The (Not So) Flying Scotsman

scotindublin

Time to get the training log back on track ( may have lost the audience after that terrible joke in reference to the real Flying Scotsman) and out of cold (some folks on my Strava seem to think it is cold just now) storage.

A quick overview of the year so far, training has been extremely consistent, in fact running has been a constant during the whole Covid situation in general.Currently sitting on just over 2300 miles for the year which is by far my highest mileage in a calendar year.

In terms of races I dipped my toe into a bit of track over the summer in the Graded Meets (3000,1500), different and enjoyable, ok the 1500 was probably torture but it was still worthwhile doing. Ran leg 1 for our Masters M35 B team in the Nat Road Relays and ran a decent PB in the Tallaght 5k last weekend, where I got to catch up with E/C and S always good to chat to some fellow boards folks.

Like some I got caught up the the race sign up frenzie when races were announced again (hopefully these go ahead) so have entries for the Raheny 5 Mile and the Trim 10 at the end of Jan/early Feb.......maybe not wise to race both so will have to target one I think, would ordinarily have the Dublin Masters in January but fingers crossed I will be in Scotland that weekend.

Goals for 2022 will be split between shorter stuff for the first portion of the year and longer for the end part; so sub 30 5 mile and setting a long over due 10k PB (currently sitting at 38.08 from 2018 I think) will be two main ones, I also plan to run the Nat Road Relays again as it is a brilliant day of both racing and watching racing. From the middle of summer the focus will flip to marathon specific training as I have an entry for Chicago which is on October 9th, it is going to have to be a sub 3 tilt, hopefully have a decent rattle at a 1/2 Marathon during the training block,most likely Tullamore.

So here we are plan to log more regularly but won't prattle on like above.

Hopefully see some of you guys at the Jingle Bells 5k in December, I will be one of the idiots in the Elf Suits.

Cheers C

Swashbuckler

Good to see you back logging - impressive consistency this year. Very decent mileage especially under the circumstances.

Laineyfrecks

Great to see you back logging. "Some folks" merely mentioned it was a bit chilly🙄

Great consistent running & some really good targets for next year, See ye at Jingle bells also dressed like an "idiot" 😉🎄🧝‍♀️

P.s you really wouldn't want to be sensitive around here🤣🤣

scotindublin

Thanks both; my logging has always been pretty sporadic at the best of times,defefinitely something to change as we move into next year. Even just to keep myself honest and to share with folks what we are doing in terms of club training etc.

One thing that Covid has taught me is that even though I do like the club structure I don't 100% need this to keep me motivated, I didnt really find it hard to keep up sessions on my own, I think this comes from playing a more individual sport (golf) when I was younger right through to my mid 30s when I started running. I do still get a great buzz out of our group Sunday runs though which I did miss, nothing is sacred on these runs and you wouldn't believe some of the topics that get discussed.

Great that "some folks" are not easily offended; gotta keep the bants up and if you can't give your friends a bit of a ribbing all hope is lost!

Also really looking forward to keeping track of your marathon training @Swashbuckler it seems we are going to have very similar goals, it will be a tough road but I have no doubt we can get there.

Swashbuckler

Cheers C. An exciting new chapter for me anyway. Its been a long time since I've specifically targeted a race, let alone a debut marathon. Will be following your progress with interest too. You have some nice targets for the shorter stuff too. Sub 30 5M is a nice one to tick off.

Murph_D

Best of luck, sir. That 5k PB in Tallaght was impressive. Well done. Good to hear is more boards runners doing the graded meets too - they are always a worthwhile experience.

Look forward to the log. Especially the Chicago prep bit as I’ll be doing it too.

scotindublin

Thanks for the positive comments D; I definitely think that Graded Meets helped to get to where I did in Tallaght a couple of weeks ago. As a club we had a good representation at the meets over the summer and definitely something our group will be recommended to do in 2022. This is going to sound a little silly but I actually found the 1500 a bit claustrophobic (maybe not the right term) but it is really different running at pace in such close proximity to folks.

Class that you are doing Chicago as well; there are a few of us heading over. Only heard good reports on the marathon. Mini boards meet in the offing!

scotindublin

Update for week ending Novemeber 28th.

Mileage for the week: 54 / Mileage for the year 2350.

Monday 6.1 miles at 8.23. Some nice easy miles on one of my go to loops from work heading down the Malahide Road into Malahide round the tennis courts and back to work via the coast road. One thing that I have changed over the last 6 months is the pace of easy days, I tend to run these around 8.30 pace now.

Tuesday, session day on the track and the first session I have really got stuck into since Tallaght. 16 x 300s with a 300 recovery was the order of the day. The way the session fell I ended up doing this pretty much solo. 16 solid efforts all between 59 and 61 seconds.

A 2 mile warm up and cool down thrown in got this up to over 10 miles for the evening.

Wednesday 7.24 miles at 8.31, headed out after work again. Down the Feltrim Road past the quarry and into Malahide via the back of the castle, then swung back to work via the Yellow Walls. Probably a route that won't be repeated on the dark evenings.

