What I log about when I log about running

Huzzah!

I possibly over-tapered for a non-goal race this week. There was lots of great advice given on the grads thread ab0ut how to taper midplan, but I kind of needed a bit of a confidence boost and tapered pretty much as if Raheny was a goal race. I might taper less for Enniscorthy.

Monday, 21 January
Plan: Very easy 45. Actual: 45 very easy @ 7:40/km HR: 138(150)

Felt sinusy and thought a run would help clear them, which it did. Squally night and it took me hours to thaw out once I got home.

Tuesday, 21 January
Club session: 3x300; 1x1,500; 1x400; 1x200; + 1x100
Avg HR: 170 Max HR 184
|Lap|Time|
|300|95s|
|300|89s|
|300|86s|
|1,500|7:33|
|400|129|
|200|:49|
|100|0:20|

Pilates in the am.

Cold a bit worse today and considered not clubbing but D had decided to pop down and check out it aht, so I went along anyway. Felt much better after. Paces all a bit slower than last week and I think we cut the session slightly short down to the icey track. Another enjoyable session, although lol at the goal for the 1500m being 6:30. Some day, perhaps. Cold much improved post run.

Thursday, 23 January
Plan: 45 very easy Total: 41:37@7:39/km HR: 143 Max HR 158

Overdressed and just generally an unpleasant run. Cold had disappeared by the time this run rolled around.

Sunday, 19 January
Raheny 5 Mile Avg pace: 5:34 Splits: 5:34; 5:31; 5:39; 5:23; 5:33; 5:36; 5:41; and 5:47 Chip time: 44:29 Avg HR: 176(182)

Chip time is slower than watch time - oh wellz. I’ve only run this race once before, as it falls on the weekend closest to my mum’s birthday (HB, mum), and the route was different the last time - the bit along the Howth Road was longer previously. It was way too tight for the numbers then and while today was squeezy in parts, the new route is an improvement. I’d love if the start could be sorted out a bit better, though.

We arrived in plenty of time and I planned on doing a two-mile warmup. I noticed the starting pen was getting full, so we cut it short by about a k. This is the first race in recent memory where my legs felt nice’n’fresh during the warmup and it gave me a little bit of confidence. I knew that getting a good spot in the starting pen would be key but I felt like I was way too far back when I finally managed to wrangle my way in.

Chatted to a friend and then we were through the starting gantry and away. I’ll be honest and say I’d an A goal that I didn’t think would be achievable but remained in the back of my mind nonetheless of sub44. Thinking that a good chunk of the first mile would be along the Howth Road and into the wind, I decided to aim for 5:35/km for the first click and then see what I could do after that. Lots of weaving ensued, including up onto a footpath to avoid a car. I stuck to the coattails of a girl running a nice and steady pace. We ran through a small gap in the crowds at one point and a headphones-wearing man, whose elbow I barely brushed past, was none too pleased. You have to laugh at people. This part was more downhill than I was expecting and I was happy enough with the pace and effort. It was hard but I didn’t get that horrible heavy sensation in my arms that I’ve gotten at the start of a few races and I felt I was about where I should be. I did look a lot at my watch but I’m happy to say I think I ran more on feel than anything. While previously people running on footpaths irritated me, I was glad they were giving me the space to run today.

I was delighted when we finally hit the Howth Road to note it wasn’t as windy as I anticipated. I was working a bit more than expected and this k was a slower one, so I was also delighted to see the turn off to Sybil Hill Road not that far ahead. I looked forward to the delicious downhill to come. I used to live around here and the new apartments at the fringes of St Anne’s showed how long it is since I’ve been back. I let the pace pick up naturally on the downhill and an older Raheny lady kept me honest as I was conscious of the miles to go yet. I was surprised when we turned again that it still had a downhill feel. We were halfway and I was working hard. I found the ramps annoying, a sure sign that I was starting to tire, and tried to avoid the worst of them. I started to wonder if we’d ever hit the park. A stitch was niggling - a downside to the 3pm start - so I focused on my breathing.

We entered the park and I’d a flashback to the last time I ran this race, I was suffering similarly at this point when a woman exclaimed, ‘is this not a 5k?’ At the time I wondered how someone could run a race not knowing how long it was but it gave me a much needed smile today. It was here that I passed a fellow Cru runner, who I think I’m generally a bit quicker than. He was moving well and I wondered if he would pass me again. We turned onto the avenue and the part of the race I was dreading the most. I expected the wind to be extreme but, again, while it was noticeable, it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. Still, this is possibly the part of the race that I’m disappointed with. I was running with a woman from Portmarnock AC and we were evenly paced but we seemed to end up in a slower moving crowd. I didn’t feel like I’d the legs to pass them but in hindsight, I probably had. I noticed 5:57 on my watch and that gave me the kick I needed. I passed them, rounded the switchback and picked up the pace on the slightly downhill avenue. We rounded the corner towards the parkrun start and the nausea hit. Perhaps a more even effort would’ve avoided this?

