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Running Through The Wall

Killerz

So, here we go again. An old training log retired, a new log begins…..

And thus begins my biggest challenge yet – the Connemara Ultra-Marathon. I am aiming to run (or crawl/ walk) this in April 2010. I have 3 marathons under my belt (Dublin 2008 – 3:49; Cork 2009 3:25; Dublin 2009 3:11) and a few halfies (PB Dublin 2009 1:28), so thought it was time to push myself a little more!:D

I have kept up a relatively good level of fitness since Dublin Marathon back at the end of October, so I am aiming to build back up to a 20 mile LSR weekend run prior to new year, and then start looking at back-to-back LSRs starting in New Year. I am loosely following Abhainn’s training plan (in terms of weekend LSRs) from Connemara Ultra 2008, trying to fit in around work and other commitments as best as possible. I don’t think I’ll be coming in sub-5 though! More aiming towards a sub 6-hour target, and I’ll see how that moves as we get closer to d-day.

I see a number of fellow boardsies are doing the Ultra, and I’m sure you’ll be a great source of inspiration and advice as I pursue this goal, indeed best of luck to you all!

I'll start posting updates from tomorrow onwards, all going well.

I picked up this nice quote on the internet to start with, which gives me a hint of what's ahead:

"If you start to feel good during an ultra, don’t worry you will get over it."
Gene Thibeault

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Killerz

yaboya1 wrote: »

Well done Jamie. You can treat yourself to some pb pancakes in St Anne's this Saturday now. FBOT has volunteered to pay

Must have been a fair standard if that time only got you 54th. Glad I didn't show up :P

Sounds good P!

Yep the standard is really strong in this race, year after year... great to see it in fairness.

Killerz

Hadn't realised how long since I updated here.

GT 5k as discussed further up. 16:54 I think , just outside the top 50, a PB if excluding last year's questionable distance. Tough work out, found km 2.5-4 particularly tough mentally and physically but recovered well in the last km to get under the 17 and help our team to second overall in the mixed category. Delighted with that, with another of our teams getting 5th. Something like 190 participants from bank of Ireland which is a superb reflection on the well being program in the bank.

Parkrun with the buggy as part of a 10 miler the following Saturday, managing a sub 20 which was nice. That weekend brought two weeks off to a close where I managed to get 16, 14 and 18 mile runs in . Happy with this as I normally just don't have the time.

Next up was the Race Series Half. Targeted 1:20. Why? Arbitrary figure really - no particular indicators that this was doable, but pb was 1:21 , and 1:22:18 or so was my latest HM, Tullamore Half last year. Conditions weren't great and the course isn't exactly flat. Joined up with a workmate and we went out together. Managed about 4 miles before he slipped back, our pace already behind. He caught up again at farmleigh at which stage I was struggling. He went on ahead though always in sight. Mentally now I wasn't great . Long story short, pace continued to slip and went right down as I was isolated on Acres Road. Held things together for 1:22:06 which is probably reflective of where I am at right now, with no structured training.

Workmate finished strongly for a low 1:21.

We will see what this means for a dcm target... probably another arbitrary number!

Killerz

Killerz wrote: »

Hadn't realised how long since I updated here.

GT 5k as discussed further up. 16:54 I think , just outside the top 50, a PB if excluding last year's questionable distance. Tough work out, found km 2.5-4 particularly tough mentally and physically but recovered well in the last km to get under the 17 and help our team to second overall in the mixed category. Delighted with that, with another of our teams getting 5th. Something like 190 participants from bank of Ireland which is a superb reflection on the well being program in the bank.

Parkrun with the buggy as part of a 10 miler the following Saturday, managing a sub 20 which was nice. That weekend brought two weeks off to a close where I managed to get 16, 14 and 18 mile runs in . Happy with this as I normally just don't have the time.

Next up was the Race Series Half. Targeted 1:20. Why? Arbitrary figure really - no particular indicators that this was doable, but pb was 1:21 , and 1:22:18 or so was my latest HM, Tullamore Half last year. Conditions weren't great and the course isn't exactly flat. Joined up with a workmate and we went out together. Managed about 4 miles before he slipped back, our pace already behind. He caught up again at farmleigh at which stage I was struggling. He went on ahead though always in sight. Mentally now I wasn't great . Long story short, pace continued to slip and went right down as I was isolated on Acres Road. Held things together for 1:22:06 which is probably reflective of where I am at right now, with no structured training.

