Running with the birds or for the birds?

tHE vAGGABOND

Fantastic report..

My mate in work commented that he met this fun and amazingly happy couple from Crusaders, and he did not need to say another word, and feck running, that is all that matters

SamforMayo

Super report, I'm still laughing about you been over taken by a shower gel bottle! The 4 hour marathon group are very lucky.

Cleanman

Fantastic report Mrs Stew. Toll, toll, toll!!! Did you find out what the German for "Super Dooper" is???

I'd echo what a few have said here. It's been a big year for the stew's. The pressure of knocking out a big pb at the end of it can take it's toll, both mentally and physically.

I'd guess if you chill out for a couple months, put in a good base over the winter (and take it easy on the chocs!), you'll be hitting a big pb early next year.

And by the way, I heard you start to slow down after 7, not 6! Not that I believe that rubbish;)

Emer911

Super report as always. Your positivity always shines through, even when you've had a bad day at the office .

I'm off to Frankfurt to try to emulate last years sub 4, but without you shouting me on! The sub 4 train are very lucky to have you as the driver.

RedRunner

Congrats MS on completing yet another marathon. Sorry it didn't go to plan for you but you'll bounce back without a doubt. You never fail to give me a lump in my throat with your race reports!

You've been through a lot this year. Don't underestimate the toll that can take on you so don't worry your time is not gone yet. I certainly don't subscribe to that 6 yr business either!

Enjoy the chocolate!

Dory Dory

Yep, epic as always, in every regard. You're the bomb, MS - always uplifting and inspiring. The ticking you hear isn't your clock...it's the huge heart you have. PB or not, you're always a winner.

FBOT01

Great report as usual. As I said already it was great to meet up with you and Mr Stew in Berlin, you are PMA personified....Keep the Faith. See you at DCM.

pgmcpq

Great report. Sorry the the race did not go as hoped.

Don't underestimate the effect of the week prior to the race. Aside from the sleep deficit, any chance you were fighting off a bug yourself ? Lack of energy, feeling too warm. Sounds like something that happened me a few years ago A week to two later I actually realized I was not well.

Look at it this way: you could probably have taken a safe 3.12 again, but you set a target and went for it. Any new target is a risk ... and maybe this time it did not come off.

I've made the conscious decision to ignore time. Go for it - and forget about the things you can't control. Don't be going shatter my illusions !

sideswipe

Race report of the year sown up!!!
Sorry you didn't get the time you clearly deserved- hope the whole experience makes it all the more satisfying when you do.

annapr

Really enjoyed reading your race report. For someone who has achieved so much, you still enjoy the experience and the thrill of the atmosphere, that's fantastic. And you are so finely tuned to the people around you, whether dressed as a bottle of lotion or in a pink tutu... And did Adam really run LONGFORD dressed like that??

When you have been through trauma like you have this year, sometimes that hits you at odd times and maybe even slows you down. As an oul' wan like yourself, albeit much slower, I don't believe it's anything to do with age. Or even with running for that matter.

I now understand why you are such a legend and Mr Stew too of course!

Murph_D

Great report, great read. Maybe not your best result but jeez still a very, very good placing and top 40 in your AG in a race like Berlin? You're the business, MS, retirement is for another decade. Besides I'm the oul one around here, not you. Kudos on a tough but gritty performance out there.

yaboya1

Good luck with the pacing job on Monday. The four hour gang are in for an enjoyable 239.5 minutes

Marthastew

Happy New Year:)

Where has 2014 gone?;) As most of you will know this past year has been quite a challenge for the Stews but I just wanted to pop on here to let you know that we are all still alive and (more or less) doing really well.
Firstly, a very belated thanks so much to those of you who voted for my Limerick Marathon race report (I’m still waiting on my 3rd place trophy, honestly, this place is worse than Athletics Ireland;)), the nomination prompted me to reread it and it cheered me up so much, reminding me of such a wonderful day. It also reminded me that although Berlin didn’t go at all to plan, this year brought me a marathon PB I can be very proud of.
So, what’s been happening since Berlin?
Many of you will have seen (or most likely heard) Mr Stew at mile 25 during DCM and I also had a really great day running as one of the 4 hour pacers. Unfortunately DCM seemed to take a lot out of me as I had been fighting a head cold going into it and it took a good few weeks to shift afterwards. I took a full week off after Dublin and then I eased back in very slowly with the intention of ramping things up for Donadea at the end of November after pacing Clontarf Half. Another great fun day pacing (with much better conditions than DCM) and it was made all the more special by the fact that Mr Stew was back in pacing action alongside me, we had great fun with a super bunch of runners in the 2 hour group and it was another great chance to meet up with some wonderful boardsies.
My hip/glute had been slightly niggling me since Dublin and the Half seemed to really aggravate it so I decided to take a few weeks off to clear it up properly. December is busy month for everyone so not a bad time for a break; yoga, swimming in the 40 Foot and classes in the gym helped to keep me sane. Another reason for me to be in good form despite my lack of running; Mr S was back at the cardiologist and they are thrilled with his progress and they don’t want to see him again till next June. He is enjoying running in/out of work a few times a week and is in wonderful form, he most definitely lives up to his title of SuperJoe and I count my lucky stars every day. The junior Stews are also in super form, the 2 older boys playing Senior and Junior Cup rugby and Junior busy with rugby, GAA, karate and the occasional parkrun so life is treating us very well.
Just in case I got too comfortable and complacent I was reminded once again not to take things for granted and unfortunately I tripped and fell just before Christmas and my face took the brunt of the fall (but my hip was fine:o), it really knocked me for six and I felt ridiculous for being so upset especially after all Joe has been through this year. For a couple of days not even Pharrell Williams could cheer me up;) but luckily Superjoe and the boys did a great job and I’m slowly getting back to myself now.
I’ve been gradually easing back into things with some Kilkeel and Crossmaglen running (only Garmin owners will get that joke) and although my hip isn’t a hundred per cent a few trips to Ecoli will see me good again. I’m shocked at how much fitness I have lost and how slow my easy pace is but such is life and I’m happy to stick with nice easy running at the moment. My Garmin tells me I ran just under 2,300 miles this year so I’m sure that all that training didn’t go to waste and I’m hoping that 2015 will bring even bigger and better results.

