How long does it take for a plodder to get to Boston?

shels4ever

Babybing wrote: »

No suggested races on the schedule cfitz.


Im hoping to run in Clonliffes Grand Prix mile at the end of the month (I'll probably also do the 800 the following week).

After that Ill do the Trinity Track meet mid May and the BHAA track series in August.

Think the graded meets might be a bit beyond me this year but Ill keep my eye out for any other opportunities to race the mile or 3000m.


Tbh I would'nt be obsessive about the racing this summer. I see it more as an intro to shorter distances with the focus just being on getting a good level of running fitness rather than competing/setting fast times.

After that Ill do a bit of cross country over the winter, get the mileage up and hopefully by next summer Ill be able to run some decent mile times and put in a half decent showing at the graded meets.

Hi there,
I think the grades would be great for you , I will do a 1500m and mayb a 3k later in the summer, you should run the same race as me . Its all about learning how to race track again i'll be running my own little race and if i happen to be last so be it, if i beat anyone even better.

BHAA 3k isnt a bad race either, went a bit mad in that last year...

Running Bing

shels4ever wrote: »

Hi there,
I think the grades would be great for you , I will do a 1500m and mayb a 3k later in the summer, you should run the same race as me . Its all about learning how to race track again i'll be running my own little race and if i happen to be last so be it, if i beat anyone even better..

Yeah I have'nt written off the idea of the graded meets completely yet.

Ill see how my mile and 800 races in a couple of weeks go. I should have a better idea of where I am at fitness wise after that.

Just looking at some of the results from last years graded meets now and I imagine Ill definitely have a shot at an 800 race at some stage. I would hope I wouldnt be too much off the pace in an 800 looking at the results.


Have you pciked what races you going to do yet shels?

shels4ever

Babybing wrote: »

Yeah I have'nt written off the idea of the graded meets completely yet.

Ill see how my mile and 800 races in a couple of weeks go. I should have a better idea of where I am at fitness wise after that.

Just looking at some of the results from last years graded meets now and I imagine Ill definitely have a shot at an 800 race at some stage. I would hope I wouldnt be too much off the pace in an 800 looking at the results.


Have you pciked what races you going to do yet shels?

Not yet i've a few ideas but all depends on recovery after the marathon not going to rush into anything, i'd say late june start of july for a 1500m I think thats the distance i'll be better over, defo the Bhaa 3000 .

Will prob targets a race aout 8-12 week after I start back as it will take that to get into some sort of shape.

Running Bing

Saturday: Recovery Jog (but went a bit faster than planned). Just over 6 miles @ 9:10 pace

Sunday: Finally we're getting some nice weather to run in. Perfect day. Run felt very relaxed and easy (still feeling Fridays workout in the legs so took it slow). 9 miles, 8:57 pace. Very happy to be able to do 9 miles at that pace and have it feel so easy (I was surprised at the pace).

Monday: Another beautiful day. workout was 1.5 mile warm up, 3x(200m with 200m recovery+400m with 400 recovery) and then I did a further 2x200m with 200m recovery, just over 1 mile cool down:

200:40
200:41
400:1.26

200:43
200:42
400:1.22

200:40
200:41
400:1.25

200:41
200:42


was aiming for 42 sec 200's and 1:26 400's so I was very happy with those times. Workout felt very good....hopefully the weather stays like this:D

cfitz

Those times are coming down nicely. Keep up the good work.

Running Bing

Racing tomorrow night so took it very easy on my last two runs.


Tuesday:A gentle trot after Mondays fast workout. Purely for recovery so did 5 miles @ 10:30 pace, HR 68%.

Wednesday: Again didnt want to force anything today so took it very handy. 4 miles 9:21 pace, HR 74%

Heart rate was a little higher than expected on these runs (they felt very easy) but I imagine that was down to Mondays workout and the terrain.

Liking the fact the weather is picking up but it has it's downside too...with the better weather comes the dog walkers and running in my local park has turned into a daily game of dodge the dog crap:P

Running Bing

Did a one mile race last night with Woddle (met Racing flat there as well). This was my first race since a pretty disappointing performance last month at the MSB 5k (21:52) and also my first time racing on a track. Ill admit the MSB race did knock my confidence a bit so I was'nt as optimistic going into the race as I probably should've been but my training is going well and I felt very fresh on the night so I felt I could run a good race.

I started out pretty fast and after the first 100m I found myself right up at the front, I thought to myself "what the in the name of God am I doing up here" but I was feeling pretty comfortable so I tried to keep a nice constant pace. Went past the first 200 in 42 secs and finished the first lap in 1:24. I think it was between 200m and 400m that Woddle and a few others went by but I didnt mind because I knew I was on pace for a good time and I felt very comfortable.

