sure why not!

dublinrunner

Well i've been reading all your logs for the last three months so decided eventually it might be a good idea to start one myself! The wealth of knowledge that you can learn of people on boards is ridiculous and has helped me loads since the start of my training in January!

Heres a bit about me - 27yr old female looking to run DCM this year in sub 4 hrs (even as i type that i gulp as i know its prob to ambitious...more likely to be sub 4.20!) But when your in your in and I hope to give it my best so will just have to see what that is! Had not done much running before January, did my first 10k last yr and trained a little before that and havent really done anything since!
Work weird and sometimes long hours so have to make my training extremely flexible, i average 3/4 sessions a week, usually 3 running with 1 gym session thrown in where i cross train (stat bike, rower, stepper) and light free weights! cant really fit more than that in at the mo! I usually do 1/2 interval sessions a week, one short tempo and one long slow run.
I have a half marathon in a couple of weeks so did my last lSR yest for that (10miles 141 mins).
PB for 10km - 53.45 (april 2009)
no other PB's to report as of yet!!!

Im hoping this log will help me stay focused and also help me to identify any ways to make my training more efficient so that i can reach my target time in october! All and any advise more than welcome!!

Plan for rest of week is
wed - intervals 25mins and gym for session as above
fri - intervals 25mins and gym for session as above (neglected gym last week so need to go twice this week!)

sunday 45min tempo run (hope to do 9 - 9.30 min miles)

Will then be on serious wind down as the half marathon on the following sunday so will do one 4 mile run and maybe two 3 miles easy?

Anyway thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read this and give advise, i also hope it will be helpful to beginners as i progress!

dublinrunner

wed - gym - 5km fartlek - 28mins and free weights
Did not enjoy run tonight as haven't been doing that kinda run in the gym really before and will try not to again! It was roasting and i expected my time to be better, even tho it was a mish-mash for fast/slow pace!
Will go again on friday but revert to cross training and just 10mins hills (1min walk/1min run gradient 5%) and 10mins interval sprints (20 seconds on/off at 16km/hr) which ive been doing there since jan once/twice a week.
waffle waffle waffle...i will try to keep it shorter in the future!!:p

girvtheswerve

Best of luck with the log DublinRunner.

Looks like we have the same goal so ill be keeping an eye out for training methods to "borrow"!!

rainbow kirby

Welcome to the logs Good luck with the half!

I'm hoping for sub-4 too at DCM, got 25 minutes to scrub off last year's time to hit that. Any particular training plan you're planning on following?

dolliemix

good luck with your training!

I'm envious of your times and distances!

RubyK

Best of luck with the log, and half marathon next week. By the looks of it, you'll fly it!

dublinrunner

Thanks guys, sure i've been 'borrowing' techniques (and motivation!!) off boards.ie for months now! Plus my husbands sick of hearing about it so someone has to!!;)

Have not been sticking to a training plan as such, I think will do an 18 or 12 week plan in the run up to the marathon. For the next couple of months i think i'll try to continue as im going with one LSR, two interval type and a fourth tempo, im haven't been focusing hugely on mileage other than for my long run (which had been up to 12 miles before taper for half marathon) and maybe thats a mistake.....prob been doing average 20-25miles a week, cant see it incresing hugely other than with my long run over the next couple of months (i have the fear of peaking too early!!) ALso not sure how long to make my long runs this far before the marathon! I generall add a half a mile to a mile a week, but dont want to be running about 10 weeks of 20milers before the big day!! suggestions all welcome and greatly appreciated!

claralara

Best of luck with the training! Hope GIR went well for you. And I'll be thinking of you in Kildare!! Your long run is up to 12 miles so I have no doubt you have nothing to worry about. 11 miles tomorrow will make or break me... Maybe I shouldn't have paid up until after that!

dublinrunner

gym tonight:
10 mins threadmill (1 min run/walk intervals on 5% gradient)
10 mins rower (30 second intervals fast/slow)
5 mins stationery bike (20 secs fast/slow)
back to threadmill then for 10 mins running (20 second bursts of sprints by hopping on and off the moving threadmill and generally making myself look like an ejit! but none the less, gets the job done!)
5 mins stepper
then some upper body weights and ab work.
Very happy with my lot as had a bad day at work and really didnt feel in the mood going in!
Love the way a good workout makes u feel tho, will enjoy my friday night so much more because of it!
Heading away for the weekend so will bring my runners and hopefully get a run in over the weekend!:rolleyes:

dublinrunner

sunday - 3 miles hilly woodland trail and parks - easy pace (as had someone with me who doesnt really run) - 30mins.
Monday - long slow run 8 miles in 78mins - shorter than normal as kildare half marathon on sunday and have planned a 2 week taper before this. hope this is a good idea, but i do think its a good idea to have 'fresh legs' before it. plan on doing very little this week for the same reason.
Plan for week: tue - gym for free weights only
wed - 3 mile whatever speed i fancy!
fri - 3 mile slow and relaxed.
sunday - the dreaded 13 .1miles.

southofnowhere

Best of luck with the taper, you look really well prepared.

