3 hours and a baby - a low mileage marathon?

theboyblunder

This is a bit of an experiment - might well go down in flames but circumstances require something a little out of the ordinary. Background: almost 34 year old male, 6ft tall (on a good day) and 9.5 stone (athletic build if you think pipe-cleaners look athletic), running for 2.5 years. Did DCM '08 in 3:30 and '09 in 3'10. No natural talent - have to work hard to get decent improvements normally.

Want to crack 3 hours - and have to do it before Sept 1st or else wait 18 months. The big thing is - my wife and I are expecting our first baby at the end of february. So big weekly mileage is out. 5 runs/wk is out. All the other half-crazy marathon stuff (that I enjoyed before) is out. I want to be a good dad way more than I want to break 3 hours.

I am hoping that this log will make me avoid excuses to train when opportunity knocks - I suspect that there are others out there with goals and little time.

Have kept myself in shape since the DCM (more or less). Plan is to base my training on a 7.5 mile commute home from town (mostly uphill usually in wind). 3 runs total a week (maybe 4 max if everything is ok at home). No aerobic runs. No recovery runs. Only tempo (fast as I can more or less - building to 12-13 milers at faster than PMP) - also plan to do long runs (baby + 3 months only) faster than most books advise - at PMP or slightly slower, I experimented with this a bit for '09 and didnt die. Maybe some intervals but i really cant stand them so when sleep-deprived this might not happen.

I know low milage is considered a bad idea - but I am going to try and see where it takes me - then take stock. Longford (end of august) is the target - if all goes well.

theboyblunder

7.5 on the way home from town yesterday

first 5 ok - 6'37/mile uphill mostly. At cherry orchard hosp the ice got so bad I had to slow to 10 min miles rest of the way so stop going on my ar&e.

Inauspicious start. Cant wait for the thaw to finish!

On way through ballyfermot I usually get a catcall or two (its the leotards you see) - today's made me smile

GUE ON GINGER GUMP!!

ecoli

Why not invest in a treadmill for the house so you get to get the runs in on the other days not the same but extra bit will stand to you while still being able to be there for wife and child like?
I dunno if this is a possibility for you but it is an idea which could help?

Racing Flat

Firstly best of luck with the upcoming arrival.

The FIRST programme might suit you - training plans based on running 3 times a week.

http://www.furman.edu/first/fmtp.htm

However, maybe you can run more than you think? You mentioned running home 3 times a week. Is there any reason you can't run home every day. Or run in and out all or some days? 2 x 7.5 mile runs in a day might not be ideal, but considering your circumstances...Or could you get a bus halfway and jog the rest on the way in and run all the way home? Building up gradually? I work it by bussing in with all clothes for week Mon am, run home mon pm, then in and out tues wed thurs, in fri and bus home with clothes fri - so you could possibly get the miles in this way.

Failing that making the most of your 3 runs a week is what you might want to do which the first programme might help with.

Best of luck.

christeb

Hey Stephen - great to see your log on here. FYI, you're now my #1 target on the 1,000 mile thread!

I agree with RF - is there any reason you can't run home 4-5 days / wk, using the extra day or two as a "recovery-ish" run? All else looks great, you're keeping up a great pace so far. Also it might be an idea to hit the Trinners track for some speed work when the evenings get longer and you can afford the time.

theboyblunder

ecoli wrote: »

Why not invest in a treadmill for the house so you get to get the runs in on the other days not the same but extra bit will stand to you while still being able to be there for wife and child like?
I dunno if this is a possibility for you but it is an idea which could help?

Thanks ecoli. Its not a bad idea if time gets tight later!
Cheers

theboyblunder

Racing Flat wrote: »

Firstly best of luck with the upcoming arrival.