The second lap I settled into a nice comfortable pace and I think I hit the halfway point in 2:49.

I was really getting into a good rhythm by now. The third lap is always meant to be the most difficult in the mile but I felt very strong and smooth. There were three runners in front of me, a guy in a white singlet, a fella in black and then Woddle in front of them. I decided to make it my goal to try and pick them off. White singlet man was struggling so I pulled up alongside and went by him pretty easily, just as we came to the 1000m mark I went by the fella in black and for the remainder of the third lap I pulled up close to Woddle. Cant remember any splits from this part of the race...I didnt even hear them.

I didnt want to try and go by Woddle to early because I knew he would put up a battle and I didnt want to tire myself out so I just pulled up behind him and decided to wait for the final 200m and kick hard. I had just read an article the other day that said you use a different source of energy for your kick so even if your exhausted at the 200m mark you have about 200m worth of sprint in reserve so this was in the back of my mind as I pulled alongside Woddle at the 200m mark and then sprinted as hard as I could.

I could feel Woddle coming with me so I just looked straight ahead, tried to stay as relaxed as possible and pushed. As I came onto the final straight I sensed I had pulled away and after a quick glimpse over the shoulder I realised I was a fair bit ahead and so I turned my attention to the fella in front of me. I was pushing very very hard and he seemed to be hurting a lot...unfortunately the line came quick enough for him because I think if the race had've been 50m longer I might've had him. So I crossed the line in a time of 5:43 in fifth place.:D

Absolutely over the moon with that. I felt the race could not have gone any better and it gives me a lot of confidence that I am training right and following a good plan. The third lap felt so comfortable I started to think could I have gone faster? But I have to be very happy with that time and Im confident I can improve on it over the summer.

kennyb3

Thats one of your short term goals mentioned at the sarted ticked off comfortably anyway!! fair play!!

shels4ever

Nice running there your sessions are paying off, That race will stand to you . You seem to have run very strong next time you'll know a little more and maybe go out a little harder its all a learning game on the track but a very solid start.Well done.

cfitz

Well done on a successful first track race. Looks like you paced yourself well. Hope you have many more to come...

Racing Flat

Babybing wrote: »

As I came onto the final straight I sensed I had pulled away and after a quick glimpse over the shoulder

:eek:

Your only mistake .

Running Bing

Racing Flat wrote: »

:eek:

Your only mistake .

I knew that was a no no but the curiosity got the better of me:p

Woddle

I thankfully didn't make that mistake and I reckon it made the difference of me holding on to 7th with 8th and 9th only 1 second behind me. :eek: I'm sure I made plenty of other mistakes though. I've been on a bit of a high from it today and I can't wait till next week. It was so exciting

shels4ever

Woddle wrote: »

I thankfully didn't make that mistake and I reckon it made the difference of me holding on to 7th with 8th and 9th only 1 second behind me. :eek: I'm sure I made plenty of other mistakes though. I've been on a bit of a high from it today and I can't wait till next week. It was so exciting

Someone is catching the track bug.... I like it... , Don't get too good , You need to give me some hope for the summer

Racing Flat

It's great that you enjoyed it so much. You should definitely enter some of the Gradeds. There's no way you'll be embarassed in Grade D with a run like that.

Running Bing

Legs feel fine after the race but my right lower calf is a little sore. I imagine this is from the spikes and turning on the track.

One of the results of racing faster is that my vDOT goes up a few notches and I can train at faster paces. Its not a huge difference because my rep's were already at the right pace, my V02 max workouts were too easy at the old pace (so I was planning on upping it regardless) and for my easy runs I go by feel rather than prescribed pace so it doesnt matter there.

The big change was gonna be my tempo runs. This has gone from around 7:10 to around 6:46 a mile. 7.10 was starting to feel very handy but its still a pretty big jump. So I planned to try this new pace out today with a set of cruise intervals after a rest day yesterday.

Saturday:

1.5 mile warm-up
4x1000m at tempo pace
1.5 mile warm down


Hoped to do each 1000m in 4:11 and they went as follows:

1. 4:11
2. 4:12
3. 4:12
4. 4.10


Pace felt ok but I was feeling the heat (sun was blaring here).
Heart rate seemed to be in the right range averaging 85-89% on the intervals with max's around 92%.

I'll do a standard 20 minute tempo run on Monday at the new pace. I imagine it will be tough enough but we'll see how it goes.