Aiming for the DCM later this year myself. Hoping to start with my first race (5k) next weekend and move my way up the distances.

Will be keeping an eye on your progress - you can be another of my Boards canaries down the mine

dublinrunner

thanks southofnowhere, dont feel well prepared but hopefully my efforts will pay off! Good luck with ur 5k, i find that races are the best way to keep me motivated and interested! I bet you'll find you go faster than you thought you would, even with best offorts to pace yourself! The crowd and the buzz make it hard not to get carried away!:)

tue - Weights and core strenghtening, lots of effort but enjoyable today!

gym tomorrow for some cross training and more weights and then 3 miles on thursday and thats it til sunday!

dublinrunner

ok so my 'lots of effort' on the weights has resulted in me hobbling around work like a 90 yr old cripple today. everything from my toes to my neck hurts! needless to say no gym tonight, will have to see about tomorrow evenings run, am worried now i've overdone it.....the guilt of missing tonights gym session is killing me (a glass of wine will help no doubt!). Not sure what to do if im still hobbling tomorrow, do i just not bother try and run anymore before sunday and hope all will be well with my legs? or am i better off just making sure i manage something tomorrow or friday night as it might help? no idea what the best thing to do here is....any advice hugely welcome.....really want to do well on sunday..!:(

southofnowhere

For what it's worth, you've put the hard work in, so I would say have a good bath first!

Rest tomorrow, maybe a good stretching session. If you feel better by Friday jog a few miles max and then relax till Sunday.

I'm not an experienced runner, but I am experienced with recovering from the dreaded DOMS. Stretching always helps me.

dublinrunner

thanks southofnowhere i think you're right! still the same today so just gonna take it handy and try stretch it out, hopefully it will have come good by sunday! Can only now imagine how irritating a proper injury would be!!

claralara

Hiya missy! I'm done now until sunday after only 2 VERY easy runs this week. Don't push yourself too hard, just relax and you'll be well fresh and raring to go on sunday. If it's any consolation I'm off to buy an ankle support now as I'm feeling a little twinge..

I look forward to hearing how you get on. I'll send you a psychic wave - I'll be the one with the purple face and the ankle strap having a picnic on my own!!

Best of luck again!:D

dublinrunner

thanks claralara! Def not much point in trying to run tonight anyway, still walking like john wayne!! walked the dog tho...hardcore! hehe! Hope ur ankle is ok?! ice it etc and hopefully that will be the end of it! ill be the one hobbling off the course on sunday, wearin black 3/4 lengths and pink top so if ya see me, please do pick me up!!!! haha! enjoy and good luck!!!

dolliemix

Best of luck with the Half Marathon tomorrow!

dublinrunner

Will go into more detail tomorrow when have more time!
chip time - 2hrs 5 mins 47secs

found it so hard....unexpectedly hilly! hit several walls!!! hehe!

not deligted with my time but not disappointed either!
great experience - realise now how tough the marathon will be mentally!

Thought they should have had more water stations - if it wasnt for some kind kids at mile 11 id prob still be out there!
anyway, well done to all who ran, cos i for one found it TOUGH!:)

claralara

Big thumbs up! Well done on a great run! There certainly was a great atmosphere around - I had a very tasty chicken stir fry from the market which I brought back down to the finish line so I could watch and cheer on the other poor souls! Enjoy the BBQ - most definitely well deserved.

