Turning a mule into a race horse.

Tom Joad

Well done on sticking it out - great report and a nice PB too.

Pacing Mule

Thanks very much for all the positive comments there. Very much appreciated.

Looking for some advice / thoughts please folks on a couple of things now.

First order of business:

Bohermeen Half Marathon - Target time
I'm really unsure about this. Mc Millans thoughts on my 2 most recent races are 1:47 based off the Raheny 5 mile or 1:50 on the below par 10k from yesterday. Even the softer 1:50 at 8:23 pace for 13.1 miles seems scary to me to be very honest but that could well be me wussing out early When I first decided to enter this I had in my mind a much softer Sub 2 hour target in mind but I do think I'm better than that. Any thoughts on how realistic the 1:50 target are would be appreciated !

Second !

Need to pick out some target races for April - August direction.
Criteria: Has to be on a Sunday or evening if Mon-Sat due to work commitments. I'm looking for a decent 5k, 10k, 5 Mile and maybe 10 miler too before knuckling down to marathon training for DCM 15. 3rd time lucky Dublin area or easy enough travel wise. What I am aware of so far is:

St Patricks Festival 5k - 15th March (May be a little close to the half the previous Sunday to do it justice but I reckon my 5k PB of 23:5x should be easily beaten even with the half the week before.

Samsung Night Run 10k 26th April - Did this the first year as my first ever 10k race in the grand old time of 68 minutes ! Not a real option at all after the last couple of years reports but it's the only race in April that fits so far.

Tallaght AC 5k May 3rd - Don't know anything about this.

Terenure 5 Mile May 17th - Ran this last year.

Dunboyne 5 Mile May 26th - Ran this last year too after I didn't get my A target in Terenure.

Bohermeen 5k June 6th - Think this is an evening run !

Fingal 10k July 19th - Tough enough route apparently but can't be anywhere near as bad as Enniscorthy !

DLR 10k August 3rd - Ran this in 2012 and 2014. It's hilly but again no fear of this after yesterday.

Tempted to do a 4 mile race in Dunboyne too on 29th March. Not many races of that distance around.

If anyone knows of other races that fit the criteria especially in April I'd appreciate the pointer.

SamforMayo

Congrats on nice PB there. Regarding the HM I think 1.50 is within your reach definitely.

tang1

Fr Murphy 5 mile 5th of April, 12pm start in Kildalkey, Co Meath. Boyne 10km 3rd May, 3pm Drogheda. Mullingar 10mile 19th July, Mullingar.

All Sunday races, Bob Heffenan 5k is 19th of May but is to close to Terenure which i know is a local race for you.

yaboya1

Considering you were below your own expectations yesterday and McMillan still gives you sub 1:50 off that run, I think that's the least you have to aim for in Bohermeen.

Regarding races that suit, I heard the Tallaght 5k is good race with a fast course that finishes on the track. There are other 5ks on around that time that are supposed to be fast too (Tom BrennanBob Heffernan, lecheile). I think Tom BrennanBob Heffernan is a midweek slot and lecheile a Saturday evening but I could be mistaken. There's a flat 10k in Kilbride at the end of June. A midweek evening race. I know FBOT01 ran it last year. Also a 5k in Kilcock at the end of June on a Friday evening. I think Krusty ran it the night before the Beer Mile last year. For 5 miles, the two you mention are the only ones I know of that would suit you. As for a 10 miler, I would definitely recommend the Mullingar 10 Mile at the end of July. Relatively flat course and well organised race.

tang1

tang1 wrote: »

Boyne 10km 3rd May, 3pm Drogheda.

Scrap that one, didnt realise Tallaght was same day.

Dubgal72

Fwiw, if Ol MacMillan says you can do 1:50 based off a below par/TOUGH course 10k time, you can do it, plus some. If training goes well, you should even go to the 5 mile/1:47 prediction. No wussing out

ThebitterLemon

Dubgal72 wrote: »

Fwiw, if Ol MacMillan says you can do 1:50 based off a below par/TOUGH course 10k time, you can do it, plus some. If training goes well, you should even go to the 5 mile/1:47 prediction. No wussing out

Hey Dubgal,

You might be right and hopefully PM hits it out of the park but in my experience that calculator can be a little over optimistic.

