Constant Motion

rainbow kirby

So after a year of my previous log, I've decided it's time for a new one. Fresh start and all of that, as they say

I've decided to focus on the shorter stuff for the rest of this year and the first half of 2010, mainly because I could really do without the stress and the recovery time of a marathon in the second semester of my masters. My current plan is to try and bag some PBs over the shorter distances in the first half of 2010 and build my mileage slowly to a solid 35-40 miles per week average before starting a good intermediate program for Dublin next year.

-- Stats --
25/female
5'6"/67kg (this needs to come down a bit!)

-- PBs --
5k 26.22 (March '09 - MSB St Patrick's Day 5k)
5 mile 42.35 (July '09 - Irish Runner 5 Mile)
10k 53.55 (September '09 - Pearl Izumi Run Like An Animal 10k)
10 mile 1:37:44 (August '09, this is soft as I was recovering from an injury at the time - Frank Duffy 10 Mile)
HM: 1:58:55 (September '09 - Dublin Half-Marathon)
Marathon: 4:24:56 (October '09 - Dublin Marathon)

-- Planned races for 2010 --

Raheny 5 - late January
St Patrick's Day 5k
Great Ireland Run - April
Women's Mini-Marathon (or Cork relays, depends what way things go) - June bank holiday weekend
Clontarf half (maybe)
Adidas race series
Pearl Izumi 10k (purely because it's at my back door really!)
Dublin Marathon

-- Goals --

Get the weight into the 58-60kg range... *puts chocolate away*

Sub-25 for 5k at the Jingle Bells 5k in a couple of weeks from now (My first 3 miles of the Irish Runner 5 mile was done in 25.10-ish, so I think I'm good for a sub-25 now!), and to have a 5k PB that starts with a 23 by the end of 2010

Any PB for 5 mile at Raheny, and sub-40 in the summer over 5 miles.

Sub-50 for 10k at some stage next year (this is going to be tough)

1:25 10 mile

1:50 HM

The biggie: I want to go sub-4 in Dublin next year. This is probably going to be the hardest of the lot, because McMillan currently predicts 4:11.




And to start the log: A very pleasant 7.5 miles this evening (9.30/mile pace). Best evening of the week to be out by a long shot, and my longest run since DCM. Happy kirby is happy

menoscemo

Best of luck with the new log RK. You have set yourself some challenging goals there (that said I fancy you will go sub 24 in jingle bells;)) but I am sure you will achieve them all and more as you have in the past....

Happy Birthday.
I also got out for my first proper long rung sinc DCM tonight and it felt great!!

Give me a shout if you need a lift down to the Jinlge bells race BTW.

RoyMcC

Onwards and upwards RK - you are a true role model to anyone starting out running. Look forward to seeing your progression BUT you have done so well thus far, don't get disheartened if and when you plateau. Be happy with what you have achieved.

Blueskye

Best of luck with the new log and goals RK.

BeepBeep67

Best of luck RK, they're nice goals to line up for the next year. I think if you do get a nice run of training and achieve your weight loss goals they're all well within your range - looking forward to tracking the journey.

Oryx

Best of luck with your new log, and your new goals. I know youll do them, once you set your sights on something, its as good as yours.

Will watch your progress with interest, and envy, most likely!!!

racheljev

Good luck with the new log RK. Really enjoyed the other one, so looking forward to this one! Best of luck with all your goals, reckon you'll hit every one without too much difficulty:)

rainbow kirby

Got out for 3 miles (9.20/mile pace) this afternoon in a break between the lashings of rain. Windy as hell, but felt good to get out because after looking at the weather forecast I didn't think I'd get out this weekend at all!

RoyMcC wrote: »

Onwards and upwards RK - you are a true role model to anyone starting out running. Look forward to seeing your progression BUT you have done so well thus far, don't get disheartened if and when you plateau. Be happy with what you have achieved.

If I plateau - so be it. I'll still have fun finding that point though!

"Shoot for the moon, and if you miss you'll be one of the stars"

metamorphosis

RK - very best of luck with this log and your future goals. You have had a phenomenal year. We will no doubt cross paths next year.

littlebug

Best of luck with the new goals Rainbow. I have no doubt you'll achieve them:cool:
most of your current pbs are my targets for next year

RacoonQueen

Good luck with the new log RK.

rainbow kirby

6 miles this evening (9.18/mile average pace). Started off easy, it started raining after 4 miles so I picked up the pace. Did the last mile at 8.18/mile average pace, and did the last km in 4.53 - only the third time in my life I've run 1km in less than 5 minutes

Felt really good to get out this evening, had a rather stressful start to the day because I got stuck in traffic really badly this morning on the way to a Java exam in Blackrock (which I completely owned ). Then pigged out on cake when I got back to Belfield, so I really needed to get out and minimise the cake-related waistline damage!

rainbow kirby

4 miles this afternoon (9.10/mile pace), wind in my face the whole time. Now to try and get some bloody work done...

rainbow kirby

And another 4 miles this evening (9.18/mile pace), bit cooler tonight than it has been but overall not too bad

Gotta love procrastination runs... the ones where you know you've a ton of work to do, but you just want to get out anyway!

