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

What I log about when I log about running

Huzzah!

Huzzah! for running!

Background:

I'm female and in my 30s. I'm not sporty and I wouldn't really consider myself to be "fit". I'm also sllllooooowwww. But, for the most part, this doesn't bother me. I'm still surprised that I can comfortably run 10 miles. (10-whole-miles. Me!:o)

I've been running fairly consistently now for two(ish) years. I'd finished Couch 2 5k a couple of times before but never kept it up; mainly, I think, because I was running my training runs flat out and really didn't enjoy it. Three years ago, I tried again and stuck with it and now, despite my grumbling, love to run (at least most of the time). Key to running more consistently was discovering the runmute. You can't beat the headspace that running gives you.

I started practising yoga last year. I try and attend 3/4 classes a week. There may be "better" ways to cross train/complement my running but yoga is the only thing I'll stick to.

PBs and Goals:

My principal goal for the rest of the year is to try and run a PB at the race series half. My current PB is from the Wexford half earlier this year and is 2:15:4x; I trained like the dickens for it. Still and all, I'm hoping to run 2:14:xx in September. Along the way, I'd like to run a 10K PB at the Fingal 10k. My 10K PB is my oldest and, potentially, my softest. Once I run the half, I've half an eye on tackling a 5K plan - gotta get the value out of the buke - with Jingle Bells being my focus for the rest of the year. That's a way away yet, though.

I used a plan from Pfitzinger and Latter's Faster Road Running for Wexford earlier this year and I think I'll use it again for September. I've built in a buffer week for the Fingal 10k, so the plan will start in earnest next Monday. I've been enjoying running off plan for the past couple of weeks but am looking forward to getting back on plan soon. Gives me less wriggle room for slack off!

Distance|Current PB|Target|
5k|26:53|>26|
5 Mile|46:40|>46|
10k|59:53|58:xx|
10 mile|1:43|1:40|
Half mara|2:15:43|2:14:xx

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

Huzzah!

Monday, January 15th
Plan:Off
Total: 10.08km (1:16:26)
Splits: 7:42: 7:44; 7:44; 7:35; 7:34; 7:34; 7:46; 7:23; 7:22; and 7:30
Avg HR: 147 Max: 168

I've no recollection of this run whatsoever, which is a good sign. It means I'm getting back into the swing of things.

Tuesday, January 16th
Plan:Easy 8k
Total: 8km (1:07)
Splits: 7:44; 7:21; 7:29; 7:31; 7:32; 7:34; 7:32; and 7:02
Avg HR: 147 Max HR: 168

I told myself I'd get up and run to work, but the sound of the wind put me off. I regretted not getting up later in the afternoon when the snow started. I'm trying not to miss runs, so I took to the treadmill again. It was fine once I got going. It does make getting home awkward though.

Thursday, January 18th
Plan: 5km
Total: 5km (36:49)
Splits: 7:16; 7:12; 7:27; 7:33; and 7:02
Avg HR: 144 Max HR: 167

Client meetings all day and an evening out meant I had to do this in the morning. I was so cold when I got to work that I took to the treadmill again. This felt longer.

Friday, January 19th
Plan: 5km
Total: 13km (1:37:20)
Splits: 7:30; 7:33; 7:41; 7:20; 7:28; 7:27; 7:22; 7:33; 7:17; 7:22; 7:19; 7:24; and 7:43
Avg HR: 143 Max HR: 177

I decided to move Sunday's long run to Saturday and then it dawned on me on Friday afternoon that it would actually make more sense to get it done that evening. Felt sorry for myself heading out on this but once I hit my stride, I really enjoyed it. I'm hopefully starting to feel the fitness come back a wee bit.

Saturday, January 20th
Plan: 8km
Total: 8.3km (1:01:56)
Splits: 7:21; 7:29; 7:34; 7:23; 7:33; 7:40; 7:30; 7:14; and 6:58
Avg HR: 140 Max HR: 164

Out into the lashings of rain to get this done and it was hard. I never hit my stride or got comfortable. I grinded it out and was glad to finish. Maybe I could've slowed it down a touch. Anyway, tis the difficult ones that make us stronger.

