Speedy Gonzales or Slowpoke Rodriguez?

Week 25-31 July cont.

Sun 7x(5'+1') 1min rest between short and long rep. 3' between sets.
Long reps on undulations. Short rep uphill. Last set was all flat
Weekly dist. 130-140 km

Week 1-7 August

Session 1:
65 min AT on undulating/hilly ground

Session 2: 4x((3x3)+1')1' between reps within each set, 3' between sets, on undulating/hilly ground

Weekly dist: 130_140 km

Week 8-14 August ongoing

Session 1

12 x 400 off 1' grass track

Reduced weekly volume-recovery week

AdpRo wrote: »

Hi Demfad,

I have a couple of questions on the Warriors run if you don't mind. How does it compare to some of the IMRA Leinster league races, any ones that are similar in terms of the climbing involved? I'm a 150% - 160% finisher normally so I know I will probably struggle in this! My normal training run is from Kilmashouge to Fairy Castle (taking in the final climb from the WW twice), I presume the climbing is harder in the Warriors run?

Thanks.

Hi Ardbo. No problem.

Course: There is 2km of offroad climbing in WR. First Km has a few steep sections. One in particular has a gradient of around 30%. So there is a fair bit of hiking. The second km is a lot more runnable with a horrible little climb (hiked) that leaves you with a 300m run to the summit cairn.
Off-road climb will take you about 22-4 mins. off-road Descent will take you about 7-8.
In the race profile you'll see that there is a road climb that leads to the offroad. and a road descent after the offroad.
So for yourself the sections might pan out like this:
Undulating road: 16-18 mins.
Climb starts: 28-30 mins (tarmac 6, offroad 23)
Descent starts 8-9 mins (offroad 7, tarmac 2)
Road back to Strandhill: 30-35

That's just a rough guide to help with a training run.

The difference is the road. So in the WR unlike LL you will have 22 mins of tough undulating road running in the legs before starting the offroad climb. And also there is

Training run suggestion: I'm hoping to do a training run based on the hellfire steep climb this Thursday:

Marlay Park across to military road via mount venus road at a pace to make you tired (careful with traffic) . Up up and up to Hellfire club. Youll have to hike the steep path up but thats what is needed. Descent down and through Masseys (practice recovering while descending). Then a few intervals on the road. e.g 2-3 mins on, 1 min off (repeat). This last bit is almost like a triathlon brick. Teaching you to get back to road running with the mountain in your legs. Better to do this once before the day. Id be aiming to run in total about 75% of race time.

Overall youre training has given you a great platform for the race. But one run as above where its very steep and youre getting all the elements in will really help.

Race pacing:

First km is half flat followed by 500 metres of climbing.
It is hugely important to not be tempted to burn up this climb.
Aim to be fresh at the top. Very controlled first km. Nice fast section next where youll naturally start to pass runners (having paced the first hill correectly). Then a downhill back to sea level. My advice would be to slighly work the downhills and slightly hold back on the uphills. Just ride the undulations so to speak. The race is a test of strenght primarily. You'll need it for later. When you start the main climb start at an effort you can sustain.
Once it goes off road youll have 5 mins of work before it gets narrow. Pass pass pass here. Otherwise youll get frustrated stuck begind slower runenrs. Recover if youre slowed and then you can push on when it opens up. Take recovery where ever you can. Its intense but youll be used to it. You know the craic, keep moving forward.
First half of the descent is steep second half is on roacky path, not so steep.
You'll do well there. Fast but controlled bearing in mind the 6-7k of road left after.
Road back: It will get tough half way back. Again use thed escents to keep the effort even. When it gets tough, try and keep pushing. The sceneray changes with two km to go and it gets (relatively) easier before fatigue really sets in. Last km is the first in reverse. Steep descent, follwed by flat.
Its a great finish with huge crowds.

Fire away with any questions arising from this.

Im hopefully planning to do the run i mentioned on Thursday evening. More than welcome to come along. Just PM.

Edit: Search Strava activities for Warriors run for about 90 minute finishes:
Heres one
Old results here
Click a runner to see their splits (intermediate mats at off-road start and finish)

15-21st August

All runs easy and in km unless otherwise stated

M 4 x 2 (commute) PM 10 E + core (18 day total)
T AM 4 Lunch 8 PM1 4 PM2 7 + core (23)
W AM 4 PM1 4 PM2 12 + core (20)
T Session 4 x (10' + 1') off 1,3 long efforts were LT-CV (20-12k race effort) short efforts were 5-10k race effort (25)
F AM 4 PM 10 (14)
S AM 10 PM 4 (14)
S Half Session: 2 x (6 x 35s) off jogback. Fast and relaxed pace on flat tarmac (12)

Total 126k one full session one mini session a few core workouts.

