nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Lurker's Log

mbarr

After lurking for the entirety of the mentored novices thread and being consumed by envy in the run-up to DCM and on the day itself I've decided to keep a log in the hopes of getting myself uninjured to the start line of a marathon in 2016.

Background:
Started running in June this year, I had been walking 20-30km around the city every evening as a way of losing weight (went from 95 to 85kg) then started running (85-75kg) with the sole focus of running the Warriors Run. I grew up on the side of Knocknarea, it's always been in my head to get that done at some stage so I figured why not this year?
Absolutely loved running my route through Drumcondra, Glasnevin and the Royal Canal, and began to take in parts of Phoenix Park on my long runs. I knew I was addicted when I made the decision to move to Stoneybatter mainly to be closer to the park. I picked up a drinking injury during the fleadh in Sligo and ended up not making the Warriors Run, but at that stage I had signed up for the race series half marathon and had something to work towards recovering for.

Current state of affairs:
I've ran 3 races and a parkrun since taking up running;
Ransboro 10k (July): 50:06
Knocknarea 8 mile (August): 1:05:48
Race Series Half Marathon (September): 1:48:26
Sligo Parkrun (September): 21:36

Totally all over the place, and all very soft I think.

Training:
I'm currently making it up as I go along, after reading Jack Daniel Running Formula and P&D Advanced Marathoning, and I'm running just over 40 miles a week (6 runs) with a tempo run, intervals and a long run in there. Long run is currently 13 miles.

Plans:
I'm signed up for the Gingerbread half marathon and the Jingle Bells 5k, and I'm planning on running the Rotterdam Marathon in spring. I'm 90% sure I will use the P&D 33-55 miles/week plan to train for this, as I think I need the structure.

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

Wubble Wubble

That's a proper marathon session kid. Well done you!

mbarr

Yesterday I went out in the new Kinvaras and ended up running a mile w/u and 4 miles at marathon pace. They felt wonderful so I decided to risk it and run the 14 miles @ MP tonight in them.

14 miles @7:47, avg HR154. Compares very well to this session last year, run on the same route, then I averaged 10 seconds per mile slower and HR155. I couldn't be happier with the session, it was challenging enough conditions running uphill into the wind at the back of the park (did 3 laps of the north side of the park). Brought some gels out in AGYR's gel belt that i've borrowed for the past year, didn't take any but wanted to get the feel of them around my waist again.

Starting to feel quite positive about this marathon!

tang1

Great stuff M, looking good.

annapr

Ah that 4 miles @ MP... gives me chills! Well done, nearly time to taper now?

mbarr

Thanks guys! yep nearly taper time. Just 16 miles this weekend and then it all starts to wrap up.

adrian522

mbarr wrote: »

Yesterday I went out in the new Kinvaras and ended up running a mile w/u and 4 miles at marathon pace. They felt wonderful so I decided to risk it and run the 14 miles @ MP tonight in them.

14 miles @7:47, avg HR154. Compares very well to this session last year, run on the same route, then I averaged 10 seconds per mile slower and HR155. I couldn't be happier with the session, it was challenging enough conditions running uphill into the wind at the back of the park (did 3 laps of the north side of the park). Brought some gels out in AGYR's gel belt that i've borrowed for the past year, didn't take any but wanted to get the feel of them around my waist again.

Starting to feel quite positive about this marathon!

Well done on this session. When I did it I struggled a bit with it, but it sounds like you nailed it.

Hard work is done now!

Annie get your Run

I think you can call it your gel belt now, I'm never going to need it :rolleyes:

Fantastic result on the 14 @ MP, you've had a great training bank this time around, you'll exceed your goal in Barca me thinks

Younganne

And so you should feel positive about this marathon. Training has gone really well for you M and you look all good to go.

mbarr

Sligo parkrun today, taking Singers advice to try a 5k prior to taper! Delighted that I did. I haven't run a 5k since jingle bells 2015, my PB was still my previous Sligo parkrun time of 21:36, beat that by a minute today.

The first mile started off a little quickly and I was left feeling like I was hanging on, the middle mile was slow, but managed to bring it home with a decent last mile (and ran my fastest ever mile somewhere in there, 6:27)
Splits were 6:36, 6:50, 6:31 and 6:26 for the last bit.

Haven't run intervals at all or any pace faster than 10 mile pace since last November I think so totally happy with that result. With a bit of specificity after Barcelona a sub 20 should be on the cards.

Singer

Nobody should ever listen to what I say!