dublinrunner

Now that i have a little more time heres a breakdown of my day!
I arrived at the curragh and thought it was such a great setting, there were great facilities and everything was really well organised! I found the 2hr pacer and got a wristband, i hadnt run with a pacer before so i thought this was cool!
I started off the first mile or two with the pacer, it was a really nice pace - 9 mins/mile, but after two miles i naturally fell into a slightly faster pace (about 8 mins 45secs/mile) and did think i should hold back with the pacer, in retrospect maybe i should have but it just felt easier! My breathing was still 3 in 2 out (my weird way of telling if im going too fast, if its 2 in and 1 out then i need to hold back!) and it felt better to just go with it! This was fine until about mile 5 when the hills had gotten the better of me! They werent huge hills, not even big hills, just long slow hills...hills i wasnt ready for! From mile 5 to 8 i stopped 3 times, even though i had slowed my pace back to 9mins 15 -30secs. i was struggling!
Before the race (sat and sun morning) i felt that i was run down and not in great form, whether i was or wasnt didnt affect me, but the thoughts going through my mind about it did!! I just couldnt find the motivation to make myself push through! I never stop in my long runs so this was a bad patch for me! Lesson learned - serious PMA from now one!! And i need to fing me some long hills!!!!
At mile 8 i managed to fall into a comfortable pace again - around 9 mins 10-15 seconds, i had come through whatever bad patch i had experience and was somehow back to enjoying it! Must say again, the kids and mile 11 handing out cups of water from there house were just so great and such a welcome sight!!:)
I kept going until about the 12 mile mark when i had to stop again :mad: and give myself a firm talking to!! That worked and i managed to push on to the end, even managing a 300meter sprint at the end!:)
It was a really great day that was very well organised, my only very small issue would be that i think there could have been more water stations and i think they could have been giving out bottles instead of cups. Other than that though the atmosphere was fantastic, all the locals really got behind the event and the square afterwards was the perfect setting to enjoy recovery and the sunshine(even though i had earlier been wishing it away!!)
There was lots of support on the way around aswell which helped to keep me moving! (most of the time!;)) I'd certainly like to do it again, now that i have a PB to beat!! Next time i'll be ready for the hills!!!

DigiJem

Well done dublinrunner, sounds like you had a great day

southofnowhere

Well done! Enjoyed that report, you had to work for it and you came through with flying colours.

Dead impressed with that 300 metre sprint by the way!

dolliemix

Congrats! Love the way you got the sprint in at the end after all that!

dublinrunner

thanks guys mind u not looking forward to the photo of my finish....remember distinctly looking purely in pain!! hehe!!
Taking it easy at the mo, have come down with some weird flu type thing which has me wiped out completely, i suppose it comes at a good time really, was planning on mostly rest this week anyway..every cloud!?
Thanks for the support, will hopefully be back at it soon!!

dublinrunner

getting so so frustrated!! :mad: still have viurs....thats what im calling it cos im waiting for some test results from doctor which ill get on tue, just feeling really exhausted all the time and have chills etc. Have some interesting swelling going on too but ill know more about that on tue! Anyway, point being i was hoping to have one or two short recovery runs done this week but its clearly not happening...hope to be feeling better soon and back on my feet, before i smother myself with self pity that is!!
Im writing this to remind myself how much i miss running when i cant do it...so that if theres a day i can but dont want to it might give me some perspective!!
Enjoying reading the rest of the logs, making me feel v.jealous but at the same time it means i can still feel involved from the couch!!
Happy running!

rainbow kirby

dublinrunner wrote: »

getting so so frustrated!! :mad: still have viurs....thats what im calling it cos im waiting for some test results from doctor which ill get on tue, just feeling really exhausted all the time and have chills etc. Have some interesting swelling going on too but ill know more about that on tue! Anyway, point being i was hoping to have one or two short recovery runs done this week but its clearly not happening...hope to be feeling better soon and back on my feet, before i smother myself with self pity that is!!

Concentrate on getting yourself well, don't worry about running until this virus is out of you. You don't want to have something that keeps coming back and disrupting you later. Maybe take a gentle walk if you need to get out for some fresh air?

Fingers crossed that your test results are ok!

southofnowhere

I hope you make a speedy recovery. It's funny how you go from trying to force yourself out at the start to suddenly finding yourself going a little mad when you can't get out isn't it?!

Think it's called the running virus

dolliemix

Hope you're feeling better soon!

claralara

Hope you feel better soon. Definitely take care and don't worry about pushing yourself back into it too soon; it has only been 7 days since you ran your first half marathon. That's not an excessive recovery time. Get the vitamins and good food into you and no doubt you'll be back on form in no time. I do feel your frustration though!;)

dublinrunner

Thanks claralara, thank god im back on the rd! It felt like a month!!

