DCM 2016: Leath maith tús na hoibre

kit3

A simple plan – be consistent

I’ve toyed with the idea of setting up a training log here for the past number of years but something always stopped me. Not really sure still if this is for me but here goes for now anyway:

A bit of background – 47 year old female (in years only – in my head I’m hovering somewhere between late 20’s early 30’s :rolleyes:).I spent my early years dancing, my 20’s and early 30’s burning the candle merrily at both ends around the music scene (great fun & brilliant times but absolutely no exercise) and the rest of my 30’s was taken up with having 3 great kids.

My OH did DCM in 2000 and was trying to get me to run at that stage – I did a little that summer but got pregnant with kiddie no 1 then and stopped. Had two more kids and ran a little between pregnancies but nothing much. Emerged from the fog of pregnancies/early childhood sleep deprivation to find myself in my 40’s, unfit, a bit overweight and needing something to ‘sort my head out’ so got the runners out again and started running in March 2009. I naively did my first half in Achill that July on very little training – pure pain fest but had to finish as the kids expected it. Since then I’ve completed 13 half and 4 full marathons and did Donadea 50k in February.

Up to now everything I’ve done has been at the same (very)slow pace. I was trying to come up with a plan to get me from Donadea to DCM but found myself getting tied up in knots looking at some of the complicated work others are doing. Having listened to wise words elsewhere I think that I still have a lot to gain simply by being consistent. I’m in one of those crazy phases of life at the moment – full time job, three kids who are all involved invarious activities but are still young enough to need you with them and some community activities which invariably come with having kids and living in acommunity !

I’ve been bad at being consistent up to this. Did well in December/January and was starting to feel the benefits but came down with a bad chest infection directly after Donadea (started coughing that night) which sidelined me for 3 weeks after that.

Ultimately I am aiming for DCM but hope to target a half or10k in June/July if I can find one that suits – my marathon pb is 4.29 and my half is 2.10. I am aiming to eventually go under 2 for the half and to get as close as possible to 4 for the marathon. My plan, for now, is a simple one – be consistent.

I am trying out the log to see if it makes me more consistent (shame me into it really). I welcome any comments/advice etc

Sorry for the long post but wanted to give a background –intend to be a lot more sparse from now on.



Wednesday – cycle to work am – 6.5 miles

Run home – 6.5 miles (1.02)



Thursday – Lunchtime run along the canal – 5.2miles – forgot watch so no time
Will be cycling home in a while - 6.5 miles

P_Fitz

That's an impressive start, do you run with others?
Best of luck with the log,

kit3

P_Fitz wrote: »

That's an impressive start, do you run with others?
Best of luck with the log,

No, I generally run on my own - up to now I've used my lunch breaks mainly but found I was not getting enough miles in. Started cycling to work last Sept & finally copped on that it was just about near enough (timewise) to run in so have been doing that quite a bit. Have to commute anyway so I find it handy not to be taking time out of family stuff. Think it would push me to run with others but haven't managed it so far

TRR_the_turd

great stuff.

Apart from DCM do you have any intermediate goals?

What would a typical training week for you look like? (miles and paces)

Would you consider jumping in and doing a club session. (Even one night a week) I can think of 3 clubs in your radius that would be perfect for you.

kit3

TRR_the_turd wrote: »

great stuff.

Apart from DCM do you have any intermediate goals?

What would a typical training week for you look like? (miles and paces)

Would you consider jumping in and doing a club session. (Even one night a week) I can think of 3 clubs in your radius that would be perfect for you.

I'd like to target either a 10k or a half in June or July but all weekends in June are taken up with family stuff (80th birthday, 2 kids birthdays & a wedding !) - away down west for July & August so I'm looking for something down that direction at the moment.

Very hard to put down what a typical week would be - I've been that inconsistent. Up to November it would have been 3/4 lunchtime runs - same 5.2 mile route, same easy pace & a long run typically 12/15 miles at some stage at the weekend. Upped it for December & January when I started running to work & would have done 2 single commutes e.g. cycle in Monday & run home, run in Wed & cycle home & two double days where I'd run in & out and then a long run at the weekend which went up to marathon distance in Jan. That was exceptional though & I was beginning to see the benefits of that consistency. I suppose I'm a bit aimless really

Would like to try a club session but am really caught up with kids activities Mon, Tues & Wed and when I'm out at work all day I don't like to disappear again as soon as I'm home. They're still young enough to want to tell you about their day etc & their Dad is usually with them in the afternoons & he is ready to disappear for a while as soon as I am in. Think I need a lunchtime club !

annapr

Good luck with the log and the training, kit3. Your times are close enough to my own... I'm very impressed that you did Donadea, the whole 50k?!