Fantastic PB, and really nice going over the last few weeks. You're in great shape for Barca.

mbarr

Plan said 16 miles today, in the back of my mind I felt that there was small print somewhere about dropping the mileage or even just doing a recovery run if the 5k was still in the legs, rank day in Sligo, procrastinated for a while but really I feel grand after yesterday and knew I'd regret not getting out so eventually dragged myself out the door for what turned out to be a lovely, hilly, wet 15 miles. And now it's taper time!

jake1970

Congrats on the PB M, enjoy the taper:)

HigginsJ

Fantastic training, best of luck with your goal race.

adrian522

3:25 is a go I think. Are you going to go out at 3:30 pace or go out at 7:50 ish pace?

mbarr

adrian522 wrote: »

3:25 is a go I think. Are you going to go out at 3:30 pace or go out at 7:50 ish pace?

Thanks everyone.

Adrian I do feel like I could possibly push for 3:25 but (weather permitting) I'll go out 3:30 pace and not make any sort of increase in pace unless I arrive at mile 20 very fresh. Main goal is to get under 3:30, secondary goal is to not stop and walk at all so will focus on that!

Murph_D

Wow, really good stuff going on here, looking good and congrats on the parkrun PB on top of everything else. Keep sane during the next couple of weeks!

denis b

Great preparation M and particularly so all this year. You sure are in racing form. Great log btw.

mbarr

10 miles with 8@MP last night, ran the same route as this run last year, average heart rate way down for the MP section (was in low 150s last year, mid 140s this year) which is very encouraging. Marathon pace felt extremely easy, like I was holding back a good bit. Hope it feels like that on the day!

Having to fight the urge to eat all around me.

197 miles in Feb, PB at 10 mile and 5k, hit the times on the crucial sessions, couldn't have asked for a better last month before a marathon.

tailgunner

You're in great shape. Enjoy the taper.

mbarr

Got ran over off my bike on the way to work this morning, totally my fault, left leg throbbing, no issue walking on it though. Fingers crossed that it's just a bit of bruising, literally the first thing that went through my mind, before I even hit the ground, was Barcelona!

tailgunner

Yikes. Time to wrap yourself in cotton wool till race day I'd say!

mbarr

Weekend of easy running, 12 miles on Saturday, 3 on Sunday, no damage done to the legs it seems. Very oddly after my easy 12 on Saturday the VO2Max estimate from my watch ticked up to 55 for the first time. I don't put much store in this usually as the PBs it predicts are all wildly optimistic, but I do see it as a general fitness direction indicator, so that's positive.

Goals for the marathon:
AAA - 3:29:xx
B - Sub 3:32
C - A PB (3:34:22)

A conservative calculator someone posted on the random running questions thread that gives me a 3:31 based on my tune up races, hence the B goal.

Non-time related goals; to run the entire race. I stopped and walked a fair bit over the last mile or two in Rotterdam, don't want that to happen again.

Just need to get through this week now! Can't wait

Annie get your Run

Best of luck M! Have a super race.

Younganne

Super training block and the results will definitely reflect that. Best of Luck M, have a great race and enjoy it.

tailgunner

All the best. Like you said in a previous post, you've hit all the training benchmarks, so hope you have a great run.

hot buttered scones

Good luck - hope it all goes well for you.

Singer

I forbid you to not beat my PB

Best of luck with getting to the line! I think you'll see benefits of a second marathon cycle on the day (even if you were slacking off in a boat in between cycles). The course looks good - the drag up Parallel to the finish is the only thing that stands out, though it's a gentle bump compared to those Sligo hills!

Is it too early to check the weather? ( It looks good

)

mbarr

Thanks everyone!

Yep the weather is looking good alright! Course isn't too scary looking, we're staying close to Paral lel so should get a feel for the draginess of it on Saturday. As a few others have remarked, I can't believe it's here already, time just absolutely flew this year so far!

mbarr

I can verify that some mild taper madness can be experienced before marathon #2 too. I split my heel open when crashing into that car last week, thought it would heal in time no issue, and ran on it no problem at all Saturday through Tuesday, including 12 miles on Saturday.

Now however the thing is looking rawer than ever and I'm going slightly mad. Walking around work in flip flops to try to get the thing to heal. It shouldn't be a problem I don't think, sure my feet will be numb after 12 miles anyway.

Murph_D

All the best Mark, you have every right to expect a good one so go for it, assuming you get suitable conditions. Look forward to hearing all about it!