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AR/tist in the spotlight: Dubgal72
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05-03-2015 2:42pm#1
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First off, thanks pconn and Ultraman (you asked so nicelyAnother week, another candidate. Thanks to ultraman1 for taking the questions for the last week, and he has asked Dubgal72 to step up so lets get cracking!
You ran as a junior, can you tell us a bit about that, what level did you run at?
Why did you stop?
You had some good results on the country last winter, do you enjoy x-country?
How did you stumble across this time-sink forum?
Thanks!
)
I ran from age twelve - community games etc - until aged 19. I made a gradual progression up to doing well at national level. I suppose I took it more seriously aged 15 and made a breakthrough aged 17-18.
Unfortunately aged 19 an injury (shin splints or something like that I think) sidelined me for a while and that combined with some personal growing pains conspired to convince me that the world was ending. Nobody sat me down and said this is temporary and to me, it was the end of the world. Dramatic much?
Shortly after that I paid a visit to a relative somewhere in Europe and stayed there for two years...the first chapter of running away from running.
I certainly surprised myself in December. Yes, I am one of those weird people who actually enjoy XC. Those two forays back into it reminded me how much I love it. Then again I am like a kid let loose in a sweet shop: I can't wait to get my teeth into track and this new venture into road running is going ok too so far
I'm already looking forward to next XC season and if Wicklow don't send a ladies team to the masters XC next year, I'll be having words with them.
I came across this forum when getting some info about the Dublin series half last August or September and then was pointed in the direction of the Graduates Thread where the mighty Os was. Invaluable help there and it has introduced me to some great like-minded borderline obsessives
Thanks pconn!0 -
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Hey softieHi Dubgal72,
Just to check first. Male or female?
Sorry, female it is. I wasn't sure. the gal for me was Galway.....!
You seem a new poster here? A great addition IMO.
1. Have you reached you peak yet as a runner? Or past it
2. Favourite movie
3. Favourite non T&F athlete (male and female) of any era, and why?
4. Most knowledgeable A/R poster in terms of advice on running?
5. Pet hates?
Thanks
. Thanks for the questions
Have I reached my peak as a runner? I certainly hope not I'm going by Krusty's maxim '7-10 years of improvement' (ok I stretched it) so hopefully I'll peak just before I enter the o/50s and enter that division with a bang
I suppose I look at my running in two divisions: junior and master. I didn't peak as a junior and have only started running competitively as a master. (I never ran as a senior.)
Favourite movie? Has to be True Romance. I love the soundtrack. Patricia Arquette is just ditzily gorgeous and then comes out with this grit when the chips are down. Clarence is just 'so cool' and of course there's just a great cast all round.
I also love Greystoke ....when Christopher Lambert calls out 'Il etait mon père!', it never fails to bring a tear to my eye....
Rocky Horror Show is up there too.
Favourite T&F female is Katie Taylor, no brainer. She is amazing and it makes me so angry at the lack of recognition she gets from mainstream media.
Male? Hmmm...I was always a Lennox Lewis fan but if I can't say Carl Lewis or Jesse Owens, I suppose I'll settle for Muhammed Ali and I'll slip Barry Mc Guigan in closer to home I had a huuuuge crush on Ivan Lendl in the 80s
Most knowledgeable poster here? There are lots...they all have something to offer. I suppose my go-to ones are Krusty and ECOLII. Netwerk Errer also knows his sh%t. I am developing an unhealthy backlog log obsession so apologies for leaving *everybody* out. I saw a comment earlier (you know who you are) about wanting more training discussion. I second that.
Pet hates...now that could be dangerous, you could use it against me. Ok, eating crisps on public transport and rustling the bag for ten seconds to get one f^ck*ng crisp out gggggrrrrrrRRRRRR
One of these days I am going to turn around and grab that packet of crisps off you and throw them on the ground!!! Ooops did I just say that out loud?
Thanks Mr. Walsh 0 -
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Hi Dubgal
Will you run another marathon and if so, when?
Do you find it difficult to find the time for training with kids and work?
Retirement pbs?