I will follow with interest, my bet is consistency will really pay off for you.

The Clearlier plan on the 2014 graduates thread is very good and not complicated, if you haven't come across it. Helped LauraAc win the Bohermeen sweepstakes!

tunguska

You have a great attitude so I know you'll take lumps out of a 2 hr half and a 50 min 10k.

kit3

annapr wrote: »

Good luck with the log and the training, kit3. Your times are close enough to my own... I'm very impressed that you did Donadea, the whole 50k?!

I will follow with interest, my bet is consistency will really pay off for you.

The Clearlier plan on the 2014 graduates thread is very good and not complicated, if you haven't come across it. Helped LauraAc win the Bohermeen sweepstakes!

Thanks Anna. Donadea - what can I say ? First off, it's a really special event, fantastic organisation, atmosphere and a beautiful run. The best I could say about me this year is that I finished it ! I kinda fell into it by accident really - was supposed to be doing DCM but ended up sick for 3 weeks beforehand & couldn't do it. Ultraman1 very kindly (& generously) entered me in Donadea although I knew I wouldn't make the 5 hour cut off. I thought going into it that I'd be about 5.15 or thereabouts but on the day felt bad from the first lap. Found 9 out of the 10 laps very tough mentally but absolutely loved the final one - suppose I knew I'd make it at that stage ! One thing it taught me is that I'm able to tough it out when it's not easy - the mental game is a big part of it. Would love to go back next year & do justice to it but will only do so if I get a good marathon time in the meantime & feel I can finish inside the cut off - unfinished business :rolleyes: Will have a look at that thread - thanks for the recommendation.

kit3

tunguska wrote: »

You have a great attitude so I know you'll take lumps out of a 2 hr half and a 50 min 10k.

Ha - don't know about taking lumps ! Thanks though

SamforMayo

Hi Kit, good luck with the log! There are quite a few 10 km around Ballina, Crossmolina and one in Belmullet in July/ August( you could borrow a boat!) is that too far for you? Let me know if you want dates. They are evening races. Nice enough routes.

kit3

SamforMayo wrote: »

Hi Kit, good luck with the log! There are quite a few 10 km around Ballina, Crossmolina and one in Belmullet in July/ August( you could borrow a boat!) is that too far for you? Let me know if you want dates. They are evening races. Nice enough routes.

Thanks for that Sam - will check out dates & get back to you - in Achill for the summer but have to be in Donegal the weekend of the first half & 10k that's on in July & will be back in Dublin by the time the second one is on !

laura_ac3

Best of luck with the log kit, will follow with interest. My half time before bohermeen was very similar (2:13) to yours and as you've said for yourself I think consistency was a big thing for me. Are you intending to follow a particular plan at all? I only kept an eye on it as I've been following the clearlier plan but would you look at the continuity thread ecoli had going for a while? It might help you add some speed work to the easy miles if you can't make it to any club sessions. Good luck with it all.

kit3

laura_ac3 wrote: »

Best of luck with the log kit, will follow with interest. My half time before bohermeen was very similar (2:13) to yours and as you've said for yourself I think consistency was a big thing for me. Are you intending to follow a particular plan at all? I only kept an eye on it as I've been following the clearlier plan but would you look at the continuity thread ecoli had going for a while? It might help you add some speed work to the easy miles if you can't make it to any club sessions. Good luck with it all.

Thanks Laura - yes, was going to have a look at the continuity plan alright - would have tried it from the beginning but thought I'd be better just upping the mileage for Donadea. Going to keep it fairly handy this week & next (after a 3 week layoff) & see where I go then.

That was some improvement - well done !

TRR_the_turd

kit3 wrote: »

Would like to try a club session but am really caught up with kids activities Mon, Tues & Wed and when I'm out at work all day I don't like to disappear again as soon as I'm home. They're still young enough to want to tell you about their day etc & their Dad is usually with them in the afternoons & he is ready to disappear for a while as soon as I am in. Think I need a lunchtime club !

