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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
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Saturday 15th
Donadea 50k
In my relatively limited my marathon experience (4 to date) I would tend to be just a bit nervous on race mornings wondering what might unfold. However before this 50k (further than I’d ever run previously), I was actually quite relaxed…so of course then I started worrying about being too relaxed. I guess though, because I was not racing, but rather planning a steady lsr, the pressures were not quite the same. Also training was going well and I was relatively niggle free for once. In fact, really the only thing I was concerned about was what to wear as the weather was so unpredictable. I had brought a mini wardrobe in the back of the car to cater for all seasons.
In advance of the start I met Belcarra who introduced me to a few boardsies and it was great to match the faces to very familiar names…incl Beep Beep & Digger. Also met TFB, whose blog I follow and he had some wise Austrian advice for me re nutrition in ultras..’learn from my mistakes’…I shall bear that in mind.
My race plan was a progression type run starting with 8:30 ish pace for a few laps, then picking it up to 8:15 ish for the next few and then depending on how things were going, possibly pick it up again up to a max pace of 8 min/mile. This is the sort of pace range I hope to run in Connemara. Belcarra then mentioned he was planning to run 8:15/ 8:20 with a few others incl Marthastew who I’d heard of but never met. Rather than heading off on my own I reckoned I could hitch on to the back of their group to make life easier. Killerz was also there at the start but he was aiming for 3:4X so I wished him well at the start and moved further back in the starting line.
There were tables laid out at the finish area for the runners to stash various bits and pieces they could grab they went through after each loop. I was amazed as to the quantities of ‘stuff’ people had left , and wondered what was in their bags. Belcarra had a picnic box full of goodies!! I had no plan to leave anything at the tables but feeling a bit left out I put a spare top in a plastic bag just in case I got soaked early on. I wanted to do a kind of dress rehearsal for Connemara so I carried everything thought I’d want for this run: 5 gels and a small bag of saltstick tabs. Another bit of advice from TFB..’don’t over complicate things’. My idea was to take gel every second lap. In case the brain went to mush, I told myself to take on fuel after every even numbered lap..2,4,6,8 with one spare.
As this was a 10 x 5k loop race my recollections tend to blend together so the following is more of a mish mash of events that happened and possibly not in this order…
Laps 1,2,3 ; Pace min/mile (8:28, 8:11, 8:09 ; 8:17, 8:19, 8:08; 8:12, 8:03, 8:07)
The low key start happened pretty soon after we assembled with the Master of Ceremonies, Ultraman, getting us underway. As we went through the finish area for the first time there was loads of cheers from the supporters and everyone was in great spirits. I wondered how many laps that would last for. The course was quite wet and mucky in places afer the recent weather and during the first lap there was a lot of tip toeing around/ jumping over ‘water hazards’ in an effort to keep the socks dry for as long as possible. Others had the same idea so initally there were a few traffic jams at wet/muddy sections as runners queued for the dry racing lines. I soon found Belcarra and tagged on behind him sussing out the conditions on first lap. I felt good. Average pace was slighty faster than planned (8:16 ish) but I wasn’t concerned so long as it didn’t go much faster at this stage. I think there was a group of about 8- 10 over the first 3 laps (incl Belcarra, MS, Mr Stew, Cousin Stew plus others) at this stage. There was a few introductions as people settled into their run. The pace quickened up every third mile to near 8:00 min pace as we hit the downhill sections but this was balanced out on the uphills so the average stayed quite steady. I quickly picked up on the fact that MS knew (or pretended to know!) just about everybody from runners to marshals to spectators so there plenty of shouts of encouragement which made it a very sociable run.
Laps 4,5; Pace min/mile (8:32, 8:28, 8:10 ; 8:23, 8:27, 8:08)
I think our group reduced slighty here with some people falling off the pace or deliberately pulling back. I still felt good. Ave pace here was 8:20ish We were lapped for the first of 4 times by Gary O’Hanlon in lap 5. Even though he was leading and flying along he still had time for a hello and quick joke which was great. Still plenty of chat going on. Conversation topics here included….. proving the universe is infinite…I stayed out of that one and went for a quick call of nature in the forest instead. I made the effort slowly to catch up with the same lively bunch over the course of about a ½ mile. My gels were going down well which was good (I’d recently changed to a new brand)
Laps 6,7,8; Pace min/mile ( 8:14, 8:13, 8:02 ; 8:04, 8:33, 8:09; 8:12, 8:08, 8:01)
After I crossed the half way point I was on my own for a short while. I think others had stopped for supplies or eased of the pace but I ran through. The group soon reformed but now there was only 4-5 of the original bunch. The pace picked up a bit here, I think led by MS but it suited me perfectly and I did my fare share at the front. Slightly less chat (relative that is to the ‘telephone exchange’ quantities in the first half. Conversation topics had changed by now from theoretical physics to karma and farts!!