I remember you saying that your dad was a runner and he advises you a bit now. Did he push you much as a kid in training?
Did you love running more when you were a kid or now as an adult?
Hi
I will but I want to do it properly this time! It will be 2016 at the earliest and I will allocate a long block of time for two or three marathons so I feel I can get used to the distance and do it and myself justice. This year is for XC
I have a very understanding and supportive OH and my mam retired two years ago. She is great, especially on Tuesdays when I drop the youngest off for a session. Who am I kidding, I should be charging her
I'm a full time mammy but also crawling along at a snail pace doing a post grad degree. (That is going embarrassingly slow, let's not talk about that...) I suppose over the last year I have incorporated running into the daily/weekly routine and yes it's hard sometimes squeezing a run in at ten at night or early in the morning but as I said, my OH and family are very supportive. They get it
Not going to set a limit I suppose the most 'out there' one is for 5k. I blame Krusty for this, if 15:30 is good enough for him, 17:30 is good enough for me
No, he was always very quietly encouraging. All the pushing came from within
Definitely now, I have a more holistic contentedness all round. One of the advantages of age maybe. Tbh, it is a lifetime love and I owe that to my dad. Probably the greatest gift he gave me.
Thanks A, great questions 0 -
Hi Dubgal, great candidate Ultraman1!!
You seem to be very competitive behind all the banter. Do you ut that down to your junior days or is it just part of your nature?
What is your best running achievement to date?
What does it fell like to follow Finnuala Britton as Wicklow XC champion?
Are there any other sports you are interested in/Have competed in?
Hi Meno and thanks
Yup, but aren't 99% of posters on this forum
I think I have always been competitive to some degree or other.
Ah that's a tricky one Meno. It might answer some of Ray's questions. As a junior, it's a toss up between the Junior Inter Counties in 1990 I think, and the National T&F Intervarsities the following spring. I had made a breakthrough in training that Autumn and was running well.
For the IC XC I expected to do well, top 10 was on the cards. It was eerily quite similar tactically to the senior race last December. I broke early, going up a small sharp hill on the first lap and came off it strong and opened up a considerable gap. Onlookers after told me they thought wtf etc but my dad knew I looked strong. To cut a long story short (it seemed like forever!), i held the lead and came in...first (I was running scared the whole race...)
The Intervarsities were the following spring and I did a triple over three days I think (must dig that old pen and paper log out of the attic...). I won the 3000m in my second ever outing and a PB of 9:50. I won the 1500m and also a PB of 4:34 I think. I dragged my poor body around the heats and final of the 800m and came 3rd in 2:16/8 (can't remember). Not a bad weekend's work
As an adult, I am proud of each and every one so far but a special place goes to the County XC title obvs
This week, my greatest running achievement has been bowing to good sense and resting until this bronchial thing does one
When you put it like that.... Wonder will she run next year? :eek:
(Realistically, I'll always be following her )
I'm a very one track girl (see that?!). I played basketball at school and cycled in my non-running days but running has always been 'it'.
Thanks again!0 -
Hi D and thanks!Duanington wrote: »Great choice!
Favourite racing distance?
What are your ambitions over that distance timewise?
I think you are a member of a club, what do you find the main benefits are? ( running and non running)
what is your least favourite type of session to run?
what is your favourite racing memory as an adult?
That's a tricky question, I still have a few distances to revisit and tbh I've only had a beginners crack at the road distances so I haven't really made up my mind yet. At a push, it's 5 and 3k. As I said above, I'm not going to put any limit on progression but 17:30 is out there for 5k so why don't I push the boat out and see how near I can get to my teenage self for the 3k?
Yeah, I'm a member of a club. For me, it works all round and it might not work for everyone but you must try
Being in a club offers the full package: camaraderie, training company and knowledge and feedback. There are always older members who have decades of experience that you just cannot ignore. Nothing beats face to face personal advice from someone who has observed you and knows you. Then there is that extra edge you get from training in a group. (saying that, you have to be a boardsie too!)
On a social level, what's not to like about fellow obsessives who drink copiously too??!!
