The Next Step

Nules10

well done Neil. great report. Kept an eye out for you but didn't see you.

PaulieYifter

Nice report Neil and great running - well done - you certainly haven't taken anything away from the mystique of the HOTW.

theboyblunder

great running and report neil, I felt the pain.

Marthastew

Just read your report, I'm thrilled for you Neil, you were long gone by the time I came in. Delighted you got a PB, an amazing result on that course, hope you both had a great break.

neilc

Nules10 wrote: »

well done Neil. great report. Kept an eye out for you but didn't see you.

Thanks Nules, myself and the other half sat on the steps in front of Peacocks afterwards with 2 beautiful ice cold pint bottles of Bulmers but didn't recognise any boardies unfortunately.

Younganne

Congratulations Neil, great run and great report... delighted for you!:D

neilc

Younganne wrote: »

Congratulations Neil, great run and great report... delighted for you!:D

Thanks Anne, yourself and Dec will have to make it down next year, highly recommend it!!

Younganne

neilc wrote: »

Thanks Anne, yourself and Dec will have to make it down next year, highly recommend it!!

Definitely...how early do you need to register...i see its open already...have you signed up yet??

neilc

Younganne wrote: »

Definitely...how early do you need to register...i see its open already...have you signed up yet??

Not sure how soon it sells out but I think it's getting quicker and quicker each year. Would love to go back but might be looking for quick spring marathon if I miss the goal in DCM in October. If not though we're in, I think it was after Dublin when I signed up last year.

belcarra

I think it's usually December when it sells out.
You can subscribe to their newsletter and get updates when it's getting close to closing.

claralara

Well done Neil. Sounds like you ran your perfect race! An amazing PB on that tough course. Best of luck with the next lot of goals. I expect 3:15 in DCM will be no bother to you!

irfrm

Great run and report, you left me in no doubt what a tough run this was and can only imagine what HOTW is like, looking at your split time your well able to achieve your target of 3:15.
All PB have to be celebrated with ice cold pint bottles of Bulmers:D

neilc

Wednesday April 4th

4 miles -Time: 37:57 - Avg Pace: 9:29 min/mi

Back on the road treadmill today for first run after conn. Legs felt great, no issues at all. Kept it at a nice easy pace though.

Weekly miles : 4
Annual miles : 574.7

Connamarathon Update
Official results are out -
Split 1 - 1:36:47
Split 2 - 1:44:26
Race Time - 3:21:18
Gun Time - 3:21:13
Overall Position - 38th out of 674
O40 Position - 9th out of 160
Big enough positive split but in good company with the winner and runner up with similar positive splits all be it much quicker. Didn't get chicked and took the second spot on the 'Marathon Talk' podium
Oh yeah and the sunburn's getting very itchy :mad:

Marthastew

Top 10 in your age group,Well done!
I'll listen out for you when I'm listening to the marathon talk podcast
fame at long last:)

neilc

Marthastew wrote: »

Top 10 in your age group,Well done!
I'll listen out for you when I'm listening to the marathon talk podcast
fame at long last:)

Top 3 would be much much better

PaulieYifter

neilc wrote: »

Didn't get chicked

neilc

Haven't logged in a while as not too much to report on. All easyish recovery runs.

Friday April 6th - 5.35 miles -Time: 45:52 - Avg Pace: 8:34 min/mi garmin link
Sunday April 8th - 7.54 miles -Time: 1:03:35 - Avg Pace: 8:26 min/mi garmin link
Tuesday April 10th - 5.35 miles -Time: 42:39 - Avg Pace: 7:58 min/mi garmin link
Wednesday April 11th - 5.34 miles -Time: 46:12 - Avg Pace: 8:39 min/mi garmin link
Friday April 13th - 6.41 miles -Time: 52:39 - Avg Pace: 8:13 min/mi garmin link

As a favour for a colleague in work yesterday I underwent a VO2 max test. Preliminary results seemed to have impressed her so that's good but best of all the lungs are in great shape with absolutely no evidence of my old smoking habit of 20 years or so . I put that fully down to running. Won't get full results till next week when I'm doing a dry air test for her. Looks like I might be doing the VO2 max test every 4-6 weeks for the next while as well.

Weekly miles : 17
Annual miles : 605

neilc

Saturday April 14th
5.65 miles -Time: 44:01 - Avg Pace: 7:48 min/mi garmin link

Didn't have a plan for this run at all just to take it as it came. Started of quite sluggish but sped up a bit as it went on. First outing for my new New Balance 1080's which felt good, got a good deal in B2R the other day. My last 5 or 6 pairs have been Saucony Triumphs bar one pair of Kinvaras so felt like a bit of a change.

