'You decide your fate. Are you going to fall apart or own it?'

Thanks so much, kind peeps for the lovely welcome back 😊😊😊
Yep, the main reason for logging again is to document this experience properly as I probably wouldn't bother keeping account otherwise. And believe me, it is SO worth logging about!!!!

It's now day 24 of my African adventure with just 2 days left...

So much has happened since I last posted, that I don't know where to start to try and relay it all! I laugh to myself now when I think about how I was worried about being bored here. Each day has been filled with so many amazing all-consuming experiences, and exciting encounters, that I really haven't had time to update this log like I had hoped. But that doesn't matter, as these are memories which will be deeply embedded into memory for a very long time like how the red dust has been etched into the crevices of my feet...

Running has been going well but I haven't been able to do as much as I had hoped, for a few different reasons. My sleep has been very poor in general and I have been very busy helping my coach with the Scholarship Project that he has set up for local Kenyan runners here in Iten. You can read all about it here: www.aretescholarshipprogram.com
It's been so rewarding being involved in this project, and the whole thing has been a real eye opener as to the reality of life for a full time Kenyan athlete trying to get by, day by day.

Even though I'm doing less mileage, and it's a lot slower than home, I actually feel more like a runner now than I used to, and I really feel I've developed my running skills, with breathing in the constantly rising dust, battling with the hills and stones, the altitude, the heat, and the trails. I have a feeling I'll be more inclined to run more trails and hills, and be a bit more adventurous in general with my running endeavours when I get back home.
I'll be ramping up the mileage now in a big way, when I get back to Ireland next week in preparation for Belfast in June. I feel I have a good base now to work from and hopefully will get a little boost from my training here.

I have gotten to know some local runners quite well at this stage who are being sponsored by the Arete Scholarship Project, and have even had the privilege to run with some of them. One guy who's become a real friend is only 19, and has run a 13.48 5k, and qualified for the World Junior Champs in Steeplechase for Kenyan, but is happy to plod along with me at 10-11min/mile and he actually does a lot of his easy runs at this pace normally. Hard days definitely hard for these guys, and easy days, super super easy.

These runners have such passion and ambition for their future in running, but how they struggle to make ends meet on a daily basis, makes things so tough for them to fulfil any of their hopes and dreams. These are some of the gentlest, and most genuine people I have ever met in my life, and are so humble and gracious for any little thing you might be able to do for them (a teeshirt, a pair of shorts, a few shillings etc). So far, my coach has taken on 4 local runners as a little team who train together. One guy, N, is the real star of the show and has a great future. Another guy was a pacer all over Europe a few years back, but lives in a shack now with 2 kids, a wife, a baby on the way and struggles to put food on the table. One of the other guys lived in a hut that you wouldn't put a dog in. But they've been moved into decent new accommodation now and have proper beds and a few simple things that will make their lives easier, thanks to my coach and the fundraising achieved so far for the Scholarship.
I've been down to Tambach Track to watch them in action a few times now, and it has been a very special experience each time. I'm very excited to see how they will develop in the future. Jogging around Tambach Track on a Tuesday watching hundreds of Kenyan and international athletes in action, has definitely been one of the highlights of my trip.

Many interesting encounters have been had. I've had the honour of meeting up with 2 great coaches who are based over here: Hugo van den Broke and John Litei, and spent many hours discussing our Scholarship Project and how they will be able to help us in the future, along with hearing about their own athletes' training and viewing some of their elite athletes' training schedules.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1408892111
I also had the pleasuring of meeting up with our very own Sergiu Ciobanu on many occasions also. What a gent! An absolute pleasure to chat running with him for a few hours! I've basically been living and breathing running for 24 days now and I'm SO going to miss it!!!!! Not sure how I will re-adjust to normal life again!
But that's the exciting bit, I might not have to in the future!:) Along with helping my coach with the Arete Scholarship Project, we've started a new running venture here in Iten, which means I'll be back again later in the year, and again next year
My African adventure continues...

Ode to Neady:D

Righto, when I left off, I was back home from Kenya. I arrived back into the snow drifts after a two and a half day trek from my Iten home to my Dublin home. I think I can now safely say that I have recovered from my fear of flying (the fear was due to claustrophobia, not the actual flying).


I had the flights from hell coming back, with delays all over the place, and being stuck in a hot Addis Ababa airport for many hours, without even being allowed to take any water through to a very long wait in departures. I then got almost murdered and worse (slight exaggeration possibly!) in Nairobi, where I read later you should never just pick up a taxi off the street, but should book ahead to ensure you are looking after your personal safety! Won’t make that mistake again! I was never so happy to not be murdered (or worse) in my whole life when arriving back at the airport in Nairobi the next morning. I had to spend a very scary night in a dodgy hotel which was supposed to be 2 km from the airport, but turned out to be about 20km away and I really felt it was a taxi ride taking me to the end of my existence!