My least favourite type of session is a 'blind session' urgh, brings me out in a shudder. I really like to know exactly what is ahead so I can fix my inner metronome accordingly (feely runner). AMK explained the value of it and it convinced me but still.... *shudders*
Favourite racing memory as an adult? Definitely the DCM finish. Dublin crowds are epic!
Thanks D!0 -
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And Ivan Lendl??Excellent answers. Really. No way, True Romance is one of the best films ever made. Quality. Clarence is the epitomy of kool!
Katie Taylor and Carl Lewis.....This thread is superb!:)
And the boxers. You're like a female walshb.....Sorry, scratch that thought.
This is a thread I'll follow closely. 0 -
Good evenings A
What motivated you to return to running?
How important has club athletics been on your 2nd coming?
17:30 for 5k that's impressive, by when, where?
Fav running loop?
30 mins to spare, go to quality run?
Pre, post race food?
PB treat - wine or takeaway?
Preference - run faster or run further?
Finish 2nd in the Wicklow 5k champs in 17:29 or win in 17:31?
Tats, tell is about the tats?0 -
Evening D, some nice evil questions there, thanksBeepBeep67 wrote: »Good evenings A
What motivated you to return to running?
How important has club athletics been on your 2nd coming?
17:30 for 5k that's impressive, by when, where?
Fav running loop?
30 mins to spare, go to quality run?
Pre, post race food?
PB treat - wine or takeaway?
Preference - run faster or run further?
Finish 2nd in the Wicklow 5k champs in 17:29 or win in 17:31?
Tats, tell is about the tats?
A combination of cabin fever (OH working stupid long hours + two young kids), a biscuit cupboard within arms reach and wine bottles within mouth reach convinced me there was more to life...
Hehehe my second coming but seriously, club athletics has been THE integral piece. I wouldn't be enjoying it a tenth as much and wouldn't have progressed either without BR. From the support with the Fit4Life group last summer; the marathon group I trained with Sunday after Sunday (emer911 had the dubious pleasure of taking me out on my first lsr) and who put up with my endless questions; the Thursday sessions this winter; our club captain and coach...everyone has been the best and I wouldn't have got where I am so far without them. So very important!
Evil question no 1: it requires a 5 minute or so mile ability and I have mentioned that I'm chasing my teenage ass. I admit that it's out there but if it's possible, I should know before I go into the o/45 category. So two years. The national record for 5k o/40 is 18 minutes so I'll take anything under that and wag my tail happily.
Fav running loop...hmm the 10k around southern cross/seafront/Herbert is a good one but I also love the loop up quarry hill and around the lead mines (albeit a tangled loop). Too many actually, I love jogging to the park and doing a session (not so much the jog home). You must show me the Killruddery loop sometime. That reminds me, the cliff route (not a loop) is a good one and I really enjoyed the trail run around Djouce the other day. If pushed, i'd definitely choose a trail loop.
Go to quality run in 30 minutes...evil q no 2... The best one recently was a loop near my house that took in some form hill drills off Herbert Road. That was quality and in 30 minutes. Otherwise start on Lordello Road in Shankill, go up the quarry, turn right and down by Pook's castle. If you get back to Lordello Road in 30 minutes, that's quality running
Pre race food is always an either/or (depending on distance and time before race) of porridge with honey and raisins and a bagel with peanut butter. Eggs are the go-to after a hard training session but can't touch them before a race. I am becoming well known for producing a bag of mixed nuts and raisins after a training session and race. Get them into you within 20 minutes. Oh and chocolate milk
I get a PB, I get wine AND takeaway...
Faster...and further of course
Oh win, without a doubt...
The tats...what can I say...I was young....:rolleyes:
Thanks D, phew tired after that 0 -
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A great addition to this Q&A and Boards in general.
Whats your OH's thoughts on your running?
As a parent/partner - Do you feel guilty going for a run (or even try to hide the fact)
What's your favourite running shoe?
What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to the 19 yr old with 'shin splints'?
Whats your softest PB?
What could you run 1 mile in today?
Favourite run session?
