Marathon Finish Line...Scene 1; Take 2 - Location: Barcelona

shazkea

Unfortunately the DCM finish line has proved too far over the rainbow for me and I’ve run out of time with this injury. A bit frustrated but nothing to be done only build a bridge and get over it (sounds easy but it’s taken me a few weeks to give in to it)!
So new log, new goals and new races to get ready for...

A bit of background for anyone who doesn’t know my previous log, female in my early 30’s and took up running at the start of year with aim of doing Dublin. Didn’t go to plan so moving focus to Barcelona now.

Ultimate goal is Barcelona on March 6th. Flights and accommodation booked so all I need to do is get back up and running and get on with this training. Will use Hal Higdon’s novice plan so I have a few weeks to build up a base again before kicking off.
Planned “Races”/Officially Timed Runs (race suggests I would go fast so am calling them officially timed runs!!)

• Oct 16th Donadea Forest 10km – my main goal right now
• Nov 21st: Movember 10km in Phoenix Park – women can enter I believe!
• Dec 11th: Waterford Half Marathon
• Jan xx: Raheny 5 miles
• Mar 6th: Barcelona

So back to current time and plan for this week:
Right I’m still nursing that adductor injury which has me out of running for the past 7 weeks. But it’s responded well to physio so we focused on original problem which was shin splints this morn. Oouch is all I’ll say and I now look like someone has taken a hurley to my shin but no pain, no gain! Physio says I can start back for a 30 min run on grass on Thursday and cross sessions for other days. I chomping on the bit to get out and wishing my week away until Thursday.

So that’s my story for the new log so roll on Thursday, Donadea, Waterford and Barcelona....

rainbow kirby

Sounds like a good plan Plenty of time to try and get things sorted before Barcelona. Should be a fairly decent contingent from here at the Waterford half, the Raheny 5 and in Barcelona.

jcsmum

Hey Shaz, great to see your new log. Best of luck in your training.

christeb

Good luck in your log, I'm strong considering BCN too. Can I ask what kind of a deal you got with accommodation? Anything to help me justify it...:D

Oisin11178

See you in barcelona:D
Good luck with the log and training.

osnola ibax

Best of luck, see you in barça

shazkea

christeb wrote: »

Good luck in your log, I'm strong considering BCN too. Can I ask what kind of a deal you got with accommodation? Anything to help me justify it...:D

Not too bad a deal at all - €300 for 3 nights for a double room situated on Passeig de Gracia which I think is about 2 km away from start line and hotel looks lovely. I used booking.com for it. Flights were only €60 with Aer Lingus sale. Hope this helps in justifying it

Oisin and Osnola looking forward to seeing you in Barcelona

theboyblunder

Oisin11178 wrote: »

See you in barcelona:D
Good luck with the log and training.

+1 best of luck and see you on the line in barcelone

RubyK

Best of luck with the new log shazkea! Barca is supposed to be a good one to do

DigiJem

Good luck with the training & your new log. Barca sounds good!

racheljev

Best of luck with the new log and your training for March. I'm doing Barcelona as well, so I'll see you there!

shazkea

Great to see the list of boardsies for Barcelona is growing, looking forward to seeing most people on the Aer Lingus flight bythe sounds of it

Vanity prevented me from going to gym today - shin looks a disgrace and I'm sure someone would want to know when I got beaten up!! So I took the bike out for a spin around. I forgot how much fun skids are in wet weather - acting like a complete kid on it, next I'll be trying wheelies :cool:...

littlebug

best of luck with the new goals shazkea!

claralara

Best of luck with this training Shaz. Scene 1 generally needs a bit of practice and reassessing before a star performance; just DON'T break a leg!!

Emer911

Good luck with the new log and the new goals!

shazkea

claralara wrote: »

Best of luck with this training Shaz. Scene 1 generally needs a bit of practice and reassessing before a star performance; just DON'T break a leg!!

lol, emm thanks Clara I shall do my best not to

shazkea

Thursday finally arrived and I couldn’t wait for it. Dusted off the Garmin (literally!), laced up the shoes properly (who knew that top loop was there for a purpose) and out I went. First time in almost 8 weeks I was running outside and my allowance was 30 mins on grass. Tried a new warm up routine and off I took. Huffed and puffed my way through the first 5 mins or so and then settled down into a nice rhythm. Adductor, quads and shin felt ok. Icing shin now but more of a precautionary measure.