The FIRST programme might suit you - training plans based on running 3 times a week.

http://www.furman.edu/first/fmtp.htm

However, maybe you can run more than you think? You mentioned running home 3 times a week. Is there any reason you can't run home every day. Or run in and out all or some days? 2 x 7.5 mile runs in a day might not be ideal, but considering your circumstances...Or could you get a bus halfway and jog the rest on the way in and run all the way home? Building up gradually? I work it by bussing in with all clothes for week Mon am, run home mon pm, then in and out tues wed thurs, in fri and bus home with clothes fri - so you could possibly get the miles in this way.

Failing that making the most of your 3 runs a week is what you might want to do which the first programme might help with.

Best of luck.

Thanks for that RF. Im might be well able to do that but will have to see how the timing is etc. Basically im not going to bank on more than 3 a week and treat runs like that as a bonus if i get them.
Thanks for the link - wasnt aware of this and will give it a good look

theboyblunder

christeb wrote: »

Hey Stephen - great to see your log on here. FYI, you're now my #1 target on the 1,000 mile thread!

I agree with RF - is there any reason you can't run home 4-5 days / wk, using the extra day or two as a "recovery-ish" run? All else looks great, you're keeping up a great pace so far. Also it might be an idea to hit the Trinners track for some speed work when the evenings get longer and you can afford the time.

Cheers brian. I'll be watching your totals with (competitive) interest too! Might try a few intervals on the grass alright - really hate them though....

theboyblunder

7.76 miles this morning starting at 5.50 am (busy tonight and next so needs must...)

Cold, rain, slush, wind. A grumpy enough BB came home. Av pace 6'35/mile.

Wasnt helped by 'I dont feel like dancing' by the scissor sisters playing over and over in my head as I went along (no idea why - very irritating song but couldnt get rid of it). 51 mins is along time to have that playing. Hope it doesnt happen again.

Miles

1: 6'47
2: 6'28
3: 6'33
4: 6'38
5: 6'48
6: 6'29
7: 6'29

+ 0.76 @ 6'31/mile

Tired at end - glad its done now. Dashing off.... next run on friday.

christeb

That's some serious pace at that hour of the morning!

Peckham

How are your long runs going to work? Will these be in addition to your runs home from work, or part of them? i.e. during a week where you're doing a 20 miler, will it probably be 3 runs - 2 x 7.5 miles, and 1 x 20 miles?

christeb wrote: »

That's some serious pace at that hour of the morning!

+1 - I can handle 6:35 pace, but struggle to break 8:00 pace on a 6am run!

theboyblunder

Peckham wrote: »

How are your long runs going to work? Will these be in addition to your runs home from work, or part of them? i.e. during a week where you're doing a 20 miler, will it probably be 3 runs - 2 x 7.5 miles, and 1 x 20 miles?



+1 - I can handle 6:35 pace, but struggle to break 8:00 pace on a 6am run!

Hi peckham and brian
Yes long run will be the third run per week along with the two tempos. Hoping that 1 of the tempos can grow into a 9-12ish miler over time. Will try to squeeze in what i can (prob not much) after that depending on situation at home. Before baby hoping to get 4 runs/wk (in line with good advice above) in.

I hear ya- not a fan of pre breakfast oxygen debt myself. Mornings are odd for me. im not much better in the pm than am, but in am i usually have a difficult first 8-10 mins where i feel awful before settling in. Should prob spend more time warming up but if run is am im usually stuck for time

theboyblunder

5.34 miles at 6'28/mile

another pre-breakfast job. Out late last two nights and had whiskeys last night. Would have been ok normally but for some (inexplicable) reason I hared off like a mad eegit for the first two miles. Paid for that later - last two miles were no fun at all.

A bit silly really.

theboyblunder

Long run -15.54 miles @ 6'43 min/mile

Lovely morning for it, cool, sunny, moderate wind .

As a first goal im going to try and train to make PMP comfortable up to 15-17 miles.

Really enjoyed the run, pace was hard enough for a rel. long one but was never in trouble and kept the pace relatively under control. Felt quite tired but ok at the finish.