Red wine is far superior to white.....discuss.0 -
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Thanks AMK! OH is very supportive. He's not a runner and doesn't have a running background (his thing is music), but he really gets how important this has become. This time a year ago, he was cracking the whip and pushing me out the door at 10pm when he came home for work...wonder if he regrets the monster he has created?! He has been given full permission to draw a line if/when it starts to get too intrusive on family life (but we have a very balanced relationship, that might mean drawing the line at weekends away for his gigs etcAuldManKing wrote: »A great addition to this Q&A and Boards in general.
Whats your OH's thoughts on your running?
As a parent/partner - Do you feel guilty going for a run (or even try to hide the fact)
What's your favourite running shoe?
What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to the 19 yr old with 'shin splints'?
Whats your softest PB?
What could you run 1 mile in today?
Favourite run session?
Red wine is far superior to white.....discuss. ). I think he's quietly proud and we both agree that it's a positive role model for our kids.
Not that they see it that way all the time: to answer your second question...oh the guilt sometimes They're both still quite young so are not too impressed when mammy disappears for the day to a race. The Thursday evening club session is always a sticky one and despite the bribery of favourite teenage cousin baby sitting them, I have, on occasion, had to resort to good old-fashioned sugar bribery, the only currency that truly works (How the mighty are fallen "oh I will never use food as bribery..." :rolleyes: )
Sometimes taking the 4yo out for a run (up and down our road) works, then she allows me a 'pass'. It's all a juggling act, like most things with raising a family and having a life. And yes, sometimes I have slipped out the door on occasion without getting my 'go-faster' kisses
Favourite running shoe is Asics. Tried others, no good (ok I tried one other but that counts for every shoe). I'm just discovering racing flats and I can see myself having fun finding a favourite there
My 19 year old self? I would sit her down, give her the biggest, warmest hug and tell her that everything was going to be all right. I would try to persuade her that running away was not the answer, but I would need some damn good arguments. I would also tell her not to be so ashamed of the anorexia and bulimia that was eating her up (unfortunate expression but that's the only way I can describe it). Like many, I was very very good at hiding it. Too good because ultimately I suppose I self-destructed. On the plus side, it's all good now
My softest PB is definitely the 10 mile (78:04 or something like that). I was looking forward to taking a chunk off that this weekend at Ballycotton but a touch of bronchitis has put paid to that. By the time I get round to the marathon properly, hopefully that will be a soft PB too
I'd be aiming for a sub 5:50 mile if I had to run one today. I'm itching to get that one out of my system
Favourite run session? Hmmm a long, hilly trail run and for a quality session? I really enjoyed a 4k tempo run the other week but that was probably because everything went right. I suppose a track 400m session or 800s.
Red wine is superior to white in winter.
White wine is superior to red in summer.
Bubbles are superior, full stop
Thanks AMK, you guys are really making me think 0 -
My 19 year old self? I would sit her down, give her the biggest, warmest hug and tell her that everything was going to be all right. I would try to persuade her that running away was not the answer, but I would need some damn good arguments. I would also tell her not to be so ashamed of the anorexia and bulimia that was eating her up (unfortunate expression but that's the only way I can describe it). Like many, I was very very good at hiding it. Too good because ultimately I suppose I self-destructed. On the plus side, it's all good now/QUOTE]
really enjoying this thread Dubgal! what a lovely answer to that question, I'm sure I have a tissue around here somewhere....0 -
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Hi again Ray, it would definitely be child-led. The 4yo is desperate to go to running club (wants to do what mam does I suppose) so if she shows an interest in a few years I'll sign her up. At the moment she is a huge fan of Princess Tutu (Japanese animé) so she had her first ballet lesson yesterday and no doubt I'll sign her up to some form of martial arts this summer. The two year old will be the same. He's always on the go (always :eek: ) so whether he likes it or not, his schedule will involve wearing him out through extreme physical activityHave you/will you get your kids into athletics? or other sports?
If you were put in charge of your club/Athletics Ireland/the Olympic committee, what would you change?
Ever do any field events?
How do you get more women to compete?
Do you prefer women-only races, where you can see your competition, or mixed races where you have more people around you?