Oryx

You sure are still racking up the mileage since dcm! I find it nice these days, running in the cold. Oh, and thanks for telling me Im not slow, but its all relative isnt it?:)

Bally8

Best of luck with the new log and your goals for next year Rainbow. The amazing progress you made in the past year is nothing short of inspirational. Will see you again at the DCM and hopefully at a race or two before:)

rainbow kirby

Oryx wrote: »

I find it nice these days, running in the cold.

Ditto! Cold (0-5C), calm, dry weather is probably my favourite running weather (once you're properly dressed for it).

rainbow kirby

And just to back up my previous point... 6 miles @ 9.24/mile pace this evening

rainbow kirby

I honestly don't know what's happened to my running lately, but whatever it is I'd like to bottle it and save it for the rough times!

6 miles this morning, 8.54/mile average pace, and it didn't feel like a crazy huge effort. 3C and sunny out, loving it!

metamorphosis

rainbow kirby wrote: »

I honestly don't know what's happened to my running lately, but whatever it is I'd like to bottle it and save it for the rough times!

6 miles this morning, 8.54/mile average pace, and it didn't feel like a crazy huge effort. 3C and sunny out, loving it!

Totally agree with you there Rainbow. All of a sudden my runs seem to be getting faster, feeling easier and just going really great. Long may it last

jlang

I'd say part of it could be that you've recovered from the marathon and your body has recovered from the race and leaving you with the benefit of the heavy training. Perfect time for a couple of short races to record where you are then start into another cycle.

rainbow kirby

jlang wrote: »

Perfect time for a couple of short races to record where you are then start into another cycle.

You read my mind, Jingle Bells 5k this weekend

rainbow kirby

4 windy, rainy miles this afternoon (9.04/mile pace). Wind felt like it was in my face the whole time - but they do say that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? :pac:

No running tomorrow, because I'm *finally* graduating! Me in a suit and robes is a rather weird thought...

Oryx

rainbow kirby wrote: »

4 windy, rainy miles this afternoon (9.04/mile pace). Wind felt like it was in my face the whole time - but they do say that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? :pac:

No running tomorrow, because I'm *finally* graduating! Me in a suit and robes is a rather weird thought...

Just want to say CONGRATULATIONS!!! on this and everything else youve achieved this year.

littlebug

Hey RK, you're running up a storm these days. Congrats on the graduation and take care of those feet. What are the odds you'll get more blisters from the heels than from DCM

rainbow kirby

littlebug wrote: »

What are the odds you'll get more blisters from the heels than from DCM

Pretty high actually! I only got 2 blisters on my toes from DCM... but I can't walk in heels at all. This is going to be interesting :eek:

metamorphosis

Congratulations Graduand!
Best of luck this weekend!

Blueskye

Congratulations on graduating RK and best of luck this weekend.

rainbow kirby

Stupid heels! After my graduation, I was left with some small blisters on the tops of my middle toes.

I'd intended on getting out for 9-10 miles today, but after 4 miles the seam of my socks started rubbing the top of those little blisters. Decided to head home at that stage rather than risk much further damage (especially with the Jingle Bells 5k on Saturday), so that's 6 miles for today (9.10/mile average pace).
Feels like I'm never going to get back into double-figure long runs - though looking at the average pace I really went out way too fast for a long run (LSR pace for me should be about 10 - 10.30 min/mile)!

Also, if anyone cares, this is me looking all graduate-y

rainbow kirby

rainbow kirby wrote: »

-- PBs --
5k 26.22 (March '09 - MSB St Patrick's Day 5k)24.04 (December '09 - Jingle Bells 5k)

Jingle Bells 5k this morning...

Great day for it, rain managed to hold off, not too breezy and not too cold either - no repetitions of the Aware 10k weather from last year! Jogged up from the clubhouse to warm up, and got talking to menoscemo there (and he agreed to pace me for a bit ). Lined up in the sub-24 section and still ended up passing lots of people through the first kilometer. Did my best to hold onto the pace meno was dragging me along at, before finally letting him go on just after the 3km mark. Felt like my breakfast was about to make a return coming up the hill near the finish line, but that soon passed. I blame that special kind of burn you only get from a 5k! Crossed the line with 24.40 on the clock and 24.04 on my watch (which I started at the start line - so 7.45/mile average pace). I'm absolutely delighted with that.

Also, McMillan now predicts a sub-40 5 mile time for me... *cough* Raheny *cough*

menoscemo

well done again. As I said to you today, you are in good enough shape to break all your 2010 goals right now!!

rainbow kirby

menoscemo wrote: »

well done again. As I said to you today, you are in good enough shape to break all your 2010 goals right now!!