Sunday, January 21st
Plan: 13km
Total: 5km (38:26)
Splits: 7:17; 7:31; 7:29; 7:35; 7:25; and 7:36
Avg HR: 132 Max HR: 156

Felt much better on this run and enjoyed it despite being freezing.

So, 49ish kilometres again this week and feeling a bit less blobby. I'm happy that the runs are feeling easier and this is reflected in my heart rate. I'm finding running six days a week a little bit tough, if I'm honest, more in my head than physically. Finding yesterday's run so difficult, it was hard not even being able to appease myself that I'd a rest day coming up. I'm glad that today's run felt so easy. It does make skipping a run not an option, which may or may not be advantageous. Anyway, looking ahead, next week will see the first of the sessions, with a tempo run (Hanson style) on Thursday.

eyrie

Six days a week is definitely an adjustment. Although in a way it kind of makes it more automatic, so easier in that sense? But I get you. And it's not helped when the weather is as bad as it has been!

Huzzah!

eyrie wrote: »

Six days a week is definitely an adjustment. Although in a way it kind of makes it more automatic, so easier in that sense? But I get you. And it's not helped when the weather is as bad as it has been!

Yep - at least, I hope it becomes more automatic

Huzzah!

*Good luck to all running in Raheny on Sunday. I'm very jealous

*

Monday, January 22
Plan: Rest
Total: 10k (1:15:12)
Avg HR: 147 Max HR: 167
Splits: 7:37; 7:43; 7:34; 7:33; 7:32; 7:29; 7:27; 7:17; and 7:19

Nope, no memory again. No doubt I was deep in thought putting the world to rights or planning dinner or something.

Tuesday, January 23
Plan: Easy 8k
Total: 6k (44:33)
Avg HR: 141 Max HR: 159
Splits: 7:07; 7:24; 7:27; 7:30; 7:14; and 7:44

I was working late and feeling sorry for myself and negotiated this down to 6k plus lift. I then enjoyed it once under way but not enough to run the entire way home and cancel the lift.

Wednesday
Plan: Off
Total: off but I did go to my first yoga class in ages. It made me realise how much I miss it.

Thursday, January 24
Plan: SOS – 5k Tempo plus warm up and cool down. 1-3 miles suggested.
Total: Approx 9/10k
Avg HR: 160 Max HR: 171
SOS Splits: 6:10; 6:01; 6:04; 6:13: and 6:07

So. Much. Fun. I loved every step of this. I did a 3ish k warmup down around the Three Arena and started the session once I got to Sean O’Moore Park. I ran out to the Merrion Gates and back and the evening was perfect for running. It was slightly breezy and I was worried the run out was wind assisted and that I’d struggle on the way home, but it was fine. Cards on the table, I was aiming for 6:10 per km. Tempos in Hanson speak are run at planned HMP, so I’m perhaps being ambitious with the target. I was slightly disappointed when I looked at my splits later and saw how uneven they were. I might see if there’s a better way of setting up my watch for these.

Friday, January 25
Plan: Easy 8k
Total: 8km (58:16)
Avg HR: 149 Max HR: 163
Splits: 7:26; 7:20; 7:16; 7:14; 7:20; 7:04; 7:21; and 7:11

This was incorrectly transcribed (by me) into “the spreadsheet” as 6km an error which I also copied onto my watch. I was looking up something in the book last night and I realised it was supposed to be 8k. This morning was the only time I’d free for this and I was tight on time. I decided to leave it at 7k when starting out but I went a little too far and ended up finishing. I was precisely 7 minutes late for work as a consequence. Slap on the wrist for running these a little too fast.

Huzzah!