Nice running yourself at the weekend by the way.

TbL

Murph_D

Trust your good form. You're on the way up. Don't know what the Bohermeen course is like but if it's relatively flat, 1:47 for sure has to be the target. Enniscorthy course was tough, Raheny challenging too. Go for it but make sure you get the miles in.

yaboya1

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

but in my experience that calculator can be a little over optimistic.

That's what all the sandbaggers say

ThebitterLemon

yaboya1 wrote: »

That's what all the sandbaggers say

Haha P, hope you're not referring to me, most likely Murph?

In my experience that calculator isn't great, but Murph is probably right, trust ones form and PM has been going well.

TbL

menoscemo

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Haha P, hope you're not referring to me, most likely Murph?

In my experience that calculator isn't great, but Murph is probably right, trust ones form and PM has been going well.

TbL

The calculator is normally fine for most people up to half Mara distance. It can certainly be a bit skewed over Mara...

Based on my latest race (19:20 at St Anne's parkrun) stick me down for 1:29:31 in the handicap.

Murph_D

Sandbagging, moi? I generally aim for the McMillan time or slightly faster, and generally hit it. No more, no less.

RedRunner

I'd aim for sub 1:50 if I were you P. There's a moderate enough hilly section in Bohermeen but nothing drastic if memory serves me right.
This was my favourite race last year. Enjoy it!

I think the Battle of Clontarf Brian Boru 10 mile is being run again in St Annes and environs this year. Don't have details to hand but last year this was on Easter Monday/April 21st as a guide.

Pacing Mule

The calves took an absolute battering at Enniscorthy and it was Wednesday before I could walk properly

Tuesday
A very short run to see how the legs were. They weren't so the run was canned.

Wednesday
4 miles at 8:38 avg

Considering I had canned the run the previous night going out and blasting 4 miles out at pace doesn't really make sense. Felt good - the legs were grand once warmed up and it didn't feel that fast at all. Probably due to knocking out 7:30 pace miles at Enniscorthy.

Tonight
10 Miles LSR @ 9:33 avg

Solid run tonight. Was aiming for 9:45 pace going out bringing the Long run pace down a bit with thoughts of Bohermeen on my mind. Again a hangover from the fast miles meant that this easy pace was ran faster than normal. That said effort level really was on the easy side of things - last mile was fastest at 9:00 pace and even that didn't feel too taxing. A clear sign of improvement.

Pacing Mule

If anyone following this log hasn't seen the charity fund raiser we as a forum now are looking to do around the Bohermeen half marathon please check out this thread !

hillsiderunner

RedRunner wrote: »

I think the Battle of Clontarf Brian Boru 10 mile is being run again in St Annes and environs this year. Don't have details to hand but last year this was on Easter Monday/April 21st as a guide.

It is listed for 6th April on the Lindie Naughton page, but there is no online entry/webpage for it yet. RayCun said on another thread he thinks it will be going ahead.

BeepBeep67

hillsiderunner wrote: »

It is listed for 6th April on the Lindie Naughton page, but there is no online entry/webpage for it yet. RayCun said on another thread he thinks it will be going ahead.

Being used as the Leinster Champs again also I believe.

Pacing Mule

So I've been noticing that my clothes are getting looser and looser. Mentioned I think here before about having to bin trousers that no longer fitted. I have though been holding onto T-Shirts that were still hanging in there as being comfortable anyway even if they were getting a bit big. Today I grabbed one and it was a bit too big. My daughter was laughing at it. Turned out that my old comfortable fit was now big enough to accommodate both of us The end result was several t-shirts binned and one rather cool photo taken ..



Photos like that are as good as big PB's for me. Love running and love what it's done for my health

tang1

Serious going PM, your flying in every sense.

annapr

Pacing Mule wrote: »

So I've been noticing that my clothes are getting looser and looser. Mentioned I think here before about having to bin trousers that no longer fitted. I have though been holding onto T-Shirts that were still hanging in there as being comfortable anyway even if they were getting a bit big. Today I grabbed one and it was a bit too big. My daughter was laughing at it. Turned out that my old comfortable fit was now big enough to accommodate both of us The end result was several t-shirts binned and one rather cool photo taken ..



