Mum on the Run

Wednesday – S&C, Easy

Ran to Pilates, good class. Instructor said afterwards I looked like I was getting stronger in my core and recommended some moves to improve flexibility in my upper back. Weather was muck, and I just planned a few miles afterwards but ended up getting lost,:rolleyes::rolleyes:, and ran plodded a couple of extra miles in the wind and rain. Glad to get home.

• 6.8 miles @ 9:46 (path)

Thursday – REST

Enjoyed this. Barely moved off the sofa all evening.

Friday – Easy

A few easy miles on the trails in St.Anne’s followed by 3 x 150m strides @ 800m pace with full recovery. Coach had said to keep these relaxed and focus on form. Not easy on the muddy grass but effort was about right and average pace more or less on target (5:25, 5:35, 5:13 min/miles). Met Mrs KennyG after, who’s in prep for Ballycotton. Think all the cool kids are going to East Cork next weekend!

• 5.0 miles total (grass, trail, mud)

Saturday – Easy

A few easy loops of the local park with some strides thrown in for good measure.

• 3.3 miles easy (path, grass)

Sunday – National Masters Indoors (Athlone)

This was a game of two halves. I was entered for the 800m and the 1500m with a scheduled break of 4 hours between races. It was going to be a looooong day :rolleyes:. I thought briefly about changing down to 400m instead of the 1500m but by the time I’d made up my mind it was too late to swap and as it turned out the 400m was scheduled right after the 800m. Still might have been the smarter option given what transpired….but first the good news . The women’s 800m was divided into two races: the young ‘uns (35s and 40s) and then the rest of us . Watched the young uns race and tried not to panic as even the last runner was faster than my (outdoor) PB :eek:. We were called to the start and I was allocated lane 1 and shared it with another runner in my age group. There were only 3 starters in my category and the rest of the field in the outer lanes comprised the other age groups. We had a false start (technical issues, I don’t think anyone jumped the gun) then we were off. First 100m in lanes then everyone cut in. First time racing indoors and I didn’t have a clue what to expect. Next thing I know everyone cuts in front and the pace slows a bit. Yikes, what to do ? I didn’t know whether to run in lane 2 or hold on and wait for a gap . All this while running as fast as I could, trying to avoid elbows and tripping on peoples’ heels. I had to put my hands out a couple of times to stop myself from falling but I wasn’t able to think clearly enough to get out of the boxed-in situation. I hadn’t realised how tactical it would be (despite having watched the Europeans and studied the 800m runners for tips). I know now that I was too comfortable at half way and if I was doing this again I’d be more aggressive from the start. I remember seeing the clock after 400m and it said 1:20/1:21 which was on target. Lap 3 was very slow as I was boxed in again and struggling to think of a way out of it. Again, I was too comfortable at this point. Normally the last 400m is a killer. When it came to the last lap I made the decision to just belt it in lane 2 and I did make some gains here but it was too late to make any impact on the category result. I finished 2nd in 2:46:64. That’s about 3 seconds slower than my outdoor PB from the summer, but I’m told it’s harder to PB indoors because of the tight bends (and the elbows, and the tripping :rolleyes:). Disappointed with the time because I definitely had more in me, but happy with silver and pleased that I gave it my best on the day. I was never going to win the category (the winner was 7 seconds faster) but I’d like to think I could have been a bit closer if I’d gone out a bit more aggressively. I’ll know the next time! Lots learned, and lots to learn still.

Prior to the 800m I’d witnessed Mulberry’s silver medal performance in a very competitive 60m. I don’t think I’d ever be brave enough to attempt the distance, but the crash barriers at the end are kinda cool :cool:.

Met up with Dubgal who was down for the 1500m and watched the 400m races before heading to the shops for bananas and a phone charger cable, as you do. Back in time to watch the 200m and the 3000m, both highly competitive with some ridiculously fast times. I headed off for another warm up and did a half-hearted dynamic and a few strides. Happened to glance at the track during the last stride, to see everyone lined up and waiting to start the 1500m. Morto! Apologised and lined up. This time we were in with the young uns in the first race. I knew already from the dreaded start list that I would be the slowest in my age-group. And now I would be the slowest in the entire race :eek:. Bang, and we were off. 7 and a half laps. By the time I’d covered 1.5 laps my brain was addled, I couldn’t work out the splits, or how many laps were left. Someone was calling out splits on the other side of the track but I couldn’t make sense of the numbers. I had definitely gone out too fast though as I remember seeing 1:01 on the clock after 300m (should have been about 1:07 at this point). Don’t remember much else about the race other than watching the rest of the field move further and further away. Then there was a moment of wanting to pack it all in. Then a moment of wanting to die of shame as I was starting to get lapped and still had 400m (2 laps) to go. I do remember seeing 5:00 even on the clock with 200m to go which actually wasn’t too bad but whatever happened on the last lap I ended up with a finishing time of 5:51.62 . Coming down the finishing straight the woman on the P.A. announced my impending arrival and tried to solicit a few cheers for me from the crowd . No chance of slinking in quietly under the radar then :rolleyes:. To compound my shame, I managed to trip at the end and fall flat on my face over the line, skinning my knees like a 5 year old. I was completely and utterly exhausted; I think the heat really got to me in the longer race. Delighted to hear of Dubgal’s PB (a very impressive 5:06!) between gasping for breaths. I really was out of my league in the 1500m and was so glad when it was over. In contrast to the 800m where I would happily have gone again. If I do Indoors next year, I will probably do 800m/400m. Or just focus on one distance.

Can’t fault the organisation on this event and it was certainly an experience. It’s a shame the Indoor season isn’t a bit longer. Really, as a master you’re limited to 2 events (provincial/Nats). Maybe now with Abbottstown up and running they might have a county event.

Gosh that was long-winded. If you’re still here thanks for reading! Normal service (training!) resumes shortly .

• 5.0 miles total approx (track)

TOTAL WEEKLY MILES: 29.6