2011: Father, husband, employee, runner; making it all work

W.B. Yeats

Cheers

W.B. Yeats

Exciting times
Baba 2 nearly arrived 5 weeks early on Friday- my good lady wife spent Friday night in hospital so I was on babysitting duty for most of the weekend; baba still in situ for the moment so fingers crossed that he/she spends the next few weeks where they are supposed to be!
Snuck in 12km this morning/afternoon- felt dreadful for pretty much all of it, had no energy, not sure was it because I was drained or what the story was. Anyway I toughed it out and am happy that I completed what I started.
I had a glimpse of what life will be like when baba arrives and the running is going to take a back seat for sure. C'est la vie- bigger more important things in life than cutting 5km PBs;)

W.B. Yeats

3 miles at lunch, working from home
Achilles tight and sore after yesterday
Need to start stretching the calves and achilles on the stairs, hopefully it will settle down
I am a cold creature, met 2 guys running today in shorts and t shirts, I had hat, gloves, tights and jacket

jcsmum

Great news, Congrats!

There goes your running for the foreseeable future!

Aimman

W.B. Yeats wrote: »

I had a glimpse of what life will be like when baba arrives and the running is going to take a back seat for sure. C'est la vie- bigger more important things in life than cutting 5km PBs;)

Just get a sports buggy for when the baby arrives, problem solved :-)

W.B. Yeats

Aimman wrote: »

Just get a sports buggy for when the baby arrives, problem solved :-)

That actually could work- to be honest I don't run fast enough for there to be any risk to the passengers!
Anyway- I'm convinced that lunchtime running is where its at- short sharp sessions

W.B. Yeats

Followed my own advice-
Short sharp session at lunchtime
3 miles approx- didn't have a watch but was actually sprinting last few hundred metres so v happy with training
Achilles was much better today- hope it was due to all the stretching that I've done....:rolleyes:
Looks like I'm going to be able to do MSB 5km on Sunday so tomorrow am going to do a few fast kilometres trying to do around 4min/km alternating with a slow km just to see what that feels like.
Am going to burst my balls on Sunday going all out!

W.B. Yeats

So had an interesting experiment today
Did about 7 km in total

Warmup then tried to get 1st km in 4 min- was 4.04 then jogged next .75km then tried next km at 4 min - was probably 4.09 then staggered next km and burst myself on next km trying to get 4 min but brought it in at 4.12, then next 2km warming down

So no chance of bringing home a 20min 5km anytime soon but reckon I might be able for something between 22 and 22.30 on Sunday if everything went really really really well

W.B. Yeats

Registered there for Metro 5km tomorrow, just before cut off.

Fingers crossed that I'll be able to do it, we are waiting for an expected case of chicken pox to rear its itchy head anytime now for our little one and that will probably mean a case for me too ( I never had it as a child)...:(

W.B. Yeats

Metro 5km: 21.57 PB by 54 sec

Lay in bed all morning, not wanting to get out of bed, little one now has the pox and I was feeling sorry for myself- now waiting for the first sign of the little red spots on me.

Anyway roused myself and at the last minute decided to go into town to the race, it was too good of a day to spend moping around home.
So headed off in the car and between the jigs and the reels just about got to the start line on time but with no real warm up. Was hoping for 5*4.24 to bring in at 22 min.

So started a decent bit behind the elites- got to start about 30 sec after they went off and set off. First km was very crowded and spent lots of time trying to go around people. At km 1 announcer said 5.07 (:eek:) and Garmin said 4.30 (;)), it thinned out after that, was running with my mobile in my hand and it rang just after two, where again I was there in about 4.24 for the km.
Between 2 and 3 I found it hard there was a little breeze and everyone seemed to be in my way. When we turned down Earlsfort terrace I knew I was on the homeward stretch and kept the head down to reel off another 4.20 ish km,
Last km was a matter of welcoming the warm embrace of pain, and trying to use it to feed my speed. Running along by the Shelbourne I was bollixed but kept the head up, and pinned the ears back- not helped by an auld, auld lad high fiving kids in the crowd (if I'd the energy for that I'd have been going much faster!)- crossed the finish in 22.0038 on the Garmin hoping that with the chip I'd be a few seconds faster

Absolutely stoked that I PBed and that I broke 22 min- now psychologically its less than 2 min to go under 20 min. If you had asked me at the start would I run well, I would have said no way! No real warm up, hadn't gotten my head straight at all, not in the zone. I am on a real high now!:D

Little one seems to be handling the dreaded chicken pox ok so far which is great for her. I'm not certain whether I want them to come and get it over and done with or what.... I'd be gutted though if they come and I can't run for a week or 10 days. Runners of Knocklyon beware if you see a scabby man running towards you!

EdMoses

Congrats on PB. Great stuff.

W.B. Yeats

EdMoses wrote: »

Congrats on PB. Great stuff.

Same to you!
Groin obviously held up?

shazkea

Well done on a great run and PB

EdMoses

W.B. Yeats wrote: »

Same to you!
Groin obviously held up?