Thursday 6.2 miles at 7.57, met one of the lads from the club for a loop in the park. Nice to have some company for the run. Note the change in pace when I don't run solo. Tired at the end as it was the 7th day of running in a row.

Saturday session day 15 x 500s on our 2km loop starting at the camogie pitches in the park. Recovery was to be 200 and as this was a Fartlek session we couod vary the efforts on the 500s. Reps were between 1.50 and 2.10 dependant on effort and also the wind factor as it was fairly blowing. Gutssed it out in the singlet which got some comments, made sure to have layers for the cool down. A few of us headed for coffee afterwards which was nice and something we try to do every couple of weekends whether it be after the Saturday session or the Sunday long run.

Sunday 14.7 at 7.46 up early and down to the club for 0800 to get the Sunday run done, nice loop of the Memorial Park then back to pick up a few others at 08.30 to continue the run in the Phoeno. The pace tends to ramp up when we head down the North Road,no exception to that today. Nice group of about 10 this morning and as usual the miles flew by.

Spent the afternoon with a few lads from the club watching St Pats lift the FAI Cup, enjoyable day in the end.

Just the one session this week which will be on the Chapo Road, Saturday will be an early start and a donning of the Elf Suit for the Jingle Bells 5k, the stewards will be assembling at the club for 0730. Hopefully a few of you are racing on the day, it is a route primed for a PB if you can just be strong until the Chesterfield turn off. All guns a blazing from the Furze junction to the end. Great to have the race back and a big fundraiser for the club

Cheers all C

Murph_D

Looking forward to JB. Is there a ‘flying mile’ this year? Nice week.

scotindublin

Thanks D, pretty sure we don't have a flying mile this year. Just need to go for the flying 3.1 mile.

scotindublin

Laineyfrecks

Will there be a bagdrop C?

scotindublin

@Laineyfrecks will confirm this evening as there is a JB meeting, the last I heard was that there wasn't going to be one.

scotindublin

News off the press is that there will be a bag drop, we will be setting up one of the Donore Tents between the start line and the Chapelizod end of the acres road.

C

Laineyfrecks

Thats great, thanks a mill 😊

scotindublin

Somewhere to leave your 20 layers of gear if it is less than 10c 😂😂

Laineyfrecks

Smartarse🤣🤣

scotindublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118243244#Comment_118243244

I couldn't resist 😆 🤣. Think we are pretty much all systems go for the weekend.

Some set up to do Friday and an early start for the Elves on Saturday morning.

Hoping for some favourable weather now 🙏

Laineyfrecks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118253278#Comment_118253278

You should be on stage😉🤣

Ah that's great to hear! My own elf running gear is ready to go😁 looking forward to it now & yep hoping for some decent running weather 🙏

See you Sat😊🎄🎅

Murph_D

Great setup and smooth organisation today, well done to all at Donore. Not sure if that was yourself in the Elf Suit chatting to E afterwards, was about to enquire and got distracted!

scotindublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118269905#Comment_118269905

Thanks D for the positive words on the JB 5k; I think we may have been in trouble if it was this morning.

Indeed that was my goodself chatting to E briefly, I think I got dragged away to do something at the finish area.

Great to have the race back yesterday and always a good buzz around the park when it is on.

scotindublin

Weekly update a bit of a meh week in terms of my own training. Just the 44 miles over 5 days.

Had Monday off after watching Pats lift the cup at a baltic Aviva on Sunday. Met one of the girls for 8 miles in the morning, bit of a ramble in the Phoeno a bit pacier than a normal Monday.

Tuesday - Session of 16 x 400s with a 200 rec on the Chapo Road, one that wasn't looking good on the drive home from work. Reps were all between 79/85 seconds so consistant enough.

Wednesday 6.76 miles at 8.24, an urban ramble out to Woodies and back home along the N4, a fairly standard winter route.

Thursday - Stuck in work until after 7 and it was lashing.....bottled it.

Friday 4 of us headed out from the club for a spin in the Phoeno for 8 miles. Got that done then put the km markers out for the JB 5k, a couple of hours at home then back down to the Club for final JB 5k loading of stuff into the vans for Saturday morning.......Friday evening went Hairy Lemon/Market Bar then Nolita which resulted in a worse for ware stewarding gig on Saturday.

Saturday; down to DH early doors at 7 to get the stewards primed and out into the Park. Needless to say I was in no fit state to drive down so was dropped by the real boss.

Great to catch up with a few familiar faces and I think everything went fairly well with the race, great to have it back and some serious times. Course cleared afterwards and back home for 1pm

Sunday 10 miles at 8.06, wasn't feeling the most lively so kept it short and easy enough. Park was pretty slippy with the ice this morning so plenty on the trails.

Back to 6 days and 2 sessions this coming week.