Wanted to get a decent weeks kilometrage in bearing in mind my first major target is approaching on Saturday.

The Thursday session is the culmination of a progression of shunt style LT sessions. The format is a long segment followed by a minute jog followed by a harder minute. Jog for 3 repeat. Long segment has build from 3 up to 10 minutes. It is really great for strenght and fits well with my Warriors run prep and establishing a base for some faster road running training. I was actually suprised how strong I was on a recent hill race.

I tweaked this one to be as specific as possible to the Warriors Run.
I wanted to ensure that I finished this at a fast pace because my road races weren't ideal in this regard (very hot/humid conditions for Bettysrown 5 mile, and a too fast start for Duleek 10k). Not great performances in either of these but physically I wanted to have run very fast while tired.
Also I wanted these to be race effort, so I would running this as I will be on Saturday.

So with that in mind first long segment was on undulating ground from Marlay Park over to military road: about 3k. Controlled pace just almost bang on LT, I reckon. Now minute rest followed by a minute hard but controlled. Probably 5-10k effort here. Good so far.

3 minute jog further down Military road and Now the big climb.
Controlled again, road was fine legs dealing with lactate well, onto the steep climb straight up to the Hellfire club. Quads feeling it but the hard effort was sustainable. Ran around the ruins of the Hellfire club for race simulation and ran a minute down for same reason. Minute rest, and a minute hard but controlled back up. 3k race effort I'd say. Hard, but the descent was next and Im going to have to deal with/re-use a lot of lactate etc. on Saturday so worth injecting a good dose. Ran 3 mins passed the club down the fireroad as the jog.
Next segment, ran fast for a minute or two, past the ruin and down. Controlled and not slow were my cues down the steep descent.
Out onto the road and into Masseys wood. Very fast ground here and all the way hard and fast through the offroad and onto Cruagh road. Stopped at Mutton lane and back hard uphill after my minutes rest. Held my form here, albeit getting a little more tired. 3 Mins jog and now the important one. Ran from start of Mutton lane all the way passed the underpass at Taylor's Bar and a uphill after for half a minute. Tough but felt strong getting through it. Last minute uphill was all out with legs tying up at the very end.
Paced it well and happy with the session before Saturday.
Good session. As specific as possible and was happy with how I coped on the transitions to different gradients.

Sundays was just to keep putting pep in the legs as race approaches.

Goals this week are rest, good diet and race planning. Ill have some form of continous (short) fast run on Tuesday, a few strides on Thursday and that will be it.

I'm confident on improving on my time from what I can see the field is looking stacked this year so improving my position may not follow.
I'll do my best on the day.

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Nice work T. I'm in Cork for the week and managed to find a 10k race yesterday in Skibbereen which was just the ticket for me, 7 days out. 5th place in steady 3:50 min/k splits which is good for me. Easy running now for me this week. See you Saturday. If I get there early I might pop you a text.

Grand Mick, give us a shout and well warm up together.
Great result in Skibereen. The 10k is perfect and will really help. Chat then.

dna_leri wrote: »

What is a "shunt style LT session" ?

Good luck on Saturday. I hope to be out there watching/supporting.
Any predictions for the front of the field?

The shunt style session involves an LT rep followed by a harder rep followed by a rest period. The harder rep puts lactate in the blood. I believe the rest allows some of the blood to be dispersed around the body with the working muscles trying to re-use anything left during the subsequent longer rep. The result is that the body deals with lactate better at LT so I guess LT is improved. AFAIK it is best done when LT is already well developed.
The ability to deal with surges of lactate seemed to me to be of extra benefit in a very undulating road race with a massive climb and many gradient transitions like the Warriors run.
I knew John had used sessions with hard segments with people he coaches, so I asked him if he could throw his eye on it based on the race intensity profile I gave him.

He came back with a progression and options inc gradient of ground etc. which I more or less followed (more detail earlier in log).
Short rep is always uphill. Long rep as stated.
Progression is in rep size.
Rest between reps within set=1 min
rest between sets = 3 mins

1: 10 x (3+1) long rep on undulating ground
2: 7 x (5 + 1) long rep on fast flat tarmac.
3: 5 x (7+1) Undulating ground (Knocknarea)
4: 4 x ( (3x3) + 1) 30 secs between short reps, 1 min rest before fast minute, 3 mins between sets. Also the first set was gradually uphill road, second set was uphill offroad. (Glenmore, Cooley mountains)
5: 4 x (10 + 1) as detailed in recent post.

