Too Tall To Run

antomagoo

Been lurking here for a while so decided to give a training log a bash. I’m brutal at keeping a physical training diary up to date & seeing as spend most of the day in front of a PC this might be easier. Any comments/criticisms are welcome.

Bit of background first I suppose.

Tried to start running what seems like years ago and never really got going as I kept picking up niggles. Finally got a physio who pinpointed exactly where the problem lay and managed to get me out running & enjoying it. That was probably a year and half ago. Since then I started off running twice a week, doing an interval set one night with the running club and then a longer run on the other night.

Done my first 5K in March last year and ran it in about 22-23 minutes. Done a 10K 2 weeks later and managed that in 48 minutes. Happy with how things were going I decided to sign up for a half marathon and started running 3 days a week. Surprised myself and ran it in 1:43.

Had said all along I wouldn’t do a marathon in my first year of proper running but I got swept up in it as a few others in the club were training for Dublin. Done the race series and was happy with how they went but had a tough DCM.

Was hoping to do 3:45 – 4 hours. But got sick in the lead up to it, turned up and ran as if I was 100% (I wasn’t), started to slow up by mile 15. Mile 18 legs cramping like crazy. Had a few “will I pull out” moments before just putting the head down and managed to walk/run to the finish for a time of 4:08. Sore as hell but delighted I didn’t quit.

This year the goals are a 35min 5 Mile in race series; sub 45 min 10K and a sub 1:40 Half.

PB’s
5K 22/23 mins (Chip didn’t register)
5 Mile 37:15
10K 48:12
10 Mile 1:16:14
Half 1:43:05
Marathon 4:08:58

Lock

Good luck with the log. I started mine for similar reasons. How tall are you as a matter of interest? You're never too tall to run!

antomagoo

Cheers Lock. I'm only 6'3.

The log name came from a debate a while back about about running. Was told that all the best runners in the world were short & that I was too tall to ever be any good at running. I just had to nod & smile politely. I have no ambitions to be winning medals, just enjoy running.

antomagoo

Into week 2 of 10K plan.

Last week: 2 x interval sessions, a 7 mile & a 5 mile. Total for week: 20 miles

This week:
Tuesday: Interval session
Wednesday: Rest (supposed to be 4-6 miles, didn't manage to get out, will swap out Friday rest day instead)

Younganne

Good luck with the log, its a great way to get advice from the lads here who have been running for years and to get encouragement when needed.
You have great times there so keep up the good work!

myflipflops

antomagoo wrote: »

Cheers Lock. I'm only 6'3.

The log name came from a debate a while back about about running. Was told that all the best runners in the world were short & that I was too tall to ever be any good at running. I just had to nod & smile politely. I have no ambitions to be winning medals, just enjoy running.

The World and Olympic 1500 champ is 6'2 so you are in good company!

Been involved in this conversation before. Best guys in the world have tended to be shorter (especially in the marathon) but if you want to be the best in Ireland, you have to beat Joe Sweeney at 6'3-6'4. Mark Kenneally is a big guy at 6 foot plus. So is Tom Chamney over the shorter distances and Ciaran O'Connell before him. Check out 12.55 5K American Chris Solinskey at 6'1 too - he is a unit.

As a fellow 6'2 man, best of luck with the log!

Lock

antomagoo wrote: »

Cheers Lock. I'm only 6'3.

The log name came from a debate a while back about about running. Was told that all the best runners in the world were short & that I was too tall to ever be any good at running. I just had to nod & smile politely. I have no ambitions to be winning medals, just enjoy running.

Well I'm glad you knew they were talking out of their short arses. I'm 6 foot 3 myself. Look up an Aussie by the name of Craig Mottram. Runs rings around the small Africans and he's 6'3 as far as I know.

antomagoo

Week 2 Run 2
Managed to get out last night eventually. Didn’t get going though till near 10. Was in 2 minds whether to go out or not as was feeling tired. Was determined to go out as I hate missing a planned run.

Had an interval session planned for earlier, thinking it was too late I decided to just go for an easy 4 miles. But by the time I got my gear on I said f*ck it and decided to do the planned session. So ran around in the dark doing intervals late at night, not sure if that was the right thing to do but I had it in the head from yesterday morning what I wanted to do so just got on with it.