Things I forgot and need to remember for future reference:

• I-pods and garmins are not solar powered, they need to be charged!
• There’s no need to speed up when I’m passing walkers
• Do not throw dirty looks at runners – that’s only for when I’m out injured and jealous. When running smile and be chirpy!
• Dogs and long leads are a bloody nuisance
• Wind – I’ll say no more
• I love that 1 mile beep alert on the garmin
• How great it is to be able to run again

Distance: 3.01 miles
Time: 31.57
Average Pace: 10:37

dolliemix

Great you're back!

Krusty_Clown

Nice one. Welcome back. Ease back into it. Don't end up a crock like the rest of us!

shazkea

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Nice one. Welcome back. Ease back into it. Don't end up a crock like the rest of us!

Thanks Krusty, no fear taking it nice and easy this time. As for ending up a crock like the rest of ye, you're all putting me to shame with the great times yesterday. Best of luck in Berlin too

Tipsygypsy

Aha, here you are, wondered where your log was gone. Well good to see your out and about again, good luck with the new log, and I'll see you in Waterford. I'm trying to persuade mr gypsy to sign up for Barcelona, just so I can go too! Thinking of buying him it for his birthday - 'happy birthday honey, go run another 26+ miles':D good plan eh?! Enjoy being back out there.

shazkea

Very tame post compared to rest of you - no half marathon time to post unfortunately .
Well done to everybody who ran yesterday, great times. Sounds like there might be a few heading to Waterford too so see you there

After having a look at the race start yesterday, went off to physio. Good session and am allowed 2 x 30 mins sessions this week so will plan those for Tue and Thur. If these go ok, I can do an LSR next weekend but not getting ahead of myself yet.

5 hour hike today in the Mournes which is longest I spent on legs in a while. Good cross training session and also going to count it as a core session too!! Extremely muddy/wet and worked every muscle trying to hold balance in a few precarious spots. Fun tho

Roll on Tuesday as I can't wait to get out again!

shazkea

Tipsygypsy wrote: »

Aha, here you are, wondered where your log was gone. Well good to see your out and about again, good luck with the new log, and I'll see you in Waterford. I'm trying to persuade mr gypsy to sign up for Barcelona, just so I can go too! Thinking of buying him it for his birthday - 'happy birthday honey, go run another 26+ miles':D good plan eh?! Enjoy being back out there.

Wow that would be a very thoughtful pressie to give him, I'm sure he would be thrilled with it . I'll be seeing you in Barca too so!!

shazkea

Monday 20th Sept

Gym session with 30 mins of cardio and then strength & stretch. Nuff said there!


Tuesday 21st Sept

Planned 3 miles tonight so off I took remembering to charge my ipod this time! Changed my warm-up routine to dynamic stretching/drills instead of static stretches and feels much easier on the first mile so far. Feel like a pleb doing it but if it works so what!!
Realised at the end I did this faster than I should have as am supposed to be sticking to a slower pace ~ 10 min + pace - will slow down thursday! Still feels great to be out there.

Distance: 3.01
Time: 29:18
Avg Pace: 9:44

digger2d2

shazkea, good to hear you're back...Will be joining you in Barcelona as long as my little toe x-ray (post DCM) shows nothing more than a stress fracture..;)...Barca appears to be great value, entry fee, flights and hotels as things stand!

jcsmum

Fantastic news that you're back. You must be thrilled.

shazkea

digger2d2 wrote: »

shazkea, good to hear you're back...Will be joining you in Barcelona as long as my little toe x-ray (post DCM) shows nothing more than a stress fracture..;)...Barca appears to be great value, entry fee, flights and hotels as things stand!

Thanks Digger and great to hear you're coming to Barca too. Good luck with DCM and hopefully your toe will be ok!! Love the post DCM comment, you nutter . Yeah really surprised at how good value Barca is, looks like it's going to be a great weekend.

jcsmum wrote: »

Fantastic news that you're back. You must be thrilled.

Cheers . Yeah I'm really happy but trying not to get as obsessed as I did last time - failing miserably though!! You're doing really well, can't wait to see how you do in the DCM.

jcsmum

shazkea wrote: »

You're doing really well, can't wait to see how you do in the DCM.

Nor can I!!
I hover between super confident and fits of panic! I can't wait though.

shazkea

Plan: 3 miles to see how everything holds up to running twice in one week!

Thought I would try out a new route this evening and have to admit I hated the first half of the run. Mainly because I was wearing a rain jacket and it was just too warm and sweaty. I had no clue where I was going but found myself back at my car at 1.49 miles - very convenient!! Dumped the jacket and set off for another loop and much nicer. Even enjoyed the puddle/lake jumping and the downpours!!