Thanks. Was fine while running. Feeling the after effects now though. Beginning to seize up. Don't care though. Well pleased with today. 21mins should be within our sights soon!

W.B. Yeats

EdMoses wrote: »

Thanks. Was fine while running. Feeling the after effects now though. Beginning to seize up. Don't care though. Well pleased with today. 21mins should be within our sights soon!

21 min is close indeed- but speaking for me I'll have to start doing some specific 5k training as opposed to just running around

A good sports massage would probably be worth your while might loosen out the knots.

W.B. Yeats

Poor week training wise for a number of very valid reasons:
So anyway lunchtime run today- what a day for it; it must have been 17 degrees and sunny. Ideal conditions.
Did about 3.5miles, don't know time or distance as didn't have my Garmin
Achilles slightly tight again, felt it a few times. Probably because I didn't stretch it enough today (and I must admit over the past few days....)

In the kitchen in work I was given a lovely slice of cheesecake by the fantastic Mrs M as there is a board meeting today. Glad I had my run otherwise I would be feeling twice as guilty as I do now.

Hoping to do Dunboyne on Sunday- all things working to plan

W.B. Yeats

Am rescuing a mediocre week from a terrible week running wise
Out again at lunchtime. Really really beginning to enjoy doing these sessions, short, sharpish and different from what I am used to.
May even sneak out tomorrow for a few very gentle kms- still debating Dunboyne- achilles a bit tight (felt it again a few times during the run) its not a target of mine but I'm sort of in the mood for racing at the moment. Also I'm worrying that racing opportunities will be limited once the new arrival gets here.

Am thinking of getting a new pair of runners (maybe using current Achilles issues as an excuse) - got my current pair last July/August- Brooks Dyads (I think) in Amphibian King Bray. Was underwhelmed by the gait analysis/shoe purchase combination both were fine its just that I think I ended up with a pair of shoes for someone with fallen arches....:( I've probably done 400 miles or so in them- I know they aren't worn out but I just don't really like them
I've supposedly a neutral gait with normal arches- don't know what shoe types suit these. Had a pair of Asics something or others before that and always liked them more then my current pair which in my mind look like clown shoes

W.B. Yeats

Signed up for the Dunboyne 4 miler on Sunday
Hoping that the good weather stays and my achilles loosens out and behaves himself. It would be good to go under 30 which is Sunday's target- 4*7.30 is I hope achievable
McMillan gives me 28.43 based on 7.11 pace only 7 sec slower than my 5k pace- to be honest that is probably beyond me, I reclon 7.30 *4 is much more realistic; first 3 miles even and then eyeballs out for the last mile!

W.B. Yeats

Never raced this before so was hoping for something under 30min

Having signed up before the deadline Friday I was really looking forward to this when I woke up this morning, a lovely sunny day.
Went out with my BiL to Dunboyne, plenty of time before the start, collected the numbers, went back to the car and sat in the sun for a while. A nice jog down to the start allowed plenty of time for stretching. Surprised at the large turnout, seemed to me to be lots of club runners.

Got quite excited as we waited at the start and then off went the gun,
Down into the village with what seemed like a great crowd cheering on all the runners. As usual lots of people swept away on the adrenaline of the start, the stampede and the crowds. I was trying to keep an even tempo so was aiming for 7.15 pace. Seemed like it wasn't only my compadres that got taken up with the start as I was 7.00 or so.

Turned right onto the new link road and faced a little breeze. Some of the over enthusiastic ones were feeling the pain and slowing dramatically. Tried to keep the rhythm going and hit 2 miles in 14.23 so clearly took a hit in pace.
Back into the village and all was going well as it felt like we were on the home straight. When I was pacing the finish line the winner was just finishing :eek: but the crowds again gave the runners a big lift - I was passed by a pair that were sprinting flat out I came upon them again a few hundred metres further on, one walking and the other trying to catch his breath on the side of the road. Hit 3 miles and I had brought the pace back towards 7.10.
The last mile was tough- I had that usual moment where I wanted to give up- I actually enjoyed it because I recognised that I was going hard and not dawdling. Pinned my ears back for the last 1/2m crossed the finish line on my watch in 28.22. Garmin said pace was 7.04. The finish again was in the middle of the village- great crowds cheering people home. They gave the runners a really big boost today.
Was delighted with the time- managed to go faster than I thought I could, feel like I've come on again from last week despite only running twice during the week. PB- although I've never run a 4 miler before but I'll take it.
Great feed back in the hall afterwards. Tea, cake, sambos, biscuits.
2nd Meath event I've run and the second time its been really well organised.
Thanks to all that organised and volunteered.

Aimman

Well done, thats a great time over 4 miles.

W.B. Yeats

Lunch time session:
4 miles around the back roads
Lovely to be out in the country, amazing the difference a few hundred metres makes, from suburbia to countryside.
Ran up and down some lovely country boreens just enough room for me and a car to pass me out. There were a few decent hills so if I was ever of a mind to be doing a hill session at lunch time I know where to go!

