It's now fun to run

dazza21ie

blockic wrote: »

Great training dazza over the last few months. Just 2 miles less than me for the year.

Fancy a 3 miler tonight?

Best of luck for 2014!

Thank's blocky. Yeah had noticed that alright. Not bad being that close to you seeing you managed to do four 3.99 marathons this year:D. Best of luck next year to you too.

AuldManKing

Massive progress in 2013, big things in '14.

dazza21ie

Wednesday 1st January 8 miles @ 8:32
First run of the new year. Had some notion of going out for an early run but that was quickly dismissed when the alarm went off. Headed out after 9 and decided to try a different route so tried to see if I could make up the distance staying on footpaths in the town without going down country roads. Had to double back a couple of times when I ran out of footpath but it was something different.

Thursday 2nd December 8 miles @ 8:56
Out early this morning despite my head's best attempts to talk me out of it. Eased the legs into it with a couple of slow miles before pace dropped similar to last nights run.

dazza21ie

Friday 3rd December 8 miles @ 8:49
Another 8 mile run this morning in the lovely wind and rain. Had been waking up during the night hearing the wind howl outside and was contemplating postponing this until the evening. But woke again before the alarm was going to go off so just got up and ready. Stomach was feeling a bit dodgy heading out, it probably has had one mince pie too many! Decided to stick to the route used on Wednesday which would always leave me close enough to home if I wanted to cut the run short. Around half way through a bit of sleet was added to the wind to give it a bit more bit:(. Stomach behaved alright so glad I got it out of the way this morning as there doesn't seem to have been much let up outside since. Had got myself a pair of running trousers (leggings?!) in Aldi yesterday, they had been reduced to clear. Gave them a go this morning. They did help keep body that bit warmer but when the heavy rain/sleet started they seemed to retain a bit more moisture than I would have been used to with shorts only. Judgment reserved for the moment on them.

dazza21ie

Just realising I'm a month behind in the last two posts:o

Sunday 5th January
Nice run yesterday morning. Was out early and seemed to get the best of the day's weather as I made it around dry. Took a few miles to get going but finished strongly.

Run brought up 53 miles for the week which is my highest yet. Just need to do it all over again now!

Monday 6th January 5 miles @ 9:16
Had planned on 8 this morning but called it a day after 5. Felt ok but it was so sluggish, didn't see any point in prolonging it any further.

dazza21ie

Tuesday 7th January 10 miles @ 8:34
My new runners landed with yesterday's post. Two more pairs of Kinavara 3. My old pair was really starting to show wear and tear. Took one of the new pairs out for a run this morning. Probably a bit long of a distance for breaking a shoe in but reckoned they were the same as the previous ones (even the same colour!) that I might get away with it. Happy to say no problems on the breaking in front. First time I have two new pairs on the go so can actually do some rotating. The run itself was good after yesterdays lethargy. Had to ease off the pace at times which is a positive.

dazza21ie

Wednesday 8th January 8 miles @ 8:48
This felt quite handy and the miles ticked by nicely. Was surprised to meet the gritter out on the road as it was very mild this morning.

dazza21ie

Thursday 9th January 92 metres @ 28:11:eek::mad::(
It was a struggle to get out of bed when the alarm went off. As I stood at the door waiting for the Garmin to pick up signal noticed the rain falling. Had expected it to be a bit frosty as it was very cold the night before but there were no signs of frost to be seen. Took off out the drive and turned right only to find my face a few inches from the footpath a few seconds later. Legs had just slip from right under me land me on my right side. Took most of the impact high on the thigh bone with a bit of a bang to my ankle and elbow. A little stunned I got up and examined the conditions. It was obviously quite slippy. Have been out on icey mornings before but this was the first time it was slippy inside the estate. The light rain had disguised the ice to the naked/sleepy eyes. Did think about carrying on with the planned run but decided against it. Got off pretty lightly, only a bit of bruising and a couple of scrapes.

Friday 10th January 7 miles @ 8:41
Went out this evening just to see how everything felt after yesterday morning. Ankle and elbow are fine again. Just the thigh that can still feel something. Felt a little distracting running. As the run went on felt it less and less. Was really enjoying the run by the end and had planned to stop after 4 miles but kept on going for a few more.

dazza21ie

Sunday 12th January LAC 5 Mile Race

34:16 (40th/81)
Splits: 6:27, 6:51, 6:52, 7:12, 6:55

Wanted to get a race in for January before the marathon training plan would start. This fell in the schedule nicely even with Thursdays slip.