On a serious note, you can't beat playing on the road for physical activity. We're lucky, we live in a quiet cul de sac with a great range of kids and I feel comfortable enough letting the 4yo out to play with the other kids. There's a green for ball games, a few trees for climbing and cars generally know the score.
I'm not a fan of filling every hour with supervised activities. Let them run a little bit wild
I'm going to pass on the next question...I'm too new to athletics at the moment. When I said I ran away from running, I meant it in every sense. The last Olympics I watched was probably 1988, and if athletics came on the TV I had to leave the room. Ask me again in a year. I have to say that the discussions on boards are bringing me back up to scratch so keep them coming boardsies.
Ok BG and Ososlo will appreciate this. I'd ban garmins
Hehe, I'll qualify that. I would severely restrict their use. We don't need to know what pace we're going at for warm up or warm down. We don't need to know average pace including warm up, quality session and warm down - Irrelevant.
I'm coming round to the idea that they have their place for pacing a lsr and quality sessions but otherwise bin em. Get to know your body.
I did the high jump and competed at school level. Distinctly average. I also have memories of doing the shot put and javelin at Belfield. Probably had a bash at long jump too. Belfield....what have they done to you?? *sobs*
How do you get more women to compete? Easy, put wine and chocolates in the goody bag
Both have their advantages. If I had run the Enniscorthy 10k as a women's race, it would have been very strung out and lonely at times. At other times, racing against your gender peers is invaluable. It sharpens the contest I reckon.
Thanks Ray 0 -
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Hi Dubgal
If you could punch anyone on Boards and get away with it, who'd it be?
4 people from here you would have around for dinner, why and what would you ask them to bring with them?
Could you survive without social media?
How did you meet your husband?
How did he propose?
Baking - self taught or shop bought?
Savoury or sweet?
What would be your death row meal?
Your next marathon is about to start and you need to pee. Portaloos are to far away. What do you do?
What would you do if you didn't have a coach/club?
What's your favourite race?
Which is worse childbirth or vo2 max reps?
How many bars of chocolate could you eat in one sitting?
Have you ever vomited before, during or after a race?
Most embarrassing thing that's happened to you at training or during a race?
Who is your arch nemesis?
What is your secret weapon in a race?
In 10 words or less, who is Dubgal?
What would your Patronus be?
How long can you hold a side plank leg raised after reading this?
* all questions borrowed from other threads0 -
career move wrote: »Hi Dubgal
If you could punch anyone on Boards and get away with it, who'd it be?
4 people from here you would have around for dinner, why and what would you ask them to bring with them?
Could you survive without social media?
How did you meet your husband?
How did he propose?
Baking - self taught or shop bought?
Savoury or sweet?
What would be your death row meal?
Your next marathon is about to start and you need to pee. Portaloos are to far away. What do you do?
What would you do if you didn't have a coach/club?
What's your favourite race?
Which is worse childbirth or vo2 max reps?
How many bars of chocolate could you eat in one sitting?
Have you ever vomited before, during or after a race?
Most embarrassing thing that's happened to you at training or during a race?
Who is your arch nemesis?
What is your secret weapon in a race?
In 10 words or less, who is Dubgal?
How long can you hold a side plank leg raised while answering this?
* all questions borrowed from other threads
fixed your post 0 -
Sorry I’m back for more. Hope that’s ok as I know I had my go but I’m very nosey curious!
No prob Os, everybody's allowed a second chance Sorry for the delay, been a busy day at the ranch!
Did anyone else in your family run besides yourself and your da? Any of his pbs that you’d like to relay?
I have cousins who run (cousins of my dad actually). One was a team scorer in the masters XC recently. His three siblings were very active. Two brothers played rugby to a high enough level and his sister used to be a very active hiker. Neither of my siblings ran but my sister has just been awarded a black belt in karate. (We think we're competitive here, she's a killer )
I'll have to get back to you on his pb's but I'm pretty sure his marathon was 2:28 (his debut was something ridiculous like 2:33 :eek: )
A quick phonecall later:
The dad's pb's
Track:
400m 53seconds flat
800m 1:57
1500m 4:00
1 mile 4:17
5000m 15:05
Road:
10k 31:15
10m 52:20
HM >71 minutes
Marathon 2:29:52
To put these in context (from the mid '60s to 70s), his times would have had him considered an averagely-good club runner. The talent pool in the 60s and 70s was huge.