Didnt have another 10.66 miles (or anywhere close) in the tank for sure though!

happy with it. much work to do....need to lower LT pace I reckon.

Miles:

1: 6'35, 2: 6'36, 3: 6'41, 4: 7'01, 5: 6'40, 6: 6'36, 7: 6'47, 8: 7'02
9: 6'38, 10: 6'37, 11: 6'50, 12: 6'58, 13: 6'36, 14: 6'34, 15: 6'44
+ 0.54 mi @ 6'26/mile

Slower miles (4, 8, 12) were due to stopping for drinks - (i dont stop the watch for these)

This week: 36.14 miles - 4 runs - slowest mile (ex. drinks): 6'50.

theboyblunder

9.0 miles @ 6'34/mile

Weird one - tough to say how it went. Aston-Quay to Lucan and then a 1.45 mile circuit around my estate. 1st mile flat, next 5 uphill but with a decent tailwind. Next 3 flatish inc. the circuit.

Went at a decent clip (for me) and was tired at the end, suspect wind helped more than hills hurt. Another 'run forrrrest run' going through ballyfermot

Miles:

1: 6'25
2: 6'33
3: 6'33
4: 6'42
5: 6'37
6: 6'33
7: 6'41
8: 6'34
9: 6'29

theboyblunder

Thursday 21st: 7.5 miles @ 6'33 min/mile

Home from town - lots of uphill. Conditions similar to tuesday except also raining. Lost concentration a bit on mile 4. This is the nastiest mile -almost all uphill - but still should have been a bit quicker than that without any wind in my face. Happy enough overall though.

Miles
1: 6'30
2: 6'34
3: 6'36
4: 6'51
5: 6'34
6: 6'30
7: 6'34
+ 0.5 miles @ 6'04/mile

Friday 22nd - Intervals (sort of)

Plan was 4 x 1.44 mile / 3 min.

Havent done intervals in months because I am weak minded. Used to be able to do this session when trainig for DCM '09 at 6'10 ish pace or faster but tonight, instead of easing myelf back in I made the rookie error of legging it around like a mad eegit.

Predictable results: fast first interval (for me - ca. 6'04/mile) slower second (ca. 6'07/mi), constipation face for the third (ca. 6'15/mi), no fourth.

Awful. Just got to laugh and chalk it up to experience (again). Usually im captain sensible pace-wise but im getting it wrong quite a bit recently. Think its the sub-3 thing, maybe im building it up too much (or at least too soon).

Anyone else losing/lost judgement when starting to train for a sub 3?

theboyblunder

Sunday 24th - 17.03 miles @ 6'41/mile

17 miles at slightly faster than PMP and was tired but def ok afterwards. very happy with that.

Didnt go out with a mission - wanted to do 17 and keep the pace just managable (just slower than heavy-breathing pace).

Was quite surprised when I checked the av. pace at the end (my 10m and 1/2 marathon race PBs from the 09' Addidas series are 6'40 and 6'45/mile?). Felt in control (except in the last mile where I lost the run of myself a bit), legs started to feel a little heavy after 14 but breathing OK.

Not getting too carried away - its ealy days, conditions were great this morning (cooling fog, light wind) and I wasnt sleep-deprived - but it was def my most satisfying session yet.

Miles (drinks at 4, 8, 12):

1: 6'38 2: 6'43 3: 6'43 4: 7'00 5: 6'40 6: 6'36 7: 6'45 8: 7'01 9: 6'36
10: 6'37 11: 6'42 12: 7'03 13: 6'32 14: 6'31 15: 6'44 16: 6'34 17: 6'24


Weekly Milage: 37.86 miles

dermCu

Thats really solid running theboyblunder. Keep injury free and sub 3 will be easy for you. The first time I went sub 3 there was no way that I came within an asses roar of running 17 @ 6:41 in training. You'll smash 3.

christeb

dermCu wrote: »

You'll smash 3.