Well after a long week of feeling miserable (and extremely sorry for myself!) i finally got out for a run! It was spontaneous as my OH told me dinner would take half an hour...perfect amount of time for a welcome back run! Had no plan, just wanted to go out and enjoy it!
total - 3.56 miles - 31mins 30 secs
mile 1 - 9.10.52
mile 2 - 8.53.53
mile 3 - 8.18.20
last 0.56mile - 5.07 (cool down)

Happy with this, the 8.18 felt fast for me. The legs and the lungs struggled with this run, putting that down to the week off! Also i have a weird niggly pain on what i think is my hip flexor? Its on my inner thigh/groin area on left side. Gonna stretch it loads and hit the foam roller, but going for gait analysis on 3rd june so hopefully any issues will get sorted it out then, think i have leg lenght issue....therefore tilted pelvis, anyway, im ramblin...just glad to have a run to talk about!:)

claralara

I'm so jealous!!

But happy for you...

dublinrunner

LSR - 9.22 miles - 1hr 31mins
Such a struggle for the 2nd and 3rd mile, actually stopped twice! Gave myself a sis go gel at mile 3 and this seemed to magically do the trick, whether it was in my mind or not!! Was glad to get this long one in as thought i had missed last weekends so this will do, wont do next one til next monday to space them out. Not the furthest ive run, but after the week off i'll take it!

dublinrunner

plan was 4 miles easy - 9.30pace
did 4 miles at 9.30pace but actually it wasnt easy...could be something to do with the 3 glasses of wine at a family dinner lastnite, that and the 11 hr shift today!
The shins and calves were tight tonight, for no real reason! really looking forward to the gait analysis in a couple of weeks..kinda hopin it will sort out all my niggles!

southofnowhere

Great to see you're back at it. Nice LSR.

I always feel like I'm dying early on in runs for some reason before I start to get a grasp on things (or don't as is sometimes the case!)

dublinrunner

planned 10 miles LSR
did 11 miles LSR - 1hr 49 mins 39 secs

Went a completely new and different route today as went straight from work at half 8 tonight. It was so refreshing to do a new route for LSR, really think this helped me tonight! The route was all on road, different to my regular LRS in tymon park! It was also very hilly, a change for me too! I really enjoyed it though as every time there was a big (seriously big!) up hill it was followed by a nice big down hill, so it wasnt a constant struggle! This is probably a good route as i need more hills in my training, as much as i hate them! Some of the hilly miles took a bit longer than my target 10mins, but i didnt push it as am tryin to keep it easy for these, the last few were a little quicker and when i got to mile 9 i was meant to take the rd home but felt good so ended up taking a longer route to add a mile! I put the foot down a little bit for the last mile as was just really enjoyin myself! last mile was in 8 mins 48, happy with this after 10miles!
Went for a 20 mins walk with the dog as soon as i got in to help with the pain in the legs tomorrow, and then did some stretching...just after eating some toast, gonna do some foam rolling and then head to bed!
Loved running at this time of the night as its still bright enough (until the last half hr) and is really nice temperature!
Plan for week:
tomorrow - rest
Wednesday - 3 slow easy recovery miles
Thurs - 4-5 miles fartlek
friday rest
saturday or sunday - 5 miles steady

Only got 3 runs in last week so thats why im writing my plan down...have to stick to it now!!:)

rainbow kirby

Nice run! Lovely evening for it too, a bit cooler than the weekend but still really nice.

RayCun

Good run. I'd never be able to drag myself out for a long run that late in the evening.

dublinrunner

Thanks guys, i have to say its the first long run ive really enjoyed...possibly ever! I def think it was cos it was a new route, more to look at and had to concentrate on directions so as not to get lost! Gonna try keep it interesting from now on!
Also just want to sing the praises of going for a short walk after a long run, really helps prevent much of the stiffness the next day, that and the foam roller!

dublinrunner

well i missed my planned 3 miles easy yesterday due to some craziness at work, today i attempted my first proper interval session, it went as follows:
1 mile warm up (9.15min/mile pace)
5 intervals of 300meters, each devided by walking breaks of about 3 mins:
1 - (7.44/mile pace)
2 - (7.47/mile pace)
3 - (7.49/mile pace)
4 - 7.44/mile pace)
5 - (7.36/mile pace)
2 mile cool down (9.40/mile pace)
Total miles run - 4.5

Have to say, im really crap at trying to run fast!! found it hard to run at that pace for only 300meters!!! Any advice at interval training very welcome! Have decided to make sure i get one of these sessions in a week as i really want to increase my chances of running a marathon as near as 4 hrs as possible!
Cant believe how well Jo did, cant imagine how she's feeling now!:eek:

Emer911

That wasn't a bad interval session at all! Nice and even.
I always find it tricky to keep an even pace doing them, and running fast is just something that doesn't come naturally to me either (though you're a good bit faster - anything with a 7 in the minutes is way fast in my book!)

