Is it Now?

donothoponpop

Wed 5 miles hilly

Windy, dark, rainy, cold: the perfect evening for a forest hill run with Lord Annacurra. The headtorch really is something else indeed, two lightsabre beams picking out the trail as we ran up. Company, as always, was great, and the ascent flew by, before we knew it we were at the turn around point. Running uphill in the dark is a good trial of endurance, in that you can't really see your goal, you just keep turning the legs until the goal surprises you. Felt good climbing, this trail being a lot easier than the Annagh slog. Flew back down, bored SJ with a history of early 20th Century mathematics, nice finish in the forest again, about 9k done in new money.

donothoponpop

Fri 4 miles hilly

Have to say, I'm really enjoying my running these days. It feels such a release to get away from a marathon schedule, and slop around the mucky hills instead. Today I was fine-tuning the route on Annagh Hill, which has been given the thumbs-up for the imra Winter League. I spent all last winter ploughing through the snow on these trails, and in a way I hope for snow on the day, its a great (safe) course for snow running.

DustyBin

Delighted to hear that you got the Annagh Hill race included, nice to have one just up the road - congrats!!
Any inside knowledge on when the 2011 calendar is likely to be released?
Is Mt Leinster still on it do you know?

donothoponpop

DustyBin wrote: »

Delighted to hear that you got the Annagh Hill race included, nice to have one just up the road - congrats!!
Any inside knowledge on when the 2011 calendar is likely to be released?
Is Mt Leinster still on it do you know?

Sorry, I've no idea really what else is going in. Like many a hill-runner, I eagerly pour over the years calendar, can't wait to see what 2011 has in store!

I'll organize a recce of Annagh soon, and give you a shout about it.

donothoponpop

Sun Dublin Inter XC, 5.3 miles

Who can say no when Woddle makes the call? Peckham, AlanFoley, Mithril, and myself, lined up amongst the big boys, for four laps of parkland. I was feeling good, training going well, so fairly confident of a middle-ish placing. First lap felt good, I was holding back a bit, came in at 6:15 mile pace. However, on lap two, my breathing began to suffer, and soon I was taking huge gasps, and finding it hard to maintain the pace. Dropped by my teammates, I would certainly have pulled out were it not for being one of four to score. Laps three and four the breathing got worse, guys on the course were looking at me funny, I was very audible with the gasping. Its not the first time this has happened, so I think a visit to the doctor to check for asthma or something will be in order.

Over-all pace was about 6:48 or so, for the whole thing. Considering I ran 13 miles at this pace a few weeks back, in relative comfort, says that something ain't right. Disappointed that I managed to be pipped on the line too, never even heard the guy coming. Think I was second last, the standard out here is different to what I'm used to. Very slick and well-organized event, as are most of these volunteer-led races. Happy that we got a BAC team out there, which is always an achievement of sorts, glad to be part of that. Good runs from the other guys, and great to see Mithril back to form, no injury niggles. Fair play to Woddle for organizing, and Shels, menscemo, and Rainbow Kirby, for coming out to support.

Slogger Jogger

Fair play to you. I saw the photos before I read your report and I must admit that I thought you were breathing funny in the photos.

Woddle

Good man DP, really appreciated you coming up from Wicklow for this, a real club man
I hope it's nothing too serious but a good lesson has been learned, you need more than just 4 to make a team. So next year we'll fill all 8 spots

DustyBin

Took a wander up your mountain there Saturday morning - nice route with a very tough climb up from the road.
Followed almost all of the proposed race route I reckon, also took a nosey around some other trails / paths when I was up there. Nice up top with some really lovely views and nice running too.
Threw caution to the wind and found myself coming down that fast grassy loop around the flank of the mountain - fierce good fun but janey mack I thought I'd never make it back up to the ridge again :eek:
Coming back down to the road again was the toughest bit though - you may show me how to come down there with any speed at all. Normally am ok on the descent, but that is tough.

Give me a shout coming up to the race, would be delighted to help you mark it out or whatever else.

donothoponpop

Glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like you did most of the route all right. I've extended the loop a bit after the grassy bit, to come out onto a zigzag fireroad trail on the NW side, just to get the views in across to Lug. Then hits the ridge again for the return (through those pools of water if you're rushing:D). The descent is changed, the initial climb might be a bit dangerous on a fast descent, so it will enter the forest trail just before the gate on summit, and return through there. Still very fast and fun, but should be a good degree safer.

We're recce'ing this coming Saturday at 12 noon, meeting The Gap carpark, you're more than welcome to join us (likewise anyone else who wants to come along, PM me for any more details if you like).