Workmate finished strongly for a low 1:21.

We will see what this means for a dcm target... probably another arbitrary number!

I forgot to give a shout out to aquinn who happened to be marshaling/ volunteering at all 3 of the above events and was very vocal with her support! Thanks A

tang1

All the best Sunday J, have no doubt you'all nail your target, run well.

Killerz

tang1 wrote: »

All the best Sunday J, have no doubt you'all nail your target, run well.

Cheers tang... how's the mojo?

tang1

Killerz wrote: »

Cheers tang... how's the mojo?

Getting there, 35, 37, 40 miles the past 3 weeks, will have 42 done by end of this week. The early season goal for 2017 is set in stone so something to focus the mind on. Thanks for asking.

Killerz

tang1 wrote: »

Getting there, 35, 37, 40 miles the past 3 weeks, will have 42 done by end of this week. The early season goal for 2017 is set in stone so something to focus the mind on. Thanks for asking.

Fair play - although I'm jealous of those weekly totals!

HelenAnne

Good luck on Sunday! Have a great run!

Kennyg71

Best luck tomorrow J, hope to see you on course if not maybe McGrattans. Have a good one.

annapr

Good luck J!!! Hope to see you out there or after... have a great run!

yaboya1

Good luck Jamie.
My prediction is safely stored in Ferris's phone.
Prove me right

Murph_D

Intriguing! All the best, Jamie.

Firedance

You're racing? not pacing? EEEEEKK another name for the tracker :pac: Best of luck J!!

Ososlo

The very very best of luck J!

Killerz

Thanks everyone. And best of luck to all of you who are running today. Preparations have been mixed... recent weeks have seen sick, unsettled kids and severe shortage of sleep. I'm going out to enjoy it today. If that means a pb, fabulous. If not, it's another Dublin Marathon to experience... and what an experience!

aquinn

Fabulous, congratulations.

tang1

Great running J, very well done.

yaboya1

Super run Jamie.
Looking forward to seeing how you get on when you train and get some sleep ahead of your next one

Killerz

yaboya1 wrote: »

Super run Jamie.
Looking forward to seeing how you get on when you train and get some sleep ahead of your next one

Thanks P - that could be a few years yet!

Kennyg71

Well done yesterday J, hope wasn't to early getting up this morning.

Killerz

Kennyg71 wrote: »

Well done yesterday J, hope wasn't to early getting up this morning.

Cheers G. I'm 12 hours in now

Bungy Girl

Good to see you the other evening, almost didn't recognise you in the muted colours, not your usual fluorescents! Congrats on a fantastic DCM, and possibly even more to come when you get back to 8 hours a night (it does happen, eventually :rolleyes:)

Killerz

Bungy Girl wrote: »

Good to see you the other evening, almost didn't recognise you in the muted colours, not your usual fluorescents! Congrats on a fantastic DCM, and possibly even more to come when you get back to 8 hours a night (it does happen, eventually :rolleyes:)

Thanks BG. I'll have to go for something more colourful than blue and red! That was my first run out after DCM, glad to get it out of the way. As for getting back to 8 hours the only danger is the expectation levels will rise

Killerz

Ahhh I cant really be bothered writing up a report at this stage!

I had a great day out, felt really comfortable throughout apart from a couple of cramp threats late on in the race. Great to see so many supporters out there and people I hadnt seen for ages.

Dublin looked fab on the day, the marathon really is a great advert for the city.

As for my race, I set an arbitrary 2:55 target but really had no basis to believe that might work out. Next target was a PB (sub 2:58:17), then sub 3, then just to finish the race having enjoyed it.

Started off just ahead of the 3 hour pacers. A lot of early congestion but happy not to let it worry me. I sweated a lot over the first 4 or so miles, a fair bit of uphill, and i was slightly concerned that I may burn out as it seemed like a good bit of effort. That ironed itself out and I was in a good place by about 7 miles at the turn at Myos in Castleknock. All very smooth for the next few miles and out of the park, up to South Circular Road. Feeling good.

Had a bit of a lull around 12 miles as I began the dreaded Crumlin drag. Through half way in around 1:28, that would be on course for 2:56 but again, not too worried. Around 14 miles I started developing a stitch which didnt shift until about 17 miles. Still chugging along smoothly enough and no major hills to deal with just yet. On and on I went through Terenure and Rathgar. Counting down the miles now and figured sub 3 was well within comfortable reach. Took water all the time, had salt tablets approx every 30 mins and 4 gels throughout. Didnt touch the lucozade except for a small swig at Roebuck.