Did one every 2 weeks roughly.
You can see the benefit to strenght endurance clearly by having to run fast after being tired on an uphill. In the Glen of the Downs hill race I noticed how quickly I could get going again after transitions and my general performance was up several percent on earlier this year. I had a hamstring issue which meant I didn't do much LT work before starting this training but the strenght garnered from thsi should be a starting point for some faster running when this race is done.

As regards the Warriors run men's race, the main contenders that I've heard are racing would be on paper Brian MacM, Emmett D, Jake O'R, and Ultra Percy mentioned he was running too. I know of the first 3's form recently so I'll comment generally on them.

Brian Mac is current national HM champion and the top Irish International runner for many years. He has the record on the route and has won comfortably both times he has entered.
Emmett D was only 77s behind Brian the last time he raced in 2013. He was strong on all sections that day. With his track background the endurance/strenght necessary for a very low time in this race was a limiter before that. Clearly he has made even more ground there since 2013. Also his 5k pb has improved and he is in top form. He seems to be throwing in a few big weeks leading up to this. He'll keep his speed too.
Jake O'R had a big win in the streets of Sligo 5k. He was only 11 seconds behind Sergio in streets of Galway 8k in a fast 24:38.
He ran the Knocknarea 8 miler (based on WR course) in 41 (2 mins ahead of Richard G). Safe to say he is a confident and onfire. He knows his way around a mountain too: In 2012 his individual 10th place helping the Irish Juniors to their best ever International finish on an up 'n down looped course..

Just commenting on these 3:
Brian has to be favourite. But this race is falls in between the National half and the World mountain running champs so I'd imagine it would be hard to prioritize it for a taper.
If he's not at 100% (fully rested) then he comes into range of the other two. That could be bad news for him because the other two are not there to come second. A dark horse is always possible.
Think it will be a great race.

I don't know who's in for the female race unfortunately.

Edit: Actually I do. If Brian is running then 2016 Snowdon winner Sarah M should be running and should win.

Will keep a log here while I'm doing the 1000 challenge.

Catch up. Took a good few months off after Warriors run 2015. Started back in Spring in earnest for the 2016 Warriors but only managed a dissapointing 62 mins. Since then training has been good. I've adopted a Lydiard buildup with a couple of medium Long runs in the week, a long run, and a steady-marathon paced hour run 1-2 times a week. There is supposed to be a fartlek in there and strides but I was negligent with those.
In Grant Thornton 2016 Managed a 16:30 ish after a week of pixxed off fast aerobic running in reaction to the Warriors result.
Since then full Lydiard albeit not good with strides etc. A couple of Parkruns around 17, a couple of 5ks just under. I did a progression of sessions to prepare for the Clontarf half: 10k hard, add 2k per week. Reached 16k and it worked well for the distance. Managed a good 77 on a freezing day with high winds. Did a good few high weeks many over 100 miles after.
I was using Lydiards system 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 of intensity and often watching the HR for the lower runs based on Livingstones book. Strangely the HR monitor was to ensure I ran fast enough for the 1/4 efforts.
My reasoning for this difficulty is that my metabolic fitness is greater than my muscular strenght. Not much faster running, hillrunning or hill sprints means the legs are not as strong as they could be and these easier intensity runs feel 'fast' for my legs even though they are 'easy' based on HR.

Raheny 5:

I was still expecting a reasonable run here. Normally the accumulated strenght translates to some proportionate improvement in performance for me even if I havent done specific sessions.
Alas, a tough one for me. Week before was poor, dropped mileage too much (was busy and tired). Didn't get strides or a session in, and started the warmup too late, went into the pen too early.
Anyway no excuses (apart from the 4 listed). I decided to go off steady, not to push and get warmed into it. Speed should increase as the race wore on and with the miles in the legs I should be able to hammer it home for the last 2.
Seemed to start OK albeit with a niggling awareness that the speed was a little alien. There was a group ahead with an old clubmate who I figured would be sub 27 and I had him marked. After 1.5 mile I was within 5s of this group.
I think I may have upped it a little here are moved out of my controlled steadiness as I noticed an increase in discomfort and it became a struggle not to slow down. When the long gradual downhill sections started I managed to keep pace, but once it flattened again I was going backwards.
The uphill up the avenue was extremely tough for all, the eventual second lady passed me here at a speed that really made me feel like I wasn't running at all.
Finished at 28 and a quarter mins.

I was dissapointed but I'm not training for races ATM, I'm 45 and I learnt a lot from it:

-In base training if the speed is slow or you're attempting high mileage then some form of strides, buildups etc is regularly needed.

-Especially true if you're a masters runner.