Was over in good time to the start. Got registered and managed a few laps of the track before heading out to the start and getting a few strides in. Weather wise this race came a day late as it was lovely in Letterkenny yesterday but went and windy today. Knew the wind would be more of an issue coming back in.

Start was punctuational enough. Headed off behind a few LAC vests (which made up the majority of the participants). Ignored the watch for the first while but knew I was probably going out too hard. First half mile was probably at 6:12 pace. Plan had been to try and keep it between 6:30 and 6:40 pace so let the pace ease off a bit. After going through the first mile was pacing myself off two guys in front of me. Knew the pace was outside my own target range but the effort felt hard enough. Course is the same as I done last May, out and back with the turn a few cones in the road. Turn point came around a third of a mile into the third mile. Had let a gap open to my pacers at this stage and struggle to keep with them after the turn.

The wind started to hit once we turned around and there was no one close enough to shelter behind. This along with a bit of a drag coming back in made the 4th mile tough. Another guy came up alongside me and I tried to pick it up to keep with him. However that didn't last long and he opened a gap. The gap stabilised and I tried to reel him back in during the 5th mile but didn't get there.

Overall happy enough with the effort given the conditions and the lack of sessions for a while. Result is a PB of 1:18 which isn't bad. Seem to have lost a little sharpness but that is to be expected and it is only early in the year.
Finished up with a few more laps of the track to warm down.

dazza21ie

Monday 13th January - 5 miles @ 9:34
Nice gentle recovery run this morning. It was a bit frosty out but at least it was obvious. First run for the new green kinavaras

dazza21ie

Tuesday 14th January 10 Miles @ 8:46

Was out early this morning and it was still freezing. Took off quite cautiously but it was a nice crisp frost on the ground so I allowed the pace to pick up gradually. There were a few spots where water had mixed with the ice and left it pretty slippy but it was mostly fine and turned out to be an enjoyable run. Was confused at the end that my Garmin had told me I had done 15 miles but eventually coped on that hadn't uploaded or reset from yesterday's run .

dazza21ie

Wednesday 15th January 8 miles@ 8:42
Slept in this morning so was out this evening for this. It was a good day to sleep in because it was a lovely evening out there and I was able to get out earlier than usual so there were plenty of people out walking or running.

dazza21ie

Thursday 16th January 10 miles @ 8:31
Out a little later for this one. Another nice mild evening. Didn't fancy heading out back roads for it so done same route as Wednesday with an extra two mile loop around town at the end. Done a few strides at the finish.

dazza21ie

Friday 17th January 8 miles @ 8:40
Got a stinger of a stitch right at the start of this run. It never fully went away but became bearable after a mile or so. Half way around I heard a dog run towards me. He normally is tied up so didn't know what to expect from him. He had a fierce bark on him but the coward stayed behind his hedge and fence:D. Done a few strides at the end of the run.

dazza21ie

Sunday 19th January 15 miles @ 8:46
Was cold and foggy this morning with a few sloppy patches but not too many. Done a two mile loop around the town before heading out for the usual 13 mile loop. Kept the pace handy and legs felt pretty good. Picked it up for last 3 miles.

That's 56 miles up for the week, another highest week. Just need to repeat that again and again and......

dazza21ie

Monday 20th January 5 miles @ 9:40
Simple recovery run this morning. Wasn't too hard to convince the legs to keep things easy. It was a nice morning, could nearly have done without the head torch the moonlight was so bright.

dazza21ie

Tuesday 21st January 10 miles@ 8:38

legs were a bit heavy starting out and it took almost half the run to get them going. By that stage I had turned back into the wind and rain. Still managed a bit of a pick up in pace .

dazza21ie

Wednesday 22nd January ~ 8 miles@ 8 : 58

A few though hills and tired legs made for a few very slow opening miles. I was running by feel, knew it felt slow but was in no rush!

dazza21ie

Thursday 23rd January 10 miles @ 8:50
As I was getting ready to go out this morning I could hear the heavens open outside and heavy hail shower fall. Decided against that and by the time I got out the door the shower had ended and the ground was white.