On up through Milltown and the sharp hill after that. Still feeling good turning up to Clonskeagh but boy that long slow drag to the bottom of the Roebuck hill is just soul-sapping. I'm starting to pass a lot of people here. Up to the top of Roebuck hill and let gravity do its work down Fosters.

Little tweak of cramp approaching UCD flyover that reminded me not to get carried away, with 3 miles to go.

Last water station at Merrion SC and the dreaded straight road in to the finish. Lost a few seconds on this, and felt that cramp again but managed to resist it and savour that last mile. The last half mile seemed to go on for ever, but eventually I got over the line in 2:56:46 - a 90 second PB.

Felt really good after - probably the best I've felt after a marathon. Knew I had given it everything I had but still enjoyed it all.

What a day. A great result off training that again fits around the rest of my life in the way that I need it to. Right now, I'm not in the frame of mind or body to go for sub 2:50 and beyond... I know I am capable, but off the back of what I am putting in to running, I am getting out what I need and am damn well thrilled that that makes me a 2:56 guy. DCM wasnt my main goal this year - the 24 Hour was. This was a beautiful bonus on top of that.

Pints galore afterwards and an exchange of war stories with so many from here who had a great day.

Not sure what's next... I've not signed up for anything. For the first time in a long time, I actually can't really decide what I want to do, and I'm not particularly motivated by any race... Good or bad, I dont know.

Ososlo

That's brilliant, J! Congratulations

hot buttered scones

Killerz wrote: »

..... training that again fits around the rest of my life in the way that I need it to......

........ I'm not particularly motivated by any race... Good or bad, I dont know.

Great report all the same, and congrats on the result, and the 24hr. It was nice to meet you in McGrattans. I wish I could figure out the first part that I've quoted re: training, because it's probably the bit I find the hardest at times. I'm also in the same place regarding motivation. I'm sure it won't be long before something grabs our interest. I've registered for something for the sake of it, so that's a start I suppose.

Killerz

hot buttered scones wrote: »

Great report all the same, and congrats on the result, and the 24hr. It was nice to meet you in McGrattans. I wish I could figure out the first part that I've quoted re: training, because it's probably the bit I find the hardest at times. I'm also in the same place regarding motivation. I'm sure it won't be long before something grabs our interest. I've registered for something for the sake of it, so that's a start I suppose.

Likewise great to see you again... for our annual meeting! My wife gave me grief over not answering your question when you asked me how my race was... I was trying to give our conversation attention while ordering/ paying for a burger... it was a tough balancing act. Well done on your time and until next year...

hot buttered scones

Killerz wrote: »

Likewise great to see you again... for our annual meeting! My wife gave me grief over not answering your question when you asked me how my race was... I was trying to give our conversation attention while ordering/ paying for a burger... it was a tough balancing act. Well done on your time and until next year...

I can't say I noticed - too much adrenaline still coursing through my veins and the sirens song of beer calling!! I was more interested in your marathon PB progression - it gave me quare notions altogether......

Killerz

hot buttered scones wrote: »

I can't say I noticed - too much adrenaline still coursing through my veins and the sirens song of beer calling!! I was more interested in your marathon PB progression - it gave me quare notions altogether......

Follow the notions!

Killerz

It's a shocking amount of time since I last posted in here... 2 months I think. Well I've not really had anything interesting to post on. Tipping away on 35-40 miles per week with average run length about 6.5 miles, usually a commute.

2016 was a terrific year for me. 50k PB in Donadea, the 24 hours in Belfast, marathon PB in Dublin, Wicklow Way Ultra and Wings for Life being amongst my highlights.

I did very few races overall, which is fine, and haven't togged out for anything other than a parkrun since DCM.

So what for 2017? Plan is to do Bohermeen in March and then Limerick in May. I'm not doing the 24 hour in Belfast this year. Might look at some pacing opps if they come around and some BHAA.

Wouldn't mind giving my mile PB (4:51) a rattle either, and I'm on 49 parkruns - one more would be nice. The twins are two and both myself and my wife have changed jobs in last month so running, while a big part of my life, has to fit around those things.

Wishing everyone all the best for 2017!