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Man! I feel like a runner

ReeReeG

I’ve been considering starting a log for some time now, having read quite a number of them on here regularly. (I’m a lurker coming out of hiding). It seems like a good way to keep track of progress, but more importantly for me, how each run feels. Regular stats on Strava don’t do that for me!
My background
I had tried running with friends in 2012 / 2013, and did a couple of 5km and 10km races, but never enjoyed them. I tried again in January 2015 and realised I enjoyed it this time around, especially after I went along to parkrun that February. I started signing up for a few 10k races (best at that stage was approx. 55 mins).
Continued running off and on in 2015 and 2016, but as I had slowed a lot by November 2016 (struggled to run 10k under an hour), I realised I needed to get a routine going if I wanted to improve. And I wanted to improve. I had joined a club in summer 2016 but never made it along to train with them until May this year due to personal circumstances. Since starting to run consistently (i.e. 4/5 times a week) last November, my times have dropped, my easy pace has quickened, my form has improved (I think) and my overall sense of well-being (and smugness) has grown! Club running has certainly helped, as well as introducing speedwork into my training.
My week is typically 4 easy runs (incl. 1 longer run) and 1 speed session / faster run (e.g. parkrun). Some weeks go to plan more than others ðŸ˜Š
My PBs to date
5k:    23:46 (Twilight Challenge, Sept 2017)
5 mile: 43:04 (Raheny 5 Mile, Jan 2017)
10k:     50:31 (Dunshaughlin, June 2017)
10 mile:   1:30:xx (Ballycotton, March 2017 [Goodbye my old friend])
Half-marathon:  2:01:xx (Donabate, Sept 2017)
My struggles
I still struggle mentally in longer runs, doubting if I can maintain pace or complete the distance. I know I need to slow up more in my longer runs, and I am still figuring out how to start a race at the right pace ðŸ˜Š I do use a Garmin but am terrible for checking my pace; I often run by feel but sometimes that goes all wrong.
My goals
1.   Aiming to go sub-50 in a 10k by the end of the year.
2.  Targeting a marathon in May next year. As part of this, I am going to try stay at 30 miles-ish) per week so I have a decent base heading into marathon training after Christmas.
3 Update this log weekly and hopefully receive and review advice given by the lovely boards runners!
And that’s enough for an intro post I think…

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ReeReeG

Kellygirl wrote: »

Ha ha - I was only doing one last year too and learned so much from it that I had to do DCM and then Clonakilty just happened to be on and then it seemed a shame to not do Cork and Dublin again this year and sure Clonakilty will be on again I think you do Dublin

Dublin 2019!

skyblue46

ReeReeG wrote: »

Dublin 2019!

You obviously never heard of FOMO...I think you'll catch it too :pac:

ariana`

skyblue46 wrote: »

You obviously never heard of FOMO...I think you'll catch it too :pac:

It's highly contagious around here

Your training seems to have gone really well. I'm envious that 3:50 seems a comfortable target for your 1st marathon. Well done, will be following the next few weeks with interest.

ReeReeG

skyblue46 wrote: »

You obviously never heard of FOMO...I think you'll catch it too :pac:

ariana` wrote: »

It's highly contagious around here

Your training seems to have gone really well. I'm envious that 3:50 seems a comfortable target for your 1st marathon. Well done, will be following the next few weeks with interest.

I just think the intensity of marathon training is so much, it would be madness to attempt 2 in a year having never even done one before. Regardless of how well training has gone...
Thanks ariana, I hope the target isn't too ambitious though!

ReeReeG

Also I am terrible at quoting posts neatly

Kellygirl

ReeReeG wrote: »

I just think the intensity of marathon training is so much, it would be madness to attempt 2 in a year having never even done one before. Regardless of how well training has gone...
Thanks ariana, I hope the target isn't too ambitious though!

Not at all. The second one is so much easier. It’s not all new and I found it way easier second time round. Obviously the running still has to happen but I was way more relaxed. You could keep things ticking over until the end of August and then start increasing the long runs again. The fitness will be there already. Dublin is amazing!!!

ReeReeG

Week 16: Marathon training
Mon 16th Apr
Plan: Rest. Actual: 5 mile recovery run. I knew I couldn't run on Tuesday due to work travel, so I chanced a run the day after my 21 miles, but telling myself to pull the plug if it was the wrong decision. I felt wonderful though, honestly one of the nicest runs. Warm evening, gentle pace... just lovely and relaxing. Average pace 10:11/m

Tues 17th Apr
Plan: 6 easy. Actual: Long day trip to UK.

Weds 18th Apr
Plan: 6 easy. Actual: 6 easy. Headed up to Marlay to enjoy the sunshine on this run, took an age to get there though as everyone else seemed to have the same idea. Was a nice run in the end, and I was feeling good. Average pace 9.22/m

Thurs 19th Apr
Plan: 6 easy. Actual: 6 easy. Did this as a run home from work, beautiful evening for it again. Average pace 9.39/m. Also did pilates at lunchtime, where the instructor was easy on me for the first time ever due to the impending marathon!