Thanks C

Swashbuckler

Nothing wrong with that week. 44 miles. 5 days. A fantastic race organised. And well earned pints....I think we call that a down week......fitness isn't lost with the odd hard session (drinking).

scotindublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118298352#Comment_118298352

Thanks P, to be honest a few weeks like that probably wouldn't go a miss....well maybe minus the epic drinking night. Haven't really had a break from running this year.....usually take a couple of weeks off when we have our summer holiday, Covid put paid to that this year.

scotindublin

Weekly Update

50 miles over 6 days, only one session this week as the planned Tuesday session was called off due to the fairly ropey forecast.

Monday : unplanned day off, had planned to get out but spent the guts of 2 hrs stuck on the M50 on the way home, heart wasn't in it after that.

Tuesday : with no session planned just headed out for a loop of Chapelizod/Islandbridge and back home through Ballyer. 7.5 miles at 7.21, a bit of a run of 2 half's as the second half home was into the wind and rain.

Wednesday: 6.5 miles at 7.49, fairly standard loop out to Woodies and home, always grim along the N4.

Thursday 7.25 at 8.02 late enough getting out due to work so just headed out on a Chapelizod/ Islandbridge Loop.

Friday : 6 miles at 7.45 a run which was guilted by the lack of Monday effort, down into Malahide and back from work.

Saturday : Fartlek session on the Big Mag Lap in the Phoeno, pretty much the old Dublin Novice big lap, efforts were 400s and recover sections 200s.

Sunday : Out with the DH crew for 14 miles at 7.40, Memorial Park then into the Phoeno, a very speedy Elf was spotted a couple of times.

Thanks C

Laineyfrecks

Well it is that time of year😜🎄🎅🤣

scotindublin

@Laineyfrecks you certainly cheered up the DH crew.

In another update to the week, I booked the Chicago flights and accommodation. Fly to Chicago on October 6th, marathon on the 9th then New York on the 10th. Great to have something to look forward to.

C

Laineyfrecks

Haha glad I amused them🤭

That's great news, something exciting to look forward to 😊

scotindublin

Bit late with the update.

51 miles over 6 days.

Monday 6.5m at 8.14 in the Phoeno from the club.....not a great day to not charge the torch.

Tuesday session on the Chapo Road 10 x 600s with a 200 recovery. Reps were between 2.01/2.08. A decent solid effort.

Wednesday recovery ramble around Swords with on of the lads from work just under 6.5 @ 8.46 per mile.

Thursday 7 miles at 8.23 loop around Chapo/Islandbridge - not much to report apart from this being 10 days on the spin.

Saturday - Captains Run 5k, ran comfortably enough in 19 minutes, the Juvenilles had a race at the same time and 1 of the DH lads who finished 6th in the U20s XC was up with his team medal for a bit of a presentation. Coffee afterwards in Chapo, lovely morning.

Sunday just over 14 miles at 7.53.

Currently awaiting the white smoke for our 10 miles Handicap XC race on the 26th ( the Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield) the oldest and longest consecutively run club cross country race in the world.

C

scotindublin

End of Year Update

Total miles covered 2569 the guts of 50 miles per week, in 2020 I just snuck over 2000 miles so that was a pretty big uppage in mileage.

Training has been very consistent, pretty much solo before club sessions resumed in April, solo sessions were not overtly fun but proved to myself I could do this outside the structure of club training.

In terms of racing due to circumstances these were fairly thin on the ground. Ran a couple of Graded Meets over the summer 3k in 10.08, where I actually won the Grade D race, a different experience leading a race and probably one that I won't get to experience too often, the second Graded Meet was a 1500m in 4.44 again on the track at Tallaght a lung buster. Also big shout out to @Laineyfrecks for her support in Tallaght.

On the road I led out the DH M35 B Team in the National Road Relalys, on the watch I clocked 5.17 or so for the touch over a mile, a great days racing and one I hope is back to normal in 2022. Over 5k I ran a solo TT in March on the Jingle Bells route and clocked 17.28, but without doubt the highlight of the year was running 16.53 in the Tallaght 5k and also picking up a Novice Bronze Team medal a great one to add to the collection.

I have slacked on Cross Country a little but ran the DH WBB Shield Race on St Stephens Day, 65.44 was my time in the 10 mile handicap race. Happy enough with that in the conditions, my race was done before the 4 mile mark as I was passed but gritted it out to run a decent time (technically a 10 mile PB) and finish a respectable 9th.

Plans for 2022 will be primarily shorter stuff for the start of the year. Have entries for Raheny and Trim but probably won't be able to race both, unfortunately will be in Scotland for the Dublin Master but may do Leinsters mid Jan. Priority from then will be 5k/10k hopefully. In the summer focus will switch to marathon training and trying to run anything starting with a 2. Have a nice trip booked around it so really looking forward to it.

In 2022 I shall endeavour to log more and also be more active on the forum.

Thanks for reading and thanks for all the comments on here and support on Strava.

As we say in Scotland Lang may yer lum reek ( basically translates to long may your chimney smoke/live a long life happy life) happy 2022 to you all when it comes around.

C