Saturday, January 27
Total: 16km (1:53:26)
Avg Pace: 7:05 min/km
Splits: 7:25; 7:21; 7:31; 7:48; 7:31; 7:17; 6:40; 6:42; 6:30; 6:29; 5:38; 7:12; 7:27; 7:16; and 7:16
Avg HR: 149 Max HR: 182

I decided to swap my long run to Saturday so that I could incorporate a parkrun. Johnstown parkrun has, quite helpfully, moved to Wexford racecourse, which is 5km from my parents’ place, meaning I can now run there quite easily. Up early for breakfast and back to bed for an hour before heading out. One of my first ever posts (if not my first) on the A/R was in response to a query about a suitable place for hill sprints in Wexford town and the hill up to the racecourse was where I suggested they could be done. I was mindful of this as I trudged my way up to parkrun and was a bit surprised at my effort levels. Anyway, I arrived in plenty of time and added on an extra km to bring me to six before pr started. I really enjoyed every step of this. I loved being able to watch the fast folks. You can nearly make them out for the entire course. It’s three loops and .5 of a loop to finish. I love running pr at an easy pace, even if it does lower my overall average time

and getting to chat to people or eavesdrop on their conversations. The course has a gentle uphill, followed by lots of nice gentle downhill. You then start to climb again and this is difficult because the wind hits you right in the smush as you climb. I decided to let go for the last 400-or-so meters as it would’ve been rude not to. As I crested the hill, I noticed a guy ahead who’d taken a break. He started running again as I went past him and I encouraged him to stay with me. He’d the hard work done at that point, so I told him to sit back and enjoy the downhill. I’m never really sure whether to encourage people or not, but he stuck with me and we finished together.
I definitely ran the parkrun too fast for easy, but it’s about right for long-run pace as per the Hanson calculator. The first proper long run is next week, so I was just practicing

Sunday, January 28
Total: 6.4km (48:34)
Avg Pace: 7:34 min/km
Splits: 7:44; 7:33; 7:37; 7:30; 7:25; 7:30; and 7:47
Avg HR: 135 Max HR: 152

After running a touch too quickly on Friday and Saturday, I was determined to run this as close to the slower end of the prescribed easy-range pace and to keep my HR under 140bpm. I managed the latter and am happy that the pace was slow enough, if not quite as slow as planned.

56 kilometers this week and still ahead of plan. There are two SOS next week, so I think I’ll follow the planned miles as closely as possible. Interestingly (to me, anyway), if I’d followed the plan to the letter this week, I would’ve run 45km and it calls for 59km next week, which is quite the jump, so I’m glad I upped the mileage earlier at the beginning. I’m a small bit cacking it for the first speed workout, but it’ll be good to give one a go and see how I get on.

eyrie

Aww, love the park run story! Definitely nice to encourage, and always nice to pick up a running buddy, even if only briefly!

Huzzah!

Monday, January 29th
Plan: Easy 6.4km
Total: 6.5km (47:15)
Splits: 7:48; 8:05; 7:50; 7:46; 7:40; 7:48; and 7:46
Avg HR: 131 Max: 153

I was happy to keep this at the easier end of the range and that I did. I ran up a hill that I haven’t run up in exactly one year. I cried the last time I ran up it

No tears to report on this run. I did follow the Dodder path to Milltown and won’t be doing that again until the brighter evenings. I was dark and I was fwightened.

Tuesday, January 30th
Plan: 12x400@5k pace
Total: 13km incl 12x400@5k pace
Splits: 2:00.9; 2:02.8; 159.4; 2:02.9; 2:00.8; 2:02.5; 1:57.4; 2:02.2; 2:00.3; 2:01.8; 2:02.1; and 2:04.5
Avg HR: 147 Max HR: 180

I assume my 5k pace to be in or around 5.25/km and that’s how I set these up. They felt manageable until the last few, which were tough. I thought I only had to do nine, hence the faster split, and nearly passed out when I realised I’d to do 12. I was glad of the rest day on the Wednesday.