Totally get that. I actually have made about 3 club sessions in the last 5 years so I'm not one to really talk

I'm lucky in that I have people to run with most lunch times and what's even better is that they vary in ability. Some are slower and some are faster so it's great in that I can plan on running hard with the fast guys (well guy actually there's only one faster than me ) and slow with the slow guys. Maybe you should post something in the training/meeting up thread on the main forum and see if anyone works close to you! Might be worth a shot.

Most clubs have a session on a Thursday, don't think you listed Thursday so maybe that could be an option? Totally understand the missing all day thing though.

P_Fitz

Get the kids to join the club! (if they're interested)

You're more experienced that I am kit3, but i definitely recommend joining a club. You'd be amazed how quicker you'd become, and having others to run with is great. Also, if you join a club you'll meet people in similar situations as yourself and want to run at different times.

kit3

P_Fitz wrote: »

Get the kids to join the club! (if they're interested)

You're more experienced that I am kit3, but i definitely recommend joining a club. You'd be amazed how quicker you'd become, and having others to run with is great. Also, if you join a club you'll meet people in similar situations as yourself and want to run at different times.

Thanks - I do get what you're saying - as it happens, kiddie no 2 started with Tallaght on Monday - her session is early though 6pm & didn't see much other activity at that stage. She might end up going on a Thursday also but has school training on atm so don't want to overburden her. Will see how it all pans out - might be an option if she settles in there.

menoscemo

kit3 wrote: »

Thanks - I do get what you're saying - as it happens, kiddie no 2 started with Tallaght on Monday - her session is early though 6pm & didn't see much other activity at that stage. She might end up going on a Thursday also but has school training on atm so don't want to overburden her. Will see how it all pans out - might be an option if she settles in there.

There are generally just easy runs on a Monday. There are a few groups but generally leave from the clubhouse at 6:15. Lots of the member use the kids training to do their own...

Welcome to the logs btw!!

kit3

menoscemo wrote: »

There are generally just easy runs on a Monday. There are a few groups but generally leave from the clubhouse at 6:15. Lots of the member use the kids training to do their own...

Welcome to the logs btw!!

Thanks - will let her settle in first (would not let her on her own to begin with) and will suss it out then - might just work

kit3

Friday am - cycle to work - usually at a fair clip going in because I'm nearly always tight for time ! 6.5 miles

Friday lunchtime - usual run along the canal at a relaxed pace so was surprised to see 46.20 on the watch (good enough time for me). 5.2 miles

Friday pm - cycle home - 6.5 miles

Dubgal72

Welcome to logs kit! You certainly sound like an expert juggler Best of luck with the goals, you're right: here is a great place to keep you honest and consistent...we'll crack the whip

kit3

Dubgal72 wrote: »

Welcome to logs kit! You certainly sound like an expert juggler Best of luck with the goals, you're right: here is a great place to keep you honest and consistent...we'll crack the whip

Thanks - think it'll be a place to see where my excuses are - have gaps in my paper log & know that, at the time, I had reasons but can't remember what they were (excluding the odd word like sick or nose - my worst running injury :rolleyes:)

Runchick

Great to see this log started kit3! Always encouraging to hear of other busy mummies able to juggle things to keep running!! Well done on the 50k, really hope to do it myself one day

hillsiderunner

kit3 wrote: »

Thanks - think it'll be a place to see where my excuses are - have gaps in my paper log & know that, at the time, I had reasons but can't remember what they were (excluding the odd word like sick or nose - my worst running injury :rolleyes:)

Main advantage is that it'll reduce the gaps because you'll be thinking of what you're coming on here to write .

If you want to see what consistency can do for you, take a look at adrian522's log! At least I'm hoping to see some fraction of his improvements once I've done a few consistent months :rolleyes:

ThebitterLemon

You didn't attack Ultraman on his run today by any chance Kit

TbL

kit3

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

You didn't attack Ultraman on his run today by any chance Kit

TbL

Are you saying I'm an auld bat ???? :eek::cool:

No - he's not on my target list Think he might be a target elsewhere though (not Duleek but somewhat similar )

kit3

Just a quick update to keep this log alive - would be a pity for it to meet its demise in the first week :cool: Very little to update from a running perspective I'm afraid Crazy week in our house with two birthdays & 3 parties all in the space of 4 days.

