Is it Now?

Krusty_Clown

Awesome! You just happened to have a santa costume the day before the race? Very jealous! Congrats on the win. Great stuff.

mithril

donothoponpop wrote: »

The ribs have been extremely sore Next finisher was 5 minutes behind me, which will give an idea of standard

I think you are downplaying your achievement. Race are both physical and mental contests. What stood to you in this one was your mountain running background. It's likely a few road runners of equivalent standard to you on a flat course turned up for this. No-one else was brave, or foolish enough, to run up and down an icy road at 6 minute mile pace which combined with the correct shoes for the conditions made the dffference on the day.

donothoponpop

Haven't run since, ribs are very sore, but slowly getting better. Someone sent me these photo's, and in the interest of staking my claim as a Serious Runner:

Sprint finish with a Tractor
[IMG]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_oEcvTzEYVmA/TQpFqug5QGI/AAAAAAAAATA/-4dACoxtf5Q/s800/Santa Dash sprint vs Tractor.jpg" height="360" width="640"[/IMG]


What a Serious Runner wears.
[IMG]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_oEcvTzEYVmA/TQpFqoB1fWI/AAAAAAAAAS8/GziqWCQEFG8/s800/Santa Dash.jpg" height="640" width="360"[/IMG]

pgmcpq

donothoponpop wrote: »

I'll not be dining out on this win for too long.

No, no, no ...... nibble, snack, savor and dine away. A win is a win. Congratulations.

Slogger Jogger

All that training carrying provisions, chocolates, wine through the snow proved decisive

misty floyd

Well done Dono. That tractor pic is priceless.

seanynova

well done on the santa run! a 5min win! hohoho...

i remember passing a guy in GAA shorts about 2.5-3miles into a 5m race and he had his hands on his knees.....not sure what pace he went out at but i was running 6:12m/m average.....kinda funny when that happens like

well done in the race, once the ribs heal it will be a good kick start for whats to come in the new year!

donothoponpop

Mon 27th Dec 6 miles hilly

Well I haven't been out for a couple of weeks. The ribs were indeed cracked, and running was too sore, and hampers recovery. The big thaw coincided with a pain-free day, and off to do a recce of Annagh Hill. All the melting snow meant the course was very soggy, but that's got its own charm too. Fierce wind blowing along the ridge, blasting rain into my face, great for getting rid of the Xmas cobwebs. Recent felling, and poor visibility, meant that I missed a turn coming back for home, annoying since I was checking the course for distance and mapping with my garmin. I'll just have to run it again in a couple of days. and get the map up on the imra website then.

donothoponpop

Tue 7 miles hilly

Same course as yesterday, the imra Annagh Hill race, less ice, more mud. The first climb to the gate is a killer, managed it two minutes faster today. Great fun running down a stream at "let go" speed. I have a great route planned for the first 8k, the final kilometer or so is proving a little tricky. Slow and safe, zigzagging down fire trail? Or give them a vertical muckfest to remember? There you go, sometimes you need to write a thing down to help you decide:)

rainbow kirby

We all know you can't resist the urge to add a muckfest. :pac:

Slogger Jogger

Muckfest. Has to be.

donothoponpop

Wed 5 miles, 38 mins.

First couple of miles were uphill, and partly through a cowfield. I'm feeling the effects of extra Xmas excess on my XC. More lard to lug through muck, more heartburn to flavour the breathing. About halfway in, I read 8:15 average pace on the garmin, so had to put the foot down a bit in order to bring the average to a slightly more respectable 7:35 for the lot. Even with a swaying belly, I managed to pick up the speed for the last mile, and it felt good to be running fast again. There's a fair bit of work to go yet though.

rainbow kirby wrote: »

We all know you can't resist the urge to add a muckfest. :pac:

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Muckfest. Has to be.

Muckfest it is (was there ever any doubt?:D) Going to recce the route this New Years Eve, starting at 1pm, if anyone wants to join in. Should take about 70mins, followed by a round-table discussion on mud in The Gap pub.

BeepBeep67

donothoponpop wrote: »

Muckfest it is (was there ever any doubt?:D) Going to recce the route this New Years Eve, starting at 1pm, if anyone wants to join in. Should take about 70mins, followed by a round-table discussion on mud in The Gap pub.

Going to have to take a rain check this time - running the 5k the next day.

donothoponpop

New Years Eve 6 miles Hilly

Met up with DustyBin, Krusty, and Slogger, for another recce of the Annagh route. It was tough going up the initial climb, which never seems to finish. Good enough visibility from the ridge, and a nice bit to let loose on downhill. Retracing the ridge on the return, there's a couple of large puddles. Round or through? KC, who is still damp from water bottle soakings I've given him in previous races, chose to climb over fences, avoid the puddles, and watch as I got soaked running through them.