+1, super running tbb

Krusty_Clown

christeb wrote: »

+1, super running tbb

Another +1. That's some fab running (sub 2:55 marathon pace).

theboyblunder

Cheers DermCu, Christeb and Krusty - hope I can keep it up now...

theboyblunder

tuesday 26th

7.53 miles @ 6'23/mile

Perfect conditions - cool almost no wind. Fastest run home from town to date.

Miles:

1: 6'15
2: 6'22
3: 6'26
4: 6'35
5: 6'32
6: 6'30
7: 6'16
+ 0.53 @ 5'53/mile

theboyblunder

thursday 28th - 5.50 am

7.76 miles @ 6'28/mile

Found this tough, conditions good but legs a little heavy. Glad to get home.

theboyblunder

Sunday 31st: Raheny 5-mile race

5 miles in 30'56.

Miles: 1: 6'16 2: 6'12 3: 6'04 4: 6'01 5: 6'11 + 0.04 @ 4'59/mile

Good conditions, light/moderate wind and cold. Met up with christeb on the start line and we set off at a decent clip for us. Felt suprisingly ok so pushed during the downhill/flat section in the middle miles and tried to tough out a challenging last section up watermill road.

Time is a PB for me by about a minute so gotta be happy. Nice to run with christeb (who knocked out a pb despite being out at a family do last night!). Also must tip the cap to Greg who followed us round on a bike and egged me on at just the right time when I was seriously flagging in the final mile - might have missed sub 31 had I not pushed on in reponse.

Overall happy - I need to be faster over this distance to go sub 3 I reckon but its going in the right directon. Well organised rac, nice goodie-bag.

Last comment: im always astonished about how much of running (at least my running) seems to be in the head. If I run anywhere near the pace I did today in training I suffer - even if its only for a mile or two (see previous log entries). Maybe I need to get mentally tougher in key training sessions!

Weekly mileage: 20.29 miles

christeb

A local pacer for 2 miles (well a pacee, let's be honest!) and your own soigneur to cheer you on, not bad!

theboyblunder

would recommend raheny hospitality alright....
..I grew up in not too far away, had never run up the watermill road before though - with good reason

Born1950

theboyblunder wrote: »

Sunday 31st: Raheny 5-mile race

5 miles in 30'56.

Miles: 1: 6'16 2: 6'12 3: 6'04 4: 6'01 5: 6'11 + 0.04 @ 4'59/mile

Good conditions, light/moderate wind and cold. Met up with christeb on the start line and we set off at a decent clip for us. Felt suprisingly ok so pushed during the downhill/flat section in the middle miles and tried to tough out a challenging last section up watermill road.

Time is a PB for me by about a minute so gotta be happy. Nice to run with christeb (who knocked out a pb despite being out at a family do last night!). Also must tip the cap to Greg who followed us round on a bike and egged me on at just the right time when I was seriously flagging in the final mile - might have missed sub 31 had I not pushed on in reponse.

Overall happy - I need to be faster over this distance to go sub 3 I reckon but its going in the right directon. Well organised rac, nice goodie-bag.

Last comment: im always astonished about how much of running (at least my running) seems to be in the head. If I run anywhere near the pace I did today in training I suffer - even if its only for a mile or two (see previous log entries). Maybe I need to get mentally tougher in key training sessions!

Weekly mileage: 20.29 miles

Thats cool running with your average at 6:12 per mile.

theboyblunder

Tuesday 2nd

10.0 miles @ 6'35/mile

First 7.5 uphill home from town, the 2.5 around Liam Lawlor's Lucan.

Good conditions, tried to keep the pace even but struggled perhaps more than I would hope -given the lack of wind. Legs still a bit heavy from sunday.