Thursday, February 1st
Plan: Tempo 5km
Total: 10.3km, incl 5km tempo.
Splits: Tempo: 6:05; 6:07; 6:08; 5:59; and 6:09
Avg HR: 159 Max HR: 173

I was away last weekend and have been getting home late in the evenings, so I decided to chance this as a runmute and hoped the hilly route didn’t make this too difficult to complete. Well, it didn’t. I loved this run again. I’m also disappointed again that I ran it too quickly as that isn’t the point of the session. I’ve changed these workouts on my watch to one kilometre repeats, so, hopefully, that will help me run future tempo sessions at the correct pace. Soreish hamstring today. Need to figure out a way to not wear hills until after Berlin.

Friday, February 2nd
Plan: Easy 6.4km
Total: 8km
Splits: 7:35; 7:33; 7:30; 7:23; 7:16; 7:20; and 7:23
Avg HR: 129 Max HR: 141

I moved Sunday’s long run to Saturday and feel like the Saturday run should precede the long run, so I moved it to Friday. Ran into work at a super easy effort. Tickityboo.

Saturday, February 3rd
Plan: Long run 19km
Total: 19km
Splits: 7:32; 7:17; 7:16; 7:08; 7:03; 7:19; 7:16; 6:40; 6:49; 6:30; 6:32; 6:54; 6:43; 6:53; 7:19; 6:47; 7:19; 6:47; 7:08; 6:53 and 7:37
Avg HR: 140 Max HR: 170

The first of the Hanson plan long runs. My prescribed pace for these is: 6:44/km-7:40. (Whoops - I had 7:20 in my head) Anyway, I’ve been doing the long runs per the advanced plan and wondering if it’s time to revert to the beginner plan because this run was tough. I decided to split it into halves, Pfitzinger style, with a more sedate first half followed by a pacier second. All was fine until I ran the stretch from Kilternan to SSide and the wind had me feeling like I was running to a standstill. It was joyful having to do this not once but twice. The middle section was definitely the toughest and I finished feeling strong. Not as a big an issue was that I kept having to remind myself that I was running. Running the easy runs is almost a meditative default for me now and, as my mind would wander, the pace would drop. Spent a good 15 minutes stretching post run and the legs felt tip top today.

Sunday, February 4th
Plan: Easy 8km
Total: 6.2km
Splits: 7:37; 7:31; 7:45; 7:44; 7:37; and 7:39
Avg HR: 131 Max HR: 153

Friday’s run swapped to today. Kept this in the recovery zone by and large. Everything is feeling good.

63 kilometres done and I’m happy with the week’s work. I’m already looking forward to the end of the month, which will also see an end of the speedier sessions

I’ve to skip this week’s tempo (boo) as I’m doing Enniscorthy 10k on Sunday. I’m really looking forward to racing despite, or maybe because, I have no idea what to aim for. Time to get my thinking cap on.

OOnegative

Super weeks training that, really solid stuff.

eyrie

Wow that's a serious week of training, well done! Impressive

What's the difference between the advanced and beginner versions of the long runs - is it distance or pace? Or both? Sounds like the wind played a big part in you finding it tough though.

ariana`

Huzzah! wrote: »

63 kilometres done and I’m happy with the week’s work. I’m already looking forward to the end of the month, which will also see an end of the speedier sessions I’ve to skip this week’s tempo (boo) as I’m doing Enniscorthy 10k on Sunday. I’m really looking forward to racing despite, or maybe because, I have no idea what to aim for. Time to get my thinking cap on.

Seriously impressive. You've been so consistent Huzzah!

Have you a 10k pb? I seriously suspect you will have a new one next Sunday

Huzzah!

eyrie wrote: »

Wow that's a serious week of training, well done! Impressive

What's the difference between the advanced and beginner versions of the long runs - is it distance or pace? Or both? Sounds like the wind played a big part in you finding it tough though.

Yeah, probably and I did my long run a day early, too, so I need to factor that in. The beginner plan started with a long run of 4 miles, so I opted to follow the advanced runs, instead. It seems from here on in, though, the beginner plans are all to be run at "long" run pace but they're a small bit shorter than the advanced long runs, which are only run at "long" run pace every second week, so I think I'll stick with the advanced ones for now.