Session: 1.5 Mile warm-up + 4 x strides, 4x 200m (30 sec rest), 4 x 1:00 (Lactate threshold runs), 3:30 recovery jog, 1 mile cool down

Miles for week so far: 8.6

antomagoo

Week 2 Run 3

5.5 Miles + 6 x 100m strides

Felt sluggish & sloppy but looking back at the garmin, average pace was 8:13min/mile & last mile was 7:49. Quicker than I thought I was going.

antomagoo

Week 2 Run 4

10 Miles. Avg 8:33/mile HR 141

Wanted to keep HR below 140 but ended up pushing it on the 3 hills on the route. Legs feeling a bit heavy, maybe due to 1st week of the year getting out for more than 3 times.

Total for Week 24.1

antomagoo

10K Plan Week 3 Run 1

2 Mile warm up followed by interval session.

Supposed to do 2 Mile cool down + strides but didnt leave myself enough time tonight. Calves are going to hate me tomorrow. Better than the wife hating me

Total for week so far: 6 Miles

antomagoo

10K Plan Week 3 Run 2

Wednesday night 4 miles in 30 mins. Left the HRM off. Quicker pace than regular runs but still 15-20 sec/mile slower than planned race pace.

Total for week so far: 10 Miles

antomagoo

10K Plan Week 3 Run 3

6.6 Miles
2 Mile W/U + 4 x 200m (30 sec recovery) + 4 x 1:00min Lactate Threshold (3:30 rec) + 4 x 200m (30 sec rec) + 1 Mile C/D

Total for week so far 16.6 Miles

antomagoo

10K Plan Week 3 Run 4

Nice easy 7 miles with the club. Maybe a little too easy but legs heavy after the 3 nights during the week so no harm.

Total for week so far 23.6 Miles

antomagoo

10K Plan Week 3 Run 5

11 Miles 8:38/mile avg. HR 138 avg

Another easy one today but quicker than yesterday. Legs came to life at mile 6 and pace picked up without increase in effort.

Happy to get first 5 day week in this year.

Total for Week 3 34.6 Miles

antomagoo

10K Plan Week 4

Tuesday: Didn't get to do planned session due to work. Ended up doing 1 Mile W/U + 5 x 400m (200m recovery) + 1 Mile C/D. Pushed the 400m harder than normal to make up for missing planned session (right or wrong?)

Wednesday: Plan was for 4-6 miles but got sent away with work & I take it that pints watching the match don't count as a substitute

Total for week so far: 3.5miles (approx)

antomagoo

Week 4 Runs 2 & 3

Thursday: 1.5 Mile W/U + 5 x 1:00 LT (3:00 rec) + 1 Mile C/D + 6x100m Strides

Saturday: Easy 3.5 Mile trail run

Doing the 10K in Dublin tomorrow night, not the focus of the plan but I'll give it a lash & see where I'm at

Total for week so far: 11.8 Miles

antomagoo

Week 4 Run 4

Run Dublin @ Night 10K 45:28 (chip time)

Was in no mood for this come Sunday evening given the weather, but decided to go ahead & do it.

It was a good course but a bit narrow in parts & got slowed up in the congestion once or twice. Would have only been an issue if I was really going for it. Went out a bit too conservatively for the first half before deciding to get on with & push on. HRM strap kept slipping & had to take it off about mile & half in as it was getting on my nerves. Finished comfortably and a PB by nearly 3 minutes.

Splits:
Mile 1 07:35
Mile 2 07:32
Mile 3 07:22
Mile 4 07:18
Mile 5 07:14
Mile 6 07:01
0.2 01:20

On a good day would hope to knock another good bit off the time. Not sure if I can hit 35min for the Terenure 5 mile though. Low mileage this for this week.

Total for week 4: 18 Miles

antomagoo

Week 5 Run 1

1 Mile W/U + 2 x 400m (1:00 min rec) + 800m (1:30 rec) + 200m (0:30 rec) + 800m + 1 mile C/D

Would liked to have had time for an extra mile each side of the session + strides.