Miles: 1: 6'30 2: 6'31 3: 6'37 4: 6'41 5: 6'42 6: 6'39 7: 6'32 8: 6'37 9: 6'33 10: 6'29.

theboyblunder

thursday 4th

7.49 miles @ 6'25/mile (48'05)

Home from town - light rain, moderate tailwind

Felt ok, wind at back to tried to force the pace a little.

Miles: 1: 6'24 2: 6'26 3: 6'24 4: 6'35 5: 6'31 6: 6'24 7: 6'24 + 0.49 mi @ 6'05/mile.

After run - charity table quiz for haiti in lucan. Mrs BoyBlunder powered the team to a respectable 4th place. The questions - as larry gogan would say - just didnt suit me.

Friday 5th

Football with Ragball Rovers FC down at the Ragdome. Hadnt played in a while and it showed. For the first 15 mins I had the touch, grace and turning radius of a dumper truck with Pete Doherty at the controls. Had wanted to do a few intervals beforehand but work delayed me.

theboyblunder

Sunday 7th

16.97 miles @ 6'40/mile (1'53'08)

Might actually be a tiny bit faster than 6'40. This run usually measures 17.03-17.10 miles (didnt take any shortcuts ), my garmin has been underestimating distance a bit recently and I wasnt bothered running the extra 50 yards to keep the watch happy. The time is the best ive run for this course.

Morning run, moderate southeast wind, cold. Legs still a bit heavy from football on fri so first mile into the wind was a bit of a struggle, but settled in after that. Felt comfortably hard - not in trouble but tired at the end. Did get pins and needles in the hands after 15 miles - maybe sign of glycogen depletion - but no other signs evident (have hit the wall twice in training for my first marathon and it def wasnt that!) and generally felt ok. Wind at back for last mile or so -so I picked it up a bit.

Drinks at 4, 8, 12 miles

Miles: 1: 6'58 2: 6'30 3: 6'35 4: 6'58 5: 6'41 6: 6'32 7: 6'36 8: 7'04 9: 6'38 10: 6'33 11: 6'39 12: 7'01 13: 6'42 14: 6'27 15: 6'34 16: 6'38 + 0.97 mi @ 6'12/mile

Weekly mileage: 34.46 miles

theboyblunder

Tuesday 9th

8.95 miles @ 6'29/mile (58'02).

Home from town plus a lap of my estate. Very light northerly wind, cold. Pushed it a bit at the end.

Miles: 1: 6'26 2: 6'31 3: 6'32 4: 6'40 5: 6'41 6: 6'33 7: 6'20 8: 6'32 + 0.95 mile @ 6'06/mile.

theboyblunder

Thursday 11th

7.5 miles @ 6'24/mile (47'56)

Light wind, very cold. Had bad day at the office (where I stupidly left my gloves as well) so took it out on the pavement on way home from town. Pushed quite hard at the end.

Miles: 1: 6'29 2: 6'27 3: 6'25 4: 6'29 5: 6'36 6: 6'23 7: 6'11 + 0.5 miles @ 5'56/mile.

theboyblunder

Friday 12th

Football - chased everything like an eegit.

Sunday 14th

18.53 miles @ 6'45/mile (2'05'04, HR av. 155)

Light northwest wind which strengthened later, cold and showry. Dont normally wear the HRM as it can make me slack off sometimes but today wanted to see how I was doing on these longer runs. Tried to keep pace well under control and run PMP average pace the whole way (no final mile heroics).

Breathing good, pleased that the HR didnt go too high. The legs started to hurt a little bit at 15 miles but could have kept going at the end. Current plan is not to extend these runs any further for a while but only take sports drinks (usually take sweets on long runs) and either maintain or increase the pace a little until building, starting in may.