Onwards and I started to have to really dig. I couldn’t wait to be out of the park but it felt like it was never ending. I think I thought the end was closer to the exit part of the park than it was. We departed the park and Portmarnock AC was somehow in front of me again. I resolved to go with her but the nausea was ever rising. The support is so good here that the last thing you want to do is vom with an audience. I definitely backed off more than I would’ve liked here. Pompla, who’d similar struggles at Jbells, sprung to my mind. We turned again and I knew the end was near. I tried to pick it up but it wasn’t until the final turn when the gantry was in sight that I really picked it up. I fell over the line in what I thought was 44.25. Happy that I’d raced well. The cold air and effort gave me a coughing fit and I was perilously close to puking while I waited for my goody bag.

I opened this log with a five-mile race at which I PBd in a time of 46.40. That’s a long time ago now. Today was still a pretty decent PB. To be honest, I thought I’d be a lot faster by now and I’m not, but that’s okay too. I am where I am and I’m pretty happy with today’s racing.

Weekly totals: 31.7km and 3:58 hours. Paltry but I’m happy with how I tapered. Don’t think I’ll club this week - will recover until Friday and try a session then.

OOnegative

Great stuff, that’s seriously nice racing by you. Well done.

juke

Smashing run, Huzzah!, well done.

I have to say, I'm in awe of your consistency. Eat well

Kellygirl

Great running! You ran that very well.

Mr. Guappa

That's great running and a great report too. I always enjoy reading your stuff. Congrats on the PB!

ReeReeG

Well done on the PB E!! Nice racing!

Sunny Dayz

Well done - that reads like a race well run!

eyrie

Gutsy racing! A very well deserved PB for all that - really impressive to hang in when you were feeling it with the nausea and everything.
So were you running in the club singlet?

ReeReeG

eyrie wrote:

So were you running in the club singlet?

I was actually wondering this about both of you yesterday!

Huzzah!

OOnegative wrote: »

Great stuff, that’s seriously nice racing by you. Well done.

Kellygirl wrote: »

Great running! You ran that very well.

ReeReeG wrote: »

Well done on the PB E!! Nice racing!

Sunny Dayz wrote: »

Well done - that reads like a race well run!

Thanks - when the A goal was gone, I just put the head down and raced. Feel so much better about the result because of that.

juke wrote: »

Smashing run, Huzzah!, well done.

I have to say, I'm in awe of your consistency. Eat well

Don't be jealous! It was a sheer fluke.

Mr. Guappa wrote: »

That's great running and a great report too. I always enjoy reading your stuff. Congrats on the PB!

Thanks, A!

Good thing I didn't steal Applegirl's lovely line, "my footsteps are all over these pavements" - I really wanted to.

eyrie wrote: »

Gutsy racing! A very well deserved PB for all that - really impressive to hang in when you were feeling it with the nausea and everything.
So were you running in the club singlet?

Nope on the singlet. I don't have one yet and I wasn't entered as a club runner. Looking forward to your report

ariana`

Huzzah! wrote: »

when the A goal was gone, I just put the head down and raced.

Mighty stuff, brilliant attitude, well done on a very impressive performance.

gypsylee

Well done E, great running. Congrats on the PB.

Huzzah!

ReeReeG wrote: »

I was actually wondering this about both of you yesterday!

Must get one, although the hoody might've had more of a chance of being worn yesterday.

ariana` wrote: »

Mighty stuff, brilliant attitude, well done on a very impressive performance.

Thanks - slight attitude shift needed, methinks.

Baby75

Well done Huzzah, great running and I enjoyed the report congrats on the PB fantastic stuff

Pomplamousse

Woohoo well done on your PB, great racing!
Glad to hear I was there in spirit:D Ugh seriously though that nausea is such a horrible feeling, well done on getting through it without incident.

Huzzah!

Monday, 28 January
Plan: Very easy 60. Actual: 60 very easy @ 7:36/km HR: 144(175)

Thought I’d run the whole way home but given how tired my legs were once I started running, I amended this to sticking to the plan. Got picked up at mile four and finished the last mile on the flatter ground near home, making for an interesting elevation profile on Strava.