Total for week so far: 3.6 Miles

antomagoo

Week 5 Run 2

5 miles @ 8:00/mile avg. Comfortable run. 2 hours later legs feeling a little jaded despite taking yesterday off.

Total for week so far: 8.6 Miles

antomagoo

Week 6 Run 1

Well last week was a disaster. Ended up getting nasty stomach bug and sick since last Friday.

Tonight was 1st night out in 7 days. 5 miles, first 2 easy & then picked up.

Confidence for Terenure 5 on Sunday not great.

Total for Week 5 Miles

antomagoo

Week 6 Run 2

3 miles relatively easy + 6 x 100m strides

Total for week so far 8 Miles

antomagoo

I've let this slide, but comes from having a new baby in the house I suppose

Ran the Terenure 5 Mile in just under 34:56 a PB by over 2 mins
1 goal for this year was to run 35:xx so well happy to go under 35 (if only just)

Missus then had baby few days later & training has been very sporadic since then.

Managed 2 x 5 Mile runs last week with night of intervals (800m)

This week only out once, 5miles on Thursday

Any advice on how to keep up training with a new baby in the house will be greatly appreciated

antomagoo

Sunday (01/07)

6 miles
First 3 in 8:00-8:20 pace
Second 3 in 7:40-8:00 pace

Groin bothering me a small bit, more of a niggle & seems worse when I'm not running.

Tuesday (03/07)

1/2 mile W/U
5 x 800m
1/2 mile C/D

Groin again ok while running but started bothering me in the evening.

Feel form is suffering a bit due to reduced training over last 5-6 weeks

antomagoo

Thursday (05/07)

Early morning run, 7.7 miles @ 8:28 pace. Longest run in kinvaras so far, legs feeling tired towards end of run

Sunday (08/07)

6 Miles @ 8:25 pace, feeling very tired after 2 late nights & the most beer I've had all year.

Total for week 17 miles


Tuesday (10/07)

Pyramid set. 1,200 (3:00min rec), 800 (2:00), 400 (1:00), 400 (1:00), 800. Bit annoyed as session got interrupted. 2.75 miles total.

Wednesday (11/07)

Decided to do a quick one as Tuesday session was cut short. 4 miles @ 7:39 pace

Thursday (12/07)

Another nice quick one, 3.65 miles @ 7:33 pace.

Total for week so far: 10.4 miles

antomagoo

Sunday (15/07)

10 Miles @ avg 9:11

Took till the 5 mile mark to get comfortable running today. Average slower than I would have liked but I was keeping to a low HR. Just glad to get out & get to 10, been a bit of a mental barrier.

Total for week 20.4

Tuesday (17/07)

Club 1 Mile TT. 6:07 for this & a PB by by 13 23 seconds, so well happy.

antomagoo

Thursday (19/07)

A very uneventful 4.5 mile club run. First half very slooooow, 2nd half very quick

Calves very tight, may need to invest in foam roller.

antomagoo

Sunday (22/07)

Fingal 10K 45:16

PB by 12 seconds but I did not enjoy this one bit.

Only got late entry as a mate couldn't do it. Not sure if the effort from the mile TT was still in the legs, the inconsistency in training or the heat played a part, probably all of the above, but I died from about the 2 mile mark.

Went off at a fairly reasonable pace. Got a stitch around 3.5K which didn't clear till about 8K. The 4th to 5th miles were brutal, pace wise, just couldn't get the legs to turn. Coming into the finish I didn't even have a sprint in the legs. I don't think I have ever sweated so much either, I was soaking at the end.

Chalk it down to experience I suppose. Bit of a tweak in the left calf the last 2 days so will probably not do a whole lot this week till that passes.

Trig1

antomagoo wrote: »

I've let this slide, but comes from having a new baby in the house I suppose

Ran the Terenure 5 Mile in just under 34:56 a PB by over 2 mins
1 goal for this year was to run 35:xx so well happy to go under 35 (if only just)

Missus then had baby few days later & training has been very sporadic since then.