Photos like that are as good as big PB's for me. Love running and love what it's done for my health

Lovely picture and great progress!

Pacing Mule

tang1 wrote: »

Serious going PM, your flying in every sense.

Any sign of that baby of yours Tang !

tang1

Pacing Mule wrote: »

Any sign of that baby of yours Tang !

Na, week overdue tomorrow. Have a scan in the morning so we'll see whats said then. Cheers for asking.

Pacing Mule

Monday

4.5 miles done.
3.5 at a pace between half marathon and marathon pace effort averaging out at 8:45 ish pace 9:03, 8:14, 8:48 (terrain differences explaining the timing variations)
1 cool down @ 10:00 pace

Tuesday
Went out with every intention of 4 easy miles. I've been neglecting the easy stuff a bit over last few weeks. Aimed for 9:45 pace. Landed the first mile at 9:21, slowed down a little and hit the second at 9:34, nailed the third at 9:42. Happy days going into the fourth mile was easily knocking out the 9:45 and then like a red rag to a bull I saw a runner up ahead of me and had an urge to play catch up. I decided I was enjoying the run and I would for ****s and giggles see if I could catch them before the turn back into my estate. No different than doing some strides was my logic ! Ended up lashing out a good quarter of a mile at sub 7 pace to catch up before dropping back down to finish with an 8:45. A bit stupid and certainly counter productive to an easy run but enjoyable all the same !

Pacing Mule

Friday 20th
8 Miles with 4 @ HMP

Happy with this one. 3 miles easy gradually increasing pace. Then 4@ target HMP starting at the bottom of a 2 mile drag. 1 easy to finish off.

10:01, 9:43, 9:07, 8:24, 8:25, 8:28, 8:28, 9:55

Sunday 22nd
4 miles easy avg 9:30. Just a quick one this morning. Nothing notable about it.

Calvin Johnson

Nice run on Friday.

Pacing Mule

Bohermeen Half Fundraiser

So as mentioned a few posts ago we're holding a boards forum charity handicap sweepstakes. If you haven't done so already please check out the thread which is turning into a good bit of craic and has gained the interest of quite a few on the forum. I'm beyond humbled with the support the event has gotten so far with €250 raised already.

ECOLII the official handicapper for the race has given me a handicap of +35 minutes on TRR who is the expected fastest for the event. ECOLII is keeping tight lipped on what he expects TRR to run the race at but 1:12-1:15 is being bandied about so ECOLII most likely has me in the 1:47-1:50 range like most here. I did try to get myself a 2 hour target but he wasn't fooled at all.

Handicaps are:

TRR_The_Turd: Scratch
Tunguska (-5:00)
Yaboya1 (-6:30)
Overpronator (-8:30)
Menescemo (-9.30)
ThebitterLemon (-10 min)
Calvin Johnson (-13 min)
Tom Joad (-14 min)
Marthastew (-20 min)
Pacing Mule (-35 min)
MKDTH (-48 min)
Laura ac3 (-50 min)

If you reckon you can pick out the top 3 from those times you could win a few quid and raise some funds for a really deserving charity at the same time.

RedRunner

Pacing Mule wrote: »

Handicaps are:

TRR_The_Turd: Scratch
Tunguska (-5:00)
Yaboya1 (-6:30)
Overpornator (-8:30)
Menescemo (-9.30)
ThebitterLemon (-10 min)
Calvin Johnson (-13 min)
Tom Joad (-14 min)
Marthastew (-20 min)
Pacing Mule (-35 min)
MKDTH (-48 min)
Laura ac3 (-50 min)

Fnar Fnar.....:pac:

Pacing Mule

RedRunner wrote: »

Fnar Fnar.....:pac:

Lol - yeah that came up in the other thread. A list Meno had put together had a typo in it that I forgot to change.

See what I did there

AuldManKing

Pacing Mule wrote: »

Lol - yeah that came up in the other thread. A list Meno had put together had a typo in it that I forgot to change.

See what I did there

Not too surprising that 'porn' didn't register as a typo on Menos computer