Now comes the fun part, a fast and furious downhill through the forest. DustyBin was showing some form on these downhills, great fast technique. Hit the muck for a half k, slipping, sliding, and then another fast bit through the forest, to the finish. All seemed happy with the route, which pleased me no end. A few quick ales back at the pub in Tinahely, good chat and company, great way to finish 2010.

donothoponpop

2010 in review

Highs:
Being part of (and captaining) the Boards team that won the WWR. I took huge pride out of accepting the medal. My own performance could have been better, thankfully it was enough, when standing on the shoulders of giants.

Santa 5k win. Only the second time in my life I've crossed the line in first place. Great feeling.

Training going so well for the DM. Ecoli was a great coach, and I progressed rapidly under his program.

Lows:
Dublin Marathon, blowing up after halfway. I had all the ingredients from training, but had a crappy run on the day.

Circuit of Avonbeg. Was running well, and then hit the wall. Struggled round the second half in a daze of delirium.

StoneX to Lug relay. Two good performances from my teammates, I hit the top of Lug in good time, just a solid downhill to hold second place. Mist, fog, and the disappearing perimeter of the Harveys map, had other ideas, and I added 5 miles on for fifth place. Sorry guys!

Overall I'm happy with the year. Spent the first half coming back from injury, didn't hit sub 3 (again), but ultimately I took a load of joy out of running, and that's the important part for me. Made some good friends through this forum. I'm looking forward to running in the new year, happy to be alive with the capability to do so. Goals are the Big8 challenge, Imra races, WWR Relay, and most importantly, the Tinahely Bridge to Bridge record.

Best of luck to all on the forum for 2011:)

donothoponpop

Tue 4th Jan 2011 8 miles total: 4 miles steady, 2 miles fartlek, 2 miles w/d

A slight toe injury delayed the start for 2011, but it was back to basics today. A run along the Tomnafinnogue river walk, where I first started jogging a few years back. Felt a little rusty, but the miles were progressing (7:30, 7:30, 7:07, 6:59) and I felt good throughout. A couple of blasts from the inhaler before I started meant my breathing was decent, even on the cold damp day, and I was conscious of keeping good form.

Through the forest then for two miles of fartlek, which is always a good conditioner. An honest amount of effort throughout, and two easy miles back for warm down.

donothoponpop

Sat 4 steady

Just how much pain can a stupid ingrown toenail cause? No running for a few days because of it, but thankfully its a bit better now, so finally I got out at dusk to the local forest. I needed the headtorch at the turn-around point, but failing batteries meant I was soon running in the dark. Which was all the better, its a wonderful feeling.

Tue 8 steady

Good run in the forest this morning, fresh air waking me from too-little sleep. Felt the running form improving, and found a tenner on the ground (asked a few, no takers), its all good.

donothoponpop

Wed 5 easy

Headtorch filled with new batteries, I ran home from Tinahely, through the dark forest. It was a misty evening, so the torch would only light up a couple of meters ahead, and I ran quite blind through a bubble of glowing fog. This caused weird retinal effects, so in effect I was running half blind for a while. Only when I switched to a dimmer blue light, could I make faster progress. This was only a few miles in the fog, on the flat, through a route I knew. I could only imagine what the AON guys were going through at the weekend.

donothoponpop

Fri 11 miles slow

Raining when I started, fresh when I finished. 11 miles at a slow'n'steady pace around Annagh hill, the first "longish" run in a while. Started to tire a bit towards the end, but that was owing more to upping the pace, than distance. These long runs will get longer over the next few weeks. I have a 50k run in a month or so, should be fine if I take it slow and steady, rather than a race.

donothoponpop

Sun 11 miles Clowny

A very early start, out before 7am to get to the imra Howth race to help out. Why in gods name had I volunteered for this race, 130mile round trip from my house, which I would not ever be running? To shadow and learn from the RD, is why, and Dunebuggy was calmness personified as he oversaw the registration of a couple of hundred runners in speedy fashion. He had a crack team working computer and printer, and the nice shiney new numbers were handed out without a hitch. Kudos Dunebuggy, it was a good lesson today, I hope some of that "grace under pressure" rubs off when I RD Annagh hill in a months time. Good to see quite a few Boardies out there too.

Then a dash across town to meet Krusty, who was running all of the DMP walk, marathon-distance-style. I parked and ran up from Marlay, being passed (and in turn passing!) several cyclists who took the steep road to Tibradden. KC came along soon enough, and we had a decent 5 or 6 miles running through the hills, damp underfoot, but clear and sunny for the run. Mrs and Miss KC were waiting for him at the summit of the 3 rock, lucky man to have such a supportive family! We ran down a bit and parted company, I ran and rejoined the WW trail for a fast downhill back to Marlay. Feet will be sore from pounding down that hard trail, but it was a good run, made better by the company.