-From the second point it has been suggested that masters should have shorter training cycles they need to be more often in touch with different paces and intensities (use it or lose it).

My plan was for a big buildup now and aiming for road PBs in the summer and then pushing on for an Autumn marathon. I will probably stick with that but it's time to start slotting in a few hills a few LT sessions while keeping the hour strong efforts and long runs. Vital to get the strides and buildups in.

Joined a gym a few weeks ago literally 2 mins from the house.
Great for popping over in the evenings for stretching, strenght or an evening run.

Upcoming races: Have a low key 10k early March followed by Debra Half marathon. Debra is hilly and off-road which should focus me on building the strenght (while keeping mileage high).

Last week was 97 miles. Did Raheny 5 the previous Sunday and took three easy days (a day per 10 minutes of racing) till Thursday.

On Thursday it was 10-12 by 200m off 200m jog. This was on road: Lifted my knees high and really exagerated stride because I need to work on knee lift and range of motion.

Saturday was (10 x 3mins) off 30s. Comfortably uncomfortable so fine.

Sunday: Freezing outside so Long run on threadmill. Threw in a few hills for the craic. Tried a few fast one minute reps at the end at 32 min 10k pace. Ouch.
Tried a few 30s at 30 min 10k pace. It was like a full on sprint. But treadmill is handy for messing around like this.

Will do a proper week review (layout) for current week on Monday.

OK. The reference is from a John Kellogg article on multi-training (linked here). I am quoting the passage about multi-tier training below and also another passage that may be relavent to one of the questions. Ill summarize the other problems facing masters from the article below.
For clarity I'll comment on a seperate post.

Problem:
Your pituitary gland releases less growth hormone as you age. One upshot of this is that you find yourself losing raceworthiness (anaerobic tolerance and speed) incredibly quickly following a competitive season, and that it’s a shocking battle to get that sharpness back.
What you can do about it:
Use multi-tier training. This utilizes small training pyramids which begin with slower, longer endurance work and which build through faster-paced training stages to a moderate-intensity, reduced "peak". Then the process is repeated, with each stage performed at a higher intensity (faster average pace) than before. Most young runners focus on six-month "macrocycles" in which they do long, slow to moderate distance for two or three months, tempo runs and long intervals for a month or two, then hone up with hard speedwork, time trials, and races. This general approach is preferred for those in their prime, but as a master, you need to shorten those macrocycles to weeks rather than months. That is, emphasize longer endurance training for about three weeks, ease yourself into faster tempo runs and stamina-oriented intervals for a few weeks, then introduce the harder anaerobic intervals, sharp speedwork, and time trials for three or four more weeks. This general cycle can be repeated several times per year, with more time or more intensity devoted to the anaerobic phase during the times you wish to approach peak racing shape. In a non-competitive season, you should still use the fast anaerobic training stage, but the intensity should be made deliberately lower, as though you were just "going through the motions". More time and emphasis in the off-season can be devoted instead to relaxed tempo running and endurance-directed intervals with short rest periods. [Note: the multi-tier approach is not as effective for young runners as is periodization. Young athletes (particularly preteens and teens) cannot tolerate (and do not need) a profusion of stressful anaerobic training. Too much killer track work will burn youngsters out quickly and may harm their future running careers

Problem:
Tissue repair capacity is lower. This is also mostly a result of lower androgen levels.
What you can do about it:
Since your ability to repair tissue is lower than it was in your 20s, your mileage levels will probably also be lower as a master. This is particularly true if you were a serious runner earlier in life and piled up 100 or more miles per week. It’s very tough to do that much past age 40 and stay uninjured! The more volume you can tolerate, the better you will run (and the less you will have to rely on multi-tier training), but chances are you’ll break down trying to train like a 20-year-old.

Problem:
Blood vessels begin losing elasticity and capillary density tends to decrease. You fatigue more quickly because the blood supply to your working muscles simply isn’t as high as it once was.
What you can do about it:
Run at a "sub-threshold" pace 1-3 times weekly during an "endurance training" stage and occasionally during the faster training phases.

Problem:
The ability for motor neurons to contract muscle fibers is compromised, meaning that you will never be as fast (sprint-wise) as you were in your teens and twenties.
What you can do about it:
From a nutritional perspective, eating one-third less than you did in your 20s will forestall the process of lowered DNA replication. Of course, this means that you must also keep your training volume somewhat in check (although running more does simulate eating less, so the more you run, the more you get to eat!). Obviously, eating healthy foods ensures you get the most from your food intake!