Hope you're back in good form soon

Huzzah!

ariana` wrote: »

Seriously impressive. You've been so consistent Huzzah!

Have you a 10k pb? I seriously suspect you will have a new one next Sunday

Thanks - it's 56:40ish. I'll take a potshot at it alright. We shall see how it goes with a fairly minimal taper.

ariana`

Huzzah! wrote: »

Thanks - it's 56:40ish. I'll take a potshot at it alright. We shall see how it goes with a fairly minimal taper.

You will smash that. You've been putting in consistent high mileage. Very impressive stuff

Annie get your Run

ariana` wrote: »

You will smash that. You've been putting in consistent high mileage. Very impressive stuff

You certainly will! Your recent 5k time puts you at just over 50 for 10K

, something I've never been able to do so I'll be virtually cheering you on on Sunday!

Huzzah!

Thanks for your words of encouragement for the Enniscorthy 10k; unfortunately, I didn't do them justice. Race report below.

Monday, February 5th
Plan: Easy 6.4km
Total: 6.42km
Splits: 7:41; 7:55; 8:00; 7:40; 7:26; 7:23; and 7:26
Avg HR: 142 Max: 153

Emmmmmmmm… I’m sure it felt fine. Not sure what the slower kms were about but all within the permitted range, so nothing too concerning.

Tuesday, February 6th
Plan: 8x600@5k pace
Total: 12.5km incl 8x600@5k pace
Splits: 3:02.3; 3:02; 3:00; 3:04.2; 3:01.7; 2:59.9; 3:03; and 3:06.0
Avg HR: 162 Max HR: 182

Yeah, these are hard. The last split would’ve been closer to the required speed (3.03), but I stopped when I came to a traffic light thinking that was the end of the split. My brain was de-oxygenated at that point, to be fair. All the other splits are close enough, I think. I can remember the quickest split feeling just effortless. The plan was to run to the Luas as a cooldown, but I realised when I finished the repeats that if I legged it, I could get the, much-closer, bus, instead, so I cheated a bit on both mileage and cool down. Naughty.

Thursday, February 8th
Plan: Tempo 5km
Total: 10km, no tempo.
Splits: 7:36; 7:14; 7:08; 7:17; 7:08; 7:05: 7:20; 7:42; 7:09; and 7:16
Avg HR: 146 Max HR: 162

The plan says if racing to swap Tempo Thursday with Saturday’s run, which is what I did. This was unpleasant from start to finish. Why was it unpleasant? Because it was humid and I ran it too fast. Why did I run it too fast? I don’t know, but I was consciously trying to slow down for a lot of it to no avail. No excuses, though. There’s no reason to run too fast, particularly when it’s a struggle to do so.

Friday, February 9th
Plan: Easy 6.4km
Total: 5.27km
Splits: 7:33; 7:37; 7:17; 7:18; 7:05; and 7:03
Avg HR: 144 Max HR: 161

The plan was to take the bus some of the way into work in the morning and run the rest of the way. My first mistake was relying on Dublin Bus. The bus never showed up and the next one didn’t allow enough time to get a run plus shower in, so I did this at lunchtime, instead. 5k is the most I can get done over lunch and 5k is what I did.

Saturday, February 10th

I wasn’t sure if swapping this run to Thursday meant no running at all on the day before a race but I thought a nice’n’easy 5k would be just the ticket. Just as well, I unpacked my gear when I arrived in Wexford as discovered I’d forgotten my sports bra. A trip to the sports shop meant no running.

Sunday, February 11th
Total: 12km, including 10k race
Race Splits: 5:31; 5:39; 5:29; 5:46; 5:33; 5:57; 6:20; 6:12; 6:07 and 5:31 (57:56)
Avg HR: 176 Max HR: 185

Enniscorthy 10k and not the result I wanted, but I ran as best I could, so I can’t be too disappointed or so I keep telling myself, anyway.