Although I haven’t been posting on here I have occasionally been dipping in and out keeping an eye on people’s progress and I’m delighted to read so many of you have had wonderful results over the year. It’s also great to see so many new posters and wonderful new informative threads and I’m sure that this next year will be very successful for us all!


Wishing you all a healthy, healthy happy 2015:D

Murph_D

Sorry to hear about the faceplant, O. Probably best to avoid Kilkeel/Crossmaglen for a while. A very good year considering the setbacks. All the best for 2015!

pgmcpq

Great to hear the update. As a recovery from injury specialist (!!) I can tell you it is always deceptively tough re starting but the rate of recovery picks up after a while. Take care of yourself.

Dory Dory

So wonderful to see this log in my inbox - it's been way too quiet over here - I've missed your positive spirit! In so many respects, this really was an incredible year for you....and I know you count your blessings every day. Here's to your healthy, happy 2015....and I'll see you in 6 weeks!

kit3

Don't suppose there's any chance you'd resurrect this again ? Would love to hear how you're doing

Marthastew

kit3 wrote: »

Don't suppose there's any chance you'd resurrect this again ? Would love to hear how you're doing

We are all alive and well and doing really great. Not too much quality running being done but I promise to pop on here during the week with some sort of an update :-)


I'm delighted to see you have started a log and you are flying after Donadea

kit3

Marthastew wrote: »

We are all alive and well and doing really great. Not too much quality running being done but I promise to pop on here during the week with some sort of an update :-)


I'm delighted to see you have started a log and you are flying after Donadea

Great to hear ye are all well - looking forward to the update

Marthastew

kit3 wrote: »

Great to hear ye are all well - looking forward to the update

Holy Merde!! is it really a month since I typed that???:eek:

I would love to report that I have been busy running... alas, no:( I am however in great form and all is well in the land of Stews:D

The Cliff notes (because I keep thinking I'll pop on here with a proper update and it never happens)

2015 is proving to be a slow burner for me, Raheny 5 mile was a pleasant start, 35:00 (so no 10 Round numbers entry:() and I felt I could build on form there and had planned to do really well last Sunday in Terenure... Anyone who spotted me there will know that things didn't exactly go to plan over the past couple of months.
I've been plauged with hip flexor/groin strain/psoas issues and I keep returning to training and ramping things up too quickly (case in point; The Wings for Life run, SO MUCH fun but no way should I have run past Bray:eek:) I'm happy to report I'm back running now and my Terenure 50 minute pacer job went really well:). I'm planning to only run every second day for the next couple of weeks and sticking to easy running (no sessions, no racing) until mid July. While my running fitness isn't great I'm still doing yoga, jumping in the sea, cycling, doing classes in the gym, pilates etc so I'm not in terribly bad shape.
I'll gradually build the mileage up over the summer and hopefully pace DCM (if Anto will have me;))

My main long term running goal is DCM 2016 as I'll have moved up to the F50 category (yikes!!:eek: my birthday isn't until July so I am actually still very young, 48:)) 2015 is all about base-building.

Fans of Mr Stew will be glad to know he'll be making yet another pacing appearance at Crusaders' club race http://www.docklands5k.com/ on June 18th:) He is in super form and we are both very busy having lots of fun enjoying our lives with our wonderful boys. 15 months on from his heart attack and I still wake up every morning thinking how lucky we are that he is alive:D.

Obviously I'm not too happy having to take it easy with my running but I have lots and lots to keep me busy;
I'm very much enjoying helping organise the Docklands 5K, and I hope to see lots of you there, it will be a super race; fast, flat and fun!!
I'm back coaching athletics for Community Games (which actually means crowd control with kids once a week with a view to picking out fast ones to bring to Santry on June 13th)
I'm also event director for Cabinteely parkrun http://www.parkrun.ie/cabinteely/ (ably assisted and visited by lots of boardsies:D)
And both Mr Stew and I are Dalkey Community First Responders
http://dalkeycfr.ie/

It will be a while before I'm back on here updating but I do pop on from time to time and I love reading how well you are all doing:D Keep up the good work.

Killerz

Can't believe you haven't been updating your log - seems like your calendar has been pretty quiet over the past few months - how have you not found the time?

The Officer

Killerz wrote: »

Can't believe you haven't been updating your log - seems like your calendar has been pretty quiet over the past few months - how have you not found the time?

Too many mocha frappa chocca cinno mornings methinks