Saturday am - some necessary cross training in the form of cleaning the house had to take priority but had decided to take a rest day in any case as I'm still easing into it. Saturday pm was spent with the eldest at his football match - hate 'away' matches as they take up a ridiculous amount of time - won a tight match by a point though so happy days

Sunday am - U9 girls football match; Sunday pm U12 girls football match. Had hoped to get out for a short run today but left it too late. Lesson learned - had originally intended getting up early & getting the run in before the first match (9.30) but had hit the leaba at 3.30am so hit the snooze button - mistake in hindsight as I didn't get another opportunity.

Monday am - cycle to work 6.5 miles - no lunchtime run - priority shopping for kiddie birthday on Tuesday
Monday pm - cycle home - approx 7 miles or so - had to detour due to a rogue swan who was snapping at people & nearly got me on the way in - was too chicken to pass him in the end
Tuesday - I work from home on a Tuesday & would normally get a run in but had the birthday girl with me so went out for the day with her followed by an evening party. First opportunity to go was at 10.30 & felt it was a bit late for a lone female to be wandering the streets.
Wednesday am - Cycle to work - 6.5 miles
Lunchtime - usual run along the canal. Felt good from the outset so just went with it - pace could be described as 'comfortable hard' for the first half (to turnaround), followed by a short 'comfortable' section before picking it up again for the rest of the run. Really happy with this. Think the only other time I felt this good on a run was the day I fell & broke my nose so I was extra careful to lift my feet on the final straight :rolleyes: 5.2 miles in 41.52 (a run that used to take me 60 minutes when I started out).

Wednesday pm - cycle home 6.5 miles

Thursday am - cycle to work 6.5 miles & will be cycling home in a while. No lunchtime run today - hit the leaba at 3.45am & was up again at 6.30 - will see how I am later but now am struggling to stay awake.

Am seeing a problem with a lack of a plan to follow so will try to nail something down from next week onwards.

kildaremum

Well done on the lunchtime run - you're doing well to be still awake. Even if you can't get out to run this week at least the cycling is keeping you going.

kit3

kildaremum wrote: »

Well done on the lunchtime run - you're doing well to be still awake. Even if you can't get out to run this week at least the cycling is keeping you going.

Yeah, the cycling keeps me ticking over although it's a frustrating week tbh, this needs to be more about running than cycling

TRR_the_turd

do you mind me asking why you are heading to bed so late? Is it work/family related or lifestyle (drinking and fecking ) ?

kit3

TRR_the_turd wrote: »

do you mind me asking why you are heading to bed so late? Is it work/family related or lifestyle (drinking and fecking ) ?

I'm a night owl by nature but not usually that late nowadays although it would always be past midnight. Was out on Saturday (but driving - never managed to get the hang of drinking). Went down the road on Wednesday to hear two friends playing a gig with the intention of being back at about 11 because I'd promised my daughter I'd put some pictures into a project she had to have in school on Thursday. Got back at 1 & had major hassle finding the right family pictures (ended up thrawling through Facebook for them) so ended up taking a lot longer than I thought. In fairness, this is not a typical week - sitting here now with twelve 11 year olds partying around me & it's himself's birthday today too

kit3

Back on track after a silly/crazy week on the domestic front last week!

Saturday - easy run in Corkagh Park - legs felt very heavy throughout - 3 miles in 30 minutes

Sunday - Corkagh park again - 6 miles in 57.42 - still fairly handy but legs felt much better. Fairly windy - nearly took me off my feet at one stage - good fun though. Wind reminds me of my Achill runs where it's almost always windy :rolleyes:

Monday am - Cycle to work 6.5 miles

Monday Lunchtime - Steady run along usual route on the canal - 5.2 miles in 42.51 - happy with this one, felt strong throughout (first soaking of the day)

Monday pm - Cycle home 6.5 miles - character building this one - mad wind & rain into my face the whole way & a bunch of gougers in a car threatening to have someone at the next bridge to rob my bag if I didn't sell them my bike ! (second soaking of the day)

Finished off Monday watching U14 football match (soaking & freezing no3) and walking the dog (soaking no 4).

Tuesday - Very easy loop from the house - 3 miles in 31.37 - legs a bit tired at the start but fine by the time I finished.