A year is a long time : from zero to 3rd place in the Connemara Ultra - my journey

pgarr

Hi everyone,

My name is Padraig and I confess that I've been caught with the running bug. It has helped me in so many facets of life that I struggle to describe.

I've spent most of this week putting my thoughts and my running experiences into my blog -

http://irishrunningjourney.blogspot.ie/

I did this because while training for the Connemara Ultra this year I struggled to find specific information to help me train. My main sources were old threads on boards - in particular a training log entry by a user called Abhainn :

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=58138238

This inspired and gave me confidence. As a self taught runner I found his experience invaluable while doing my own work.

I felt a sense of obligation to pay back the community as a result of this. What I have done is write in detail some particular articles that I hope will help future runners tackle Connemara with the confidence I did :

Race Day Itself - A Recap from April 23rd 2017 :

http://irishrunningjourney.blogspot.ie/2017/04/connemara-ultra-marathon-2017-race-day.html

An analysis of my training cycle for Connemara - how i structured and trained for the race :

http://irishrunningjourney.blogspot.ie/2017/05/working-9-to-5-running-5-to-9-connemara.html

I also have several posts about how I got into running, and my experience in my first Marathon last December.

I will use this thread to highlight whenever I add an update to the blog. For specific training cycles I think I will create a new thread seperately here and jot down my strava notes for each run week by week.

I will post all my training for Connemara in a seperate thread this week for anyone interested in the specifics and feelings day by day.

If I met any of you last Sunday then I hope you had as good a day as I did.

If you have any questions I am happy to help.

Padraig.

Ososlo

Congrats on that fabulous result in Conn! I look forward to reading your blog and following here also. So, what's up next for you? Anything in the pipeline?

pgarr

Ososlo wrote: »

Congrats on that fabulous result in Conn! I look forward to reading your blog and following here also. So, what's up next for you? Anything in the pipeline?

Hi Ososlo,

Thanks so much for the encouragement !

While I'd like to say I'm not thinking about the next race ... I do have a plan in my head to run a marathon in autumn under 3 hours. I'll have to sit and think about it a bit more - I will decide that in the next 2 weeks and start a log for training towards it.

What about you - are you a runner? If so what are your goals this year?

Ososlo

pgarr wrote: »

Hi Ososlo,

Thanks so much for the encouragement !

While I'd like to say I'm not thinking about the next race ... I do have a plan in my head to run a marathon in autumn under 3 hours. I'll have to sit and think about it a bit more - I will decide that in the next 2 weeks and start a log for training towards it.

What about you - are you a runner? If so what are your goals this year?

Great stuff. There's a thread on main forum for sub 3 discussion which you should have a look at if you decide to go for it.
I'm more a jogger Training for 2nd go at a 24hr race.
I've followed you on Strava. Great training!

Singer

Great reading in your blog! You clearly have equal talent for both running and writing about running. Your progress so far is super impressive. I've followed you on Strava to see what I can learn

If I were you I'd look at targeting a 5-10k, followed by the Dublin marathon.

pgarr

Singer wrote: »

Great reading in your blog! You clearly have equal talent for both running and writing about running. Your progress so far is super impressive. I've followed you on Strava to see what I can learn

If I were you I'd look at targeting a 5-10k, followed by the Dublin marathon.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog Singer. I hope I can help you achieve your own goals

I do think I'll hit some short races in my next cycle. The goal might be a bit closer than Dublin but I will sit down to decide that next week.

pgarr

Hi All,

I have added a blog post detailing what's been going on since I ran Connemara.

Plenty of stuff related to goal setting and wellness within

Why I Run 5 : Self Awareness and Balance - How to follow a passion while being present in the now :
http://irishrunningjourney.blogspot.ie/2017/06/why-i-run-5-self-awareness-and-balance.html

Padraig.

pgarr

Why I Run 6 : Mid Longford and a moment of Reflection

Hey all,

I've taken some time mid training cycle to jot down my thoughts and experiences from Marathon training / my own life.

http://irishrunningjourney.blogspot.ie/2017/07/why-i-run-6-mid-longford-and-moment-of.html

Have a great weekend

pgarr

My Longford Marathon 2017 - Humbled and Grateful



I am so grateful to everyone for the kind words, inspiration, and congratulations from boards for my training for the Pat The Baker Longford Marathon last Sunday. I have put into words as best I can the whole race day experience. Hopefully it can inspire and show that challenges are present to be overcome, not to prevent us in achieving our dreams :



Longford 2017 Marathon Race Day Re Cap :



http://irishrunningjourney.blogspot.ie/2017/08/my-longford-marathon-2017-humbled-and.html


Padraig

pgarr

6 months as a vegetarian, 3 Months as a vegan marathon runner ; My Blood Test Results

Hi all,

It's been a while since I've been on boards to post. I have qualified for the Boston marathon in April and currently am working on a lot of life stuff while lacing up most days

I've decided to start catching up on my blog - first up is a piece on my blood test results after finishing the Longford marathon and 6 months without meat :

http://irishrunsonplants.blogspot.ie/2017/11/6-months-as-vegetarian-3-months-as.html

I hope this information provides some insight to anyone considering the switch and is perhaps concerned of generating a deficiency .