DustyBin

Cool, see you Saturday so

donothoponpop

donothoponpop wrote: »

I was very audible with the gasping. Its not the first time this has happened, so I think a visit to the doctor to check for asthma or something will be in order.

Doc checked me out and reckoned it was exercise-induced asthma all right. Asked me if its happened before, when was the first time. I realized when answering that every time I've raced (flat) over the past few years, I've seized up gasping after a while of sustained effort. For years, other racers have asked if I'm alright, so loud would I be panting. Doing the hills probably masks it somewhat, in that slowing to run uphill literally gives me a breather, which is probably why I like them so much. Ditto a lot of the tough sessions I have been running in marathon training- the 5,4,3,2,1 looks great on paper, with super fast pace, but I had a jog rest in between, so didn't have a chance to start gasping (or if I did it was to the end of the session). Ergo that sort of tempo training isn't translating to fast endurance.

I'll try the inhaler and see what difference it brings, on a 10k or a hard long uphill or something. For the moment I'm very hopeful to have pinned down the problem to all my recent poor race performances.

Slogger Jogger

1 week ban for discussing medical issues
I've no doubt you've overcome this to thrash me in subsequent runs.

donothoponpop

Sat 27th Nov 12 miles snowy

We had planned a recce of Annagh Hill, so that some of the imra committee could appraise it, but a heavy overnight snowfall put paid to that, despite the best efforts of DuneBuggy and JeffonTour, who both had to turn back (Jeff only a few agonizing miles from the hill!). I couldn't even get my car out of the driveway, so went to bike it- puncture! So I ran the four miles to the start, and met SJ, who had managed to bike from his house. We were like two kids, its great fun running in the snow, and had great views of the surrounding countryside with us. Here's Lug in the distance:

[IMG]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_oEcvTzEYVmA/TPEZ6kjHntI/AAAAAAAAASE/8qnbcSeqSj0/s640/PB270015.JPG" height="480" width="640"[/IMG]

We came to my "fitness tester" hill, and ploughed up through the deep cover. I had meant to take my inhaler on this run, forgot it, and sure enough, half way in I was wheezing and gasping. Otherwise I felt good climbing though, which I'm taking as a good sign of fitness. Ran back down, said bye to Mick, and headed home on the trails again. I was retracing steps here, so I raced against my previous footprints, outstriding them by an extra showprint or so. Absolutely lashed down a hill- no fear of being hurt falling into snow- and then took it a bit handier on the last three miles on slippy roads. Love running in snow, long may it continue

Slogger Jogger

Great snaps. Running was a better idea than cycling. I was worried at times with the icy, slushy conditions. Bike went out from me twice, thankfully at slow speeds with soft outcomes. I'll think twice before I do that again.

donothoponpop

Mon 10 miles snowtrail

The local roads are impassable for all but tractors (or kids sliding down the hill using "Road Closed" signs), and the fish really needed fish food, so I geared up (Speedcross 2) and hit the way to the nearest town, five miles on backroad and great trail. The snow is still fresh enough to be runnable, and it was very enjoyable pushing the pace a bit through the forest. Loaded up with fish food in town (plus of course the other staples, wine, candles, and chocolate), and strapped it all into my cheepo Lidl hydration backpack- the bladder has been discarded, but it makes an excellent steady two-wine bottle carrier. Some day I'll manage to fix the bladder, and then I can combine my two passions, wine and running.

It was 4:30 and getting dark when I left for home, but the new headtorch lit up the way nicely, the snow reflecting more than enough light for safe passage. It doesn't get much better than this: crunching through snow in a dark deserted forest, Venus overhead, and her good friend Bacchus urging me make swift.

donothoponpop

Thurs 10 miles Mr. Plow

Shoveling snow, fixing gutters, entertaining kids, pushing them aside and shooting down on the sleigh myself: all valid reasons not to get out the past couple of days. I was going stir crazy by this evening, so headed into town for provisions again. There was a huge fall last night, and the railway walk was a different matter than last time- over a foot of snow to be ploughed through, very heavy going in places, but a great workout. Got my groceries and headed back, headtorch on, with an extra 4k or so in the backback. The local roads were runnable, with little traffic and compacted snow underfoot, and this return leg was quite beautiful, running into the ever setting sun. Snow on the mountains appears to hold the light for longer, and there was an eerie blue lumenescence with me until I got home.

Only slipped once, no damage done, and now we have potatoes and wine for dinner, and coffee for the morning:pac:.

maria74

Inspirational stuff...and I dont just mean the wine provisions!!:P

donothoponpop

Fri 10 mile hunter gatherer.

Easy-peasy on the way in, brought two backbacks with me for a bigger load.

