Can I really do this?

gypsylee

Half Marathon Plan

Monday 17th July

The plan called for a 5 mile run. Waited til after 8 p.m. to head out in the hope that the weather might be cooler. It wasn't!

Time: 54.50 Distance: 8.1 km.

Splits: 6.35, 6.46, 6.30, 6.42, 6.44, 6.40, 7.02, 6.59, 6.38 (0.1)

Wednesday 19th July

It was lashing rain just before I set out at 8 p.m. but the clouds cleared as I headed out but it was still very warm. Lots of puddles and snails around so had to concentrate on avoiding those! It was a different route than Monday but the distance was the exact same to home!

Time: 51.35. Distance: 8.1 km.

Splits: 6.12, 6.01, 6.11, 6.19, 6.27, 6.13, 6.34, 6.34, 6.35 (0.1).

Got a cramp in my leg in the last kilometre which has never happened before. Did some foam rolling when I got home, rubbed some Deep Heat into my legs. Have to say I am wrecked this morning though even though I slept well and my whole body feels a bit stiff. I think this may be due to the longer runs on the plan (still not that long but longer than I am used to). Three more weeks to go until the Half Marathon. After that I plan to focus on improving my 5 km and 10 km times.

gypsylee

Half Marathon Plan

The plan called for a cross/run on Saturday so I did 45 mins walking/slow running with my sister who has shown an interest in completing a 5 km at the end of August. She has never ran before so I am encouraging her to stick with it. Hopefully she will.

Sunday 23rd July

As per Ariana's advice I did a step back week for my lsr of 13 km. It was perfect weather conditions for it.

My plan on the 13th of August is to try and run the first 16 kilometres or so at a 7 minute pace and hopefully have something left to kick on into the 6s for the last 5 km. I dont want to go out too fast and die before the finish line. With this in mind I decided to do the first few kilometres at HM pace and see how it felt.

Time: 1.34.40. Distance: 13.4 km.

Splits: 6.27, 6.57, 6.54, 6.52, 6.48, 6.54, 6.47, 7.12, 7.10, 7.16 then slowed down to 7.36, 7.22, 7.23, 6.54 (0.4).

I felt comfortable throughout the run, took a one minute break around 8 km as I expect to do the same in the HM.

Hopefully things will go right on the day and I wont be too far off the 2 hour 30 mins finish.

ariana`

gypsylee wrote: »

Half Marathon Plan

The plan called for a cross/run on Saturday so I did 45 mins walking/slow running with my sister who has shown an interest in completing a 5 km at the end of August. She has never ran before so I am encouraging her to stick with it. Hopefully she will.

Sunday 23rd July

As per Ariana's advice I did a step back week for my lsr of 13 km. It was perfect weather conditions for it.

My plan on the 13th of August is to try and run the first 16 kilometres or so at a 7 minute pace and hopefully have something left to kick on into the 6s for the last 5 km. I dont want to go out too fast and die before the finish line. With this in mind I decided to do the first few kilometres at HM pace and see how it felt.

Time: 1.34.40. Distance: 13.4 km.

Splits: 6.27, 6.57, 6.54, 6.52, 6.48, 6.54, 6.47, 7.12, 7.10, 7.16 then slowed down to 7.36, 7.22, 7.23, 6.54 (0.4).

I felt comfortable throughout the run, took a one minute break around 8 km as I expect to do the same in the HM.

Hopefully things will go right on the day and I wont be too far off the 2 hour 30 mins finish.

Well done. Splits of 6:55 min/km will bring you in well under 2.5 hrs. Based on the Splits from your long runs you are well capable of this. I would aim for even splits all the way, nice & steady! You may feel able to go quicker in the early kms but conserve it for the last few kms.

Huzzah!

I think there are pacers for the RNR if that helps...

gypsylee

Huzzah! wrote: »

I think there are pacers for the RNR if that helps...

