Stupid_Private you are in the well

TheRoadRunner

That's right Stupid_Private webmaster extraordinaire you are in the well.

When did you start running ?
What's your favourite race distance ?
Goals for 2009 ?

Krusty_Clown

What are your PBs?
Best sport-related photo you've taken?
Best tip for someone on a 3:20 marathon heading towards 3 hours?
Piece of running equipment you couldn't do without?

Stupid_Private

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

That's right Stupid_Private webmaster extraordinaire you are in the well.

I knew meeting you for that run was a mistake!!

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

When did you start running ?

2003. I somehow ended up doing the Dublin Marathon that year. I don't fully remember my reasoning behind it. I didn't really know what I was doing up until 2006. I just ran various distances, various days with no real plan. I never did any interval, tempo etc. I had two paces, slow for recovery days and normal for every other day. I only consider myself as starting to train properly in 2006. The years before I suppose I got the legs used to the pounding.

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

What's your favourite race distance ?

Probably 10 mile. I've only done a few and it's been a long time since the last one.

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Goals for 2009 ?

Really just to get the most out of the marathon in May. I have a few ideas of times in my head but I really need to race some longer distances to get a clearer picture. As long as I run the last few miles with the feeling that I couldn't have possibly given any more I'll be happy.
After that I don't really know. I'll probably try to get the 5k time down in the summer. No clue what I'll be going for after that.

Abhainn

Are all your races and goals geared towards running your best marathon?

Do you consider yourself a marathoner or a runner?

What age group are you in 25-29, 30-34 ,35-39 ,40+?

Do you worry about possible pain / aches in later life that may have been attributed by the many miles on the roads now?

Stupid_Private

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

What are your PBs?

Recently. 10km - 34.25. 5km - 16.32
Long standing as I haven't raced the distance in 18 months
10 mile - 59.01
Marathon - 2.46
Half - 1.21 (Really has to go, as I ran the second half of the marathon in just under 1.23)

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Best sport-related photo you've taken?

I'm not very good at that at all. All the good photos on the site are by robinph and woddle. I've taken a few token snaps at races but that's about it.

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Best tip for someone on a 3:20 marathon heading towards 3 hours?

Probably the advice I was given when I was training for my last marathon and that's to leave the watch at home and listen to your body. One thing it certainly does is stop you from racing your training.

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Piece of running equipment you couldn't do without?

I really don't have anything.... My gloves are my purchase of the year I suppose. I'd never trained with gloves before a few months ago and now I can't picture myself leaving the door without them

Stupid_Private

Abhainn wrote: »

Are all your races and goals geared towards running your best marathon?

To an extent, yes. To run a fast marathon you have to get fast at the other distances. I didn't run a marathon in the Autumn as my goal was to get my 10k time down in the summer. It didn't come down in time, so I stuck at that instead of changing to a marathon program.

Abhainn wrote: »

Do you consider yourself a marathoner or a runner?

I don't know what I'd consider myself. I've done 6 marathons before the summer of 2007 that'd have been a high percentage of all my races. Know I'm racing shorter distances on a monthly basis... so runner I guess

Abhainn wrote: »

What age group are you in 25-29, 30-34 ,35-39 ,40+?

25-29

Abhainn wrote: »

Do you worry about possible pain / aches in later life that may have been attributed by the many miles on the roads now?

I wouldn't say so - cross all bridges when they come. I've never really done high mileage. I think the highest I've run in a week is 65 miles. In the last year I haven't gone above 60, but that changes this week.

shels4ever

Should I go for a long run today ?

Whats the first thing you think of when you wake in the morning?

TFBubendorfer

How fast do you think you can run a marathon? I don't necessarily mean your next one, but the lifetime PB you might be able to achieve on a perfect day.

TheRoadRunner

Favourite training location ?
Favourite session ?
What do you do in the immediate week after a marathon training/celebration wise ?

Stupid_Private

shels4ever wrote: »

Should I go for a long run today ?

I'm a fan of routine. If the schedule calls for it then do it. If not then don't. If you're racing the weekend, definitely not and if you've a long run planned for saturday/sunday there really shouldn't be a need for one now. You've 11 weeks(ish) until the marathon, loads of time to fit them in.

shels4ever wrote: »

Whats the first thing you think of when you wake in the morning?

I have no idea. Food probably.

Stupid_Private

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

How fast do you think you can run a marathon? I don't necessarily mean your next one, but the lifetime PB you might be able to achieve on a perfect day.

If I stay motivated I'll definitely go sub 2.30 (some day, not in 11 weeks).

Stupid_Private

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Favourite training location ?

Most places I train are very boring.... Training in Montpellier was probably the best, but that was more climate than where I had to actually run around.

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Favourite session ?

16 x 1 minute with 90 second jog recovery.

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

What do you do in the immediate week after a marathon training/celebration wise ?

After every marathon I've hit the pub... every Dublin one immediately afterwards. This year I've a holiday booked for 2 weeks afterwards so the majority of drinking will be saved until then.

TheRoadRunner

Stupid_Private wrote: »

After every marathon I've hit the pub... every Dublin one immediately afterwards.

Ditto

BeepBeep67

Simple question - why do you run and what motivates you to train hard?

Stupid_Private

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Simple question - why do you run and what motivates you to train hard?

