Is it Now?

brownian

Hope to be there too - weather looks dubious, but not downright nasty.

donothoponpop

Sat 20 miles hilly

Met up with a few Boardies for this recce of the WW. Rainjackets were needed, it was that sort of day, and very muddy and slippy underfoot in places. The first climb was fine, hit Ravens Rock for those horrible jarring granite steps on the other side, and steady on the backroads. It was getting very muddy in a few places, and down by the hostel was a mudfest. I wore road shoes, might have to debate this a bit before the race.

Great view of Powerscourt waterfall, and kept on slogging ever upwards here. I ran in the heather on the descent to the river, and the better traction meant I could get a bit of speed. For some reason, I had thought the bridge would be the 10 mile turnaround point (in fact we skipped the initial road section from JF's), and my speedy descent took me past Krusty and brownian, to reach the supposed half way mark in glorious first place. I rushed past them, raising my arms in the manner of an ape who owns all the banana's, but slipped on a rock in doing so, pirouetting without grace on to another slippy rock, and just managed to stall my fall into the river by grabbing the bridge. All this was witnessed by a large crowd of startled walkers, and egg was on my face when my victory was denied, the lads just kept on chugging towards Djouce.

Very slippy along the grassy track, which was of little consequence going up. We ran on until someones Garmin said 10 miles, and then turned toretrace our steps. I tried giving it a bit of wellie going down, but was slipping all over the place, gravity dictating what path I should use. The run down to Crone and the hostel went fine, passed the mountain mitheal guys doing their thing, and slogged back up towards Prince Willies. I hate those granite rocks.

I stretched out the legs a bit on the descent, and managed to keep it going at a fair clip. Great to do this when you finish at the bottom (as today), but the race itself will include a real sting in its tail, which some energy will need to be saved for. Enjoyed the run, twisted my knee a bit from all the slipping, but nothing too bad. Drank energy drink throughout, and never really noticed energy levels crashing or anything. 3:20 for the 20 miles, I'd be very happy to reproduce that pace on the day, though the extra 10 miles will be a leap into the unknown.

donothoponpop

Sun 7 miles easy

I woke up with clicking joints and tight muscles after the mud dancing from yesterday. An hour in the pool with the kids helped somewhat, but a run was in order. A nice sunny afternoon to hit the forest trails, the first mile was a matter of getting some movement back into the legs, increasing slightly the length of each stride (the initial movement was "old man hobbling").

There was a noticeable pain in my knee, which jarred when any slight uphill pressure was put on it, but otherwise the run was decent, and seemed to massage out the aches from my mid-back region. Toward the end I was holding down the pace, and felt like I could go for another 7 if needed, so I'm happy with the recovery from yesterday, and happy I managed a tad over 10k <raises monkey arms in victory>:)

jeffontour

Good to hear your acrobatics on that sloppy rock did not do lasting damage to your knee. Would have been a shame to take such an outcome from a jolly jaunt like yesterdays!

brownian

If Boards stop giving in to your demands for higher wages for mods, there's a clear alternative...Given your smooth moves and elegance on those rocks, you could enter Dancing on Ice and wow all the ladeez:)

Nice run, thanks for the invite!

donothoponpop

They offered to double my mod wages, so I'll stay a while longer;)

Slipping on those boulders was very weird, as momentum took me closer to falling into the river, it was like time slowed down, and allowed me choose where to place my next foot, and where to grab hold of. I can remember skidding across the second rock and waiting for the right moment to reach out and grab the bridge. An outcome of a hundred tumbles in the hills, no doubt!

jeffontour

donothoponpop wrote: »

I can remember skidding across the second rock and waiting for the right moment to reach out and grab the bridge. An outcome of a hundred tumbles in the hills, no doubt!

It looked hilarious from my view point up the hill behind you. The faces on the walking group were priceless. They went from "oh look at the guys running down the hill, that looks fun" to "look at those hooligans endangering themselves and others marauding down the hill".

Krusty_Clown

The subsequent climb up to Djouce after the false summit (at the bottom of the valley?!) was just cruel punishment, and we should really have turned around at that point so that your victory dance would get the kind of validation it demanded, but I'm a slave to the Garmin watch. Still, bet you're glad you covered 27 miles over Saturday/Sunday?

For anyone who has done a recce, the consensus seems to be that a hybrid type shoe might be the best bet. Speaking of which, I have to break the new shoes in over the next 12 days, so will probably hit the Plod route for 13 miles this weekend coming, if anyone's up for a shorter hilly/trail run.

brownian

jeffontour wrote: »

It looked hilarious from my view point up the hill behind you. The faces on the walking group were priceless. They went from "oh look at the guys running down the hill, that looks fun" to "look at those hooligans endangering themselves and others marauding down the hill".