Now, lets have the recipe for those flapjacks Mr Clown?:)

donothoponpop

Mon 17th Jan 9 miles backroads

In which our Excursionist into the dark night ventures, and sets forth around the boreens and byways 'round Carnew, wit' nought but a Promethean headlamp for Companie. What aches were wrenched from those joints, aft yesterday's romp betwe'en a Rock and a Hard Place. "Steady as She goes, boatswain", there's joy in ambling yet.

donothoponpop

Wed 12 miles hilly

Absolutely gorgeous sunny, frosty, morning. No fear of my new runners getting mucky, so I ventured out to the trails on Annagh hill. Steady enough pace, ran up the "tester" climb, so my base fitness is coming back. Great clear views to Lug, a real tonic to be out here today. At what age does one get tired of cracking ice puddles?

donothoponpop

Sat 5 miles steady.

Work meant I didn't get out for two days. Should have squeezed in a run last night, but uncorked a bottle for dinner instead, and that was that. Have to watch that stuff, I just read in KC's log he left his Friday beer'n'couchfest to run hill repeats. And I wonder why he's progressed so much in the past couple of years...:pac:

Anyways, this morning I drove to Dublin to help a bit at the Ticknock imra race, very well organized again, and useful to see behind the scenes for next fortnights Annagh hill gig. I like this course, and was a bit jealous after when I saw the beaming faces of the runners back at the pub. So when I got home, I laced up and ran down by the frozen trail at Tomnafinnogue, taking advantage of the hard ground to run a few diversions up through narrow forest tracks. Great way to finish the day.

ultraman1

donothoponpop wrote: »

Now, lets have the recipe for those flapjacks Mr Clown?:)

dont tell anyone,roumour has it that there is a friday nite bake off on 25th feb

donothoponpop

ultraman1 wrote: »

dont tell anyone,roumour has it that there is a friday nite bake off on 25th feb

I'm really looking forward to this. Those flapjacks are really good, I think I'll run one slow 5k loop then hit Krusty's support table and devour his stash.

Krusty_Clown

donothoponpop wrote: »

I'm really looking forward to this. Those flapjacks are really good, I think I'll run one slow 5k loop then hit Krusty's support table and devour his stash.

All of my food is arriving pre-licked, and I do have cooties.

donothoponpop

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

All of my food is arriving pre-licked, and I do have cooties.

Ah, the old "cough into your lunchbox trick". Forgot you also went to school in the 80's.:)

Sun 6 miles stroll

Recce'd Annagh Hill with PosNeg, happy to say he gave the course a thumbs-up. He suggested a few tweaks, so there will now be a fast grassy downhill, which I'm delighted with as it was my original intention (this just entails running on the other side of the ridge wall, so no major route change). Very frosty up there, but great clear views, early in the morning. We ran down the mucky downhill, pretty fast, it was a total blast.

donothoponpop

Mon 8 miles steady

The knees were a bit sore after hammering down the downhill yesterday, nothing too bad, but I could feel an ITB thing all day. I figured they needed a stretch, and ran 8 miles of Carnew backroads by torch. It was a strange night, dogs were going crazy all along the route, and I had bats swooping down around me for company along several miles.

Job done though, the knees feel a lot better. Today is the first day of a training schedule- nothing specific planned, just get up to speed for the summers hills running (and tick off some of the shorter "big 8" along the way). Base training has gone well for the past couple of weeks, now its time to knuckle down a bit.

donothoponpop

Wed 8 miles steady

Late run after 9pm, working in Dublin, so I traversed some of my old stomping grounds, running loops where I used go as a member of Dundrum AC/Team Puma/DSD. Its weird how memories come flooding back, turning a corner and hitting a bush, or inadvertantly picking up the pace on Barton Road, wondering who will start the kick first, home to the DFRC. There was a fair spring in my step, enjoyed this run, but I imagine the novelty of sodium-lit concrete streets would soon wear off, if I was doing city running often. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

donothoponpop

Sat 5.5 miles hilly

The bug that has everyone coughin' and splutterin' has hit my house, but parped my nose early, had to meet up with some imra guys to show off the Annagh route. Meant to be there at 9:30, got there 9:34... you think they'd wait for me? Not a chance, I was told they had taken off on the dot. Take no prisoners, these imra folf (as anyone who turns up a few minutes late to registration find out!:D)

Anyway, I set off after them, and when I turned the first corner, there they were, half way up the first killer climb. Ground was good and frozen, so the going was good up the grass here- it can be a fair bit softer and slower most of the time. By the time I made the gate, there was no sign of them, so I ran the frosty ridge alone, with great clear views for company. Didn't matter that I was groggy from a headcold, you're on top of the world on this ridge, and it always feels great. I took a shortcut through the forest, and met up with the lads at a junction, just in time for the plod uphill on the trails. Everyone was in good spirits, admiring the distant view of Lug, which never looks the same on different days. Up over the ridge again, and fast in places through the forest. The mucky downhill I so enjoyed running last Sunday, was still frozen (it was early and shaded), so a bit rougher underfoot. Didn't stop PN from doing his thing though, flying down those hills. The final descent through the forest was softer (although firm trail, if that makes sense), and I took off the breaks here. And then started running. There's still a sprint gear that I can do on this section, I'll save that for the race though.