Tuesday, 29 January
Plan session: 5x3 min AP w/ 3 min rec Actual:[B/] 1 hour plus very easy
Avg HR: 170 (184) Avg pace 7:52/km

I’ve ever so slightly quicker training paces post Raheny but, if anything, Raheny confirmed that JBells wasn’t an aberration and I really need to pay more attention to the pacing of very easy and easy runs, so I’ve slowed them right down this week. Not that I was hugely out, tbf, but I am a bit of a stickler for the rulez.

Thursday, 31 January
Plan/Actual: 1hour very easy@7:46/km HR: 143(155)

In the rotten-pox sleet. I worked late enough to be able to use the gym but someone got there first, so I headed out into the inclement weather. As always, it wasn’t as bad as I built it up to be. I did, however, question my sanity as I battled up the hill to the Goat in the driving sleet.

Friday, 1 February
Plan/actual session: 30 minute tempo Avg HR: 156(179) Avg pace 5:52/km

This is a bit sad but I was really looking forward to this, so much so that I was almost giddy. Apart from being a bit too full, it lived up to the hype and I’d a super run. Last split was a touch fast. Ignore the HR again - monitor seems to have locked onto cadence after a short stop. I love these types of continuous steady-effort sessions.

Sunday, 3 February
Plan/actual 1.45 easy Avg HR: 155(190) Avg pace 7:32/km

Not going to log Saturday’s run apart from to mention that the intention was to do my long run but I felt unwell, so I canned it. Raging as it was perfect running weather. Got it done today on the trails of UCD. I enjoyed it well enough, with legs being a bit fresher than they should’ve been I think the long runs get shorter from here on in, but I’d like to keep them around this length.

Weekly totals: 54.8km and 6:50 hours. I started the week on a post-race high, which got me thinking about what I wanted to do once the plan is finished. Lots of options and I was half thinking of either Cork half or the Easter Monday 10-mile in St Anne’s or maybe both. Lots to consider. I should really probably stick to the shorter stuff, but it's not really lighting my fire, if I'm honest.

Kellygirl

Nice to see you enjoying that 30 min tempo.

I’m doing the Cork Half so hopefully see you there. I’ll be starting the plan in about 3 weeks.

Huzzah!

Kellygirl wrote: »

Nice to see you enjoying that 30 min tempo.

I’m doing the Cork Half so hopefully see you there. I’ll be starting the plan in about 3 weeks.

Would love to but April and May are going to be so busy, it might be a bit pie in the sky. Funny, I started this block of training swearing off the half distance and now I'm keen to get back training for one. Fickle is not the word

ariana`

Huzzah! wrote: »

Would love to but April and May are going to be so busy, it might be a bit pie in the sky. Funny, I started this block of training swearing off the half distance and now I'm keen to get back training for one. Fickle is not the word

Charleville in September then perhaps ?

Huzzah!

ariana` wrote: »

Charleville in September then perhaps ?

Saving it for "breaking 2"

ariana`

Huzzah! wrote: »

Saving it for "breaking 2"

Ah my bad i think you have mentioned that previously and it slipped my mind

Huzzah!

ariana` wrote: »

Ah my bad i think you have mentioned that previously and it slipped my mind

Nope, mine. You're correct: it was on my radar for this year but feels like a waste if I follow HMM again. See, I'm fickle

ariana`

Huzzah! wrote: »

Nope, mine. You're correct: it was on my radar for this year but feels like a waste if I follow HMM again. See, I'm fickle

You're in good company :pac::pac::pac:

aloooof

Huzzah! wrote: »

I did, however, question my sanity as I battled up the hill to the Goat in the driving sleet.

I used to live out that direction and this is bringing back memories. That drag seems to go on forever! Fair play tho, great progress!

eyrie

Huzzah! wrote: »

I should really probably stick to the shorter stuff, but it's not really lighting my fire, if I'm honest.

I hear you - feels a bit like penance at times! I think doing a half or similar towards the end of the first half of the year makes total sense when you're heading into a block of marathon training afterwards. Gives you much more to go on than shorter races would! So if it's what you're in the mood for, no reason not to go for it

Huzzah!

eyrie wrote: »

I hear you - feels a bit like penance at times! I think doing a half or similar towards the end of the first half of the year makes total sense when you're heading into a block of marathon training afterwards. Gives you much more to go on than shorter races would! So if it's what you're in the mood for, no reason not to go for it

I'll probably decide I'm in the mood to try the 100 meters or something

I guess with the shorter distances, neither of us are where we thought we'd be at this point, so that's maybe adding to it or else it might just be the mid-plan ennui.

eyrie

Best of luck tomorrow! Hope it goes well

OOnegative

Best of luck in Enniscorthy, run well!!

Mr. Guappa

Good luck with the race!

Kellygirl

Best of luck tomorrow!