...to "we're going to love carrying this guy all the way back to Crone"
... to "such elegance, such style, such panache..":)

jeffontour

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

so will probably hit the Plod route for 13 miles this weekend coming, if anyone's up for a shorter hilly/trail run.

I'd be on for that early enough Saturday morning. Matter of a flight off to a weeks sunny running to deal with Saturday afternoon.

Krusty_Clown

jeffontour wrote: »

I'd be on for that early enough Saturday morning. Matter of a flight off to a weeks sunny running to deal with Saturday afternoon.

Last time we did this, it took around two hours (including an extra loop around Cruagh, which is probably worth skipping!), so around 1:50, if that helps plan your airport arrival time!

donothoponpop

jeffontour wrote: »

I'd be on for that early enough Saturday morning. Matter of a flight off to a weeks sunny running to deal with Saturday afternoon.

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Last time we did this, it took around two hours (including an extra loop around Cruagh, which is probably worth skipping!), so around 1:50, if that helps plan your airport arrival time!

I've a tutorial Sat, wouldn't be free until 2pm, so unless you fancied a second lap, plod away earlier.

mithril

donothoponpop wrote: »

I've a tutorial Sat, wouldn't be free until 2pm, so unless you fancied a second lap, plod away earlier.

I am up for this as well anytime Saturday.

donothoponpop

Tue 15th March 5 miles steady

My knee is still sore from the weekend, when I stride or run uphill there's a jabbing pain, ligaments still sore from my "ostrich on ice" slipping. Thankfully, the ITB has subsided, and I've been here before with the knees, it'll just take a few days to settle.

I ran up in the forest, for a sharpish 5 miler. Felt good (besides the knee), wanted to put the foot down a bit, but settled on a steady run. Might try some running on grass over the next few days, to limit the impact, but I'll see how things are tomorrow.

donothoponpop

Knee is still giving me a bit of jip, so I'm taking a couple of days out to see how it repairs. Go ahead and plan a Plod run on Sat without me- in any case I've arranged to run in Marlay with one of Irelands up-and-coming middle distance champs. Reading "The Perfect Distance: Ovett and Coe" in preparation. Screw this ultra running lark: Alf Tupper vs. Lord Cornelius Dorchester over four laps, is where its at.

jeffontour

jeffontour wrote: »

I'd be on for that early enough Saturday morning. Matter of a flight off to a weeks sunny running to deal with Saturday afternoon.

Not sure I'll be able to commit to a time for this tomorrow lads so work away and plan for yourselves.

I got out for a trip round the route yesterday with a few lads, beautiful day for it. Hoping to get a run in tomorrow but not sure what time I'll make it.

Krusty_Clown

Sounds like the plod is a non-runner, if you'll pardon the pun. I did my planned 13 mile yesterday anyway, so might take it handy with a 10mile on the local trails tomorrow. Enjoy the holiday jeff.

donothoponpop

Yeah have a great time Jeff, you lucky jammy b...;)

Sat 6 miles easy

Met up with Woddle for a couple of laps of Marlay. Great day for it, and as always, a very good companion for a few loops of chat. The knee was a little sore after, but nothing too bad, looks like its on the mend.

donothoponpop

Knee was sore yesterday, and gave me some stabbing pain this morning. Feck it anyway, I'm going to have to pull out from the WWUltra, and RICE it for a while. I've no doubt that the slipping I did on the recce last week has caused some ligament damage, as would be expected. Pounding it for 5+ hours in a few days time? Not a good idea.

Krusty_Clown

donothoponpop wrote: »

Knee was sore yesterday, and gave me some stabbing pain this morning. Feck it anyway, I'm going to have to pull out from the WWUltra, and RICE it for a while. I've no doubt that the slipping I did on the recce last week has caused some ligament damage, as would be expected. Pounding it for 5+ hours in a few days time? Not a good idea.

That's a shame, but in the grander scheme of things is a no-brainer. Hope you mend up soon. Need a physio recommendation?

donothoponpop

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

That's a shame, but in the grander scheme of things is a no-brainer. Hope you mend up soon. Need a physio recommendation?