The ladies winner, ClaraLara lapped us around here. She was looking very focused and running very well. I also got lapped by Killerz on mile 19 or 20 (I think) and wished him well. By now we were also doing our fare share of lapping which was encouraging for us. There was no water available as I went through the feed station on lap 8 but luckily I spotted FBOT01 who had come out to lend some support and had a bottle of his own which he gave me which was very well received. I think our group was just three at this stage (MS, Cousin Stew and myself) so that water was gratefully shared amongst the three of us.
Our group of three had the enormous pleasure of running right behind the mens winner, Gary O’Hanlon as he crossed the finish line for a fantastic sub 3 hr finish time just as we were finishing lap 7. We joked that if there was a finishing photo we’ll claim ‘That’s us in 2nd , 3rd and 4th places!!’. I definitely got some encouragement from the applause the winner got which spurred me on for the next lap.
Laps 9, 10; Pace min/mile (7:54, 8:07, 8:02; 7:59, 8:23, 7:39)
The legs were starting to hurt through lap 9 as we approached marathon distance. I made a mental note that the glutes needed strengthening over the next 6 weeks as they were aching a bit. I hit the lap button on the watch at the marathon point (indicated by MS) to record a 3:35 time. Not bad for a training run. Cousin Stew and myself congratulated each other for getting beyond 26.2miles. MS had been there already, a few times I think.
Chat levels were definitely lower now though. Ave pace was was still good and increasing slightly and again just where I wanted it. As we ran the final lap we said thanks to the various marshals who had had stood out in the cold and hail showers (I think we had 2) and they wished us well. MS knew by now she was in 2nd place so around the 48k mark she slowly picked up the pace and headed off on her own to prepare for her final sprint for a deserved podium place. Myself and Cousin Stew upped it a little but I wasn’t prepared to do any sprinting and we crossed the finish line together in 4:13:38. Time was maybe 2 mins ahead of schedule but I was delighted nonethless.:D:D:D
Although quite tired at the end I still felt quite strong and could have gone further if absolutely necessary which was an encouraging sign.
Got a lovely hot chocolate courtesy of FBOT01 at the end which was great because I was getting quite cold. Also finally got to taste some of those cakes you boardsies have been raving about. Nice.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable race with great company all the way round. Great organisation by Ultraman and crew. I think I might have to come back for more… (subtle message for my OH who I understand now reads my log).
A few things learned for Conn Ultra:
-New gels work…think I’ll use them in Conn.
-Saltstick tabs worked… may have contributed to lack of cramps I’d previously got in marathons at 19/20m.
-Wear gloves and don’t throw them away. Weather can change a lot in 4 hrs
-Stay in a group where possible. Miles fly by.
And most important…
- I can survive beyond 26.2m
Sunday 16th
I've been eating like a horse since the 50k. Woke up starving at 6am so got up for a bowl of porridge.:). No running today, just a walk with the dog for some 'active rest'. Legs felt quite good. Will be interesting though to see how they are during next week.0 -
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Friday
Rest day from running but drove ~500k around country roads which left me quite tired. Luckily no pain issues while driving so it looks like the physio treatment worked.
Saturday
18m lsr, 8:27 ave (howth x2)
Headed out later in the day (5pm) for this one. Parked at the causeway which would allow me get in two runs up/down howth. Target for today was to work on my downhill running. This was prompted by a chat I had recently with a decent ultra runner (who'll probably be at the sharp end in the conn ultra). He warned me not to forget training for going downnhill as it can play havoc on the quads and we will have to encounter a sizeable downhill around mile 24/25 when the legs won't be at their best. So on both descents of howth I ran quicker than normal (I usually amble down hill on an lsr) trying not to brake or land heavy and just let gravity do it's thing. I'd read that you should keep perpendicular to the hill so I tried this. Think it worked but it's hard to judge by yourself. It felt comfortable though with no jarring of the joints. Whether I can manage that in conn at mile 25 (& 38:eek:) is another thing.
A tough headwind for the last 3 miles back along the coast really tired me out. Also, not being used to running in the evening I forgot it gets dark:rolleyes: and I was wearing mostly black. Not too sensible. Manage to survive though to get back to the car which by now looked like an abandoned vehicle on the causeway in pitch black.
Sunday
14m , 8:37 pace
This run was quite a struggle and I really had to grind out the miles as I felt dead on my feet. Kept it on the flat and followed the coastline to blackrock and back with a little diversion down the quays. Distracted myself on the return journey with thoughts of what I'd have for lunch. Bacon,egg and sausage sandwich (prompted by the lads on Marathon Talk, I'd listened to on yesterdays run) The distraction worked for at least 2 miles. I was salivating by the time I got in the door. Luckily the ingredients were in the fridge for my dream lunch. I cooked it and devoured it. Gorgeous
:D:D and didn't feel the slightest bit guilty.
Total weekly mileage: 600 -
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