Running Bing

Sunday: 9 mile long run over hills.

Ran the three miles to the Phoenix park (there's three big hills on the way) and then ran three miles over the hills around magazine fort before running the final three home.

Aim was to keep a nice even intensity of effort over the uphills and downhills rather than an even pace.


Very enjoyable run and it really adds a bit of variety (I can tend to get a bit bored on my longer runs:P).

Average pace was 9:16, average HR was 77%. Garmin says total ascent was 2400ft but Im not really sure how that works because when I ran in London it said my total ascent was 3200ft and I only went up one big hill where as today it felt like I did much more climbing....some of those hills around magazine fort are steep:eek:

dna_leri

Running Bing wrote: »

. So I crossed the line in a time of 5:43 in fifth place.:D

.

Great report and time - like the name change too - that time should set you up for sub 20 5K - McMillan gives it 19:48.

Hope to get a 1 mile race myslef later in the year.

shels4ever

Yes nice name change... I wish i'd know it was possible to do......

Running Bing

dna_leri wrote: »

Great report and time - like the name change too

Haha yeah figured it was about time I changed it to something that didnt make me sound like a 10 year old girl:o

Running Bing

shels4ever wrote: »

Yes nice name change... I wish i'd know it was possible to do......

You have to pay though:pac:

€5 to become a subscriber for a month and then you can change your username.


Ive wanted to change it for yonks and I finally thought that all the use and good advice I got out of this forum (plus all the use and good advice Ill get in the future) has to be worth a fiver:D

ps. I'd be embarrassed to admit I was a shels supporter too

Running Bing

Monday:

1.5 mile warm up
20 minutes @ tempo pace (6:52)
6x200m with 200m recovery jogs
1 mile cool down

So I upped the pace a bit on todays tempo run. Was a tough workout but the tempo run felt no tougher than my usual tempo run and my average HR (87%) was actually lower than it was on my last tempo at the old pace.

Did the 200's in the following times:
1. 41
2. 42
3. 41
4. 40
5. 42
6. 40

Running Bing

Tuesday: Just over 5 miles, 9:54 pace, 68% average heart rate.

Wednesday: 4 miles, 9:10 pace, 74% HR.

Running Bing

Ran my first 800m last night and I must say it was a very enjoyable night.....this track stuff is very addictive:D

Didnt really get off to a great start as I lined up for the start of the race and realised I had'nt switched my Garmin on:eek: After a moment of panic I realised I would never get it on and I composed myself just in time to hear the starter say go....I was expecting a bit of a mad dash with elbows flying all over the place so I started a little fast and sprinted into the lead. Just before the 200m mark I got overtaken. With no Garmin and nobody calling the splits at the 200 metre mark I was a little lost pace wise so I decided to just try and stick with the lead man.

A second runner past me just before the 400m mark and I went through 400m's in 72 seconds. By this time I was really starting to feel it and the two front runners had already built up a pretty big lead. This was'nt helped by the fact my HR strap (which was absolutely useless because my Garmin was switched off) was beginning to come loose and I had to try and adjust it. My efforts proved futile and it collapsed in a heap around my waist on the next bend (I never tuck my shirt/singlet in but decided to tuck it in last night which saved me):rolleyes: Just as we came onto the back straight a third person tried to overtake me....in fact he did overtake me. At this point I thought to myself "ok either give up now and another 4 or 5 will overtake you or fight for third place". Luckily he left me enough room on the inside and I managed to sneak up the inside just before the final bend.

At this stage I kicked as hard as I could. The two in front of me were well ahead and I had no chance of catching them but I could hear the wolves at my back:D As I came onto the final straight my lungs were on fire and my legs were jelly. The form was completely gone and Im sure I looked funny flailing down the home straight:D All the way to the line I was sure somebody was going to come up on my shoulder and I just tried to look straight ahead and pump my arms as hard as I could.

I came home in third place in a time of 2:24 which I was absolutely thrilled with. It was an immensely tough race and my lungs were burning like an oil fire for about 10 minutes afterwards....I think Woddle shared my pain though as he was experiencing the same thing. There is something incredibly satisfying about pushing yourself to the brink of exhaustion in such a short space of time.

One of the things I mentioned in my op was running times that correspond with a three hour marathon on McMillan. Although I know it does'nt count for much (Boston dont accept 800m times;)) I felt it was a nice benchmark and last nights race was the first time I achieved it.....must say though at the moment marathons are very very far from my mind. Im already thinking of when Im going to get my next track fix:D

cfitz

Well done on another successful track outing. I don't think there's any need to wear a watch or heart rate monitor in an 800m though. Looking at your watch would be a bit of an inconvenience going at that pace. With the type of sessions that you are doing you should be starting to recognise the different paces.

