"The one with the Duathlon, Half Marathon and the Adventure Race"

backspacer

Took to the treadmill again last night just to get a run in:

Programme: Alpine Pass
Distance: 6.8 km
Time: 45 minutes
Calories Burnt: 645

I know i should have scaled back but was a good run last night and not suffering today, will opt for a shorter run or slower one on Thursday, that'll be it then till Sunday.

backspacer

Right so today will be my last run before Sunday's 8K race, so quick question - should i go with the group run tonight which is about 7k in about 45-50 minutes, or do a shorter run myself? Want to give my legs the best chance for Sunday so am wondering will i suffer otherwise?

backspacer

Went with the group run last night down to Dangan, did approximately 7km in 47 minutes,not feeling any ill effects today so am happy enough with that.

Sunday now is the next big challenge, first section of Rás an Spidéal is uphill so that should make for a tough challenge, hoping that the weather settles for Sunday at least.

Micilin Muc

Go n-éirí leat amárach! Beidh t-léine ghorm Connemarathon orm, abair hi má fheiceann tú mé. Ní bheidh Baile an tSagairt chomh dona sin!

backspacer

Will be my first local race tomorrow, got to say am a bit nervous now, 8km is the longest i'll have ever run (could be walking and crawling) and couldn't have picked something trickier, a gradual crawl uphill for the first 4km, so its a bit unsettling to say the least:eek:

backspacer

Micilin Muc wrote: »

Go n-éirí leat amárach! Beidh t-léine ghorm Connemarathon orm, abair hi má fheiceann tú mé. Ní bheidh Baile an tSagairt chomh dona sin!

Go raibh maith agat as sin, má fheicim thú deireadh mé hi cinnte. Go n-eireoidh leat fhéin freisin amarach.

backspacer

Right got through Rás an Spidéal in 46:19. Happy enough with it considering its my first 8km and was uphill all the way till approximately the 4km mark.

Have to say its a great run though, lovely scenery up that side of Spiddal and was glad for the downhill section towards the end. For the first year of the race, it was a good run have to say, will definitely give it another crack next year i think. Next up Milltown 10k 19th June

littlebug

Well done backspacer, that's a great time.
Streets of Galway 8k in August? Nice and flat

backspacer

Ah flat, my favourite kind of race

backspacer

Right have been in hiding for a few days, took a rest after the race in Spiddal. Went out last night, did a 7.1 km run in about 48 minutes, not blistering i know but the weather last night was tough for any pace, but was so nice to be out in that weather.

backspacer

Right didn't get a run in this weekend, but was playing 5 a side for an hour saturday evening so i reckon that may have balanced that out:D Well the pain the day after may have balanced it out:D

As a side note, i noticed that i've dropped about 10lb weight since i started to take the running seriously, plus i dropped two notches on my belt:D So life is all good!!

backspacer

Was asked to play 8 a side soccer last night so included that as my run/sprints, lasted about 1 hour 15 minutes so felt like a good workout.

Received an email from the local running club (thanks to ronanmac for sorting me out with this), they have two group runs tonight, either a 6km or a 14km:eek:. Think i might do the 6km this evening and see how i get on, still a bit stiff from last night's soccer,but will be good to have the option of running locally instead of travelling to Galway all the time.

backspacer

Went out the local running/Triathlon club last night (Trísport) and did a run around Inverin which was approximately 5.6km in 32 minutes. Good hard run i have to say, especially one section in the middle with a very sharp incline, but was glad to do it.

One thing i noticed though compared to doing this with a Fit4Life group would be the pace, felt it was a lot faster and a good incentive to try and put the foot down. Was awfully tempted to see how far i would have got on the 14km run but thought i best not tempt fate just in case i'd be walking back

Have to say thanks to all the guys and girls in Trísport, made me feel very welcome, definitely one i'll be going back to whenever the next run is on.

backspacer

Went playing 5 a side again yesterday, which turned into 4-a-side on a half pitch as not enough showed up. Was hard going but great for some interval training, plenty of running and sprinting for about 70 minutes.

I know that its technically not running training, but notice my breathing doesn't seem to suffer as much anymore.

ronanmac

backspacer wrote: »

Went out the local running/Triathlon club last night (Trísport) and did a run around Inverin which was approximately 5.6km in 32 minutes. Good hard run i have to say, especially one section in the middle with a very sharp incline, but was glad to do it.

