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Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard

chickey2

I saw this quote on Runners world recently and thought it was a good one. I've been lurking around here since just before DCM 2015 and have loved reading the training logs. The thing that stands out is the ones who run consistently and sensibly are the ones who are doing really well, so that's what I want to try and do!

Background
I'm a 39 year old female, with a full time job and two kids (so always short on time!)
I stared running a couple of years ago with the Couch to 5K. I hadn't run since I was in school and even then it was just laps of the pitch during PE and I hated it. When I did the C25K though I loved it. I kept at it and did the womens mini marathon in 2013 (1hr 19 min!) and was thrilled with myself. I went on holidays then and fell out of the habit. In January 2014 I started again, redid the C25K and got up to 10K again. I signed up for the Frank Duffy 10 mile and the half marathon in the Dublin race series as an incentive to keep going and got some plans off the internet and off I went. After the half I was talking to a friend who was running the Dublin marathon and encouraged me to do it too despite the fact it was only 4 weeks away! I thought feck it, I can run half and walk half, so I signed up, and started on week 18 of a 22 week training plan! In hindsight it was madness, but somehow I managed it and finished DCM on a total high. It was just before the marathon I came across this forum. After DCM I joined the graduate thread on here and got some great advice from Clearlier and learnt a huge amount from lots of posters here. So now I want to train properly and consistently and see how well I can do.

PBs
5K-24:19 Tallaght 5K May 2015
10K- 51:36 K Club April 2015
10 mile - 1:33:48 Frank Duffy 10 mile August 2014
1/2 Marathon - 1:57:31 Race series September 2014
Marathon - 4:33:56 DMC October 2014

I've been following Clearliers Graduate plan and my recent goals were to improve my 5 and 10K times (which I did!). I'm going to do the Race series again this year and try and improve on the 2014 times. I've just ordered the P&D book so am looking forward to getting it and having a proper read of it.

Future plans
Do the race series, but this time stop at the half! I'd like to do it in 1:50 if I can. I can't do DCM this year for various reasons but I just put my name in to the London 2016 ballot today. If I don't get in to London (chances are I won't) I'll do Limerick instead so either way I'll be planning for a Spring marathon. My goal would be sub 4h.

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chickey2

Well my attempt to get back to the plan didn't go too well! I did a few runs in early December but then it all went wrong. Work was crazy busy, I was up to my eyes sorting stuff for Christmas and basically I didn't feel like running. This is my third year running and the third time this has happened! I think I just need to hibernate for December. Anyway I managed to get out today and feel so much better. I can't wait for the kids to go back to school and I can get back to a routine.
Looking back over 2016, I'm happy enough. I did over 1800 km for the year so over 1000 miles. I also got my sub 4 marathon which was my only real goal. This year I'm going to stick to the shorter distances and maybe some mountain runs.

Sun 8: 45 mins easy, 7.1 km@6:20 HR 165

annapr

It's just cruel to keep kids out of school until the 9th of January!!! Good to see you back in action.

Annie get your Run

chickey2 wrote: »

This year I'm going to stick to the shorter distances and maybe some mountain runs.

How about IMRA in Howth this weekend

chickey2

Annie get your Run wrote: »

How about IMRA in Howth this weekend

I could be tempted! I won't know til later in the week if I can do it but I am going to sign up for IMRA membership.

chickey2

I hadn't realised I'd neglected my log for so long. The main reason for no logging is no running (well very little). I seem to have caught every bug going since Christmas so between that and life getting in the way I just haven't been running.

Yesterday, a friend convinced me to do marley parkrun with her. It was only after I realised how much fitness I've lost since October. I did the 5km at an average pace of 6:20 min/km with a HR of 187 (going up to 202 at the end which is very close to my max HR). As a comparison, back at the beginning of October I did marley parkrun in the last stages of a 33km run. I did it at 6:13 with a HR of 161. I was actually shocked how rubbish I felt yesterday.
I think I need to go back to the start and just get out and run for 45 mins or so a few days a week. I just wish I could find the motivation to do it.

RayCun

You need to come down to the club

Bungy Girl

Sorry to hear you've not been well, C. Good idea to head to the club as RayCun says; sometimes the promise of company can be all the motivation you need to get out the door. The fitness will come back, it always does !

chickey2

RayCun wrote: »

You need to come down to the club

I know, I know! Work hours are a problem but it looks like I'll be able to go part time from September so maybe then.

So what's the best club, Brothers Pearse or Tallaght?!

RayCun

That's a trick question, right?

There's training Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings, are they all out?

Younganne

Sorry to hear you've been sick. You've been missed here & on Strava. I hope you are over all the illness now and as you run the mojo will come back.