Managed 2 x 5 Mile runs last week with night of intervals (800m)

This week only out once, 5miles on Thursday

Any advice on how to keep up training with a new baby in the house will be greatly appreciated

With 4 kids in the house myself I know how you feel- buy a cheap treadmill on donedeal, at least if your needed at home you can jump on the treadmill instead of heading off on a run

antomagoo

Trig1 wrote: »

With 4 kids in the house myself I know how you feel- buy a cheap treadmill on donedeal, at least if your needed at home you can jump on the treadmill instead of heading off on a run

The problem then becomes, "where do you think thats going to go?" :rolleyes:

Already have my eyes on a running buggy for when the little one gets a little bigger

antomagoo

Thursday 02/08

Easy 5 mile club run. First run since last Thursday. Feel a bit better after Tuesdays abandoned session & having not got out at the weekend.

Starting to think the sub 1:40 half is out the window for this year. Might try go for a 42:xx 10K instead. Just means back to 2 sessions of intervals a week, which I would be dreading.

antomagoo

Tuesday 07/08

1/2 mile W/U, 4 x 1 Mile at target HM pace (7:35) with 400m recovery jog

Thursday 09/08

1 Mile W/U + 3 Mile @ HM pace

Didnt manage to get out at the weekend, not a great start to HM training.

Monday 13/08

Snuck out for 4 miles. Left the watch at home for once and felt great just running without checking pace, HR every few minutes.

Tuesday 14/08
2 days in a row, something not right here.

1/2 Mile W/U, 4 x 1 mile @ HM pace with 400m recovery jogs. 5 x 200m at 5k pace with 100m recovery. C/D was walking the dog

Thursday

1 Mile W/U, 3 Miles @ HM pace, 400m recovery, 2 x 800m @ 10K pace, 200m recovery. 1 mile C/D

Really enjoyed this session, despite the wind & rain and being on my own on the track.

antomagoo

Rathfarnham 5k

Only my 2nd 5K but was really looking forward to it despite the poor form & lack of training in the last few weeks.

Was a bit early turning up for this so after picking up race number decide to run the course as a warm-up. Hill into Terenure was nothing to be getting excited about compared to the roads around west wicklow so was wasnt too worried. Templeogue Road not as bad a rise as I was expecting.

Warm-Up done and still time to kill, so more warming up with some strides and trying to keep warm.

Lined up at the front of the "Over 19mins" wave, but as the gun went off & we headed towards the start line I found myself slipping back into the crowd. In fairness it didn't take long to get some space & half a mile in I looked at the watch to see the pace was @ 6:30/mile, thinking this was too quick I slowed up and went through the first mile in 6:46. Plan beforehand was to go through in 6:50-7:00 so was happy enough & felt comfortable.

Up into Terenure & onto the Templeogue road & I started to ease up as I didn't want to blow up before the last mile, probably a bit too conservative in my approach here but I'll put it down to lack of experience. One or two people came past me at the bottom of Templeogue Road but towards the top they seemed to blow up, exactly what I didn't want to happen. Through mile 2 in 6:54 but still quite comfortable and still passing people out all the time.

Once past Terenure College decide to push on to the finish, managed 6:29 for mile 3 & finished in a time of 20:50, PB by nearly 2 minutes

Very happy with it, although I think I did run a bit too conservatively & would like to think I'll break 20mins early enough next year. Galway 10K up next & hopefully a 42:xx - 43:xx

antomagoo

Thursday 27/09

1st run since the 5 k on Sunday and not sure what I was at but I'll blame it on stressful week in work & lack of sleep.

No plan for the run but felt I should do something speed wise with the 10K next week. So just headed off around the track, after a mile picked the pace up, felt like sh!t, so slowed up after a mile. Then decided to do some 400m intervals, got 2 in & gave up. Head wrecked, just ran around for a 3rd mile & headed home.

Wasted session. Should have left the watch at home & just went out for an hour. Good lesson in making sure each run has a purpose be it planned session or just getting out for a few miles, no making it up on the fly.

antomagoo

Galway Bay 10K

Cracking morning in Galway for this, but race prep didn't get off to a great start. Bugger all sleep in the hotel as the baby decided that staying away from home was reason enough to stay up all night. Breakfast was a hurried few slices of toast with baby in lap before heading into the race.

Met up with another club member who travelled down also and went for a very quick warm-up before lining up.