One thing i noticed though compared to doing this with a Fit4Life group would be the pace, felt it was a lot faster and a good incentive to try and put the foot down. Was awfully tempted to see how far i would have got on the 14km run but thought i best not tempt fate just in case i'd be walking back

Have to say thanks to all the guys and girls in Trísport, made me feel very welcome, definitely one i'll be going back to whenever the next run is on.

Good to have you there, backspacer. The good thing about running with the group is that there is always someone there who is running at your pace, and you'll always end up forcing yourself to go a bit faster than normal! Welcome aboard!

backspacer

am looking forward to getting more of those runs in and getting the pace up for my future races.Hopefully will add a few extra km in the next night.

backspacer

Right was out last night for an actual run, no football involved

Anyways went to town for the Fit4Life group run, managed about 6km in 45 minutes, nice steady pace. This consisted of some hill sprints as well, 10 hill sprints on a sharp enough incline which was good have to say.

Distance : 6km
Time: 45:04
Pace: 11:01

Was also told i should consider moving up to the Intermediate Jogging group(approx 10 min/mile), so might give that a crack next Tuesday and see what happens.

Another 6km run tomorrow night with Tríspórt, nothing longer as the Milltown 10k is this weekend.

backspacer

Went out for a short run last night with Tríspórt, was approximately 5km.

The sharp incline nearly killed me last night, although i think the pace is what stopped me more in my tracks, but that said, i have to say i enjoyed it, even if the pace was about 8 minutes a mile :eek:

That hill is going to be my target now to beat and beat well, will probably take a wander out there for a solo run some evening and see how i get on.

Distance: nearly 5km
Time: 24 minutes
Pace: approx 8:00 (bloody hell!!!)

Milltown 10k tomorrow so will be going at a slower pace than that i assure you:)

Btw an honourable mention to ronanmac last night for attempting to blind everyone with what can only be described as retina burning flourescent green runners, even when he was a good half mile down the road in front of me i could distinguish him quite easily from any other runner, and explains why he was wearing the sunglasses last night

ronanmac

Best of luck in Milltown, backspacer. I am now on a search to find shorts, singlets and socks to match the sheer delightful hideousness of the runners

backspacer

ronanmac wrote: »

Best of luck in Milltown, backspacer. I am now on a search to find shorts, singlets and socks to match the sheer delightful hideousness of the runners

We'll be waiting with baited breath the next day so to see if you find what your looking for:D Have to dig out the anti-glare glasses just in case:)

backspacer

right finished my 10k in 56:20, but should be quicker as i forgot to stop my stopwatch.will fill you in on the details tomorrow when i get to a pc.happy days though:)

backspacer

Just checked the chip time now for the Milltown 10K, i completed it in 55:25 so was happy enough with that.

The race itself as a whole was a good, had to stop at the 6k mark to grab my breath as i found it a bit warm, but that was my own fault, as i wore a long sleeve t-shirt as it was raining at the start of the race and then the sun came out, making it a bit uncomfortable to run, so a lesson learned by me yesterday.

The track as a whole was quite enjoyable, nice quiet country roads with minimum traffic and lots of water stops, plus i think some of the locals were also putting out water between stops just in case, so was well impressed with that. It was well stewarded and distance markers at every km.

Distance: 10km
Pace: 9:05 p/mile
Time: 55:25

I should be doing some 8 and 10k races to compare times within the upcoming months hopefully. I also decided last week that I’m going to move up to the Galway Bay half marathon instead of doing the Galway Bay 10k on the 1st October which is 15 weeks away, am going to use the Hal Higdon Half Marathon Novice plan over 12 weeks, which would mean i’d have progressed from 0km to 21km in less than a year:D So here’s hoping i can do it!!

ronanmac

Fair play, backspacer, anothe 10k in Annaghdown tomorrow evening to keep the momentum going .
You'll have no problem with a half marathon by October, I might even join you for it myself!

backspacer

ronanmac wrote: »

Fair play, backspacer, anothe 10k in Annaghdown tomorrow evening to keep the momentum going .
You'll have no problem with a half marathon by October, I might even join you for it myself!