Hope everyone following is doing well, and enjoying their running

Padraig.

healy1835

Good to have you back mate! So you're running Boston then?

El Caballo

You might find this interesting:).

http://www.drmichaelcolgan.com/blog/good-red-blood

I think it would give you a more accurate representation of the recommended ranges among fit and athletic people. The issue with many of the ranges you will see in your Doctors office is that the vast majority of people who were tested to get these ranges are sedentary and overweight thus may not be as applicable to highly active and fit people who use up nutrients much faster. I don't think this makes any major difference to your results but just thought you might find it interesting as it comes from a doctor who is heavily involved in the American Journal of sports medicine.

Frankly, I'm not surprised at the results of your tests, There's a tribe in Kenya called the Kalenjin tribe who roughly have about the same population as Ireland, many people think of Kenyans as dominant athletes but the truth is that probably in the region of 90% of the World class distance runners that Kenya produce are part of this small subset tribe from the rift Valley. Their diet is mostly plant-based bar very odd meals with meat and it hasn't hurt them. Obviously, there are many contributing reasons for their success such as altitude, genetic adaptions to heat which have made them ridiculously skinny and culture and atitude to training but if their diet was lacking in those nutrients hugely in combination with the depleted oxygen levels at altitude, I don't think they would be as dominant as they are.

One thing I would say for anyone who does go plant based is to still get your levels checked regularly as people vary in their ability to produce and use these nutrients. While some people may be perfectly healthy on them, others may not and a bit like everything in life,different strokes for different people.

Best of luck with Boston btw, No doubt you'll smash it:)

pgarr

healy1835 wrote: »

Good to have you back mate! So you're running Boston then?

Thanks Healy. Hope all is well with you mate.

Yes I am running Boston. My sister and I are flying over as we have relatives nearby. It is going to be some experience no doubt - I'm excited

pgarr

El Caballo wrote: »

You might find this interesting:).

http://www.drmichaelcolgan.com/blog/good-red-blood

I think it would give you a more accurate representation of the recommended ranges among fit and athletic people. The issue with many of the ranges you will see in your Doctors office is that the vast majority of people who were tested to get these ranges are sedentary and overweight thus may not be as applicable to highly active and fit people who use up nutrients much faster. I don't think this makes any major difference to your results but just thought you might find it interesting as it comes from a doctor who is heavily involved in the American Journal of sports medicine.

Frankly, I'm not surprised at the results of your tests, There's a tribe in Kenya called the Kalenjin tribe who roughly have about the same population as Ireland, many people think of Kenyans as dominant athletes but the truth is that probably in the region of 90% of the World class distance runners that Kenya produce are part of this small subset tribe from the rift Valley. Their diet is mostly plant-based bar very odd meals with meat and it hasn't hurt them. Obviously, there are many contributing reasons for their success such as altitude, genetic adaptions to heat which have made them ridiculously skinny and culture and atitude to training but if their diet was lacking in those nutrients hugely in combination with the depleted oxygen levels at altitude, I don't think they would be as dominant as they are.

One thing I would say for anyone who does go plant based is to still get your levels checked regularly as people vary in their ability to produce and use these nutrients. While some people may be perfectly healthy on them, others may not and a bit like everything in life,different strokes for different people.

Best of luck with Boston btw, No doubt you'll smash it:)

Thats some fantastic insight Cabello. I really appreciate your input here.

I think regular checkups combined with listening to your own body is important. In the last few weeks I have felt quite fatigued after pretty low intensity runs and these are the type of things a blood test won't resolve.

It's interesting to experiment that's for sure. I likely will incorporate back into my diet dairy again, perhaps meat in moderation. Time will tell.

Hope all is well with you?

pgarr

New Blog Post : What Parkrun means to me

Hey all :D:D

I've wrote another piece relating to parkrun and what it has meant to me on my blog ;

Link : http://irishrunsonplants.blogspot.ie/2017/11/what-parkrun-means-to-me.html

This one is very important personally - the parkrun mission statement and values are very much in line with my own - there is something intangible which makes it feel so enjoyable also.

Enjoy ,

Padraig.

http://irishrunsonplants.blogspot.ie/2017/11/what-parkrun-means-to-me.html

pgarr

New Blog Post - My first real injury, and first coaching experience - Longford Marathon 2017 training Cycle Analysis

Hey all - hope you're enjoying the chilly runs

Another blog post up today . This one is a post race checklist about my 5th place finish in the Longford marathon and the 12 week training cycle :

http://willrunforoats.blogspot.ie/2017/12/my-first-real-injury-and-first-coaching.html

Lots of lessons learned !

Happy running everyone ;

Padraig.

pgarr

The Boston Marathon 2018 - A reward for work done , another step on the learning curve

Hey everyone,

I haven't exactly been active on the forums since I ran Longford last year. It's been a couple of months of reflection for me.

I completed the marathon in Boston on Monday and have written a piece detailing race day, my experience as a whole, and where i am at in life going forward :

http://willrunforoats.blogspot.ie/2018/04/the-boston-marathon-2018-reward-for.html

Hope everyones running is going well

Padraig.