Miles: 1: 6'35 2: 6'31 3: 6'41 4: 7'05 5: 6'36 6: 6'36 7: 6'48 8: 7'05 9: 6'40 10: 6'40 11: 6'46 12: 7'00 13: 6'41 14: 6'40 15: 6'49 16: 7'04 17: 6'40 18: 6'37 + 0.53 miles @ 6'33/mile

Wekly mileage: 34.97 miles

christeb

theboyblunder wrote: »

18.53 miles @ 6'45/mile (2'05'04, HR av. 155)

There ain't many on here who are churning out these standards of LSR right now, credit to ya. You'll be sharp as a (sub 2'55) razor come Longford Mara touch wood.

Krusty_Clown

That really is great running. You'll really have to start thinking about sub 2:45, if you're running comfortably at that pace this early in your season.

theboyblunder

Tuesday 16th

10.00 miles @ 6'31/mile (65'06)

Home from town and then an extra 2.5. Perfect conditions - cold, almost no wind. We are getting great conditions for running recently - long may it continue. Pushed myself but didnt massively strain.

My Kayano 16s are cutting me just below the ankle at the front of the foot. Very annoying - I have only used kayanos for the last 2.5 years and swear never had any trouble, but these 16s have little knives in them.

Miles: 1: 6'26 2: 6'25 3: 6'34 4: 6'35 5: 6'39 6: 6'37 7: 6'28 8: 6'31 9: 6'28 10: 6'23

theboyblunder

Saturday 20th

17.00 miles @ 6'46/mile (1'54'51)

Had a few things on (including one of two 70th birthday parties this weekend) and couldnt/didnt get out since tuesday.

So I was raring to go but within 2 miles I could tell I wasnt doing well. I was rubbish. Breathng more laboured, legs sorer at an earlier stage etc.

Dont know why - I hadnt had the usual amount of sleep and there was a decent (but not strong) wind but still should have been better than that. Only good thing I can say about that run is that I had to pass my house at 15.6 miles and I didnt listen to my inner wimp clamouring for me to stop with a barrage of excuses.

Drinks at 4, 8 and 12 miles

Miles: 1: 6'40 2: 6'34 3: 6'45 4: 7'04 5: 6'39 6: 6'35 7: 6'42 8: 7'12 9: 6'39 10: 6'38 11: 6'50 12: 7'09 13: 6'38 14: 6'35 15: 6'49 16: 6'47 17: 6'39

Weeky mileage: 27.00 miles

theboyblunder

Tuesday 23rd

11.38 @ 6'32/mile (1'14'17)

cold and raining but enjoyed this one, tired at end but picked up pace over the last 4 miles

Wednesday 24th

Ríona born (a few days early) at 8.30pm. Fantastic day - mother and baby did great. Absolutely delighted.
Thursday 25th
7.55 miles @ 6'27/mile (48'42)
Ran home rather late after leaving the hospital. Felt sluggish and slow - didnt care.
Sunday 28th
10.00 miles @ 6'22/mile (63:45)
Perfect conditions, cold, almost no wind. No LSR this week - didnt want to be out too long. Decided i'll try to make the most of opportunities when I do go out (and there will be decent rest in between sessions) - so this was more or less flat out. Suprised and pleased with this one given that I havent been getting the regular amount of sleep.
Miles: 1: 6'21, 2: 6'18, 3: 6'20, 4: 6'27, 5: 6'25, 6: 6'20, 7: 6'24, 8: 6'29, 9: 6'19, 10: 6'20.

Miles this week: 28.93

Sosa

Congrats on the new arrival,nice name to.

If i had to run at that pace all the time,i think i would pack it in...well done.
You are doing it the hard way...no doubt about that.

christeb

Congrats, delighted to hear they're both in good shape

christeb

theboyblunder wrote: »

7.55 miles @ 6'27/mile (48'42)
Ran home rather late after leaving the hospital. Felt sluggish and slow - didnt care.

6'27 felt slow, compared to this tweet by the current London Mara champion. You're not that far removed!!!!

theboyblunder

Sosa wrote: »

Congrats on the new arrival,nice name to.