So 2 X 3 milers done. Quad is niggly so icing that but shin is ok. Curious to see how it would be after an LSR though. Physio tomorrow eve so will see what plan is for next week - fingers crossed for 3 sessions next week

Distance: 3.02
Time: 30.46
Avg Pace: 10.11

digger2d2

shazkea wrote: »

. Even enjoyed the puddle/lake jumping and the downpours!!

Hope all goes well for you shaz!!....I ended up in a serious puddle today when I had to divert onto a grass verge cos a 37 yr old Grandmother and her 18 yr old Daughter along with kids, Darrd-in, shard-in, kard-in and warrd-in were spread across the pavement up my way in Pram Springs and "dey werd-ent movin for no fookin jogger" :eek::eek:

shazkea

Physio on Friday and it pretty much rendered me speechless. Otherwise either screams or a host of obsenities would have flowed out of my mouth. Lots of times I thought why am I paying for this torture :eek:. Recovered Friday night with the aid of an ice pack and lots of wine - wine was purely for medicinal purposes of course . Pity Arnica doesn't work on hangovers too!!

Anyway back up to 3 runs this week so I suppose it must be worth it.

Plan for this week.

Monday | 3 miles
Tuesday | Cross
Wednesday | 3 miles
Thursday | Cross
Friday |3 miles
Saturday | Rest
Sunday | Hike

shazkea

digger2d2 wrote: »

Hope all goes well for you shaz!!....I ended up in a serious puddle today when I had to divert onto a grass verge cos a 37 yr old Grandmother and her 18 yr old Daughter along with kids, Darrd-in, shard-in, kard-in and warrd-in were spread across the pavement up my way in Pram Springs and "dey werd-ent movin for no fookin jogger" :eek::eek:

Brilliant

shazkea

Couldn't get a nicer evening for a run - sun setting by the sea as the Kayakers and swans collided...not sure who was more surprised by that, me, the kayaker or the swan!

Shin a little tender but that's more to do with the bruising than the shin itself which is good.

Distance: 3 Miles
Time: 28:33
Avg Pace: 9.31

digger2d2

Well done, keep it going!

shazkea

Plan: 3 miles
Actual: 3.63 miles
Time: 36.20
Avg Pace: 10:00

Really frustrated after tonight’s run and thought about chucking the whole running idea altogether.

Delayed after work which meant had to change to a route with lighting. I hadn’t run this route since finishing the C25K plan in Mar. This route worked well for starting to run because no-one was able to see me plodding around and I didn’t feel intimidated!! Anyway started out this eve and all old crap came flooding back. Huffing and puffing on the hills and generally not enjoying it. Felt like I had made no progress at all over the year and it was all just a waste of time and a pipe dream.

Uploaded garmin details and out of curiosity checked the time I clocked for the last time I ran it in March – 3.68 in 43:37...so slightly cheered up after seeing that!!

Emer911

shazkea wrote: »

Plan: 3 miles
Actual: 3.63 miles
Time: 36.20
Avg Pace: 10:00

Really frustrated after tonight’s run and thought about chucking the whole running idea altogether.

Delayed after work which meant had to change to a route with lighting. I hadn’t run this route since finishing the C25K plan in Mar. This route worked well for starting to run because no-one was able to see me plodding around and I didn’t feel intimidated!! Anyway started out this eve and all old crap came flooding back. Huffing and puffing on the hills and generally not enjoying it. Felt like I had made no progress at all over the year and it was all just a waste of time and a pipe dream.

Uploaded garmin details and out of curiosity checked the time I clocked for the last time I ran it in March – 3.63 in 43:37...so slightly cheered up after seeing that!!

Sheesh! Don't know what's to be frustrated about?! 7 minutes faster on the same 3 miles in 6 months is fairly defined progress, I'd say. Congrats on that!

jcsmum

shazkea wrote: »

Plan: 3 miles
Actual: 3.63 miles
Time: 36.20
Avg Pace: 10:00

Really frustrated after tonight’s run and thought about chucking the whole running idea altogether.

Delayed after work which meant had to change to a route with lighting. I hadn’t run this route since finishing the C25K plan in Mar. This route worked well for starting to run because no-one was able to see me plodding around and I didn’t feel intimidated!! Anyway started out this eve and all old crap came flooding back. Huffing and puffing on the hills and generally not enjoying it. Felt like I had made no progress at all over the year and it was all just a waste of time and a pipe dream.

Uploaded garmin details and out of curiosity checked the time I clocked for the last time I ran it in March – 3.68 in 43:37...so slightly cheered up after seeing that!!