Do you watch athletics on TV and will you watch any of the Indoor Euros?
I don't have a TV, my aversion to mainstream media overcomes any benefit I think I might get from having an old skool goggle box. As I said to Ray, I walked away from athletics in every sense of the word and haven't watched athletics in a couple of decades. I will again, but slowly does it
Do you read any of the other forums on Boards?
Not really, I'm faithful to A/R It's a time thing, A/R is my '5 minutes free time' indulgence. If I need to research something quickly, I'll use boards but don't follow any other forum.
Do you think runners are all just a little crazy?
Ah loaded question. Initial impulse is yes, but it's all relative. How can so many of us at a race be crazy...at a race, we represent the norm so it is the spectators who are the 'ab'normal ones...same on this forum, we are all of a similar mentality so again, we represent a norm Ask me about OCD though....I am pretty sure that a study of OCD peeps would yield a very high proportion of runners
If you could get a coaching session from anyone in the world (alive) who would you pick and why?
Ooooh if you'd have said dead, I'd have said Eddie Hogan (our coach at Donore) in a heartbeat. Legend of a man and one of the kindest, most compassionate men you could ever meet.
Here's an excerpt written by Frank Greally about Donore (in the independent.ie):
"From the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s, Donore Harriers were widely acknowledged as the powerhouse of distance running and club coach Eddie Hogan trained a succession of brilliant athletes who had a lasting impact on Irish athletics. They included Bertie Messitt, Tom O'Riordan, Tommy and Willie Dunne, Jim McNamara, Mick Connolly, Basil Clifford, Eddie Spillane and Mick Neville. The club has also produced a number of Olympians including Jimmy Reardon, Bertie Messitt, Tom O'Riordan, Willie Dunne, Jim McNamara, Sean Egan and John Menton. Legendary 400m runner Jimmy Reardon was also the first Irish athlete to be offered a US athletic scholarship and it was he who started a great Irish tradition at Villanova University in the US."
But back to the living: hmmm my knowledge of athletics/coaching is abysmal at the moment but I'm going to go with Canova. Can I put it on hold til 2016? I'm intrigued by his philosophy. I would also book a week off life afterwards
Did you find the training notebook in the attic?
I did well one of them anyway...this one is from July 1987-September 1990. I'll have a look tomorrow for the other one.
See photo #1 attached...how cute is that
#2...especially for you Os
Are you feeling a bit better today?
Yes thanks, good old exputex is doing its job and I have to say (chorus of I told you so's ), this rest is working magically. You over your nasty bout from earlier in the week?
Ooops only managed to upload #2, will try #1 in a mo0 -
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I assume that's you in the lead.... ? Or else you wouldn't have kept the photo....
Yeah, my dad kept it, it's captioned in his hand writing but ended up in my diary. It was the Junior Inter Clubs in 1991. I remember being very disappointed, I had a bad run and even walked at one stage. Pretty sure I still finished in the first 10 tho. I also remember the pressure pre-race...actually the expectations (it was off the back of the Inter Counties the previous November) and I pretty much crumbled 0 -
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Are those wine labels in the photo?!
On that subject, what is your favourite wine?
Haha Chickey, that's my child-proof oil cloth on the table. Luckily they can't read yet
I like Rioja at the moment. There's a gorgeous one in Aldi, win win every time. Can't beat a nice biscuity Cava either, got a gorgeous one in my local offie last week for a tenner. Result 0 -
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Good choice. I'll admit to not having read your log before now. I'll have to add it to my list.
Do you have any regrets about stopping running when you were a junior? With the benefit of what you know now, how good do you think you could have been if you had persevered?
I know you have touched on a few of them already, what are your long term running goals?
What plans have you for track racing, this year or in the future?
How many of the "Ladies 10 round numbers" will you hit this year? How many of the "Gentlemen's 10 round numbers" will you hit in your lifetime?