Thanks Huzzah. Think I will stick with the 2 hr 30 pacer and see how I get on. My only concern is if I need to make a toilet stop I will fall way behind the pacer and struggle to catch up. Anyway will see how it goes on the day.

gypsylee

Half Marathon Plan

Tuesday 25th July

The plan called for a 5 mile run. Found this one very tough and had to stop a couple of times. It was very muggy out.
Anyway got it done and was happy with time. Legs were stiff the next morning though.

Time: 50.50. Distance: 8 km.

Splits: 6.15, 6.14, 6.10, 6.21, 6.14, 6.20, 6.20, 6.34.

Wednesday 26th July

The plan stated a 3 mile run/cross so I went for a run/walk with my sister to support her as she begins training for a 5 km run. 5.1 km in 45.50 minutes. Legs felt fine.

I am supposed to do another 5 mile run this evening but I am passing on it. Saving my legs for my longest LSR on Saturday of 18 km. Hoping to get out early. Fingers crossed it goes well.

My bib number arrived for the HM and I got a wee shiver as it makes it real now!

Huzzah!

gypsylee wrote: »

Thanks Huzzah. Think I will stick with the 2 hr 30 pacer and see how I get on. My only concern is if I need to make a toilet stop I will fall way behind the pacer and struggle to catch up. Anyway will see how it goes on the day.

I might be joining you in that pace group. Half thinking of doing it as my long run that week. I entered on St Patrick's Day for €17 or something but am focusing on the Dublin half instead. Still and all, it would be a shame to let the entry go to waste... decisions, decisions!

gypsylee

Huzzah! wrote: »

I might be joining you in that pace group. Half thinking of doing it as my long run that week. I entered on St Patrick's Day for €17 or something but am focusing on the Dublin half instead. Still and all, it would be a shame to let the entry go to waste... decisions, decisions!

Ah sure you can't waste the entry! It will be a great day and you can do it as an easy run.

gypsylee

Half Marathon Plan

Did my last long slow run in on Saturday morning. I felt nervous beforehand as I was unsure whether I would stay the distance.

Set off about 8.10. Weather was perfect, dull and overcast, not too warm. I did a 9 km run and out and then back the same route. 12 kilometres of it was on a country road I had not ran before so it was enjoyable looking at different fields and houses! Felt strong throughout the run. Stopped at the turnaround at 9 km to have a couple of jelly babies and a sliver of Mars bar. They hit the spot nicely. Stopped again at 15.5 km to do the same. I felt more energised after those (although that might have been mental rather than physical). Delighted to have this run in the bag and feeling prepared for the big day on Sunday week. If it goes as well as this run I will be a happy woman.

Time: 2.10.50 Distance: 18.6 km.

Splits: 7.11, 7.01, 7.26, 7.13, 7.10, 7.03, 7.11, 7.04, 7.00, 7.26, 6.58, 7.02, 7.13, 6.58, 6.49, 6.55, 6.39, 6.23, 6.06 (0.6).

Happy with these splits and delighted to be able to finish in the 6 splits.

Sunny Dayz

Wow that's a great finish, you'll be flying it on the day!

pgarr

Very solid running gypsy. Always important to try out the nutrition in a training run or two.

ariana`

Well done, super long run. And great to be able to pick up the pace for the last 5km like that. You are well prepared for sub 2:30.

gypsylee

Half Marathon Plan

Tuesday 1st August

Got out with my sister for a 5 km walk/slow run.

Time: 48.27. Distance: 5 km.

Wednesday 2nd August

Did not want to go out for a run. Pushed myself out the door. Did not enjoy this one and was a lot shorter than I should have done. A mental struggle.

Time: 31.40. Distance: 5.1 km.

Splits: 5.58, 6.00, 6.10, 6.38, 5.56, 6.16 (0.1).

Thursday 3rd August

A walk/run with my sister. 5 km in 46.30. Her time is improving.

Saturday 5th August

My last LSR before the Half. 10 km approx in 1 hour 20 mins (Strava fail!)

Splits from 3 km approx.

7.20, 6.46, 6.47, 6.33, 6.45, 6.46, 6.56.

No runs this week as I try and get ready for the Half on Sunday. I will be so glad when I have it done. I even had a dream about it last night! I have all sorts of imaginary pains in my hip, my knees, ankles! I cant wait to get back to doing just 5 km and 10 km runs. I don't know if I would have the patience (or the fitness!) for a full marathon plan.