If i had to run at that pace all the time,i think i would pack it in...well done.
You are doing it the hard way...no doubt about that.

cheers sosa.

yeah sometimes I miss the good old leisurely aerobic run that doesnt leave me gasping - but needs must etc....

theboyblunder

christeb wrote: »

6'27 felt slow, compared to this tweet by the current London Mara champion. You're not that far removed!!!!

haha cheers brian

was tired when wrote that and it came out a bit wrong - I meant that I felt slow (unfortunately). Had to really force myself to get under 6'30.

Would love to find 6'27 slow! I read a similar tweet by ryan hall once - on first reading it seemed that he was delighted to crack 7 min/mile pace. Turns out he was going straing up a mountain

Gringo78

Congrats on the new arrival. Hopefully you can keep up the running. Don't be too hard on yourself though, just try to keep in some sort of shape for the next 3 months, then things get easier!

pgmcpq

theboyblunder wrote: »

Ríona born (a few days early) at 8.30pm. Fantastic day - mother and baby did great. Absolutely delighted.

Congradulations !!!! ... and to think I was having a small whine about an expected guest this weekend . Not surprising that you might not be hitting your normal standards. Mine you I would love to match those long (not-so-slow) runs.

Krusty_Clown

Heartiest congrats TheBouBlunder! Great news (and you're still running. That's a hell of an achievement!)

theboyblunder

Gringo78 wrote: »

Congrats on the new arrival. Hopefully you can keep up the running. Don't be too hard on yourself though, just try to keep in some sort of shape for the next 3 months, then things get easier!

cheers gringo! going to be following your good advice - i'll go out when opportunity knocks but wont expect too much.

theboyblunder

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Heartiest congrats TheBouBlunder! Great news (and you're still running. That's a hell of an achievement!)

thanks Krusty.... lack of seep doesnt seem to be affecting it so far - but im sure it will. I see the taper is going well - comment about the hall coughs made me lol - I remember being like that before the DCM last year. Hard not to treat people with colds like they have ebola zaire....

theboyblunder

pgmcpq wrote: »

Congradulations !!!! ... and to think I was having a small whine about an expected guest this weekend . Not surprising that you might not be hitting your normal standards. Mine you I would love to match those long (not-so-slow) runs.

thanks pgmcpq, nice of you to say.... just going to take it run by run.

theboyblunder

Tuesday 2nd


7.72 miles @ 6'15/mile (48'15). av HR 157

Headed out for a quick one around the neighbourhood after mrsboyblunder awoke from her nap. Good condtions, cool, light northerlyish wind. Brought the HRM to ensure quality etc. Am scratchng my head on this one...Im not getting too much sleep and im trying to be a 1950's style domestic goddess during the day, so was fully expecting a slump in form - but it didnt happen. Maybe it takes time....

A second thing is the heart rate - either the HRM isnt working well or I need to do some speedwork, because I was traveliing fast (for me) and it felt tough, but the HR only got to 164 at the very end. Maybe I can push it more, but to be honest that felt hard yesterday. Anyway - delighted to have gotten an hour to go out and im not going to look a gift horse in the mouth form-wise.

Miles: 1: 6'22 2: 6'15 3: 6'10 4: 6'23 5: 6'18 6: 6'08 7: 6'09 + 0.72 @ 6'14/mile

theboyblunder

thursday 4th

13.11 miles @ 6'30/mile (1'25'11) av. HR 153

Met eireann once again failed to predict either wind speed or direction. Otherwise a good day for it apart from the rather stiff breeze at times. Tried to keep the tempo up and was pleased with it overall.


drink at mile 8

Miles: 1: 6'34, 2: 6'29, 3: 6'27, 4: 6'38, 5: 6'34, 6: 6'25, 7: 6'30, 8: 6'54, 9: 6'30, 10: 6'23, 11: 6'27, 12: 6'30, 13: 6'13 + 0.11 @ 6'04/mile