Am I Running Or Jogging?

Irish Runner 5 Mile:

Well what a day. I haven't raced since December (too long) and have never raced this distance before so I was a ball of nerves last night and didn't really know what to expect. I decided that I wouldn't be happy unless I went under 40 mins, but I had secret hopes of maybe getting in under 39.

Things didn't start too well as I had a very poor night's sleep last night, I woke up several times and just didn't feel that well rested when I got up this morning. Still, I put it out of my mind and had a breakfast of two slices of toast with jam (batch loaf of course, one of the slices was a nice thick heel. Yum), coffee and lots of water.

I had all my gear prepared last night so it was a quick shower, get dressed and out the door. My wonderful girlfriend went with me which took some of the pressure off (didn't need a bag drop, didn't have to worry about parking, etc.)

Sauntered down to the starting area and started a short warm up with a couple of strides. I was worried at this point because I didn't feel great during the warm up and was starting to think I might struggle. I just pushed those thoughts away, kissed my OH goodbye and headed into the pen for Wave 2. I shuffled forward a bit, eyeing people up and thinking "Do you look slower than me? Yeah probably" until I got to people who didn't.

The announcer assured us we were much better looking than Wave 1, and then we were off. I think I got my positioning about right because while I was passing a few people, most were moving at around the pace I wanted to be at.

Mile 1:

I spent the first half of this mile easing into things, getting comfortable and trying to pass people without weaving too much until I found myself in a group that felt about right. It was fairly flat so I tried to get into a rhythm and keep the pace up to bank some time.

Mile 2:

More of the same. Trying to keep a consistent pace, close to my 5k pace, because I knew the first half was downhill overall and I would need to take advantage of that. Everything felt pretty good at this point and I was passing plenty of people and starting to feel good about the race.

Mile 3:

There were some decent declines here approaching the half way line and I intermittently picked up the pace to gain time, still passing people. The half way mark arrived and we swung around a bend and suddenly we were heading uphill. The fact that I've just run 4k at close to my 5k pace and I now have to run another 4k uphill starts to hit home. Nevertheless, I still passed a few people who were starting to struggle and when we topped a rise it looked like it was relatively flat again for a while.

Mile 4:

This is where it all fell apart. I'd come through the first 5k at close to, or possibly faster than, my 5k PB. It suddenly felt like I'd badly miscalculated in how much I wanted to take advantage of the downhill portion of the race. I had overdone it. And now, with an uphill drag facing me for pretty much the rest of the race, I started to feel a sense of doom. The pace dropped. A few people started passing me. There was a water station somewhere, I drank a sip and threw the rest over me. It helped, briefly.

Mile 5:

A woman shouted at us that there was only a mile to go and once we turned the next corner it was flat to the finish. She was a lovely woman. A liar, but lovely. Because that gave me just the boost I needed to kick back into gear. I didn't have enough left in the tank to pick it up too much, but I picked it up. "A mile?" I thought, "I can do a mile!" I kept reminding myself that if I don't break 40 I'll spend the day being miserable instead of triumphant, and that a few more minutes of suffering is worth it for the beer and the feeling of triumph.

Turned a corner and it was more or less straight to the finish now. I could see the flags waving in the distance but time stretched out and they didn't seem to be getting any closer. I had a target on my back now. People who had a sprint finish in their legs went past me and there was nothing I could do to stop them. My pace was climbing but it was gradual, until I got inside the flags and then I emptied the tank. I passed my OH who was shouting and gave her wave and a smile and then I was over the line.

I stopped the watch, 8.15km in 40:00. Surely I was under. Surely. I had to be.

After:

I grabbed my goody bag and a banana and headed over to a nearby bench to rest a bit. Reflecting on the race I was a little disappointed. I felt if I had paced it better there was a better time there for me. Checked my phone but there was no chip time yet. I got chatting to a nice gentleman who was sitting at the bench and had run 36:xx, said he had had open heart surgery a couple of years back and all his PBs had come since!

A quick cool down jog and we were walking back to the car when the text came: 39:53. Pleased? Satisfied maybe. Yeah I mean I'm happy with it. Yet I feel like I should be quicker at this stage.

Mon 13th: 2 miles recovery following the 5 mile. Felt grand really which makes me wonder if I didn't do enough in the race! :pac: 3.2km @ 6:07/km

Tue 14th: 4 miles easy. 6.4km @ 6:11/km

Wed 15th: 4 miles easy. This was my 4th day in a row, which I don't normally do, the first being a race yet I probably felt freshest today. That's a good sign that my fitness is improving and my easy pace is about right surely. Maybe I should think about moving to 5 days a week now. 6.5km @ 6:02/km

11 Mile LSR:

I was supposed to do this yesterday but I woke up a little late and I had to meet my dad ahead of the Ireland match at around 1 o'clock so I moved it to today (which was rest anyway).