Oh, and then there was the 12 hour delay when we tried to land in Dublin airport at 6am on the Wednesday morning, but had to divert to Shannon due to the snow, and were stuck on the plane on the runway for 5 hours, before being allowed into the airport to wait for another 5 hours before we eventually got the last flight back to Dublin for many days. So yes, my claustrophobia issues have been sorted for once and for all. There was a time not too long ago when I couldn’t even travel in a taxi through Dublin without freaking out (confined space with no control), and now I can do, and go, wherever the hell I damn well want without worrying about it. Result!

Oh yes, this is a training log, and not a platform for sorting out my psychological issues

Feb 26, 2018 - Mar 4, 2018
So, I couldn’t really run very much the week after I came back from Iten. I was really looking forward to seeing how easy things felt for me after returning from altitude, but that was not to be, as like the rest of you, I was frustratingly battling my way through feet of snow, trying to do some kind of jogging motion, but it wasn’t easy at all. https://www.strava.com/activities/1433705966
Took 2 days off that week with travel.
Weekly total: 35.8 miles / 6hours 20 mins


Mar 5, 2018 - Mar 11, 2018
A bit of normalcy resumes with the weather, however, I was having lots of dizzy spells while running, and just not feeling very strong. Felt that iron might be a bit low so started looking after myself a bit better regarding eating and sleeping. RHR a bit too high also. Had a few decent runs and one OK progression run, but in general not great.
Weekly total: 70 miles / 11hours 37 mins


Mar 12, 2018 - Mar 18, 2018
Feeling a fair bit better this week with strength improving and sleep really good. Appetite increasing with the increasing miles. Long run up to 18 miles. Have decided on this training block to run the long runs super slow to allow myself to increase mileage on last year. I peaked at 120 miles last year (weekly total), but feel I can do more this year if I dial back the effort big time. https://www.strava.com/activities/1457294354
Weekly total: 80 miles / 13 hours 31 mins


Mar 19, 2018 - Mar 25, 2018
Starting to feel really good now. Energy levels definitely back to normal and sleep in general is brilliant. Long run up to 22 miles https://www.strava.com/activities/1469132866 and 4 x doubles this week.
Weekly total: 90.2 miles / 15 hours 2 mins


Mar 26, 2018 - Apr 1, 2018
Another really good week with long run of 26.2 miles (26 was on the plan, but sure why not while I’m at it… ) https://www.strava.com/activities/1481876443
I was well able to do an 8 miler the morning after the marathon run, and a 6 miler that evening, so delighted that I seem to be recovering very quickly and have absolutely no niggles at all. Still doing AIS religiously before every single run as I have been doing for a few years now and feel still that this is what’s holding it all together for me.
Weekly total: 96 miles / 16 hours

So, very pleased now with how things are going and how I’m feeling. I feel that dialing back the effort to absolute minimum on most of my runs is going to allow me to manage some really big weeks and long runs. Myself and my coach are thinking that I might be able to climb as high as 140 miles as my peak week, but as ever, we’ll see how I go as the days and weeks progress and nothing will be forced. I’m dropping all speed work now and the focus is just on getting the miles run, and as many weekly hours on the feet as possible without breaking…
11 weeks and counting...

ReeReeG wrote: »

I started following you on Strava after I saw the first post on this log, and while part of me thinks you are mad, the rest of me is in absolute awe at the mileage ! Not to mention the ability to run that loop so many times... your mental strength is something else!

Ah, thanks, my dear! The looping thing is not a problem. I never get bored running loops. Probably mad

Neady83 wrote: »

96 miles in a week :eek::eek::eek: not more updates please, you're putting us to shame

Seriously, cracking dedication to the plan going on A. If anyone deserves to be rewarded for hard core training, it's you. My mind goes numb just thinking about 26.2miles of loops on my own.

Keep those updates coming .... even short ones, they'll benefit plenty of people on here and in time to come.

Thanks a million, S. I just updated again before you came after me! I must go and catch up with your log now. I've been very bad lately with reading and posting... Thanks so much for the encouragement!

