 11th Oct.

Two hour MA Class.

Odysseus

Saturday 14th Oct.

Ran 30k 2.27.28.

Pleased with todays run, I had hoped to do 40k today, however, I stayed over in Dublin last night and by the time I got home I was running late, on top of that my girlfriend is coming up tonight so compromises have to be made. Still only 120k left to run.

Odysseus

Tuesday 17th Oct.

Ran 12.5 k. 0.58.23

Wednesday 18th Oct.

Ran 12.5k 0.56.55.

I was really pleased with Tuesdays time it was the fastest I had run that course, therefore I was really pleased with todays timing. I feel that I have been a tad slack with my training recently, missing my MA, bag-work etc, still I know that I haven't been missing to much. At the moment, I'm sorting out how often I can train, as I do need to adjust things a bit. I have two relapses with the smokes, but have been off them again since Early Sunday morning. A bit of good news, I have just recieved a e-mail telling me registrations are now open for the Shara Marathon in Feb, so I'll sorting that out tonight when I get home from work:)

justsomebloke

so only 95km left (and if you include the marathon itself that only leaves you with roughly 55) so good work, and also good work with keeping mostly of the fags

Odysseus wrote:

A bit of good news, I have just recieved a e-mail telling me registrations are now open for the Shara Marathon in Feb, so I'll sorting that out tonight when I get home from work:)

Man you really are a gluten for punishment and a real inspiration:D

Odysseus

Saturday 28th Oct.

one hour of bag-work, followed by heel-palm/push-up drill 4.44.

Thanks jsb, but unfourtunately I picked up a bad stomach bug last weekend, so I only started back today, so I'm not going to make the 2000k mark before the marathon. Its a pity, but as I was ill, i'm not too bothered about it. On a more positive note I did register for the Shara Marathon, so I'm pleased with that. I started to train with the heating on to try get used to the heat, I only had it a 20c, however, I could feel the difference, and I will have to do a lot more work around that. However, I also have to note I went back on the smokes, but plan to stop again tonight, I have been smoking the best part of 26 years so it will take time and I'll have to just stick with it. Anyway its great to be training again, really missed it.