Problem:
Maximum heart rate (HR) decreases with age. This is also mainly due to a drop in nervous system transmission.
What you can do about it:
During an anaerobic training period (and possibly during the end of a pre-anaerobic phase, as well), push your HR up near its maximum by running at "VO2max speed" one or two times per week.

Problem:
Testosterone levels are lower (in men), resulting in fractionally lower hemoglobin and myoglobin levels, with a corresponding reduction in oxygen transport capability. Women will tend to slow down less later in life than will men, owing to the fact that their already low testosterone levels do not exhibit this sharp decrease.
What you can do about it:
Running hard, fast workouts regularly will keep your testosterone levels higher provided you don’t run hard more than three times per week.

In summary, masters need a wide variety of training procedures year-round in order to prevent injury, maintain a high max HR, keep hormone levels up, preserve capillary density, reduce boredom, and retain speed. The 40-and-up crowd appears to benefit most from an 8-12 week training cycle which features a 3-4 week stint of extremely hard training 2-3 times weekly (with particularly easy recovery days). Varying the running terrain is helpful, especially during a slower stage of training. Taking time off occasionally (or cross-training) can also be crucial to allow for optimal recovery. A healthy diet is essential as well in order to keep feeling young and to have a long, enjoyable running career.

Week Monday 12th - Sunday 18th:

Monday: Easy Day
am 4.5 jogs
pm 12.5 Easy including 4 buildups* (Total 17k)

Tuesday: Aerobic Threshold
am 19 inc 60 minute @ AT**
pm 9 E followed by some core work (28)

Wednesday:
am 12.5 E
pm 13.5 E (26)

Thursday: Aerobic Intervals on treadmill
am 15.5 inc. 3 x 6 x 35s off 70 s jog followed by 2 mins hard (5' between sets)
pm 4.5 and core (20)

Friday: Easy Day
am 4.5E
pm 12.5E (17)

Saturday: Recovery day
12.5 recovery (12.5)

Sunday:
28.5 k very hilly run (38.5)

Total 159k (99 miles)

*buildup=a slow smooth buildup in speed with last 20-30 metres at a fast pace.
** AT = 2 hr race effort/pace

Comments: The Tuesday AT run was a bit sloggy as the weekend hillrun was still in the legs with no strides or faster running between. Grass/sand etc around Bull Island.

The thursday aerobic intervals on the treadmill were good.
Set at 3' to minimise pounding. Used Daniels table and started at 15.9 kph as a conservative approx of 5k fitness. Added .1 kph to each rep. So first set was 16.1-16.6 kph. Same for others but started 2nd set at 16.1 kph, and third at 16.3 kph. 2 min hard was t 16.2 kph.
Paces felt right, but tough on legs. Wore very light runners to get more strenght around ankles/feet.

Next two days were recovering from Intervals. Sunday felt good. Plan was run to Luas (4.5k) Off at Dundrum and start hill run. Two climbs up 3 rock.
First was Kilmashogue roundabout up to junction with road to 3 rock masts (a couple of minutes below mast). Went out a bit hard and did the climb in just under 24, with the masts to junction section at 16:45.
Was quitely happy till I saw later the fastest time was just under 19, 5 mins quicker!
Ran back down and bumped into a friend and continued the run with less intensity. Ran at a good intensity back to Luas to finish the run working.
Bloody Luas had issues and kicked everyone off at Cowper. 35 mins more running for me to bring the total associated with that run to 38.5.

Changes:

Will swap aerobic strides and aerobic threshold sessions around. Obvious move. Strides will put pep back in legs after long run. That will mean the quality of the AT run should be better (Ill do it on a good fast surface). That won't affect the long run which will have a slower speed anyway.
Had to drop a session for week 2 below (was being greedy ;-))
Have joined the AT with the long hill run. That will be plenty.


Upcoming schedule:

Week1:
Wed: 3 x 6 x 35s off 70' + 3 mins hard. 5 mins between sets.
Fri: 65 mins AT finish fast if feeling good
Sun: 30+k steady hill run

Week2:
Wed: 3 x 6 x 35s off 70' + 4 mins hard. 5 mins between sets.
Sat: Long hill run: inc. 70 mins AT (finish fast if feeling good)
Sunday easy

Week3:
Mon: Recovery + strides
Tue: 10k race
Wed-Sat: Recovery + strides
Sunday off-road: half marathon.

Haven't looked at a weighing scale in 2 months. Last look was 10 st 5-6 lbs.
Weigh in mid week!