The 10k tomorrow i might give a miss, don't think the legs can handle it:) But looking forward to getting into the half marathon training now and see how far i get!

backspacer

Monday:

Started the Hal Higdon programme today for the half marathon, the first day was strength training and stretching, so dusted off the weights bench and got my first session out of the way. Surprisingly stiff after, weights were never my friend though:D

Tuesday:

Went for a run with the Fit4Life group last night in Galway. It was interval training last night down in Dangan and felt good to stretch the running muscles after the Milltown race. Enjoyed the interval, good to get the heart rate up and put the foot down, even for a short bit.

Distance: 7.24km
Pace: 11:20 p/mile
Time: 51.21

Was meant to move up to intermediate joggers this week but was still a bit apprehensive after the Milltown race that i may suffer, but may give it a crack next week when i head in again.

backspacer

Wednesday:

Went playing soccer this evening to loosen up the limbs, played full pitch 10 a side for about 70 minutes. So this was my cross-training for today. Felt good, if a bit stiff after.

Thursday:

Went for a group run last night doing a 5km loop in Inverin, was happy enough as i made it over the incline that stumped me last week without stopping, felt some satisfaction out of that, but felt like it just kept going upwards though. Even as a short run it felt pretty good, even if my speed was only ok, but that is something i can improve on over time i'm sure of that now.

Location: Inverin Loop
Distance: 5km (3.1 miles)
Pace: 9:21 per mile
Time: 29.02

Fourth successive day training, felt good. Only thing i didn't get to do yesterday was strength training as part of the program, but that is down to my own time management more than anything, will have to make time to do weight training on these days as well. But today is a rest day so am going to do just that i think

backspacer

Saturday:

Despite my best intentions, i didn't get a chance to do any type of cross training yesterday as i was out of the house most the day shopping, so that day is out i'm afraid. But something i'm going to have to work on is my time management to fit in sessions on days like this.

Sunday:

Out of the house at 10:30 this morning and parked the car down at the local hotel and ran as far as Trá an Dóilín and back. Its a nice run as there's a nice mix of hills and level road, plus a sharp enough incline on the way back from the beach. The total distance run works out at about 4.2 miles but was more happy with the fact i was able to run the inclines without stopping, was given a hint though about this about pushing my arms up higher to give me more momentum when going against hills.

Location:: Carraroe Hotel to Trá an Dóilín and back
Distance: 6.76km (4.2 miles)
Pace: 9:42 p/mile
Time: 40:46

Thats Week 1 of the Training plan done, 11 more to do Roll on Week 2!!!

backspacer

Monday:

Monday was a write off this week unfortunately, was meant to do some strength training but that went out the window. Between running errands after work, mowing the lawn and general work around the house, it was 10:40 pm before i finished, so was too tired to consider anything else :mad:

Tuesday:

Ah back to normality yesterday, went on the group run last night, which consisted of some interval training as well in Dangan. Was not exactly a blistering pace, but some good speed work done so was happy enough with that.

Distance: 8.44 km (5.25 miles)
Pace: 10:59 p/mile
Time: 57:41

Like i said not exactly a fast pace, but just glad to get out and clock up some miles.

backspacer

Wednesday:

Took to the soccer pitch tonight to get the limbs moving, spent about 60 minutes with plenty of jogging and sprinting, bit sore the day after though.

Thursday:

Went on a solo run tonight as the group run wasn't on this week, so took the same loop around Inverin to get some miles in the legs. Was dragging my heels about doing the run but have to say when i got out and started running, i felt so much better, lovely to go for a run on a beautiful evening, especially with some of the scenery around this way.

Location: Inverin Loop
Distance: 5km (3.1 miles)
Pace: 9:37 p/mile
Time: 29.48

backspacer

Friday:

My favourite day of the week, rest day

Saturday:

Just took a 30 minute hill walk to get the legs going again, was a lovely evening for it.

Sunday:

After imbibing several alcoholic beverages while watching the fight on Saturday night, my plan for an early run went out the window on Sunday. Went out at about 3pm when the sun was beating down and started to pound the pavement, a lot warmer than i was expecting but a good run none the less, plenty of sweating done anyways

Location: Carraroe Hotel to Trá an Dóilín and back
Distance: 6.76km (4.2 miles)
Pace: 9:31 p/mile
Time: 39.59

So thats Week 2 completed and still trundling along, mileage starts to up slightly in Week 3 so should be pushing on for the 5 mile LSR next Sunday.