We all have runs like that when things just don't go to plan. The next run will be better (I guarantee it!)

shazkea

Cheers, I appreciate it.

Just a confidence knock really - I expected it to be effortless (-ish) and it wasn't. I suppose if I had gone at pace from last March it would have been. Maybe that's what I need to do - do the route again next week at that pace (11.51 - twud want to be easier going that slow!!)

Same old gremlins - if I'm finding 3+ miles tough at 10 min pace, how in the hell am I going to do 26.2!! 2 words - Hal Higdon...:D

You're right though, everyone has these crappy days so just learn from them and move on to next run.

Emer911

shazkea wrote: »

Same old gremlins - if I'm finding 3+ miles tough at 10 min pace, how in the hell am I going to do 26.2!!

Ha ha! I had the EXACT same thoughts in the last few weeks of my training. The advice I was given was to just keep plugging, and trust in the training. If you've done the training, you've done the hard work and the rewards will be yours.

Chill. You'll be grand! :cool:

shazkea

Emer911 wrote: »

Ha ha! I had the EXACT same thoughts in the last few weeks of my training. The advice I was given was to just keep plugging, and trust in the training. If you've done the training, you've done the hard work and the rewards will be yours.

Chill. You'll be grand! :cool:

LOL - thanks back in positive mood again and ready to kick ass. Patience was never my strongest point!!

shazkea

Signed up for the Chi Running workshop with Catherina McKiernan tomorrow. Here the agenda for anyone interested

The one day workshops start at 10am and finish at 5pm and costs 150 euro per person including lunch which can be paid on the day. The day is all about learning to run to reduce impact on the body and make running less of an effort and eliminate injuries. It is suitable for everyone who likes to run, regardless of standard or age. I video-tape everyone at the start of the class to see their style of running and then we go indoors and go through the ChiRunning focuses through a series of drills and exercises. The drills are the cornerestone of the whole technique and these can be practice in every day life, so that they become a familiar occurence.
This takes about two hours and then we go outside for an easy relaxed practice run where I talk the group through one focus at a time. This is an opportunity for people to practice and get the feel of running with good mechanics in their body. The run last 20 minutes and is very easy.
After lunch we analysis the video-tape. This is a great learning tool for people and I pick out what people may need to change with their running form to prevent or clear up a particular injury and how they can make running less of an effort and easier on their bodies. One or two changes can help people greatly with their running form.
We cover some more aspects of the ChiRunning technique, and have a questions and answers session and I answer a wide range of running related questions. I show the group body loosening exercises to do before running and stretches for after running.
　
We finish off the day with an easy run and this gives people an opportunity to practice under my watchful eye. I run along with each person individually at different stages and I make sure everyone is going home happy, knowing and understanding what they need to practice to help with their running form.
It is a most enjoyable and informative day. If you would like to attend the workshop on Saturday next, please let me know as soon as possible and I will reserve a place for you.
　
I update my website on a regular basis with dates and venues for workshops around different parts of the country. I add new dates for workshops to my website on a regular basis.
If you have any further questions feel free to contact me or if you want more information on ChiRunning you can visit my website www.catherinamckiernan.com or www.chirunning .com

Anyone on here done this before? Really interested to hear about the running form as I'm picking up way too many injuries with my gammy flat footed leg!!

shazkea

Friday Oct 1st
Plan today was 3 miles but because of workshop tomorrow I swapped and decided on cross training today. I went to the gym and started on the bike but those bloody treadmills were calling to me like a little devil sitting on my shoulder...cmon and run, you know you want to! I was too weak to resist and hopped on for a couple of miles. Damm...still hate those things tho! Finished off with some strength exercises.

Saturday Oct 2nd
I had the Chi Running course today with Catherina McKiernan. Started with her video taping you run in the morning and then going through the principles and drills for chi running. We then had a run before lunch to practice the techniques in a group run. After lunch we analysed the video tapes and then finally spent some time running on our own to put everything into practice with Catherina sharing feedback and tips with us on an individual basis.
I will admit to wondering whether this was a good idea bearing in mind the cost but the idea of improving your form under the watchful eye of Catherina sold it for me. I found it extremely beneficial as looking at my technique it was awful. I lean right back resulting in bouncing, heel strikes and too rigid a posture all of which contribute to my injuries. Running with the new techniques/tips all my muscles felt much more relaxed. It still feels a bit like I am falling forward but in reality I’m not, just too used to leaning back!! Thumbs up from me and hopefully it’s a good investment in my training for Barca and the rest of my runs!