1000g chicken
1000g of mince
4xWispa
750ml Californian alcoholised fruit juice (no French wine to be had)
850g Hamster food
1xjar vicks
1xkids cough medicine (had to happen)
2000g spuds

A lot harder coming back. I loosened the straps, and put one bag over another, which worked out suprizingly stable. The arms were moving like I had ski's though, for balance.

Forget races, time trials, relays, challenges: I am 100% sure this is the reason I started running 4 years ago.

BeepBeep67

I sense a new type of handicap race you are training for, using Joyce's Power to Weight Ratio Calculator!

donothoponpop

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

I sense a new type of handicap race you are training for, using Joyce's Power to Weight Ratio Calculator!

The "Joyce's Power to Weight Ratio Calculator Big 8 Challenge, incorporating wine run", I'm a shoo-in!

Krusty_Clown

Name|Chicken>1kg|Mince>1g|Wispas>|Bottles of wine>750ml|HamsterFood>850g|Vicks>1 jar|Cough Medicine>1 Bottle|Spuds>Plenty
Donotdropthestuff|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x|x


Good start to the new challenge.

donothoponpop

Tue 10k snowy hilly slippy

Fresh snow, over ice, safe to run the roads, right? 7k in, I was complementing myself on a great choice in foorwear (Inov8 315's), when suddenly I have trapped my gloved fist between the road and my ribcage. Couple of miles to go, took my eye off the ball:rolleyes:

There was a crunching sound that I hadn't heard since I stopped going to my sadist chiropractor 6 years ago, but I doubt its anything too serious. Ribs are fairly sore though, will stick to trail for as long as this snow lasts. Egg on my face.

donothoponpop

The ribs have been extremely sore since my fall, I'm waking up at night with the pain. Don't think they're broken though (nothing much can be done anyway with broken or cracked ribs), and the pain has been easing a bit the past couple of days. Which meant I haven't been running (too sore), and to my great shame, missed for the third year the Great Xmas Wicklow Way run from Glendalough to Dublin. Sorry Jase and Paul:(

Driving through a local town yesterday, we saw posters up for a Santa Dash 5k. Dammit, pain notwithstanding, I had to support this race in my own backyard. The fact that the family could come too, and see me dressed in a full Santa costume on the start line, made up my mind. 5k worth of rib pain, I could bear that. Icy roads meant I wore my roclite 315's, the grip would be needed as some of the back roads were covered in black ice. After photos (about 80 in Santa costumes), we set off, the local kids sprinting off down Carnew main street. Caught them after 400m or so, which meant I was second to another lad, running steadily ahead of me. I kept to my pace, figuring he was a footballer (not many runners turned up), and sure enough he had gone out in a blaze of glory, only to blow up after a mile.

First mile was 6 minutes (downhill), and then a turn brought an icy uphill road. I had taken a couple of blasts from the inhaler before the race, and noticed less gasping than usual, as I slogged uphill. Still need to work on my breathing pattern though, as I was getting tight around the chest. The pain in the ribs was noticable too, and a glance at my garmin showed a slower 8 min mile for this hill. By the lay of the land, I knew there was a lot more than a mile to go to the finish, so just kept the effort to a decent level. A long icy downhill brought some respite, and the shoes were working their magic here. One final, lethal ice-covered climb, and I was back at the main street, running up to the finish. Just overtook a tractor on the line, which should make for a funny photo. 7:15 average for 4.5 miles, happy enough given I've not really been training, and the course was pretty hilly and icy. Next finisher was 5 minutes behind me, which will give an idea of standard- I'll not be dining out on this win for too long. Still, my kids are thrilled, I ran back to meet them walking the course, and they were telling everyone in earshot that their dad won the race:)

BeepBeep67

Love it!
A gong is a gong is a gong!

TheRoadRunner

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Love it!
A gong is a gong is a gong!

exactly a win is a win. At least you beat them. Well done. Won a local 10k myself recently and I'm getting great mileage out of it. More recognition from that local win compared to if I won the national XC.

theboyblunder

excellent stuff. id give my right arm to have my daughter see me win a race by a country mile in a santa costume.

Youd better train hard - its now in my calendar for next year

Slogger Jogger

Excellent. Must buy the local rag this week to see the winner's pic. Well done.

smmoore79

Ya can only beat whats put in front of you! And you get to hold the title for a year

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

I can just imagine the storytelling to the grandchildren in years to come....and i won the race with broken/bruised ribs!!

Speedy44

Good job, take the praise and enjoy it. I managed to bag a win earlier this year, my first since I was a teenager, and I think I was floating for a week after it :-)