It was strange to run on. You had grip it just wasn't the same type of grip. I was pretty cautious and took it quite easy heading out. On my way back in I passed the gritter lorry coming the opposite way which had left clear roads behind it. Pace picked up for the last 3 miles or so on the clear roads and footpaths.

dazza21ie

Friday 24th January 8 miles @ 8:38 (approx)

Out early this morning again. Tried to turn on the Garmin heading out the door as usual but there wasn't a beep of any kind out of it. Thought first it might just be a dead battery so headed off anyway. I knew the distance of the route I had planned anyway so could really just run by feel. While on the run I realised it couldn't be the battery as it had but put on charge straight after yesterdays run. Sure enough when I looked at it later it had just locked itself, squeezing a few buttons done the trick. Run itself was enjoyable. There was a bit of a light drizzle falling but you would barely notice it.

dazza21ie

Sunday 26th January 15 miles @ 8:41
Probably the worst conditions I have had for a run. It was very wet, very windy and lots of surface water and some flooding in places. But the legs felt quite fresh at the start so it wasn't so bad. Done same route as last Sunday and was glad to get the first two mile loop over as it was quite exposed to the elements. Small bit of flooding along the back roads but the miles ticked by nicely.

That's another 56 mile week and the end of my mini base phase. 18 weeks now until Derry so going to give the 18 week P&D 55-70 plan a go starting tomorrow. And the first day on the plan is a rest day:D Have earmarked Omagh Half at the end of March and Northwest 10k at beginning of May. Plan to do one more but will decide closer to the time.

Runchick

Omagh half is a brilliant race Dazza, have you run it before?

dazza21ie

Runchick wrote: »

Omagh half is a brilliant race Dazza, have you run it before?

Will be first time, think it was the reports from yourself and new runner last year that put it in my head

dazza21ie

Tuesday 28th January 9 miles@ 8 : 16 (inc 4@LT: 6:46, 6:55, 6:56, 6:56)

First run of the plan and the hardest for the week. Been a while since I done any tempo running. Target pace was 6:55. Took off too hard at the start so had to ease off a bit. Really felt the effort during the 4th mile. Was a good bit off pace for first half of this mile but gradually the pace came back.
Had started with a 2 mile warm up and finished with 3 very easy miles

dazza21ie

Wednesday 29th January 11 miles @ 8:31

Enjoyed this run. Let the legs ease their way in and pace gradually picked up to the point that I had to ease off a bit. Nice morning out, it only started to rain during the last mile

dazza21ie

Thursday 30th January 5 miles @ 9:46
just a nice gentle recovery run this morning

dazza21ie

Friday 31st January 9 miles @ 9:39
Late run for this. Was ok out, a light drizzle was falling but barely noticed it. Legs felt good and miles ticked by nicely. The light drizzle turned to an ice cold rain with a half a mile to go and this had turned to snow as I was finishing up.

Monthly Summary
Month| No. of Runs| 2012 | No. of Runs | 2013| No. Of Runs| 2014
January| 14 | 34.22 | 23 | 127.01| 27| 221
February|16| 46.21 | 11 | 59.82
March|16| 52.11 | 23 | 137.57
April|14|49.98 | 27 | 174.19
May|22| 95.18 | 27 | 154.79
June|17| 85.79| 23| 150.07
July| 18| 101.16| 26| 194.29
August| 17| 126.55| 25| 181.85
September| 18| 151.64| 26| 190.85
October| 16| 115.04| 24| 182.57
November| 21| 91.63| 23| 160.63
December| 16| 89.14| 25| 178.17
Totals | 205| 1,038.51 | 283 | 1,892| 27| 221



Saturday 1st February 5 miles @ 9:46
Recovery morning this morning. Still trying to snow out there.

dazza21ie

Sunday 2nd February 15 miles @ 8:55
This was tougher than it should have been. Conditions were much better than last Sunday although there was a strong wind at times. However had stomach issues from very early on. Am blaming them on a yogurt I ate yesterday evening which was borderline on its expiry date. Was able to keep things under control at a very easy pace but any increase in pave and the issues soon became problems.:o Just glad to get it finished.

Runchick

You must have been out early this morning Dazza! 15 miles under the belt by 8.30am on a Sunday, good work

dazza21ie

Runchick wrote: »

You must have been out early this morning Dazza! 15 miles under the belt by 8.30am on a Sunday, good work

Yeah early start, hardest part is getting up and out the door.