Little steps - do 2 runs this week of 30 mins and build it up from there. Dig out Hal Higdons Spring training , if you can't get to the club like Ray suggests.

chickey2

RayCun wrote: »

That's a trick question, right?

There's training Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings, are they all out?

Yeah, I reckoned you were biased!

Evenings are all full unfortunately, that's why I tend to run early in the morning. I work late Wednesday to Friday and oh works late Monday and Tuesday. Saturday is kung-fu for oh and ds so I have dd.

Hannibal_Smith

Ah feck Chickey! Sorry to read this. Hopefully you can get your mojo back. Can you run at lunchtime? Really hope it clicks back into place for you.

chickey2

It took me a while to find this thread! I think I've finally found my mojo again and am back running. It took a while, but I did three runs this week and am raring for more. I've lost a lot of fitness but I guess I have to start somewhere.

So I did a park run today to gauge where I was. Did it in 27:27 which is over 3 minutes slower than my previous pb but not too bad considering I've done a total of 91km since January

I've decided I'm going to focus on the 5km for now and try and get it down. Once I've done a bit of base building I'll try the p&l 5k plan.

I'm going to try and get to park run more often. Today was the first time to run the new route at tymon which I like better than the old one. I also got to meet Nop98 who was being a tourist. When I finished I jogged slowly back to the car while chuckling to myself that yaboya can do a sub 20 minute 5k as a cool down whereas I had to take a walk break during my 1.5k cool down! Sure it's something to aim for

Bungy Girl

Welcome back, glad you found your mojo! Your plan sounds like a good one, the fitness will return with consistency. Best of luck with the comeback

annapr

Delighted to see you back C, and you won't be long getting back to fitness. That 5k pb is there for the taking (based on your times at other distances).

Mrs Mc

Welcome back

nop98

Nice to meet you chickey2! Best of luck with the shorter distances. The Tymon parkrun will get you back in flying form in no time, it was hard going.. Hopefully we'll see you in Shanganagh for some reverse tourism in the future!

Murph_D

Great news C, welcome back!

Annie get your Run

+1! Glad you found your mojo

chickey2

Thanks for all the welcome backs!
Nothing too exciting to report this week, just trying to get back in the habit and doing slow easy runs.

Tuesday: 6km@6:32 HR165
Friday : 5km@6:22 HR167
Sunday: 10km@6:44 HR 163

I'm just sticking to running by HR and trying to keep it in the easy range. I'll move to four days next week.

chickey2

Well that return didn't go so well! Can't believe it's 4 months since I posted last. I've been lurking but only actually back running in the last couple of weeks. Thankfully I can now draw a line under a load of craziness and stress which had been preventing me getting out. As the cherry on the cake, I'm now only working two days a week so I've no excuse not to run!

I've been trying to get into the habit of getting out straight after I drop the kids to school which is working so far. As before, I'm going to do a bit of base building and then start a 5k plan.

Monday 2:about 5.5 k @6:30min/km I stupidly forgot to turn my watch back on after stopping at lights so wasn't sure about the distance.

Younganne

good see you back C...hope it all falls into place for you now.

Hannibal_Smith

We nearly crossed paths on Thurs...but you went straight instead of turning at the Stadium. I was on a sneaky run, you'd think that would make me move faster, but no :pac: .

Best of luck getting back in to it!

denis b

Wish you the very best C and have noticed the strava traffic. Quietly does it

hillsiderunner

chickey2 wrote: »

As the cherry on the cake, I'm now only working two days a week so I've no excuse not to run!

Hope it will reduce the stress and don't forget to enjoy it!

Am at a bit of gentle base-building myself these days, you're not alone.

annapr

annapr wrote: »

Delighted to see you back C, and you won't be long getting back to fitness. That 5k pb is there for the taking (based on your times at other distances).

... ditto... again

...see you at the Raheny 5 mile again maybe ? or before...

Annie get your Run

denis b wrote: »

Wish you the very best C and have noticed the strava traffic. Quietly does it

Yep +1, great to see you back!

Huzzah!

This is one of the first logs I followed on Boards. Great to have you back and good luck!

chickey2

Hannibal_Smith wrote: »

We nearly crossed paths on Thurs...but you went straight instead of turning at the Stadium. I was on a sneaky run, you'd think that would make me move faster, but no :pac: .

Best of luck getting back in to it!

I didn't see you! I did see you one morning during the week though in old bawn as I drove past!

chickey2

annapr wrote: »

... ditto... again

...see you at the Raheny 5 mile again maybe ? or before...

Yes, I'm thinking of doing jingle bells as I've heard it's a good pb course (weather permitting!) so hopefully I'll do raheny too. It was my only race so far this year.