I don't really have a reason. I like it and it fills the void between finishing work and having dinner quite nicely. I generally have a race every few weeks so that keeps me motivated. If a race doesn't go well there's always another one in two or three weeks.

Peckham

- Is there a time point in a marathon where the balance between hard work and talent shifts in the direction of talent (i.e. is it sub-3:15, is it sub-3:00, is it sub-2:45, is it sub-2:30)?

- You reckon you could go sub-2:30 as a PB based on your current lifestyle. If you could remove all restrictions (i.e. work, money etc.), how fast do you think you could go?

TheRoadRunner

Favourite running related website ?
Did you ever participate in any other sports before running ?

--amadeus--

Do you regret not racing as a juvenile?

Do you think you could / do you compete at a national level? If so at what distance?

What race would you love to run and why?

Fave running book or quote?

Stupid_Private

Peckham wrote: »

- Is there a time point in a marathon where the balance between hard work and talent shifts in the direction of talent (i.e. is it sub-3:15, is it sub-3:00, is it sub-2:45, is it sub-2:30)?

I'd say it's sub 2.30 where talent shows through, or probably even 2.20-2.25. My coach would say sub 2.20 is where it stops being strong running and becomes fast, so I suppose that's where the talent is.

Peckham wrote: »

You reckon you could go sub-2:30 as a PB based on your current lifestyle. If you could remove all restrictions (i.e. work, money etc.), how fast do you think you could go?

Just before the talent kicks in... so 2.20 in about 4 years time if I won the lotto.

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Favourite running related website ?

*Insert plug for own websites here*
Besides here for running related news, I don't really use any to be honest. I have a gander at flotrack for blogs (mainly Ryan Hall's preOlympics) and videos everynow and again, likewise mcmillanelite. I have a load of running blogs in my google reader as well.

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Did you ever participate in any other sports before running ?

Football up to u15 and then boxing in college for about 3 years. I was still boxing when I did my first marathon and contemplated a fight on the Friday with the marathon on Monday. Thankfully when I told the boxing coach at the club I was doing the marathon he said no to the fight.

Stupid_Private

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Do you regret not racing as a juvenile?

It's funny, I always thought you'd have to be good at running to be in a running club when I was younger so never bothered, yet I had no problem being crap at football and playing for a club. I wouldn't say I regret it. I enjoy it now and maybe I wouldn't if I'd taken part when I was younger. I was shocked at the national novice in December to hear the abuse that's shouted at the kids as encourgagement while they're racing. I doubt I'd have stuck it out if I had someone screaming at me while I was running.

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Do you think you could / do you compete at a national level? If so at what distance?

At senior level there's none I could compete without being there just to make up the numbers.

--amadeus-- wrote: »

What race would you love to run and why?

There's no particular race out there that I want to run that I couldn't. I suppose the likes of NY and London I wouldn't because the field is so big that the start would be a nightmare. If I could start up front I'd do them and if I was to start up front would mean I'd have to be fairly fast...

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Fave running book or quote?

Don't think I've read any... I'll have to come back to the quote!

Krusty_Clown

Any race wins/prize money, and if so, which are you most proud of?

Stupid_Private

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Any race wins/prize money, and if so, which are you most proud of?

Never won a race, never even won a medal that isn't an "everyone gets one" medal. My two road races this year I've got a couple of quid out of though.

cfitz

Stupid_Private wrote: »

Just before the talent kicks in... so 2.20 in about 4 years time if I won the lotto.

2:20 is eight consecutive 16:35 5ks, your 5k PB is 16:32.

So my question is: If you won the lotto, who would you pay to coach you for the next 4 years?

Stupid_Private

cfitz wrote: »

2:20 is eight consecutive 16:35 5ks, your 5k PB is 16:32.

So my question is: If you won the lotto, who would you pay to coach you for the next 4 years?

That's a nice way of putting what a 2.20 is!
Not sure I'd change my coach... He started advising me after a 3.05 marathon. 9 months later I ran 2.46. He also ran 2.16 in his day, so I have a bit of faith in his plan.

shels4ever

How do you warm up for your races , What changes from your 5k warm up to Marathon .

TheRoadRunner

porridge or wheetabix ?
gatorade or lucozade ?
pasta or rice ?
rock or pop ?
beer or wine ?

Stupid_Private

shels4ever wrote: »

How do you warm up for your races , What changes from your 5k warm up to Marathon .

I don't remember if I warmed up for the last marathon. Maybe a few minutes light jog, but I can't be sure. What changes is that I'll turn up to the start of a 10k/5k sweating, ready to race, I'd never do that for a marathon.
Usually I do twenty minutes easy running, building up to a faster pace. Then about 5 x 100m quite fast a few minutes before the start of the race.

MCOS

If you could be gifted at another sport, what would it be and what draws you to it?

Stupid_Private

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

porridge or wheetabix ?
gatorade or lucozade ?
pasta or rice ?
rock or pop ?
beer or wine ?

porridge
gatorade (50 cents cheaper than lucozade in my local spar)
pasta
rock
beer

Stupid_Private

MCOS wrote: »

If you could be gifted at another sport, what would it be and what draws you to it?

Probably amateur boxing, mainly so my record wouldn't be so lobsided. I really wasn't gifted there. There's something nice about the amatuer game that I like to watch, more technical than the professional version.

shels4ever

On boards who do you think will progress most over the coming years? and you can say yourself.