Gimme the net downhill of Rathfarnham and the sub-24 5k is so there :pac:

Blueskye

Great time. Well done!!

misty floyd

Well done Rainbow K!!!

Killerz

Well done RK. think i may have seen you at the start (in pink?) chatting to a couple of boards-singlet-attired lads (and possibly robinph - altho i am basing my knowledge of faces on some race photos). best of luck with the rest of the goals over the coming year.

rainbow kirby

Yup, that was me in the pink top and grey shorts.

metamorphosis

Well done RK. Off to a great start already.

littlebug

Brilliant RK! I knew that would happen

rainbow kirby

And back to the grind... 6 miles this afternoon (9.34/mile pace). Felt a bit tired after yesterday, but it was still good to get out anyway.

Rest day tomorrow, got my first exam (shouldn't be too painful though, it's only worth 40%). Even with the exams, I'm still hoping to run 5 days next week and hopefully rack up 25-30 miles - I did 26 miles this week.

RacoonQueen

Great time, well done on the PB, it's not a particularly easy course either with the route going through the furry glen.

rainbow kirby

After having a good laugh this morning over Donore's posted results for Saturday's race (27.15? I could run that in my PJs...), I headed out for 6 miles this afternoon to put a smile on my face before I hit the books for the day. 9.04/mile average pace, the pace picks up a bit if it starts to rain after 4 miles like it did today!

rainbow kirby

Another 6 miles this afternoon (9.10/mile average pace), got caught in the rain after 3 miles! That'll learn me for wearing shorts in December...

Got a couple of stinktastic exams coming up this weekend (Numerical Analytics on Friday, Case Studies in Computational Science on Saturday), so back to studying! Feeling fairly screwed for them, but we'll see...

rainbow kirby

5 miles this afternoon (9.02/mile pace). It's amazing how exam stress seems to be making me run more miles at the moment... or maybe it's just that I have a ****ing huge pain in my face from Numerical Analytics!

Contemplating running home from the RDS tomorrow, especially if the weather's like today, I think it's about 8 miles...

rainbow kirby

To paraphrase ultraman, that was a bit of a sneaki 4-miler this evening! Sneaky because I should be studying for the exam tomorrow... but I needed to get out and clear my head with some nice fresh cold winter air. 9.10/mile average pace - felt a little tired because this was my 5th day running of the last 6...

rainbow kirby

First double-digit run since DCM

10 miles this afternoon (9.06/mile average pace - total time 1:30:55). Really didn't intend to go out that fast, but when my first mile was 8.48 and it didn't feel like a huge effort, the writing was on the wall... for the record, my 10 mile race PB is 1:37:44! I'm really, really satisfied with that run, and with this whole week's running in general. 31 miles this week, through my exams - who says you can't run away from your problems? :pac:

rainbow kirby

Did a bit of a running commute today, had to go to the Square to grab a few things for De Mammy, but also wanted to get some miles in. Total of just over 4.5 miles (9.20/mile average pace), and I discovered that whoever designed the straps of my backpack really did not have relatively small women in mind!

littlebug

rainbow kirby wrote: »

First double-digit run since DCM

10 miles this afternoon (9.06/mile average pace - total time 1:30:55). Really didn't intend to go out that fast, but when my first mile was 8.48 and it didn't feel like a huge effort, the writing was on the wall... for the record, my 10 mile race PB is 1:37:44! I'm really, really satisfied with that run, and with this whole week's running in general. 31 miles this week, through my exams - who says you can't run away from your problems? :pac:

You're absolutely flying these days RK. I wonder does that getting naturally faster thing happen at my age :rolleyes: (waits patiently).

rainbow kirby

littlebug wrote: »

You're absolutely flying these days RK. I wonder does that getting naturally faster thing happen at my age :rolleyes: (waits patiently).

You've still got lots of time to improve, put the miles in and you'll get faster

Aren't you doing the Athenry 10k on the 26th?

littlebug

rainbow kirby wrote: »

You've still got lots of time to improve, put the miles in and you'll get faster

Aren't you doing the Athenry 10k on the 26th?

I am ....and looking forward to it with equal amounts of excitement and fear
10 years of improvement I'm told, no matter what age you start at.... so there's hope for me yet!

rainbow kirby

littlebug wrote: »

I am ....and looking forward to it with equal amounts of excitement and fear
10 years of improvement I'm told, no matter what age you start at.... so there's hope for me yet!

Good luck with it, I'm sure you'll do great
I like the sound of that 10 years of improvement thing, it means I should peak at 34...

rainbow kirby

Couldn't wake up at all this morning, still felt like a zombie at 1.30pm, even after coffee, so getting out for a few miles sounded like a good cure to that problem. Did 4 miles (9.24/mile pace) but the legs felt really heavy and tired all the way around. Ugh, can't wait until these exams are over. Mathematical Biology tomorrow, it's going to be a bit of a killer because our crazyass Hungarian lecturer likes to ask really weird questions.