Hope is a good thing, maybe even the best of things.
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Friday 1st September - Rest
Or at least that was the plan until the farmer behind me came along to cut the hedges at the back of the house making my view of the setting sun even more gorgeous. Who needs a gym when you can pull briars, uproot giant weeds and gather the cut branches off the ground, all while watching this happen....
Saturday 2nd September, 1 hr 8 mins - 6 miles @ 11:21 Club Hills.
Up to Doneraile for the hills session. I haven't been feeling 100% the last few days and some broken sleep too. Feels like I'm coming down with something but it's not developing past a few sneezes. Anyway, met the crew at 8.30 and instructions were 35 mins warm up and 35 mins on the beast. I had notions of attempting 3 laps this week but talked myself into being sensible and aim for 2 again. I don't have to be doing more every single time and this felt a good bit harder than last week. While the temperature was lower I think humidity was very high and I noticed a lot of others sweating heavily too. Splits were:
33 mins warm up @ 10:45
25 mins on the beast @ 11:30
10 min cool down @ 12:33 (walked the last 2 mins of this)
I was wrecked after this to be completely honest. Went home, had scrambled eggs, peas, toast & tea and promptly went back to bed which only served to remind me of Woody's absence as he'd normally curl up beside me & keep me company. The grief comes in waves and today was particularly bad. Made arrangements to meet a friend for a cycle tomorrow so I'll have to see if I'm up to running first or just cut the miles and go for a sociable spin.
Sunday 3rd September, 32 mins, 3.1 miles @ 10:31
Feeling better after a day of rest and woke early so decided to go to the club long run and see the lie of the land. I only had 3 miles on the plan today but I stayed with the group for about 2.5 of them before taking a turn that would be bring me back while they went on with their 8 miles. Most of them are doing Charleville next weekend and a few are training for Dublin too. I was nervous rocking up but luckily some of the women I've met on the Saturday runs were there and to be fair, everyone is very welcoming. Really glad I went! Hit the watch at 5k and walked the .7 mile back to the car. I'd already gone over my miles for the week and it was a beautiful morning for a cooldown stroll. Still planning to go for a cycle later but now, those weeds won't pull themselves 🤨.
The Plan
Subject to many things but here's what I'm hoping to do over the next few months. It's a Hal Higdon half marathon plan that I've adjusted to suit. I'm not 100% set on Rockchapel, I might just do a parkrun to test where I am rather than a club race which is brand new on the calendar and could well see me last over the line. Also trying to learn KM's 😀 have garmin set in miles and strava set to KM's in an effort to go bi lingual..
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Saturday 9th September, 5.6 miles @ 11:08
Looked at the plan again and decided I would never do 6 miles on my own tomorrow so decided I'd do the warm up with the club and go from there. Very few there this morning due to Charleville tomorrow, I don't envy anyone taking part! My usual slower group were not there either. Did the warm up miles and went up to the meadow to suss it out and promptly ran back out again and just did the rest of the run on the flattest paths I could find! Some nice shelter there from the sun to but the nice cool air that was there when we started disappeared and it was hot. Legs felt tired, body felt tired so after a bathroom pitstop to splash cold water on my hot head, I decided I'd have to live with 5.6 miles instead of 6. The park was absolutely gorgeous in the September light with a beautiful mist along the meadows. I am so lucky to have this on my doorstep.
Sunday 10th September 3.51 recovery miles
Up early to do this in the forestry trails beside my house so I could head to Charleville and do some race supporting. A hilly route, total elevation 134m. I must run it in reverse next time as I've a feeling there's more climbing that way around... Just me and the rabbits out and loads of spider webs in the fir trees, it was still very warm at that hour, very glad not to be running a half marathon today..
11 miles on the bike around Charleville and out & back to the 3.5/10ish mile mark where the course loops. Lots of club mates out running, a great crew of Sanctuary Runners too and great to see the artist formally known as FerrisB getting a PB in very tough conditions. Runners passing at the 3.5 mile point already looked like they were struggling, a death march for many on the return bit when the passed again at 10 miles. Makes me wonder what I'm thinking signing up for Waterford!! Heavy rain then on my drive home so perfect timing!
Week 2 completed
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Sunday 17th September, 4.37 miles @ 11:11
Met the others from the club at 8.30, they were doing 8 miles, 4 miles out & 4 back. I thought I had 4 miles on the plan. Headed off with lots of chat and it felt so easy I briefly considered doing the full 8 miles until my brain kicked in and I realised that's the sort of stupidity that stops you in your tracks 🤨. Both knees were niggling and as of this evening, are sore. So straight back on the rehab train tomorrow! Enjoyable run. Next week is a slight step back week.
Steady progress over the last 13 weeks
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Thursday 21st September Rest.
Friday 22nd September 4 miles, 44 mins @ 10:56
Away for the weekend in London and had looked at some routes that would allow me run from Leyton Flats into Epping Forest. Got lost on the way to the start point and while I had started out in 20 degrees and sun, a massive black cloud arrived and dumped a lot of rain! Luckily it didn't last but I was soaked! Eventually found my route and continued through the trail that would bring me to Epping but unfortunately it was now a sodden marsh and I was wearing my Asics Novablast which were a bad idea in hindsight! Turned around back to base and finished the run in the much closer Wanstead Flats where I'd be doing parkrun the next day. Pity, but still had a lovely run through Leytonstone town and Wanstead Flats even if not the planned 5 miles.
Saturday 23rd September, 4.2 miles including Wanstead Flats parkrun 32.18 mins @ 10:23
I've done this parkrun before and it's right on my cousins doorstep so out the door to do 1 mile warm up to make up for the missed mile yesterday and around to the start line with just a few mins to spare. This parkrun gets about 250 so much bigger crowd than I'm used to. Very friendly and lots of birthday/wedding/milestone call outs - no visitor mentions though! It's two laps starting in a field and then onto the narrow trails of the park so I settled in behind the large group that were in front of me and just ticked along. There are only a couple of places you can pass so if you're racing, you need to go out front! Enjoyed this, a lovely cool morning to start with but was warm on the last mile!
Followed by another 4 miles walking around London City with my cousin seeing sites I haven't visited since I was a child. We stopped for a coffee at one point and ended up in a cafe that roast their own beans to order and send them along ducts overhead and into the machine - there was lots of eye rolling and talk of over engineering I mean it just a coffee right? Turned out to be hands down the best coffee I have ever had in my life!!
Lots of switching around of the plan this week which is a o.k. and there will be more next week with another busy weekend ahead. Catching up on Strava seeing lots of great results coming in from the Dublin half and Berlin - well done to everyone on a very warm day.
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