Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try

time for a bit of an aul update I guess

Monday 22nd Aug 40 mins easy @ 10:58 avg HR 120 (3.6 miles)
Lunchtime run in the sun, it was quite warm and the legs were not happy to be running. Have had some calf stiffness the last couple of days although it seemed fine when running up to this, not so today. Stopped briefly at halfway before turning around to do some calf dips off the kerb. Quads were quite tight too. Otherwise an enjoyable run. Seemed to take a while for the HR to rise on this as opposed to yesterday where it started high and dropped down.

Tuesday 23rd August - nada, on antibiotics now and not feeling great so will take a few days rest and get some much needed early nights. Makes sense given how I was feeling the last few days.

Wed, Thurs & Fri nada.


Saturday 22nd August 1.5 miles @ 11:09 avg HR 119

Was feeling a bit despondent so thought I’d try and run and see how I got on, not good, dizzy from about half a mile in so finished the village loop and headed for home. Frustrating but ultimately stupid to try in the first place.

Sunday 28th August: bike ride 6 miles in 15 mins
Got new toe clips fitted to the bike so needed to test them out before doing a commute with them. No issues, just an easy 6 mile local loop. Was feeling a bit more human today.

Monday 29th August 3 miles @ 10:57 avg HR 119
Strava says cracking day so I must have enjoyed this. Last day of antibiotics and finally on the mend.

Tuesday 30th August
AM Cycle 12.2 miles in 48 mins
A clubmate pointed out on strava I had 7 PR’s on this ride it was a beautiful morning and the toe clips seemed to give me an extra boost. My fastest commute yet. For the record my commute by train takes 1hr 5 mins door to door
PM 12.2 miles in 59 mins, windy, it’s always bloody windy on the way home!!

Wednesday 31st August 2 miles @ 10.30
1 mile up to the club house followed by 1 hour shot put and javlein introduction and 1 mile home. What fun! I had a little success with the shot put although the coach said that the way I was throwing it meant I was bound to be great at javelin - well, that worked out well :rolleyes: I think I’ll go back for a few more tries anyway, sure what harm and its nice to try something new. I feel very separated from the club these days because I can’t train with them. Hopefully there’ll be a few cross country races coming up soon I can run as an individual, 2 miles is doable flat out…

Thursday 1st September
AM 12.2 miles cycle in 50:21. A stunning morning but holy hell, the back to school crowd were out in force this morning. I passed two guys on two separate occasions and the laugh I had as they both put the boot down when they realised they’d been passed by a wimminz get a life!! Spotted a child on the quays on his bike, presumably he’s in secondary school and his parents knew he was capable of cycling to school but my heart was in my mouth and I had to stay behind him for a few sets of lights to make sure he was ok!!!
PM 12.2 miles in 57 mins, I forgot to start the watch until I was at least a mile into this. Have been finding the ride home tough enough but today was grand, less wind I think or maybe I’m getting used to it. First time cycling in twice in one week, a few more of these in September hopefully.

Friday 2nd September: 3 miles @ 10:45, another beautiful day, think I left my HRM in work so just ran by feel, didn’t look at the watch once, the last mile was a bit tougher than the first two but otherwise I enjoyed this.

Saturday 3rd September: 3.1 miles @ 8.45 27:40
Hartstown parkrun in the pouring rain. I really enjoyed this. I wasn’t sure what pace I was going to aim for but there were two girls in front of me into the first corner and they were chatting away so decided to stay with them, another guy rowed in beside me and we ticked along nicely. We passed a girl just after the first mile and I encouraged her to come with us. The group of 5 ran on for another half a mile when we lost the girl and guy. I stayed with the other two girls but I think I was annoying them as one turned and asked me if I wanted to pass at one point and then just at the start of mile 3 one of them stopped and pulled in. Ride over, I set off on the last mile solo Finished strongly and felt invigorated. Nice to run in company and at a good steady pace. As FBOT pointed out I should be happy with the time given I’m taking things easy but there’s part of me that feels I’d be running sub 24 by now if I was training and racing as I’d planned for the year.