Master's running? Can't wait to hit 35 so you can start winning some prizes or a waste of the entry fee on some oul ones who should be happy to get a finishers medal?
Take That, Westlife or Boyzone ?
Good choice. I'll admit to not having read your log before now. I'll have to add it to my list.
Hey thanks. I'll admit that I've started to follow yours too. I think I shall be picking your brains a bit too!
Do you have any regrets about stopping running when you were a junior? With the benefit of what you know now, how good do you think you could have been if you had persevered?
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. That's a question with a few answers. I drew a line under it a long time ago and at the time, told myself that I was missing an essential component, i.e., the mental approach one. With hindsight, I can see that it was a maturity issue, combined/exacerbated by an eating disorder which itself was a mis-placed attempt to impose some kind of control or order on my world.
Ok, if we play the counter-factual game, let's stick in a mentor, preferably a female one who 'got it' and who I could trust wholeheartedly. With that kind of support and a more mature outlook, I think I could have made it to a respectable level on the international scene. But who knows, there are so many variables that could have painted a very different picture. Would I have stayed calm when injured? How would I have taken defeat time after time by well-known users of PEDs? Thankfully I never experienced the US collegiate system, that would have chewed me up and spat me right out :eek: It's reassuring that there is a healthy crop of Irish athletes that keep Ireland as their base. We need to support them more.
I know you have touched on a few of them already, what are your long term running goals?
Stay healthy and injury-free...and still be a runner in my 70s, first and foremost
Competitively, I'd like to aim for a national record in at least one event in each age group I enter as a master. A national title in each age group would be the icing on the cake too I really hope this doesn't look arrogant, but I want to do this properly and that involves aiming high. Jim McNamara is my inspiration for these aims. He's a living ledge.
What plans have you for track racing, this year or in the future?
This year, to dip my toes in the water via the gradeds. I'll nail down some firmer targets once that's a few meets in.
How many of the "Ladies 10 round numbers" will you hit this year? How many of the "Gentlemen's 10 round numbers" will you hit in your lifetime?
Ladies 10 this year...anything up to 9 of them. I'm not doing the marathon so definitely not 10
The original? Heh not sure. Watch this space
Master's running? Can't wait to hit 35 so you can start winning some prizes or a waste of the entry fee on some oul ones who should be happy to get a finishers medal?
Masters are consistently blowing the seniors out of the water ATM. We should be getting the seniors prizes. They can have them back when they earn them
Take That, Westlife or Boyzone ?
Blergh no, nada and non *shudder*
Thanks DNA 0 -
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Great stuff so far, DG... admiring your honesty now as well as your running!
Sorry if I missed this above, but when did you start running again? Did you really not run at all between 19 and a few years ago*? It seems that running was connected in your mind to the issues your 19-year-old self had... how did you overcome that later? Were you reluctant to get back into it or did you always miss it? (this is really all one question...)
*i'm finding it hard to imagine you not running for several days, never mind years
Thanks Anna, tbh I had reservations about doing this Q&A. I knew 'it' would come up but these ghosts have got to be laid to rest. And they have been. You could not have dragged this info out of me with wild horses even up to quite recently. But the past - like words - only has the power you allow it to have.
Not running all throughout my twenties was a process of bereavement really. Does that sound a bit ott?
I ran competitively as a junior and now as a master. Never competitively as a senior. I suppose that interim provides enough of a hiatus that allows me to approach competitive running as a completely new person if that makes sense?
That's not to say I had a complete break.
I ran in my early 30s -jogged I suppose - in an unstructured and inconsistent way. Solo too. I reached a decent level of fitness from early 2005 to the following autumn. I used to see some of the older guys from my current club running in my local park. Damn I should have joined then. If I have any regrets, it's not getting back into the club scene then! After that, I jogged very intermittently and then not at all from 2009 til 2011. Again I reached a decent level of fitness for a few months in 2011 but unstructured and solo.
And then, as you might have seen in the reply to pconn, cabin fever drove me to pick up my asics in Jan 2014 and this time joined a club and raced. My theory is that I have maintained a certain amount of muscle memory. Running is certainly in my blood 0 -
career move wrote: »Hi Dubgal
If you could punch anyone on Boards and get away with it, who'd it be?