I will do a 5 km run/walk with my sister on Thursday and that is all the exercise I intend to do this week.

The nerves have hit me big time!

Sunny Dayz

gypsylee wrote: »

No runs this week as I try and get ready for the Half on Sunday. I will be so glad when I have it done. I even had a dream about it last night! I have all sorts of imaginary pains in my hip, my knees, ankles! I cant wait to get back to doing just 5 km and 10 km runs. I don't know if I would have the patience (or the fitness!) for a full marathon plan.

I will do a 5 km run/walk with my sister on Thursday and that is all the exercise I intend to do this week.

The nerves have hit me big time!

Well done! I've been following your training on your log, best of luck on Sunday. I know how you feel with a lot of what you have said above.

pgarr

Think we all say that. After the half you may find that you enjoyed it so much you fancy a crack at a full !

Best of luck gypsy - visualise crossing the line and remember the training you've done!

juke

I am on a similar journey - hoping to do the DC half in September.

It's a struggle to fit in all the extra k's when we're tired. gypsylee, hope you have a great run. I'll look for your report with interest.

Huzzah!

gypsylee wrote: »

Half Marathon Plan

No runs this week as I try and get ready for the Half on Sunday. I will be so glad when I have it done. I even had a dream about it last night! I have all sorts of imaginary pains in my hip, my knees, ankles! I cant wait to get back to doing just 5 km and 10 km runs. I don't know if I would have the patience (or the fitness!) for a full marathon plan.

The nerves have hit me big time!

Ah, taper madness It's perfectly normal to feel like you're falling apart the week before a race. At least I hope it is, because I always do! The very best of luck to you on Sunday. You've put in the training and you'll fly it

gypsylee

D-Day is nearly here!

I was itching to get out for a run last night. Went with my sister, who is only just starting to run and my daughter.
Did a 5 km in 44 minutes. An improvement of over two minutes for my sister since last Thursday. Delighted with that.

That's me done now until Sunday morning. Although I am very nervous I am also quietly confident that I can do this and run a good race (by my standards!).

I have had a good week food wise and drink wise (looking forward to a couple of vodkas on Sunday night!) so I am feeling prepared for the Half. I am hydrated and rested so I can do no more.

Good luck to anyone reading this who is also running over the weekend.

Sunny Dayz

The very best of luck to you Gypsylee!
You have put in some good training, you will have no bother completing it on the day. Savour it and enjoy it!

ariana`

The work is done now gypsylee, best of luck with the run, I hope it all goes to plan for you. I'll be looking forward to reading your race report

Baby75

Hi gypsylee just finished reading your training log with great interest as my running times were very similar to your's I also ran in the Charlie Curran run and we would have only been feet from each other, I was also hoping for a better time than I got but I learnt a lot from that run

I hope today went excellent for you and I am also looking forward to reading your race support, it was a race I wanted to do but I am running the Frank Duffy and half in September

Keep up the great running

gypsylee

Half Marathon Report

What can I say? I completed the Half yesterday, a bit disappointed with the time but I will be back next year to better it!

Official time of 2 hours 44 minutes (not the 2 hour 30 minutes I had hoped for)

Splits: 6.24, 6.14, 6.00, 6.07, 6.23, 6.49, 7.04, 6.48, 7.09, 7.10, 7.40, 7.23, 8.08, 8.28, 8.07, 8.10, 6.33, 8.49, 7.43, 8.22, 8.18, 7.58.

I drove to the Red Cow, got the first Luas to the Point, was there by 7.30. Lovely atmosphere, perfect weather conditions. It was 8.50 before I crossed the start line.

1 - 6 km

Really enjoyed the first few kilometres, it was lovely running through the city, felt good.

7 km - 10 km

My stomach starting feeling dodgy around the 8km mark. I don't know what caused it, I had not eaten anything different, maybe it was nerves. Started walking a bit around this point.