Weekly miles : 23
Annual miles : 610

neilc

Sunday April 15th - 10.00 miles -Time: 1:23:51 - Avg Pace: 8:23 min/mi garmin link
Tuesday April 17th - 5.38 miles -Time: 44:54 - Avg Pace: 8:21 min/mi garmin link
Wednesday April 18th - 7:38 miles -Time: 1:01:19 - Avg Pace: 8:19 min/mi garmin link
Thursday April 19th - 7.54 miles -Time: 1:06:37 - Avg Pace: 8:50 min/mi garmin link

Mostly a handy enough week except for yesterday. It was meant to be 5 x 3:00min hill intervals but made a balls of recording the laps on the advanced workout I done up for the garmin. So in the end it turned out as 3 x 3:00min intervals with one speedy mile on the cool down . Even though I messed it up I still think it was a useful session.

neilc

Saturday April 21st
6.13 miles -Time: 49:31 - Avg Pace: 8:05 min/mi garmin link
GA run with 10 x 100m. Not used to doing ten strides in a run, hanging by the last one, tough session.

Sunday April 22nd - 10 miles
Run abandoned, worst hangover for a long, long time. Never left the couch all day, luckily was a great day of sport on the tv.

Tuesday April 24th
5.34 miles -Time: 45:32 - Avg Pace: 8:32 min/mi
Nice handy run tonight. Not having run since Saturday legs felt good.

Big day with the ballot for New York tomorrow. Mixed feelings about it, I'm in the draw and would love to do it but not sure about the funds this year.

PS - Unreal result for Chelsea.

Nules10

Ohh hope you get NY Neil. Will keep the fingers crossed for you.... and if you get it i will give you my shopping list

belcarra

If you do get lucky just go with it and find the funds from somewhere as it's an unreal event!!

beeduybe

Best of luck in the ballot Neil. Is there an option to defer your place until next year if you do get in?

Some turnaround for Chelsea alright. I was expecting Barca to score 5 or 6 after they went 2-0 up.

Younganne

oh neil i was thinking of this last week, but didn't want to remind you as i know you mentioned funds, but i reckon its one opportunity you couldn't let pass....funds can be found somewhere, this opportunity might not come again!!!!

keep us informed...

PS - Can i come as part of the Cheerleading gang...no funds either but would find it somewhere....

neilc

Younganne wrote: »

PS - Can i come as part of the Cheerleading gang...no funds either but would find it somewhere....

yeah Anne the more the merrier, race on the 4th, 42nd birthday on the 5th, would be some few days in manhattan.
Don't think it'll be an issue though, read elsewhere on here that the chances are around 1 in 10. Maria reckons them odds are too good

Marthastew

Fingers crossed Neil, Joe is also hoping he'll get in, we'll have to get together and plan a bank robbery if we're lucky!

neilc

Wednesday April 25th
8 miles -Time: 1:03:51 - Avg Pace: 7:58 min/mi
Tempo run. Did this run on the treadmill to avoid the horrendous weather and also help me maintain pace. First two miles warmup @ 6.5 mph, then four tempo miles @ 9 mph (appox 6:40 pace). Very hard workout, absolutely hanging on for the last mile. Two cool down @ 6.5 again.

Thursday April 26th
7.55 miles -Time: 1:00:28 - Avg Pace: 8:00 min/mi garmin link
Lashing rain but still enjoyed this one. Would have loved to stay out longer but had to get home to let herself out.

Saturday April 28th
6.42 miles -Time: 52:07 - Avg Pace: 8:07 min/mi garmin link
6 x 200m. Not sure do ya call these strides or intervals. Had the wind on my back for the first half so knew the 6 x 200 on the way home would be a killer. Not being a speedy gonzales, I was hoping in the conditions to be able to keep them under 40 secs and I nearly did. Had the headwind at its worst for the last one and just managed 43 secs. Very tough session.
Have to say lovin my running this week, thinking of going long tomorrow.

Younganne

Hey Neil, hard luck on NY, maybe next year, start saving now!!!

How long you going tomorrow and what sort of Pace??

neilc

Younganne wrote: »

Hey Neil, hard luck on NY, maybe next year, start saving now!!!

How long you going tomorrow and what sort of Pace??

Relieved Anne honestly. Going to enter the London lottery next week for next year instead. Why don't you enter using Ray's address (better chance with a uk address). I'm going to use Anne's fellas address (haven't asked him yet:D). The four of us in London next April for a few days would be cool!!!

Thinking maybe 15 or 16 @ 8:30 to 9:00, hill of tara and skryne, are ya interested??? Can adjust the pace to suit.

Younganne

neilc wrote: »

Relieved Anne honestly. Going to enter the London lottery next week for next year instead. Why don't you enter using Ray's address (better chance with a uk address). I'm going to use Anne's fellas address (haven't asked him yet:D). The four of us in London next April for a few days would be cool!!!

Thinking maybe 15 or 16 @ 8:30 to 9:00, hill of tara and skryne, are ya interested??? Can adjust the pace to suit.

is there not time cut off for london? if not then i'll enter!!!

work away...thinking 10-12 and have since heard have to fit in in somewhere around 2 football matches so i'll leave it for this week

trying to build up the miles so that i can slot into P&D in 5 weeks...at the min i'm doing the miles but over 5 runs instead of 4 so slowly raising the distance of the runs...