Running Bing

cfitz wrote: »

Well done on another successful track outing. I don't think there's any need to wear a watch or heart rate monitor in an 800m though. Looking at your watch would be a bit of an inconvenience going at that pace. With the type of sessions that you are doing you should be starting to recognise the different paces.

Yeah I think you have a point cfitz.

Looking back on it I feel the watch would've just been a distraction. I ran even splits anyway so it wouldnt have helped much.

I like to have the watch and HR monitor just to look back on the race but I think in future Ill give the HR monitor a miss:o

Running Bing

Saturday: Did my usual Sunday long run today instead because I knew tonight would be a late night. Just over 9 miles, 8.29 min/mile pace, average HR 74%.

Legs felt tired at the start but once I warmed up it felt great and I finished strong.

Sunday: Up until 6.30 last night drinking silly amounts watching the Hatton-Pacquaio fight so was not looking forward to the run today. Did 6 miles. Felt very slow so was surprised the pace was 8.56 min/mile. Av HR was 76%.


Have a bit of a niggle at the inside of my right lower leg. Ive been icing it and elevating it since Thursday and it seems to be getting better.

My right calf is so tight though. Im trying stretching it and even a bit of self massage but it doesnt seem to be loosening up a great amount and I think this is what is causing the problem. Id love to get a proper sports massage to hopefully loosen it up a bit but unfortunately thats not really an option at the moment.

Running Bing

Monday:

1.5 mile warm up
3x(2x200m with 200m recovery+400m with 400m recovery)+2x200m
1.5 mile warm down


200: 42
200: 41
400: 1.24

---

200: 41
200: 39
400: 1.24

---

200: 41
200: Missed this one by accident (thought Id done two 200 but only did one):o
400: 1.25

---

200: 41
200: 41

200's felt fantastic today but the 400's were tough because there was a very strong wind down the back straight.


Leg has responded well to icing and didnt bother me at all. Ive narrowed the cause down to one of three things, it was either the long run over the hills, the racing or the increase in the pace of my tempo runs.

I dont think it was the hills because my leg was alright for a while after that. I also dont think it was the increase in pace because I was starting to feel it before those runs. I think it was the racing and in particular using the spikes for the first time. I tend to overpronate pretty badly and with so little support in the spikes I reckon it placed a bit of stress on the leg.

Anyway its healing well now and as I race more my legs should get more used to the spikes.

Running Bing

Tuesday: 5.3 miles easy run. 8.13 min/mile pace. Av HR 79%


Wednesday:

Every time I try to do a session of longer intervals things go arseways:rolleyes: Plan today was 6x800m with 2 minutes rest at a pace between mile and 3k race pace (3 minutes per 800).


So I jogged the mile to the 400m track only to discover it was covered with dozens small noisy creatures. On closer inspection these turned out to be teenagers on a school sports day:mad:

So I decided to do my workout on a 200m track that wasnt too far away. I prefer doing longer sessions on the 400m track because it just seems longer when you have to do 4 laps of the 200 track but I thought fvck it. By the time I reached the track I had already run 3 miles against a horrible breeze which Im not used to doing as a warm up but again I thought fvck it.....what followed was a horribly tough workout.

There was a huge breeze down the back straight that completely zapped my energy on every lap, felt like I was standing still. I knew after the first set I was'nt going to hit my paces but it just seemed to get tougher and tougher. Each set was a little longer than 800m and they went as follows:

Set--time--pace/mile
1. 3:10---6:07
2. 3:08---6:01
3. 3:11---6:03
4. 3:16---6:20
5. 3:20---6:24
6. 3:17---6:22

Still happy enough with the workout because it felt so tough and I look forward to doing workouts like this under better conditions.

Running Bing

Have'nt had a minute lately so Im way behind on my log:o

Friday:Just over 5 miles easyish. 8:08 min/mile pace. 80% Av. HR

Saturday:

1 mile warm-up
5x1000m@tempo pace with 1 minute recovery jogs
1.5 mile warm down

1000's went:

4:02
4:07
4:11
4:13
4:09

First interval was a little too fast but the workout felt absolutely fantastic. Beautiful day and a very enjoyable running.

Sunday: 10 miles. 8:32 min/mile. 77% Av. HR.

Did 40 miles this week. Thats the most I have ever ran in a week. Feeling very good. Now doubt building up to 40 mpw very gradually has helped.