10 km to 15 km

This was mental torture. Really hit a wall, everytime I tried to run my stomach started heaving, struggled big time to keep going. Found these few kilometres lonely too being on my own even though I was surrounded by people. I run on my own all the time and it has never bothered me before but it was hard yesterday. I started thinking about my Dad too who passed away two months ago and asked him to give me the strength to keep going. I think he heard me!

15 km to 21 km

The 2.45 pacers caught up with me at this point and I said I would try and keep them in my sights. They were two lovely girls, very encouraging. I had decided that if I finished in 2 hours 50 minutes I would be happy with that. I could see the pacers getting further away from me but I just could not keep running. I walked a far bit. The uphill didn't help either! Seeing a girl collapsed on the side of the road being attended to by ambulance personnel was a sobering moment. I hope she was okay.

Just before the 20 km point the 2.45 pacers ran past me going the other way. They said they were finishing too quickly. That spurred me on a bit as I thought I might just finish in less than 2 hours 45.

The Finish Line

Seeing the finish line was amazing. I actually welled up and I cried crossing the line. It was such a special moment for me and I was quite emotional. Being handed that medal was so worth finishing for. Love the t-shirt too. My daughter, who had got up at 5.00 a.m. to come with me, was at the finish line too and it was lovely to have her there waiting for me.

My legs are a bit stiff today, didn't stretch as much as I should have yesterday. It was a long walk from the finish line back to Heuston to get the Luas. The queues for the shuttle buses were so long that we didn't wait for them.


I am happy to be able to say I completed a Half Marathon, albeit a slow one. I know that I will never complete a full Marathon and yesterday just confirmed that with me but I hope to do a few more Half Marathons. For the rest of this year I am going to concentrate on improving my 5 km and 10 km times. I want to run for the sheer enjoyment of it and not be under any pressure to go longer distances.

Sunny Dayz

Well done Gypsylee. I was looking forward to reading your race report. That was a tough race, the Phoenix Park was hard going. Judging by your first 5km you may passed me by here somewhere (did you pass the 2:30 pacers?) I can concur with a lot of what you have said in your post.

ariana`

Great report and great race, really well done gypsylee. Your dad would be proud and so should you be. That's a great achievement whatever the time

Huzzah!

Congratulations on completing your first half! As Ariana said, it's a really great achievement, one that you can be proud of.

pgarr

Superb effort Gypsy! Sounds like you broke through some real mental barriers to get the 13.1 in.

Nothing can stop you now mate

juke

Gypsylee, a great, honest report. Well done on what sounds like was a tough day.

gypsylee

Thanks for all the kind words of support. I am feeling better now about the time, I know I can improve on it and it is still a PB!! Delighted with how my legs feel after it, I thought I would be in pain for a few days.

Got out for a slow 5 km with my sister last night, felt good to stretch the legs a bit.

I have a 5 km run next Thursday evening and a 10 km in September. Focusing on these distances now.

Younganne

Congratulations on completing your first Half marathon. It was a tough course and the park was hard, but you gritted it out and finished in a very respectable time.
Be very proud of your achievement and your Dad would be very proud too. Onwards to your next goal, you know you can achieve whatever you want with your guts and determination.

gypsylee

Friday 18th August

Having not ran at a good pace since the Half Marathon my legs were itching for a stretch so I ran after work.

Happy with the time.

Time: 30.20. Distance: 5 km

Splits: 5.56, 5.59, 6.14, 6.17, 5.53.

Sunday 20th August

Although I am not following a plan or have a specific goal in mind I intend to continue with a LSR at the weekend so I don't lose what fitness I have. I always enjoy these early morning runs and will increase the distance over the next few weeks.

Time: 1 hr 8 mins. Distance: 10 km.

Splits: 6.36,6.43, 6.40, 6.55, 6.39, 6.55, 7.10, 7.07, 7.00, 6.52.

A few weeks ago these splits would have meant I was running at a fast pace and now they make up my LSR. Great to see my fitness improving.

I am running a 5 km local charity run tomorrow evening, first time doing one in the evening time after work so this will be interesting. Not going all out, will be happy to finish under 32 minutes.