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Thanks for the reminder on Kellog's writings and your thoughts on the subject. I'm still a little torn on the issue of refactoring future training to map to multi-tier training, but that's largely based on stubbornness and laziness on my part, as I have typically based my training plans on adaptations of pre-existing plans which follow longer cycles, and to switch would mean going to the trouble of creating my own plans from scratch. There's another part of me that thinks that as soon as I start adapting my training for my age profile, I'm essentially surrendering or succumbing to age. That's a vanity thing, as I'm already doing it (albeit subconsciously), so I just need to get over myself and structure future training to get the best out of myself, rather than stoking the ego. Thanks again for the valued insight - hope to see you out on the roads at some stage for another battle of the ould lads.

I think you're a long way from needing anything other than whatever you're doing now. From my own experience if coming back from a break again I would definitely try a shorter cycle initially just to get all the muscles half trained again. Better advice is not to take an unenforced break in the first place!

Half thinking of doing a lydiard hill phase leading up to the Maurice Mullins half before the summer road racing season, so will see you out there once youre back from a mission accomplished marathon.

I am probably going to use Magness for a stab at a marathon this Autumn. I was actually wondering during the week if it could be altered based on the aging stuff.
I think the schedule could still be used but you'd just stick in/ or adapt a couple of sessions for each phase based on aspects that might need 'topping up'..
Base phase might have another sub-threshold run or two and a maintenence VO2 max session like 2 mins on 2 mins off or even a 3k race.
Pre-comp and comp could have a few hill sprints judiciously placed in a session, maybe another VO2 max session and so on.
I think a few tweaks might allow you to keep the schedule should you feel like you need to change it. But as I said thats a few years down the road for you.

Week Monday 26th Feb- Sunday 4th March:

Monday: Recovery Day
am 4.5 jogs
pm 12.5 Easy (Total 17k)

Tuesday: Easy Day
am 4.5
pm 12.5 Easy
pm2 4 E (21)

Wednesday (snow):
Heavy hamstring: jogged 5k on threadmill.
50 mins cross train. (5)

Thursday: Recovery Day
10k easy on TM
(30 mins cross train) (10)

Friday: Abandoned session
11 easy on TM including 3 min fast to test.
Core work. (11)

Saturday: Easy day
(TM) 9k jog to easy inc several surges warmup hamstring OK.
Session 10 x 3 mins off 1'
Felt ham on 5th workbout so abandoned. (13k)

Sunday:
am 2k jog to shops
Pm 10k easy: Hamstring OK. (12)

Total (89)

Monday:
am 4.5 easy
pm 12.5 (ham Ok I think) (17)

Tuesday:
pm 10k beach race Sandymount 35:25 (WU + WD = 10k) (20)

Report: Route has grass beach tarmac.
Start at Clannagael GAA Sean O Moore pk; anticlockwise circuit of Pk, grass then tarmac; Out onto beach; up onto prom, off prom at end for another 100m beach and turnpoint; all the way back on beach to SM Pk and tarmac to start.
1 lap for 5k race; 2 laps for 10k race.

5ks and 10ks start together. Had a good chat with folks at the start asked a few which distances we were in before was told you could tell by race numbers: 10k low; and 5k high.
I jogged from my home near North Strand; got my number and chatted to other work colleagues running. Then out for the race warmup. Saw a bunch of fast lads doing a stride, I was puzzled when they kept going but then realised it must be a Crusaders group doing a sessions.
I wanted an even race with this as a warm-up for my offroad half at the weekend. My Hamstring was a worry so was wiser to start steady and work into it.
Off we went. A chap I recognised from my club fado fado took the lead. Smooth runner with long strides. A few behind him and then me. He was the only 10k guy ahead.
I was wearing Saucony A5s. Lovely and light but a bit wobbly on the rough foot printed beach just after the park. The runner ahead seemed to have little issues with the long strides. He was probably 10 seconds ahead when we climbed onto the prom. Kept in touch and kept this gap all the way to the turn. He pushed on when he saw me but I kept the gap from widening. Back into the park and I was feeling it a bit but got through the few seconds of doubt and tried to keep relaxed. He had been slowly coming back to me and I caught him at the far end of the park.
I felt strong after all the recent miles and the legs were turning nicely now. I pushed on, he stayed with me but leaving the park I was clear. I made a good effort to get over the rougher soft sand without losing ground. I was trying to turn the legs half a notch faster probably only managing the same speed as when I was relaxed in the first lap. At the turnaround I seemed to have about 150m. I relaxed and ran controlled. Passing a lot of the 5k runners now meant that I had to go out onto the beach which had hard sand ripples. Wobbly, and a good bit of traffic in the park meant I had to run around runners off-path a bit.
Happy with the time and a good even effort should set me up for Sunday.