4 people from here you would have around for dinner, why and what would you ask them to bring with them?
Could you survive without social media?
How did you meet your husband?
How did he propose?
Baking - self taught or shop bought?
Savoury or sweet?
What would be your death row meal?
Your next marathon is about to start and you need to pee. Portaloos are to far away. What do you do?
What would you do if you didn't have a coach/club?
What's your favourite race?
Which is worse childbirth or vo2 max reps?
How many bars of chocolate could you eat in one sitting?
Have you ever vomited before, during or after a race?
Most embarrassing thing that's happened to you at training or during a race?
Who is your arch nemesis?
What is your secret weapon in a race?
In 10 words or less, who is Dubgal?
What would your Patronus be?
How long can you hold a side plank leg raised after reading this?
* all questions borrowed from other threads
You win the prize for most evil questions. I'm going away to think about these.....while planking :pac: :pac: 0 -
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Hannibal Smith wrote: »How do you prepare for a race?
Do you still get nervous or do you know you'll do well...its just a matter of how well?
Thanks Hanny, good question.
I mostly focus on staying controlled and calm mentally. I haven't been able to do it consciously 'this time round' but there is a way of entering 'the zone' where your whole energies are calibrated at just the right level to allow you to pull that perfect race out of the bag.
I'm still re-learning how to race and enjoying every minute of it, even the mistakes. For example, I am really glad the wheels came off in the marathon. It taught me such a lot and I am the better runner for it now. If I had got away with it and run anywhere near my A goal time, I don't think that would have benefited me in the longer term.
I get nervous and nerves are good. Not knowing whether you'll 'do well' or even as well as the standard you have set yourself is part of the injection of adrenaline that shoots you off at the start. I love it but you really have to control it. You own it, not the other way round. Hope that makes sense 0 -
Thanks Anna, tbh I had reservations about doing this Q&A. I knew 'it' would come up but these ghosts have got to be laid to rest. And they have been. You could not have dragged this info out of me with wild horses even up to quite recently. But the past - like words - only has the power you allow it to have.
Not running all throughout my twenties was a process of bereavement really. Does that sound a bit ott?
I ran competitively as a junior and now as a master. Never competitively as a senior. I suppose that interim provides enough of a hiatus that allows me to approach competitive running as a completely new person if that makes sense?
That's not to say I had a complete break.
I ran in my early 30s -jogged I suppose - in an unstructured and inconsistent way. Solo too. I reached a decent level of fitness from early 2005 to the following autumn. I used to see some of the older guys from my current club running in my local park. Damn I should have joined then. If I have any regrets, it's not getting back into the club scene then! After that, I jogged very intermittently and then not at all from 2009 til 2011. Again I reached a decent level of fitness for a few months in 2011 but unstructured and solo.
And then, as you might have seen in the reply to pconn, cabin fever drove me to pick up my asics in Jan 2014 and this time joined a club and raced. My theory is that I have maintained a certain amount of muscle memory. Running is certainly in my blood
Well, clearly you have retained your innate talent and it seems you have rekindled the motivation to go with it... and now you have the maturity and life balance to achieve your current potential... when you are a masters legend, I can say I ran with her once, back in the day
Your story is very interesting, kudos to you for putting it out there. One of the earlier threads (Tunguska maybe? or Walshb?) talked about Martin Fagan and how he really needed a coach to look at the whole person... strikes me that very talented youths can burn out or derail so easily... so much pressure to perform (from within as much as anything) and not enough focus on what else might be going on... maybe that's starting to change a bit with all the focus on sports science and coaching, I don't know.
anyhow, good for you coming back to it and setting some big goals for yourself!0 -
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The national record for 5k o/40 is 18 minutes so I'll take anything under that and wag my tail happily.
Really enjoying this thread DG, it sounds like you and walshie are up there for national titles
Something just occured to me about this record though. Isn't Catriona 45/46? I am pretty sure she ran 16:xx for 5k a couple of time last year....0 -
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