The boyf has just started his 12-week plan for the half and he wasn’t keen to race. He planned on running this at his endurance pace, which fitted right in with my aim of running 5.35/km for a finish time of 56 minutes. I’m not sure where I got this time out of. It was the time I aimed for, and also missed, at Donadea. My endurance is quite bad, so I don’t really use calculators as a guide, except to maybe laugh at the times they suggest I should be able to run. I’d gotten into the habit of just aiming for a small PB in each race and I think it’s a habit I’ll have to resume. She says, ignoring the hoped for time at Wexford.

So, we arrived nice and early. It was bitterly cold, almost unbearably so in the wind. I ran a comfortable warm up, although my heart rate was too high and lined up with D. Without much ado, the race began and we ran to a main road, turned left and the climbing began. I felt horrible from the start. The pace was okay, but my legs felt heavy and my arms were really sore. We ran the first kilometre too quickly, so I soon sent D on his way. I had a feeling I was in for a shocker and didn’t want him to worry about me or feel bad if I couldn't maintain pace. The second km was a bit too slow, but I wasn’t worried. I was working hard and if it was too slow, then so be it. I could feel the pace pick up as we ran up another hill. It felt okay until we levelled out and then I felt like I’d really overdone it. My breathing was loud. We turned right at some point and there was a line of traffic waiting to turn. One of the drivers was beeping and someone commented how impatient people can be. I could barely muster a reply. Just before the 5k mark, there was a lovely downhill. I could just about run at the required pace here and the alarm bells were fairly clanging in my head. They’d a clock at the 5k mark and I realised that I was still on pace. I knew I couldn’t keep it up, though., so it didn't give me the same boost as normal. I’d heard someone say earlier that there was a nasty hill just after the water station at 5k. It was here that a bad stitch started. I walked for a second to get rid but to no avail. One of the Slaney Olympic club runners told me there was only one bad hill after this one, so I started running again. He lied. There was definitely more than one bad hill after here. I didn’t care about pace. The next few kilometres were some of the toughest I’ve ever run. I was soon on my own running into a nasty headwind. If anyone passed me, I couldn’t stay with them for long. At one point, myself and a Raheny runner were passing each other. He sounded as bad as I felt and he tried to encourage me. I remembered someone saying that the last mile and a half was a lovely downhill. I think maybe only the last k was downhill, which would’ve been lovely, but it was into the same strong headwind. Raheny was far ahead at this point. He ended up finishing about 30 seconds ahead. The closest runner to me was about 30 seconds behind.

Someone mentioned what a difficult day out it was as we walked to the clubroom. Maybe I can take some succour in that, but not really. I wasn’t able for the pace from the off.

46kms for the week. The plan had been to do a 2k cool down, which would’ve meant a 30-mile week. I was just too tired and cold when I finished and satisfied myself with a cool-down walk.

I guess there are no races in the plan for a reason. I’d half an idea to do the Clontarf 10 mile on Easter Monday, but today’s effort means I won’t. I’ll be sticking to the plan from here on in. Except maybe for the suggestion to resume the plan straightaway and do a session on this coming Tuesday - I think that may be a bit looney.

OOnegative

Unlucky today, conditions were tough going everywhere today. We all have bad races, chalk it down & take something from it and move onto the next race. Your better than today’s result, training shows that.

chickey2

Sorry to hear you were disappointed, it sounds like tough conditions though so don't beat yourself up. You've been doing a lot since you started the plan and you had no taper so you were bound to be tired. Sounds like a good idea to stick to the plan and I've no doubt you'll improve.

Annie get your Run

+1 to what chickey said ^^^^ a tough hilly course on a windy day and no taper, and no race planed in the plan either....We learn from the bad races as much as the good so it's not a waste, and well done on sticking out a tough run!

ariana`

Huzzah i'm so sorry to hear about your 10k race. I really really don't think it's in any way a true reflection of where you are right now. It sounds like something wasn't right from the off. I wouldn't be surprised if you report in the next day or two that you're coming down with a head cold or something. And also as others have said a combination of no taper and a tough course in tough conditions. You will eventually smash it, i know you will, don't lose heart anyhow! Recover well now x

Bungy Girl

What they all said /\/\/\/\. I often think half the battle when chasing the PB is getting the right course and conditions on the day and sometimes these are out of our control. Well done for toughing it out and no doubt you will smash the target next time out.

gypsylee

Sorry to read that you were disappointed with the run. Sounds like a tough run in bitter weather. We've all had those days.