Will be easy running now until Sundays race.
Hamstring is OK as I type.
A huge change I made was to give up meat, wheat and dairy 4 days ago (already off sugar). I cant drink as much tea and coffee now and for once thirst is driving me to drink cups of water. Diet must by necessity become a lot more varied and healthy looking for the proteins, carbs and sugars in other ways.
For the first time in a year I felt lean and fit, not stodgy.
I didn't eat for a few hours before Tuesday's race, or drink for two hours before it. Again made me feel, lean light and that gives confidence.
I'm starting to realise you can't get away with bad eating habits as a master.
The change is actually for health as I've wanted for years to improve diet. The affect on my running and confidence in running has been pretty quick though.

12-18th March

Monday
AM 4.5 jog
PM 12.5 easy (17)

Tuesday
AM 12.5 E
PM 12.5 easy-steady (54m) (25)

Wednesday
AM 4.5 jog
PM 12.5 steady (49m with strong tailwind) (17)

Thursday
AM 7 jog
PM 10 inc. 10 x 35s hard off 70s jog (treadmill 17-18kph @ 3' grade, 10kph jog)

Wednesdays steady run was not intended but there was a gale and driving rain at my back so I went with it.
I cut down the strides session Thursday but made them a bit sharper. Good decision.
Sligo this weekend. Some nice easy runs on the beach and I will do another long hilly run at a decent effort. More climbing in prep for the Maurice Mullins half perhaps which is only 3 and a bit weeks away.

Going to start logging here again folks.

Stopped running for a couple of years and put on weight (about 4 St.)
Last summer finally started a very sporadic comeback.

Joined up with Stazza a good few weeks back and have a good structure now.

Sessions: Two sessions a week now, midweek and weekend with controlled hill sprints a moderate session in between.
Midweek based loosely on 10 mile race pace. Weekend session a gear slower. The two runs compliment each other: midweek sesh makes pace for weekend tempo feel easier, weekend tempo helps endurance (last portions) of midweek sesh.


Easy days: For me are low intensity so Maffetone effort might be a good estimation. In HR thats 180-age HR = <132bpm for me (my LT is @ 195 btw). I do wear a HRM every run but only using it to keep intensity of the easy runs down. The sessions are by feel.
The pace for these easy runs (about 1hr duration) was initially about 9 min miles but has come down to 8:30 already at same intensity. Initially it was difficult for me to run properly at that intensity, but now I can which indicates I may have adapted to using the muscle fibres that prefer to burn fat at these paces. I'll keep at this intensity as the pace continues to come down.
I run an easy hr at this intensity 4 times per week. When I'm logging I'll skip descriptions of these runs unless something unusual happens. I'll indicate periodically if I notice pace coming down etc.

Weight loss: I have still up to 1.5 St to lose for best racing weight. Times in sessions are likely to improve quicker because weight loss is happening at same time as fitness gains. I bought a Stryd power pod to capture power changes during this period also (charger missing at moment but will sort that).


Last week:

Session 1 Tuesday: Planned 20 minutes @ 6.10 then 4 x 5 minutes @ 5.55. 5 mins jog after 20m, 3mins jog after the 5m

Actual: 20 @ 6.06, 4 x 5min paces (5.49,5.47,5.51,5.38)

Thursday Hill Sprints 6 x 12s jog back

Session 2 Saturday Planned 60 mins @ 6:30
Actual 60m @ 6:27


Happy with Tuesdays run. I try not to distract myself looking at watch for these. Instead I count. So counting every 4th stride is just slower than a second for me. A count of 50 = a minute. For the 20 min threshold section I work out a physical landmark that I will pass within 2 mins of the end. Quick look at watch and then count it out in my head. For teh 5 min reps I count to 250 and then run out teh remaining few seconds. Huge advantage of this method is full internalisation of timing. I know almost exactly how long left at all times so I am unconciously regulating effort and pace and not getting distracted by time or pace from the watch. I always find I pace these well.

Hill sprints were first in a few weeks. Had a little issue with a tight calf muscle so had to back off this session for a few weeks. I was up to 12 x 12s when that happenned. My power metre was showing consistent improvement and as an older runner I feel I need the strenght on offer from these. Delighted to get back. I changed my hill: used to use a hill in Tolka Valley Park now I use the Rathoath Bridge near there. Smoother, not a steep.

Saturdays 60 min tempo was with the Dublin Stazza group in the Phoenix Park. Second get together (first was with Olympian Aoife Cooke a few weeks ago). Met up with Auldmanking, Jan, two Kevs and Pete. My running partner Kev O and myself managed the 60m well with a section down the Glen road which allowed a little leg recovery after about 40 mins which ensured we could run the last 20 mins well. With 30 mins WU and WD this totaled 2hrs of running.