I haven’t (hadn’t) been feeling the love for running in recent weeks between the latest illness and whatnot so, I've decided to drop the base building plan (too much too soon) and just go back to enjoying being out running with no specific goals as such. I’ve two 10k races coming up, Clew Bay in 3 weeks which I”m really excited about #boardssiesgowest and Longwood for my runnaversary with tang neither of which I’ll be racing but rather just ‘taking part’....hopefully I'll be forgiven for that :pac:

Sunday 4th September 6.1 miles @ 11:08

Went out with a goal of doing 6 miles but decided to just do loops of the village (1.5 miles) so I could pull the plug if needed. I love being out when the village is still asleep, a perfect morning for a run with temperatures 'just right'. The sun was trying to come out on the last loop and the place was starting to come alive for the day. Struggled a bit on mile 5 but otherwise it felt good. Kinda glad I left my HRM in the office, not missing it... Only glanced at the watch occasionally and ran by feel.

Monday 5th September 3 miles @ 10:55 avg hr 120
Lunch run in the blistering sunshine, about 200 degrees!!!! Was jogging along the quays when I was spotted by aquinn, stopped for a quick catch up, great to see you as always A. Largely ignored the watch and just ran.

Tuesday 6th September
AM: Cycle to work 12.2 miles in 53 mins, a bit windy and oppressively warm but a beautiful morning nonetheless, I get to watch the sun come up at various points on the cycle, stunning. Also delighted to whizz past the traffic on the Castleknock road all the way to the Phoenix park
PM: Cycle home 12.2 miles in 58 mins. Was surprised to see the most gorgeous solo Deer right at the railings on the cycle track in the PP on the way home, stopped to get a photo, as did several other cyclists

Wednesday 7th September 3.5 miles @ 11:10 avg hr 98 - erm yeah, not sure that’s right!
Was himming and hawing about what route I was going to do, decided on village loops again as couldn’t face the bypass or even the Castle solo. Out the door and about half a mile in I met a clubmate going the opposite way finishing her 5 miler so turned and ran the last two miles with her leaving me with a mile and half solo back home. Grand run and nice to have the bit of company. Was getting dark though when I was on my way home

Thursday 8th September
AM: Cycle 12.2 miles in 53 mins - What bus strike?! very enjoyable, more car traffic but much less bus traffic making the trip from the PP down the quays much easier.
PM: Cycle 12.2 miles in 1:02. I was being extra careful on the south quays as the taxi’s had free run of the bus lanes and they hate cyclists even more than other motorists….It was spitting rain when I left the office but got very heavy around Castleknock so was taking it very handy in case the roads were slippery. First time feeling a little less confident taking a defensive stance on the road even though I had my lights on and extra hi viz stuff on my backpack. One thing that’s very clear is I need to invest in a decent cycling waterproof jacket. My legs were fine even though I was in shorts but my arms were getting very cold about 2 miles from home, my little light running jacket completely useless in that kind of heavy rain!! Still, very chuffed with myself surviving my first true soaking. I”m strongly considering not renewing my annual taxsaver train ticket next month..

Friday 9th September Rest: Had considered cycling in again today but am not quite ready for 2 days in a row so skipped it, skipped a run too and took a rest day.

Saturday 10th September: 6 miles @ 11:17 avg hr 144
AM: 6 glorious miles in the Phoenix park through the trails, up through magazine fort, cross country on some of the Dubin XC course, through more trails before turning around at 3 miles to go back the same way. Absolutely gorgeous morning. Great practice for upcoming XC races and a trail run I might do in November. Barely looked at the watch except to check mileage, the average HR is higher than it should be for an easy run but I always notice it’s higher when I run on grass and there were plenty of tough uphills on this which I’m just not used to anymore. Could feel it in the legs on the last couple of miles home when I tripped, twice over tree roots, luckily I stayed upright!

PM: 1 hour kayaking on the Grand Canal . Bought a living social voucher for this a couple of weeks ago, great value at 12euro but I thought it would be in a group, nope, he gave me the kayak and paddle, told me how to use it and sent me off on my merry way - SOLO!!!! Was a bit nervous at first but obviously the canal is dead calm. There was a strong enough wind on the way up but otherwise I really enjoyed this. I fully expect not to be able to lift my glass of wine this evening as the shoulders are just not used to that much effort. I’m sure kayaking on an actual river, or worse, the sea is a whole different ball game but I’ll cross that bridge(!) when I come to it

Tang, sorry to disappoint you, I didn’t fall in and it’s not the kind of kayak that you can do an Eskimo roll in but since you’re the expert you can show me next time!!

Kennyg71 wrote: »

Which came first Voucher for kyacking or the Adventure Race:)

I've been keeping my eye out for both

Bungy Girl wrote: »

Nice run this morning ! I need to do some hills. Have barely gone over so much as a speed bump all summer :eek:

That adventure races sounds cool. Isn't Kippure very boggy though :eek:?

I've no idea, fancy a recce some weekend?!!