Not as many running the 10K as there was running the half so congestion at the start wasn't really an issue. Ran the first mile in 7:03 and fearing I had gone off to quick eased up for the 2nd mile through salthill and people started to come past me. Kept the same pace for the 3rd mile as we headed towards the turn to come back along the promenade. First thought as we turned was, jaysus this place would be great for a holiday if we got this weather all summer. Realising I was probably getting a little complacent I decide to push on just as we hit the 5K mark.

The view over the bay coming back in was fantastic, sun-shining & not a breeze, on a wet & windy day this route would have been hardship. Started passing out some of the runners who passed me in the first half. And just as I thought it was a straight run to the finish, there's a marshal sending us up nemos pier. I wasn't expecting it, own fault for not checking the route out before hand, but the up and down the straight pier messed with the head a little. Especially the tight turn around the cones, slowing down to turn & getting the momentum going again so late in a race is not ideal. No sign of the 8K marker either. After the turn on the pier I just put the head down and got in in 44:06. Not the 43:xx I was hoping for but still another PB by 1:10. If I hadn't slowed up for miles 2 & 3, 43:xx was definitely on, once again lack of experience & lack of confidence. But still a good day out, the couple of pints of Galway Hooker were very nice afterwards too

2 Rules I have come away with from the weekend.
#1. Don't take a baby to a race you have to stay overnight for.
#2. Remember rule #1

Splits:
Mile 1: 7:03
Mile 2: 7:16
Mile 3: 7:18
Mile 4: 7:04
Mile 5: 6:57
Mile 6: 6:54
Last Bit: 1:34

antomagoo

Thursday 11/10

Hopped in with marathon training group for the last 4 miles of their run, nice & easy pace. Went back to the glycerins as feet were a bit sore after the 10k at the weekend in the kinvaras.

antomagoo

Saturday 13/10

5K trail run with the dog, interrupted briefly as I waited around for her to come back from chasing deer, wouldn't mind but the fat lump couldn't catch a cold :rolleyes:

antomagoo

Well this logging business hasn't gone too well. Either has the running tbh, got out very little towards the end of last year. but New Years resolution was to get back into things & I've not done too badly apart from last week & this week as I've had a chest infection. The most consistent I've been in a while, no speed work done but LSR is up to 11 miles.

Despite the chest infection I decided to do the 5K run last Saturday. And despite no speed work this year, came in at 20:17, up on Rathfarnham last year by 33 seconds so very happy with that. Will definitely go under 20 with some specific speed work and feeling 100& on the day.Target for this year is still 1:3x for the half.

antomagoo

A very wet & windy uneventful 4 miles.

Total for week: 4 miles

antomagoo

Sunday 24/03 6.5 Miles Total for week 10.5
Very little mileage for the week due to chest infection

Tuesday 26/03 4.5 Miles, alternating 400m @ 5K pace with 800m recovery
400m were at just faster than 5K pace, 800m recoveries probably a little too long

antomagoo

Friday 29/03 9 miles; 8:00avg pace

Lovely crisp morning for a run around the lakes. Took it nice & handy. Avg pace is getting quicker without increase in effort, just need to start introducing in some quality to the training.

antomagoo

Saturday 30/03

5 miles @ 7:56 avg

Legs felt a little tired today & calves feel tight, might rest tomorrow and head out Monday for long run.

Total for week 18.5 miles

antomagoo

Decided late in the day to do this and seeing as it was the county championships I thought it would be good to get some club representation at it :pac:

Only got about 2K of a warm-up in before the start and was surprised to see so many running. Regretted forgetting to pack club top with everyone else decked out in their club gear.

I was familiar enough with the route as I used to cycle it all the time as a young fella. Started off reasonably well and felt comfortable until just before the 1K mark where the course opened up & the head wind hit. Slowed right up from here to the turn. Not encouraged by the sight of Krusty Clown tearing down the far side of the road and looking very relaxed in 2nd place!!!

After the turn the tail wind did help but felt like I lost allot trying to keep the pace up into the head wind. Started to take encouragement from the fact that no one had passed me & I was starting to catch & pass a good few in front of me. Waited till the 4K before trying to hammer home and suffered as I approached the finish, on seeing the clock I knew the sub 20 was not going to happen but kept pushing to finish in 20:12, PB by 5 seconds.