Apr 23, 2018 - Apr 29, 2018
Well the niggle turned out to not be an issue and didn’t impede any of the training, thank fcuk! Plenty of run-mutes this week which did give me a bit of a sore neck from carrying the backpack but other than that, all was good. Had a really good 30 mile run on the Saturday and did it at 24 hour effort https://www.strava.com/activities/1536989325 .
I’ll start out even slower for the race by keeping an eye on my watch so I’m not going too ‘fast’, but just did this one by feel and it worked out at 10:16 pace, which felt like my ‘all day’ effort that day.
This was done in the Acres in the Phoenix Park and I think I covered 17 loops and got a new CR on Strava for the Marathon distance segment I created there last year. I wonder when that one will be challenged https://www.strava.com/activities/1536989325/segments/38385801674
Met ‘outforarun’ who was doing a hard session in the opposite direction. He introduced himself to me when he was on his cool down and we had a lovely little chat about all things running. Great to meet you![/FONT]
Weekly total: 110.7 miles 18hours 26 mins

Apr 30, 2018 - May 6, 2018
For the first time ever in training, I developed a blister this week. It’s on my left foot around the toe nail so the toe nail is very loose and will be parting company with me sooner rather than later I hope. It made for a few very uncomfortable runs, so ended up cutting a piece out of the top of the trainer where it was hitting the sore toe. This worked out great and has been fine ever since but I’m a tad worried about going into the race now with probably a nail-less toe, or one that’s half hanging off. Not ideal at all as it’ll be quite sensitive, but we’ll see what the next few weeks bring. Luckily, it didn’t hinder my training for the week.
Weekly total: 108.5 miles 17hours 47 mins

So, six weeks to go to Belfast, and only 3 weeks of hard training left before taper. My easy pace is definitely quicker than it was last year and feeling generally fitter overall. That could be something to do with the month of training in Iten, or not, I don’t know, but I suspect it did help me aerobically a bit. I’m still eating absolutely loads and my sleep in general is better than it’s been for years, if not ever. Anyone who read my old log will know I have had huge struggles with sleeping all my life, but for some reason (not the mileage as I’ve run big mileage in previous years), something clicked with my sleeping and I’m getting hours and hours of uninterrupted sleep nearly every single night. I think this is going to help my running massively going forward and I’m currently considering what direction to go after Belfast. But if I did decide to maybe train for a marathon, I feel now that I might be actually able to do something decent, as for the first time in my running life, I’m able to recover properly from my training due to being able to sleep. Anyways, lots to think about, and much of it depends on how Belfast goes… I am returning to Iten in October to work on the Arete Project https://www.aretescholarshipprogram.com/, so I hope to be well recovered from Belfast by then to be able to train really hard for the month of October over there, and will have made a decision by then about what path my training will take. SO exciting!!!


But first things first as Belfast is the sole focus for now…

May 7, 2018 - May 13, 2018
A few days running in Killarney early in the week around the beautiful National Park and surrounding areas. Great weather in general and some top notch company too. Really enjoyed the break away from my every day training. A few run commutes later in the week and a super duper 30 mile run in the Acres in the Phoenix Park where I rehearsed everything I’ll be doing for race day. Met Ultraman’s Da out for a walk, and had a lovely chat, and spotted a few other familiar faces during my 5 hour sojourn in the Acres. Felt a million dollars after the run and very fresh afterwards https://www.strava.com/activities/1567516076 . I was flying the next morning on my 12 miler and had another pleasant 10 miler in Kilkenny that evening to round off my biggest week this year. Can’t believe I’m feeling this good while running this much. It’s one thing to be able to physically run the miles, but it’s another story altogether to be feeling really good on it and to mentally be dealing with it very well and just enjoying it all so much. It’s never a chore… it’s a privilege.
Weekly Total: 120 miles / 19 hours 54 mins


May 14, 2018 - May 20, 2018
Kick-started the week with a run from Kilkenny railway station, around the city, and then out to the folks’ house. A very pleasurable 13 miler and it is very obvious that my easy pace is definitely getting faster. The rest of my runs that week (all 11 of them!) were done as one mile loops in my local park. I did however notice a few minor niggles starting to crop up on shins and hamstrings. Nothing that stopped me from training, but niggles nonetheless that shouldn’t be there and were of minor concern. I got some great advice from the boss man, and we tweaked many things, to ensure I am recovering properly between runs, and the niggles abated gradually. Recovery from runs has never been so important and it really seems to be all the little minor things that end up helping recovery in a big way if managed correctly.

I’m paying proper attention to my diet now and am eating a ridiculous amount to ensure I have all bases covered I’m eating about 8 times a day!
This was my biggest volume running week ever since I started running (I peaked at 120 miles last year) and I have to say that mentally and physically, it was one of the best weeks of my training too. My overall pace for the week was faster than ever even though it was all easy running. SO happy things are going so well.
Only 4 weeks to D-Day! I’m SO excited now I can’t contain myself. It’s a year since I’ve raced and I’m raring to go. Another huge week this week and then I start tapering
Weekly Total: 130.5 miles / 20 hours 54 minutes