Took it very easy as a recovery run from Sunday's exertions.
Every week is the same, always slightly edgy until I get the first run done so that I can be on track for what I want to do

This week's plan is another 4 miles tomorrow or Thurs slightly faster. (+/- a sharp speed session looking to go 4min kms; if I get out tomorrow) with long run on Saturday

Not certain what next event is going to be- may do the UCD Rás 5km, may steer clear of GIR- large crowds and expensive.....

W.B. Yeats

Aimman wrote: »

Well done, thats a great time over 4 miles.

Cheers
Not too shoddy yourself over 10!

W.B. Yeats

Lunchtime run again today

Nothing unusual to report except my wife rang while I was running and in the split second that it took to answer I foresaw a sprint back to work to get into the car and a race back to Dublin for the arrival of new baba.:D

Needless to say that wasn't the reason.... so I just continued on with my run!

Considering going down to a club tomorrow evening for my debut.... not sure if work will allow but we'll see.....
I reckon I need some decent advice to help me towards my sub 20!

W.B. Yeats

First time run with other club folk last night
7 km +
Was at a handy enough pace,
Coach wasn't there so it was just an easy run
I'll go down again next week when the coach is around before I make any decisions about joining or not. I''ve quite specific goals so I need to consider that.

I'm quite stiff today- think it's the culmination of running 4 days out of past 5. Day off from running today so will do a bit of stretching to loosen out the legs.
Plan for the weekend is for Long Run tomorrow 7 or 8 miles and then something shorter on Sunday

W.B. Yeats

Long run today. 7.5m or so (actually think it was 12.25km) in just over 62 min. A few loops of Tymon Park. It was generally a nice sunny day albeit quite windy. I find long running boring, it requires concentration to maintain pace and also fitness neither of which I currently have.

I watched the movie Black Swan last night which I thoroughly enjoyed, however while out running today it brought to mind the Black Swan Problem when I had a few unusual encounters with leashless dogs.
I came across 2 dogs off their leads today within a minute or so of each other. They were walking with their owners, both dogs wandered across in front of me and nearly tripped me up. Now I am neither that fast or that light on my feet that they shouldn't have been aware of my approach. One was facing me and could see me coming however I did run from behind past the other dog. These two events made me consider the notion that all dogs off their leashes are deaf/stupid because they wandered into my way and nearly tripped me up. Its the classic observation and draw a universal truth from it situation. Anyway my black swan problem wasn't disproved to me today. I'm sure it will be tomorrow when I meet an intelligent dog off his leash that doesn't trip me up.

Its this sort of thinking that makes me think I am unsuitable for long distance running, its the sort of nonsense that some first year uni student would be dreaming about on the last bus home after a feed of porter and absinthe.

Run strong boardsies

W.B. Yeats

So did a short run today, taking it easy after having run longer yesterday
Did 5.5k or so at around 5min 15 sec/k pace
Started to hail just as I had finished warming up, it was a really schizo day in keeping with my black swan theme. I battled on for the first few minutes, the hail was actually sore on my legs and then it just stopped. The sun came out and it was beautiful, it was fairly windy though so hopefully the wind will go over the coming days, its been around now for the guts of a week.

More importantly I met a dog off his leash today that didn't walk in front of me and try to trip me. My theory is rubbish, the black swan exists!

W.B. Yeats

Second group session this evening
10*300m targetting 65-68 sec

I am totally wrecked after it.
First 2 were easy
Next 2 were a bit harder
Next 2 were depresssing because there were loads more to do
Next 2 were painful and I thought I was going to be sick, I began to lose pace and could really feel the lactic acid on the last 100m. Pace was around 70-72 on these
Final 2 killed me although 10 was easier than 7,8 and 9.
We did an easy 2km to warm down
My head felt like it would explode. My breathing was all over the place

This is why I need to be in a club, to do sessions like this, to push myself more than I ever would if I was on my own. I felt terrible after it and thought I was going to puke on a few occasions.
Great training-
Tomorrow I'm going to do a nice easy session to loosen out the legs. And then hopefully go back out with them again on Thursday!

jcsmum

I had to laugh, you watched Black Swan and you're talking about the dogs!

The few times I ran in Tymon, alot of the dogs were off their leads, not the case in Marlay.

W.B. Yeats

jcsmum wrote: »

I had to laugh, you watched Black Swan and you're talking about the dogs!

The few times I ran in Tymon, alot of the dogs were off their leads, not the case in Marlay.

I told you I am unsuitable for distance running, too much time to spend on crazy notions

6.2km at lunchtime in 33.17 for 5.21/km, supposed to be an easy run to loosen up after last night. Starting to get really warm and sunny- forecast for the weekend is for great weather.
Hammers tight after last night's exertions, especially right leg but seem to have loosened a good bit by the end of the run.

Evening off this tonight- hoping to catch a Utd win at Chelski

W.B. Yeats

Fartlek session
Starting at 1 min up to 5 min and then one last long blast of 6 min or so
Found this a good test but not half as hard as the intervals