Baby75

Annie get your Run wrote: »

+1 to what chickey said ^^^^ a tough hilly course on a windy day and no taper, and no race planed in the plan either....We learn from the bad races as much as the good so it's not a waste, and well done on sticking out a tough run!

Agree 100% well done for getting through a tough run you will be stronger because of it

eyrie

I can only imagine how tough it would be trying to race on a hard course in the middle of a very demanding plan with no taper. No wonder it felt tough going! And honestly, hearing you say how difficult it felt in sections, and then considering that you kept going and still finished in a very respectable time, is really impressive! This race isn't what you were training for anyway, and putting in a hard effort will still bring you on lots.
Hope you're not too disappointed, I think you should be proud of yourself!
And if nothing else - new sports bra! :P

Huzzah!

Thanks for the comments on Enniscorthy - no doubt I made some rookie errors that I can learn from. The good news is: 1. Post-race pancakes taste almost as good as PB pancakes; 2. my bad races are getting quicker; and 3. the windburn subsided quickly enough :P Every cloud, eh?!

Monday, February 12th
Plan: Easy 10km
Total: 10.23km
Splits: 7:42; 7:35; 7:45; 7:48; 7:40; 7:46; 7:33; 7:35; 7:35 and 7:29
Avg HR: 143 Max: 163

Apart from the constant wind in my face, this was okay. Sure, my legs were tired but it wasn’t a struggle at any point. You can see the point where my legs loosened out in the splits above. I was constantly trying to remind myself to slow down. No harm in running at the slower end of the range, particularly the day after a race.

Tuesday, February 13th
Plan: 6x800@5k pace
Total: 7.19km easy
Splits: 7:28; 7:42; 7:46; 7:37; 7:40; 7:50; 7:37; and 7:46
Avg HR: 142 Max HR: 155

I was never going to do the SOS two days after a race, even if the plan suggested it would be okay. My legs were heavier today and I was glad of the shorter, recovery-type run.

Thursday, February 15th
Plan: Tempo 6km
Total: 11.5km, incl 6km tempo.
Tempo Splits: 6:06; 6:08; 6:03; 6:07; 6:06; and 6:08:
Tempo Avg HR: 164 Max HR: 175

I was looking forward to this all day and while it was fine, it wasn’t as fun as usual. I’d read on the Hanson Facebook page that being more then three seconds outside the appropriate pace is frowned upon. Anyway, I tried to just run by feel but more practice needed it seems. I never really got a comfortable rhythm going. If that sounds like it was a negative experience, it shouldn’t. I still enjoyed it well enough.

Friday, February 16th
Plan: Easy 8km
Total: 10.32km
Splits: 7:46; 7:40; 7:50; 7:37; 7:39; 7:42; 7:27; 7:37; 7:24; 7:28 and 7:09
Avg HR: 140 Max HR: 156

I really enjoyed this. My legs felt fine until about the 6k mark and then a touch of fatigue set in. Still, there’s something great about running into the weekend.

Saturday, February 17th
Plan: Easy 10km
Total: 8km
Splits: 7:39; 7:32; 7:09; 7:00; 7:14; 6:58; 7:04; and 7:29
Avg HR: 140 Max HR: 155
Swapped this run with Friday’s as it made more sense.

D had an errand to run in Raheny, so I jumped on the opportunity to take in what is technically my home parkrun at St Annes. Incorporating parkrun into runs has the benefit of keeping things interesting. I suppose a downside is despite convinced I ran this bang on pace, I ran the parkrun segment a touch too fast. I love parkrun. This was a really enjoyable pootle around my old stomping ground.