Good on ya! Keep up the good work.

dublinrunner

Thanks! Now if i could just keep it up for longer than 300meters!! hehe! That speed is a long slow run for some folk,its mad really! but ill keep at it and hopefully will get faster, at least its a start!:)

dublinrunner

3.2 miles easy - 32mins
Horrible run.....whole right side in pain...hip, knee and shin! I know its to do with my right leg being slightly longer(not noticeably!!!:D:p) and therefore its puttingmy hips out....leads to pain! I know my shoes are also a touch worn down, but waiting for the gait analysis in a few days to sort all of that out! No idea how...presumably i need orthotics and better shoes! Anyway not gonna let it get me down now, its fixable i think so im lucky!
Plus silly OH brought me on a really steep hilly route after promising me it was flat!!:rolleyes:

Emer911

tut - never trust the OH to plan the route!?:D

dublinrunner

Decided i had better record my past lack of progress! Going through a very very very bad patch, been feeling very run down and tired, work has been extrememely stressful and demanding..in the end it comes down to I have not run in 2 weeks....not sure how badly this will affect my marathon attempts....help! no motivation!

claralara

You've had 2 bad weeks... so what?! These things happen. Chalk it down and start again from today. There is still 4 full months until DCM which is plenty of time given what you have achieved already. I haven't run in 5 weeks and motivation and moods were seriously low. Mind over matter. Don't kill yourself but do something - 20 minutes around the block before work tomorrow. Get up 20 minutes earlier and just do it. It'll put you in better form for work too. Try get some good sleep, eat well, take some vitamins or an iron supplement and get back on the wagon. You won't know yourself in 2 weeks! I'll be keeping an eye on you!

southofnowhere

dublinrunner wrote: »

Decided i had better record my past lack of progress! Going through a very very very bad patch, been feeling very run down and tired, work has been extrememely stressful and demanding..in the end it comes down to I have not run in 2 weeks....not sure how badly this will affect my marathon attempts....help! no motivation!

Hey there,

Gone though a bad patch myself, injury wise and every other way, but I forced myself out tonight and really enjoyed it in the end.

Lost a lot of progress by basically doing nothing but eat and drink for a month, but the extra weight and the loss of fitness can be reversed.

I can do the marathon and so can you. I did a 5km tonight and it wasn't easy. In fact I struggled at times, but if we get a couple of runs in this week and then start the Novice 1 plan next week it's still a very attainable goal.

Plus running helps relieve work stress I find. Just get out there somehow, don;t worry about time, distance or any of that either first off.

By the way Claralara, I read your log before coming in here and all I can say is fair fecking play! Here I was turning into a alcoholic with my injury and you are cross training, weight training and generally keeping the very sunny side out. Brilliant stuff.

dublinrunner

Thanks claralara and south!
Self pity ends here!! Still havent done any running but thats only cos i was away at weekend and literally could not fit it in! Its weird how you can go from confident to a complete mess in a few days... a firm slap is all i need! haha! Working from 8am to 12 midnight tomorrow so nothing will happen then, but thursday i am DEFINITELY going out for a short run to get myself back into it, that will have been 2 and half weeks of zero exercise and thats enough! WIll run thursday, friday, sunday. Must stop being so self pitiful...its pathetic! I think its the long runs that put me off....10/11 miles isn't ever too enjoyable and always more of a chore, whereas i really enjoy the shorter one! I'll give myself a week of shorter ones but then will just have to cop on and do it!
Claralara seriously well done on your motivation through your injury, i hereby promise to stop moaning as you must be fit to throw something at me!!
Southofnowhere - ill see ya at the start line!;)

claralara

Not at all - I just know how you feel motivation wise. It's the 2 / 3 week slump but once you get back into it you'll be flying. If you decide now not to go ahead with it, fair enough; but I'd hate to see you regret not doing some training in a week or a month or two when it may be too late after all your hard (and excellent and satisfying) work to date.

Maybe change your LSR route and drive somewhere flatter or more scenic or busier or quieter than what you're doing now. I did a few where I drove down to Blackrock and ran out to sandcove encompassing the pier in Dun Laoghaire and back - that's a nice flat enough route and a great atmosphere to clear your head, plenty of fresh air.

Best of luck!

dolliemix

How are you getting on?

Why don't you try a short 20 minute run to get you back into things?

I made myself do one last night and it made me realise what I'd been missing!!