Shame the Red Army didn’t round off a perfectly good day for me....and don’t get me started on the Aviva stadium. I’m nearly counting that walk around the (chaotic) turnstiles as cross training..../rant :mad:

littlebug

Ronanmac did the Chi running workshop a while back. I remember him saying how he felt it beneficial at the time but I don't know if he maintained the changes longer term.

shazkea

littlebug wrote: »

Ronanmac did the Chi running workshop a while back. I remember him saying how he felt it beneficial at the time but I don't know if he maintained the changes longer term.

Thanks littlebug, will check out his log and see how he is getting on with it.

shazkea

Plan for week Oct 4th

Monday | 5 miles
Tuesday | Cross
Wednesday | 3 miles
Thursday | 3 miles
Friday |Physio :eek::eek:
Saturday | Recover from physio or Simon 5 mile fun run
Sunday | Cross

Monday Oct 4th
Start of LSR’s today...yippee. Plan today was 5 miles ( *cough actual instruction from physio was 45 mins, say nothing *cough...)
No brain cells were working when I picked this route; gale blowing out and I’m running along the coast, WTF!! Some miles were really tough into that wind, lost my cap a few times and had to go chasing after that like a loon.
I did work on the techniques from Saturday and I like it. It’s sort of a lazy mid-foot stride which is right up my alley. So a nice slow re-start to the LSR’s and enjoyed running in the rain. Only thing is I’m freezing now and struggling to warm up.
Actual: 6.02
Time: 1:06
Avg Pace: 10:58 mins/mile

RubyK

Nice work there shazkea! Thanks for sharing the Chi Running info, it's very interesting.

Keep up the good work

Mr Slow

shazkea wrote: »

Physio on Friday and it pretty much rendered me speechless. Otherwise either screams or a host of obsenities would have flowed out of my mouth. Lots of times I thought why am I paying for this torture :eek:. Recovered Friday night with the aid of an ice pack and lots of wine - wine was purely for medicinal purposes of course . Pity Arnica doesn't work on hangovers too!!

Anyway back up to 3 runs this week so I suppose it must be worth it.

Plan for this week.

Mark sure knows how to make it sting alright!

digger2d2

shazkea wrote: »

Saturday Oct 2nd
I had the Chi Running course today with Catherina McKiernan. I will admit to wondering whether this was a good idea bearing in mind the cost but the idea of improving your form under the watchful eye of Catherina sold it for me.
Shame the Red Army didn’t round off a perfectly good day for me....:mad:

Think of the cost as similar to a pair of runners and they only last a while, hopefully what you learned will last a lot longer...and on your other point....Allez les D4 bleus.....;)

Cindyss

Hi Shazkea,
I did the Chi running course in Fota ( Cork ) last June/July, best thing ever
very little ITB pain and have got a lot quicker, ( We will see for DCM ).
I have found the trick is to RELAX as you run, keep your form and move your arms as shown, Apart form that concentrate every few minutes to relax all parts of your body especially your calfs, Buy the book €10
and read and reread. The running form you have been shown will help you no end, Keep up the good work and head up,
Gary

shazkea

digger2d2 wrote: »

Think of the cost as similar to a pair of runners and they only last a while, hopefully what you learned will last a lot longer...and on your other point....Allez les D4 bleus.....;)

Very true or I was thinking of reduced visits to the physio!!

As for les D4 bleus, def some Ross O'Carroll-Kelly's sitting behind us, they were more entertaining than the match. To quote a few (to be said in the best D4 accent...) "look at the GAA(AAA...) head on your man" before launching into a rousing rendition of the Dublin GAA football anthem "Cmon you boys in Blue"...they were referring to Mick O'Driscoll!
Other brill one was when David Wallace came on..."oh dear they're swapping a thief for a robber there"....WTF!

BTW I was there with a Leinster man and we were both roaring laughing!

shazkea

Cindyss wrote: »

Hi Shazkea,
I did the Chi running course in Fota ( Cork ) last June/July, best thing ever
very little ITB pain and have got a lot quicker, ( We will see for DCM ).
I have found the trick is to RELAX as you run, keep your form and move your arms as shown, Apart form that concentrate every few minutes to relax all parts of your body especially your calfs, Buy the book €10
and read and reread. The running form you have been shown will help you no end, Keep up the good work and head up,
Gary

Cheers Gary for the tips. You touched on the one I'm finding hardest to master - arm movement, swing is fine but very slow. I do find moving them quicker to be a waste of energy tbh but will stick with it. Other one as you mentioned is the calfs, it is quite tough on them and I can feel it seizing it up a bit. I assume everything becomes more natural with practice. Will have a look out for the book. Best of luck for DCM - how is the training going?