About 60 miles for the week. Easy runs of 7 miles on all non session days except Sunday where I split the easy run in two to make sure to bag the adaptions from Saturday's group run.

Mar Azul wrote: »

Chuffed to see this log back up and running. Always loved the detail and the imra race reports.
Good luck with the comeback.

Thanks very much. Took a couple of years out so just glad to be back. May do a hill run or two down the line to help build up the fitness. You have to enjoy the running so that's no 1 now.

Weight loss: To get weight loss moving again I'm kind of doing a hybrid intermittent fasting thing.
Standard easy day (no session that day or day after) would be eat from 12pm-7pm ish (allowed coffee and water outside those 7 hrs).
Session day I do session early morning and eat my recovery food etc after as normal. Have slow release protein (eg cottage cheese) before sleep.
Easy day with session next day wont fast that evening and may have porridge before sleep.

I take Maurten drinks before session and Kinetica Recovery after.

Weight = 11st 3 lbs (lowest historic racing weight 9-8)

Footwear:
Use new supershoes for sessions and (also important) slower supershoes for easy/recovery runs--they are easier on legs for all runs--hard to ignore for older runners.




Last week:

Session 1 Tuesday: Planned 8 x 5m @ 5.55 off 3m jog
(20m WU and WD)
Hot afternoon. Cinder track Carrickgollogan. My 3 minute jog turned into 3 minutes shade under a tree. Tough psychological session and changed start point on track for 'change as good as rest' head relief.

Took a 5 mins rest instead of 3 mins at end of 4th rep.
These sessions build strenght and progress: once the recovery happens the next rep is always doable. Consistant reps @ 5:48 average


Thursday Hill Sprints 8 x 12s jog back

Road Bridge Roatoath Road/Royal Canal. Smooth and not too steep. Held back.


Session 2 Saturday: 30m WU - 40m Tempo @ 6:17 -- 30 min WD

8 secs faster than planned 6:25 pace. Felt a lot easier than previous week.
Well under control. 50m like this next week.


Easy runs of 7 miles/1 hr on all other days. Basing this pace off Maffetone (180-age = HR). My pace at this HR is coming down steadily.

AuldManKing wrote: »

How strict are you on the easy runs?

Do you just keep the HR face on the watch?

Sometimes just the HR face.

For me, the most important easy/recovery runs are the days directly after a session. I will be strict on that day (or I should be).

Some folks who are extremely fit or maybe are very slow twitch can run those runs a lot (relatively) faster. IMO once you are recovering and allowing your body to bank the gains from the previous day's session then the recovery run has been executed well. I err on conservative side and I am allowing the pace to slowly creep up over weeks and months but at the same effort.

At the moment I am still being strict on the second easy day after a session. That's because the pace at these easy efforts is still being pushed up and up. I don't need to run them at more effort yet.

If I get back to hill running I think I will use that method for easy runs:
If you can run with good technique up a hill at a very easy effort (eg 180 - age HR) then all paces above that at relative efforts should improve.

AuldManKing wrote: »

My 180-age HR is 132 - my easy paced runs would all be slower than that.

What I find is that my easy runs would be in the 120's (or even below 120 for real easy days).

My Max HR though is 173'ish (resting is low 40's)

Chink in the formula there: for lower MaxHRs < than 180 it may be just HR - age (can't confirm). That would give you 125 which may fit better.

The objective for my easy runs is for them to be fat burning (rest the faster fibres while developing the slower ones) while fully recovering from and adapting to the sessions. That Maffetone guide puts me in that ballpark but may not do so for all.

Edit: Just to add something else I try to do which is to keep all the later stages of the recovery run at the same intensity (whatever that is) even if it means slowing. This seems to help the recovery and I've noticed after a few runs like this I don't need to slow anymore.

My Max HR is around 220.

Maffetone is deffo in the 'take with pinch of salt' category. It was used primarily for an elite Ironman triathlete where there is less weight bearing. I use it as a good ballbark for a fat burning pace. I'm on the come back so as I am still improving at this intensity I will keep it up.

From my hill running background I can actually see a key benefit now of minimal easy runs uphill with caveat of good technique: If the speed of these runs at a certain intensity increases or the intensity lowers at the same speed then speeds at all aerobic intensities should increase. Or this foundation can be built on to improve the other paces.

I for one have neglected that in my hill running training.

Honestly not advocating Maffetone pace (I dont very strictly keep under it during runs). But I have noticed that speeds at these easier intensities actually increase so maybe it's worth a try especially the day after a session to ensure recovery.

As I get fitter I might up the intensity of the second day after a session (assuming I'm not upping mileage instead)