Taming the marathon beast...

Fieldsman

Although this is my first time posting I've been following your blog for quite a while and always admired your courage in fighting against illness ,injuries etc. as well as looking after young children. Like others I'm sorry your running has to be curtailed due to this but keep strong and you'll get over it with time.
I myself have just sent in my entry for the Dublin marathon and god willing I'll be plodding the streets of Dublin for the National Half next Monday as well and believe me when your into the eight decade it doesn't come any easier I can tell you.
Run Chick best of luck with everything in the future and keep writing and hopefully you'll be back running again very soon, as the saying goes 'When the going gets tough the tough get going'

Runchick

DOCO12 wrote: »

So sorry to hear this RC, really do wish you all the best with everything and I've no doubt we will see ya back here stronger than ever. All the best with everything and mind yourself x

Aw thanks DOCO wish I had half your talent for this running lark, you're flying at the mo, I've a feeling you'll smash the DCM target this year

Runchick

Fieldsman wrote: »

Although this is my first time posting I've been following your blog for quite a while and always admired your courage in fighting against illness ,injuries etc. as well as looking after young children. Like others I'm sorry your running has to be curtailed due to this but keep strong and you'll get over it with time.
I myself have just sent in my entry for the Dublin marathon and god willing I'll be plodding the streets of Dublin for the National Half next Monday as well and believe me when your into the eight decade it doesn't come any easier I can tell you.
Run Chick best of luck with everything in the future and keep writing and hopefully you'll be back running again very soon, as the saying goes 'When the going gets tough the tough get going'

Hi Fieldsman what a cool post, has really made me smile. I always had lofty running goals at the back of my mind but now have a new one - I really, really hope that some day I can say I've entered DCM in my eighth decade, much respect to you, best of luck with it and thank you for your positivity

SamforMayo

Best of luck with your recovery, I have no doubt you will conquer this.

Runchick

So 4 months after stopping all running, getting well rested, sorting out other life stuff I'm slowly getting back in to things.

Starting slow jogging about 8 weeks ago, being very mindful of HR and how tired I was after. I've slowly built things up and am now running 3 days a week about 12 miles in total. Body is responding well and energy levels are good. Its gonna be a slow road back but I'm determined to keep on the road. Tried swimming and cycling for a while - I'm actually a much better swimmer than runner but passion is in the running.

All runs are all early morning which is bliss! Have been doing core work 3 times a week too on non-running days. Hoping to get up to 20 mpw by Christmas and then take it from there. Not sure about racing next year. Will try introducing speedwork after Christmas and see how the body responds. Easy running all the way for now...I'm hoping that logging progress here will keep me honest and allow me to see any progress even if it is slow. Hardest thing for me is not comparing old training and adapting to the new fitness - or lack of. Starting from scratch I suppose. Any advice welcome...

overpronator

Brilliant to see you back and good luck with it!

Check out Ecolis continuity training thread here for getting back to some speed after Christmas if you decide to

Runchick

overpronator wrote: »

Brilliant to see you back and good luck with it!

Check out Ecolis continuity training thread here for getting back to some speed after Christmas if you decide to

Fab thanks OP, one for the bookmark for sure

Murph_D

Welcome back, A. Look forward to following your progress again!

New runner

Welcome back! Great hear u back n in good form. Looking forward to following your journey getting back to and beyond your previous form. Best luck with your continuing training.

career move

Yay you're back :D:D:D

Best of luck with it!

RedRunner

Great news. Good luck getting back into the swing of things!

Runchick

Tue - 4 miles, Thur 3.5 miles, both first thing and slightly longer than last week. Pace around 10.30.

Sun - 6 miles, longest weekend run for a while, felt good, kept HR down, v enjoyable apart from the abuse from classy locals on their way home from night before :rolleyes:

13.5 miles for the week and 3 core sessions. Slowly increasing things, tempted to add another day but might hold off for a week or 2. Just glad to be running regularly again

Ososlo

Great to see you back and that things are going well for you!!!

Runchick

Tues - 4.4 miles easy
Thur 4.5 miles easy
Sun - 6.5 miles easy

Just over 15 miles this week and 3 core sessions. The running is feeling easier - not tiring me as much and its getting easier to keep the HR down. Have been keeping an eye on resting HR which had creeped up to nearly 60 at one stage! Now sitting between 49 and 51 so def getting fitter. Having to be patient but gonna get back on track slowly. Reading race reports here makes me want to get out there racing again but for now its all about base building.

Have been fatigued this week but thankfully not from running - kids birthdays, sleepover parties (anyone who thinks kids sleep at these things must be as naive as I was!), silly work commitments...aaagghh! Hopefully next week will be less crazy and might add another running day, just an easy 2 or 3 miler...

Runchick

Another busy week but got 3 runs in just about

Tues - planned 4.5m easy but got home, realised had dropped keys so had to retrace steps back to find them, luckily enough they were lying on a trail path, round trip was over 8 miles. Walked part of it looking for the dam keys so we'll call it 6.5m easy
Thur - 4.2 m easy, through local trails, love these winter runs
Sun - long, long, weekend full of kids Christmas stuff and then kids sport on Sunday - finally got out at 4pm, was tired and really didn't enjoy this run which is unusual for me, bit of a slog and not feeling great today. 6.3m easy.

17 miles for the week.

Was gonna aim for 20m this week then step back next week but will see how I'm feeling and maybe swap that. Sensible recovery all the way

SamforMayo

Good stuff, mind yourself. This time of year is so busy and with work, kids etc Don't stress about the miles at the moment , just enjoy it. Great you are back out there.