Sunday, February 18th
Total: 19km
Splits: 7:25; 7:10; 7:09; 7:10; 6:57; 6:50; 6:52; 6:33; 6:45; 6:46; 6:44; 6:35: 6:27; 6:41; 6:40; 6:33: 6:34; 6:41 and 7:16
Avg HR: 144 Max HR: 163

I was really looking forward to getting out on this run. D had a similar distance to do, so he opted to drive to the seafront. We timed it so that I could run to meet him there. He was able to leave 20 minutes after me, drive to the carpark, get his run done and finish slightly before me

I ran down to Blackrock, then through Monkstown, Dun Laoire, Sandycove and Dalkey - all sorts of rough places, before running back to Monkstown. There was obviously quite a lot of downhill - certainly, from home to Blackrock but the rest was a nice mix of gentle up and downs. I really enjoyed every step of this. I like the slightly faster long runs. In some ways, they’re easier than easy long runs - I pick up my feet more and maintain better form.

Approx 67kms this week. Despite skipping the SOS on Tuesday and doing a substantially shorter run than the SOS would’ve entailed, I’m actually still ahead of the plan’s 64 km because of the longer long runs. I’m saying this now, so it doesn’t look like I’m making excuses when I log next week, but my consistency is going to be severely tested this week and it’s looking like at least one run will be missed.

The plan tops out at 80km, all going well. I chose to do a half marathon plan, because even though I hate racing halfs, I love training for them. I also had Berlin in mind and wanted to build my base mileage as much as possible before starting a training plan for that. The recent thread about “training to train” had made me question this a bit - that maybe I’d be better off just following a pure base-building plan. Having thought about it, though, I think I’ll continue as planned. I need the spectre of the half to keep me focused. Otherwise, it would be a very long road to Berlin, indeed.

hillsiderunner

67km, wow. Huge base you are building there. I'd say it might be that residual tiredness contributed to the 10k disappointment, maybe a bigger taper was needed.

ariana`

That's a serious base Huzzah. I can't imagine getting near that kind of mileage in a week. And you're so consistent sticking with paces as well. Very impressive training from you lately.

eyrie

Serious training, it really is impressive. I'm daydreaming about getting up to the levels you're at but can't see how to fit it in! I think you're right to stick with what you're doing too - the plan you're on already has you increasing the mileage really substantially, so I would assume it's covering that base anyway, as long as it's not tiring you out too much. Plus racing a half is bound to bring it's own gains. You might even enjoy this one!

Huzzah!

eyrie wrote: »

Serious training, it really is impressive. I'm daydreaming about getting up to the levels you're at but can't see how to fit it in! I think you're right to stick with what you're doing too - the plan you're on already has you increasing the mileage really substantially, so I would assume it's covering that base anyway, as long as it's not tiring you out too much. Plus racing a half is bound to bring it's own gains. You might even enjoy this one!

You're pretty equal with me in terms of recent mileage, I'd have thought. I try not to compare myself to others, and I don't want to sound sorry for myself, so I hope it doesn't come across like that, but I feel like I've more work to do than others to actually be able to complete a marathon.

Anyway, yeah, lots to think about. I am building a base but there's quite a bit of intensity in the plan, so I guess that's the worry.

eyrie

Well I get horribly confused by the miles/kilometres business, but you've got about 10 miles for the week on me I think, which is fairly substantial! It's a third more than I've been doing.
I hear you about the fears though, it still seems like such an unknowable beast. Which it is, I guess. All we can do is train well and put ourselves in a good position to tackle it, and it looks to me like you're definitely doing that.

ariana`

I think you are both doing amazing. When i look back @ where i was this time last year i'm amazing i even contemplated doing a marathon, let alone that i actually did it! My mileage was neither high nor consistent. The first 6 months of last year

Month| KM| Miles
Jan|96.5|60
Feb|133|82.5
March|118|73
April|84|52
May|105|65
June|125|78