It was raining when I headed out and continued to rain throughout, but it was a fairly light shower that never bothered me really. It was nice and refreshing if anything. I had intended 10 miles, but I was feeling good and thought I might as well keep going.

The pace was very easy for the most part and I really enjoyed it, although on one of my laps through Marlay Park there was some sort of dog related thing going on and there were throngs of people walking dogs on the footpath for a solid mile, so I had to do a lot of dodging and weaving and inadvertently upped the pace to near 5k pace in the process. :eek: The km splits around that point go 6:28; 6:09; 4:51; 6:05... Oops.

My legs tired rapidly after about 16km which seems to be a bit of a theme. 10 miles seems to be around my limit for comfortable running, but hopefully that'll change over the next few weeks!

Total: 17.66km @ 6:12

40.6km for the week.

4 Miles Easy:

Still tired from a massive sleep deficit. I nearly made excuses to skip this one but caught myself and naturally I'm pretty glad about that now. Really looking forward to a lie in tomorrow though!

I did a couple of strides at the end. I really like strides, wish I had been doing them always.

Total: 7.0km @ 6:03/km

Recovery:

My OH has just finished C25k and is just doing a few 30 min runs this week to get more comfortable with it. I decided to head out with her for a 30 minute recovery run. It was useful, because with her setting the pace I actually managed to run at recovery pace. It was also nice to run with some company.

Total: 4.4km @ 6:51/km

43km for the week. This is it now, next run on Tuesday I'll officially be marathon training. :eek: Although the first week is actually a bit of a step back.

Plan: 4 Miles Easy with Strides

I did my 5 strides at the end of the miles. Found a nice field nearby that according to Google maps is more or less exactly 100m end to end, so did a stride across the field, jogged the perimeter back to my starting point and repeated. I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I enjoy strides.

Total: 7.2km @ 6:00/km

Plan: 8 Mile LSR

The plan has a modest 8 miles for the first LSR. I thought it might be nice to run out towards Dun Laoghaire for a change of scenery. I knew this would exceed 8 miles, but I thought it was probably only 9 or 10 out and back. I was totally wrong.

It was threatening to rain when I left the house and indeed the skies did open briefly in mile 2, but it was short-lived and then, amazingly, the sun came out! I ended up popping out on the Dalkey side and then headed towards the Dun Laoghaire pier, where I ran out to the end and snapped a couple of photos (while still running!) before turning back.

I also took my first ever gel on the pier. A raspberry High5 with caffeine. I took it while running and washed it down with a mouthful of water. The taste was fine and it didn't bother my stomach at all, so I think I'd be happy enough to go with those. My miscalculation was starting to dawn on me now, because I was already at about 7 miles! What could I do though, only run home!

If I was in some sort of film about police cops, the grizzled old chief would say things like "You're a loose cannon Alexander, I want you off my force! Give me your gun and your badge!" Then, of course, I'd break all the rules and keep pursuing the run case in an unofficial capacity.

I took a slightly more direct route home, but it was all uphill and I started to flag after about 19km. My water was gone and the sun was still out so I was getting pretty thirsty but it was nothing insurmountable.

Heavy clouds had rolled in just before I arrived home, so I got back just in time. I stopped the watch at 21.5km and when I slowed to a walk my legs weren't really able to do it properly. I had to stop and give them a bit of a rub to get them going again!

That's the first time I've done half-marathon distance and I have to say I enjoyed myself. It was definitely a good idea to change the scenery.

Total: 21.5km in 2hrs 15mins (6:19/km)

Lifestyle didn't get my business in the end. They only had size 8.5. Thankfully it worked out, since I was able to order new ones of both my current pairs (Asics GT 1000 and DS Trainer) for only 126 euro all in on Runningwarehouse. Currently in transit.

Plan: 3 Miles Easy

I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself today. It was one those days where I found myself wondering if all this training is even working as I plodded around at 10 minute mile pace, for what was supposed to be a pleasant evening jaunt around the local area, and instead inexplicably felt like I was working hard throughout. Thoughts of "Is this even working?" and "Have I got some sort of diabolically low limit that I've already reached?" ensued.

Total: 6.5km @ 6:13/km

I tried to console myself when I got home by reminding myself that I was running on 5 hours' sleep, am sort of dehydrated, and literally just ran the longest run of my life the other day.