Murph_D

And hide those keys in a bush near the house next time!

Runchick

SamforMayo wrote: »

Good stuff, mind yourself. This time of year is so busy and with work, kids etc Don't stress about the miles at the moment , just enjoy it. Great you are back out there.

Hey Sam sage advice there, you're right it's just good to be out again, a welcome break from the craziness

Murph_D wrote: »

And hide those keys in a bush near the house next time!

Haha murph yes still not sure what possessed me to carry them and not put them in a zipped pocket

Runchick

Sick mon - wed, knew things weren't right last weekend! Out for a 2 mile jog on Thur to test things - still not 100%, but feeling much better yesterday. 3.5 miles easy Sat and 5 miles easy this morning. I'll call this a step back week and push on next week. Oh and 2 core sessions - normally do 3 but happy enough with this. Used to hate doing this stuff but am really enjoying it now.

Might start adding a fartlek session to a run a week in the new year and see how that goes. This low HR stuff is fine but we'll see what happens when I start pushing things a bit.

Happy Christmas to all, may santa be good to you

Runchick

Tue - 4.2 miles easy
Wed - 5.1 miles easy - running past loads of last minute panicking christmas shoppers, feeling bloody fantastic, thinking christmas has come early

Wanted to run again Christmas day but thought 3 consecutive days would be silly so the dog got a nice walk that morning instead

Sat - 7.5 miles easy - longest run since starting back, really wanted to go further but stayed sensible
Sun - 4.4 easy frosty miles this morning

4 runs, 3 core sessions, 21 miles for the week and feeling blooming great. If someone had told me half way through the year that I could end the year feeling this good I wouldn't have believed them. Roll on 2015

Now off west for a hotel break, time in the pool and hopefully a nice run or 2 along the beach, life is good :cool:

Dubgal72

Sounds like you're building Great post, had me rearing to go too All the best for 2015!

Murph_D

Nice way to end the year, on a positive note! Enjoy the break.

SamforMayo

Delighted for you! Enjoy the break!

Runchick

Tue - 5.2 miles easy beach running, nice :cool:
Wed - 6.3 lovely easy miles through trails to end off the year.

In running terms oh boy am I glad to see the back of 2014. I managed 758 miles through a haze of burnout/ illness/ fatigue....eeeugh. I ran London marathon (when I probably shouldn't have but had fun plodding around) but that was it. Haven't done anything close to a session since June and ended up taking about 3 months off completely....

However, I've learned the lesson, I've found my limits and things are looking up. I'm starting to feel like my old self, and most importantly am really enjoying my running these days. What doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger eh!

The year ahead will be a much smarter year. Likely plan is continue the slow base building, step back every 4th week. No racing before Easter and hopefully run a few 5 and 10ks then a half towards the end of the year. Hopefully reach this time next year fit, healthy, strong and ready for a 2016 spring marathon. Let's see how it goes

happy new year to all boardsies, may 2015 bring you running happiness

RedRunner

Great to see you making good progress RC. Hoping to join you on the slow base build in the new year !

Runchick

RedRunner wrote: »

Great to see you making good progress RC. Hoping to join you on the slow base build in the new year !

Aw thanks RR here's hoping for a good running year ahead for us both

Runchick

Worst hangover ever thur and fri, a 2 day hangover wtf !

Sat - 8.2 miles easy LSR. easy pace around 10.30 these days but felt good so added a steady mile towards the end at 9.19.
Sun - 4.1 miles very easy

23 miles for the week, 4 runs, 3 core sessions, feeling great. RHR 47 and energy levels better than they have been for a long time. Will add a bit of fartlek over the next week or 2 and then plan to start the plan on the graduate thread. The comeback continues

laura_ac3

Hi runchick,

You might have seen it already but in case you haven't I thought you might be interested in a post that was made on the graduate thread about following the plan. It's which days to include or leave out depending on whether you intend to do 3/4/5 days of it etc, might be of interest to you whenever you do start it. Can't post a link to it right now but it was on the 23/11.

Runchick

laura_ac3 wrote: »

Hi runchick,

You might have seen it already but in case you haven't I thought you might be interested in a post that was made on the graduate thread about following the plan. It's which days to include or leave out depending on whether you intend to do 3/4/5 days of it etc, might be of interest to you whenever you do start it. Can't post a link to it right now but it was on the 23/11.

Brilliant Laura, I'll have a look, thanks

Runchick

Tue - 4.7m very easy - middle child had been ill for a few days, nothing bad but lots of waking during the night so I was knackered and considered not running. Took it very handy and all was good in the end.

Thu - 5.3m easy with strides. Decided its time to add a little bit of pace so opted for 6 x 30 sec fast with 45 sec recoveries. Aim was comfortably hard, paces came out between 7 and 8 min/m (depending on the wind and hills) and this felt good. Hard to imagine holding that pace for a race though :eek:

Sat - 9m LSR - longest run in ages and felt surprisingly strong, despite the stupid headwind on the return journey.

Sun - 5.1m easy - handy plod with the dog.

Overall 24 miles, 2 core sessions and a good week. Easy running is all done by heart rate and the pace is increasing slightly each week. Felt the strides in my legs on Friday - will take a while for the legs to get used to this stuff again. Step back week ahead then gonna start the graduate plan. I'll stick to 4 days a week. The easy runs will be shorter than what I have been doing so hoping that'll compensate for the introduction of the sessions.