I'll try the spit and sawdust method for a week or so, and see then if I need a physio. I have an irrational fear of spending money on physio's, based on (one) bad experience. Sure PM me the rec anyway, thanks:)

brownian

Sorry to hear you're not going to run the Ultra - your preparations were pretty solid from where I was looking. But probably a sensible choice - hope it improves soon. If you don't like Krusty's physio, I know a good one close to UCD/Stillorgan - she sorted out an impending ITB crisis for me a couple of weeks ago, and it's not the first success she's had with me.

donothoponpop

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

That's a shame, but in the grander scheme of things is a no-brainer. Hope you mend up soon. Need a physio recommendation?

donothoponpop wrote: »

I'll try the spit and sawdust method for a week or so, and see then if I need a physio. I have an irrational fear of spending money on physio's, based on (one) bad experience. Sure PM me the rec anyway, thanks:)

Well thanks KC for the rec, I went in the end, hallelluia I see the light! The guy (Ciaran Firzgerald) was brilliant, and turned out we knew each other from years back, so talked up a storm about where the old guys were now. In between massive bouts of pain, as he massaged life back into the muscles. He told me to take a couple of days off, and come back easy, so...

Thurs 4 miles easy

Up to the forest, knee was a bit stiff starting off, and I felt each jolt of footfalls, but the ground was forgiving, and I feel much better now. I've killed all thoughts of racing at the weekend- now is not the time to subject a dodgy knee to an Ultra- so I've a few weeks to pick up the sharpness before the summer hill races start off.

brownian

donothoponpop wrote: »

Well thanks KC for the rec, I went in the end, hallelluia I see the light! The guy (Ciaran Firzgerald) was brilliant....

Nearly makes me wish I was injured, just so I could come out stronger and newer than before!

donothoponpop

Sat 6 miles steady

two days of willIwontI but I skipped the race today, erring on the side of caution. Hated doing so, but I'll use that hate later in the season.

6 miles steady up and around the forest instead. Knee didn't feel too bad, but there is still a niggle there, albeit on its way out.

donothoponpop

Sun Hours hill run

Ran with watched PositiveNegativ disappear up Tonelagee for another recce of this race, three weeks away now. It was a great day, although cloud when I hit the trig point meant I did a bit of meandering. Nothing too bad, I got back on course easy enough. The cloud lifted presenting with a stunning view of the heart shaped Lough Oular, and I could pick my route down to the river. Very easy coming down, babying the knee, a walk really. Skipped around by the lake and back up for the tough climb, which seemed easier than the last time I did it. Very slow coming back down, pity as the ground was very runnable.

PM 3 miles recovery. Just to stretch the knee a bit, and it feels better already.

theboyblunder

glad the injury isnt serious dnp!

donothoponpop

theboyblunder wrote: »

glad the injury isnt serious dnp!

Thanks! Me too!:)

Mon 28th March 8 miles easy in an hour

In retrospect I could have ran the Trail (perhaps and Ultra) at the weekend, but I think I would be suffering for it now! As it is, I'm happy enough with how the knee is progressing. No pain whatsoever from yesterday's mountain lark (albeit easy enough on the downhill), and a easy/steady road run tonight shook out any lingering cobwebs. A couple of small stabs when running uphill, and I noticed it a bit when breaking running down, but thats just being picky really.

Three more weeks of solid training and I should be as right as rain.

donothoponpop

Tue 6 miles tempo am, strides and 3 mile easy pm.

A double for no better reason than I was wearing the gear twice today. First was a fast 6 miles around a drizzly Marlay. Plan was 6 steady, but my first bit of flat running in a few days had me shifting at a decent clip, so intended to run 2 laps at this pace. Three miles in, I started adding more loops on, to make 5, and then 6 miles. Very happy with the effort, although the extra weight I'm carrying was noticeable at this faster speed, wasn't as free-flowing as it might have been.

Training started tonight for the Community Games, and there was a huge turnout of kids despite the drizzle. This will only get bigger as the summer nears, so we'll have our work cut out managing them all. Some real talent in the 13-16 year olds I'm training. Ideally there would be a local AC club, or I'd have better coaching experience, but as it is we have a field and lots of enthusiasm, so we'll see how far that will take us this year. Got some strides in with the kids, and then 3 miles easy in the forest, which I nearly bonked at the end. Two banana's at breakfast and nothing else all day, silly boy.

donothoponpop

Thurs Speedwork and strides

I was training the kids tonight, and its a happy arrangement. My own two (younger) ones get to run with their friends, under another coach, while I get to do speedwork with the older teenagers. Strides, of various distance and tempo, for an hour or so. Really enjoyed it, and its useful to be running at speed for bursts at a time. About 3 or 4 miles in total, not that that matters too much. We'll be extending these speed sessions as the weeks go on.