Splits
KM 1 4:05
KM 2 4:18
KM 3 4:16
KM 4 3:55
KM 5 3:35

Felt like the head wind cost me the sub 20, I know there was a tail wind back in but allot of effort expended into wind that I don't know if really equalled out.

Really enjoyed the evening, first time entering an event like this & for €8 the organisers would put allot of big money events to shame. Well done to Ashford AC for a great spread afterwards.

Might try for the sub 20 at the Tallaght AC 5K in May. Really starting to enjoy the 5K as a distance and might be getting a little obsessional about it.

Calfs quite sore today as is the left hip, I'm going to put some of it down to not doing a great warm-up. But there is also something postural that I need to get sorted. Also wore the racing flats again, which I might park for a while as I'm not sure if I'm getting any advantage out of them in the trade off for sore calfs.

Going to take a few days to let hip settle & try get some long runs in at the weekend.

antomagoo

Done bugger all running since the 5K in Wicklow as was suffering quite a bit with my left hip flexer so decided rest was probably the wisest thing. Managed to do 4 Miles the week after the 5K but again the hip was bothering so I cut the session short.

Decided on the Saturday morning to do the K Club race haven't been rested up for over a week. Was a bit sceptical as to how I'd go as I've done no 10K specific work and only easy miles for most of the year.

Started off pretty well, (some girl in a boardsie t-shirt tore past me in the 1st K:D) and a quick look at the watch showed I had gone off probably a little too fast. The 2nd K I eased it up a bit but not too much and the paced eased off naturally with the headwind for the 3rd K. By 5 K I had picked up the pace again and felt comfortable but into the headwind for the 2nd time I started to tire. Tried to tell myself it would be grand once we hit the 6K mark and were heading back around but by 7K I knew I hadn't got the legs and suffered from 8K to the finish with people constantly passing me out. Watch showed 43:22, official time is 43:32, so PB by 30 seconds, which given the fact I've not been consistent in training I'm happy enough but I know if I put the head down I could run much quicker.

Great spread put on after and a great atmosphere on the day. Left hip didn't cause me any problems and it was the right hip flexer that started to bother me towards the end :rolleyes: Legs have been very heavy & sore since Saturday, I'm half contemplating the RTE 5 Mile this weekend but I think some focus on training might be better than racing for the next few weeks & I'll try for sub 20 at the Tallaght 5K.

antomagoo

Head is wrecked, only managed 5 miles yesterday as hips & calves started to really bother me, dont know whats going on. Went to the physio friday & he said it was just tightness so he loosened me out but even today just doing day to day stuff it's bothering me. Might have to switch away from the Kinvaras, although I've been wearing them for nearly a year with no issue. Need to just to some stretching to loosen up & might try some easy miles over next few days.

thewolf_ie

Good man Anto! This is AB from the Club!

antomagoo

5 Miles yesterday, no issue with the calves but left glute gets sore after a couple of miles. Wore the Glycerines for a change to rule out the kinvaras being an issue, they felt like 2 lumps of cement compared to the kinvaras

thewolf_ie

antomagoo wrote: »

5 Miles yesterday, no issue with the calves but left glute gets sore after a couple of miles. Wore the Glycerines for a change to rule out the kinvaras being an issue, they felt like 2 lumps of cement compared to the kinvaras

Have you got the Kinvara 3? I just got a pair love them on first use!

antomagoo

thewolf_ie wrote: »

Have you got the Kinvara 3? I just got a pair love them on first use!

No I'm wearing the Kinvara 2. Take it easy for the first few runs as you'll feel it in the calves with the lower heel to toe drop, but they are well worth it when you get going, cant see myself ever going back to the heavier trainers. Kinvara 4 out this weekend, might have to sneak them into the house

thewolf_ie

I heard there is not much difference between the 3-4. The 3 is €80 in AK.

I had used the five fingers so hopefully the switch keeps going well.

antomagoo

4 miles easy tonight. Back in the Kinvaras, left glute didn't really bother me but right was niggling from the word go. More stretching required. Gonna knock the sub 20 attempt in Tallaght on the head, need to get the body right first.