Fri 20th Apr: Rest day, but walked in and out from work. Yoga at lunch. Went to physio for a good rub on the legs. I'm not exaggerating when I say she went deep into the hip flexors... I screamed!

Sat 21st Apr
Plan: 2 easy, 3@MP, 1 easy. Actual: 2 easy, 3 way faster than MP, and .5 easy. Sigh. I honestly tried to keep the pace down and held back as everyone tore off at the start, but there is just something about parkrun obviously that I can't help but push harder. Average pace was 8.10 for parkrun in the end, which is HMP. Not the end of the world I suppose. Only did a .5 cool down cos I was jogging back to meet my Dad, and sure wasn't he headed for a PB so I didn't have enough ground left to make up the full mile running with him! 31.10 for a 72 year old who only started last summer, not bad

Sun 22nd Apr
Plan: 18 easy. Actual: 18 easy. What a morning for it! Did this with an assortment of people from the club, and went up the Wicklow Way again, felt better about it this time actually knowing what it was like! Average pace overall was 10.18/m, so very easy overall thanks to the hilly miles. I also have a lovely red forehead to show for it...

Total miles: 40.9 (gosh darnit)
Aaand I'm officially into this taper I hear so much about! Not sure what I'll do with the free time (eat probably). Any tips on avoiding typical taper pitfalls will be extremely welcome

Kellygirl

Wow, I’m impressed at your Dad. That’s amazing.

Taper pitfalls - Hmmmmm - just keep remembering the hard work is done and enjoy not having to do long long runs!

skyblue46

Spend your time researching carb loading and coming up with recipes which at any other point in your training would be bad for you! :-))

Huzzah!

Welcome to Taper Town! I've no advice. I'm the worst taperer ever.

ReeReeG

Huzzah! wrote: »

Welcome to Taper Town! I've no advice. I'm the worst taperer ever.

I love the honesty!

ReeReeG

Week 17: Marathon Training.... one week to go
Mon 23rd Apr: Rest day.

Tues 24th Apr
Plan: 6 easy. Actual: 6 easy, avg pace 9.32/m. Felt good, little tired but nothing I wouldn't expect.

Weds 25th Apr: Rest day, with yoga at lunchtime.

Thurs 26th Apr
Plan: 5 steady. Actual: 5 semi-steady? Avg pace 9.08/m. Not bothered much by this, kinda chose to go the social route of chatting to a clubmate rather than pushing that tiny bit more. Pilates at lunchtime also.

Fri 27th Apr: Rest day.

Sat 28th Apr
Plan: 2 easy, 4@MP, 1 easy. Actual: Not the plan! Did 3 easy, then attempted to go MP but kept misjudging the effort. So I just decided to scrap that after 2 miles, and finish with one cool down mile. Avg pace overall 9.19/m.

Sun 29th Apr
Plan: 12 easy. Actual: 12 easy (maybe slightly fast at times). Average pace 9.16/m, but to be honest I needed to just run if only to clear my head.

Total miles: 29.3, which seems so low now.
Can't believe I am into the last week i.e. this time next week I'll have completed a bloody marathon. Tomorrow is my late boyfriend's 1st anniversary (the reason I am running this marathon) and to be honest my emotions are all over the place. Next week is going to be hard, and emotional, and god knows what really, but I've raised almost 5,500 euro for a cancer ward so I will be finishing that marathon no matter what. I have my goal time of 3.50 but if it gets too tough, I don't care saying that goal will be thrown away (or until another day). The focus of this training has helped me through some very tough months, so I should at the very least be thankful for that.
Possibly a bit of an overshare above but writing things out has always helped me.

skyblue46

I had no idea. Sorry for your loss. That's an amazing effort on the fundraising, well done. You deserve the day to go well.

Kellygirl

I’m sorry to read that. You have done an amazing job fund raising! You will do brilliantly next week. The weather is looking good. Warmer than we are used to but hopefully not too warm. Enjoy the last week of taper. Will be excited to see how you do!

Huzzah!

I’m so sorry to hear that. You’re such an incredibly strong person to go through that. Look at how much you’ve raised. If you’d like to share a link to your fundraising page here or by PM, I’d like to contribute.

ariana`

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's inspirational how you have turned something so negative into a positive for you personally to get you through an extremely difficult time and for all the people who will be helped by the funds you've raised. Your boyfriend would be very proud of you and you should be very proud of yourself too, whatever time you finish in x

eyrie

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry to hear this ReeReeG. Thinking of you today xx

Bungy Girl

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss and at the same time full of admiration for what you have achieved during what must have been an incredibly difficult year.

I'd also like to contribute to your fundraising so please do post or PM a link.

I hope you have a great race.

ReeReeG

Are marathon nightmares something associated with taper madness I wonder... ?!

Kellygirl

ReeReeG wrote: »

Are marathon nightmares something associated with taper madness I wonder... ?!

I think so - all very normal. How are the nerves? Are you all set?

ReeReeG

I'm way more nervous than I expected to be! The weather forecast has put the frighteners on me too

ReeReeG

I'm way more nervous than I expected to be! The weather forecast has put the frighteners on me too

Kellygirl

ReeReeG wrote: »

I'm way more nervous than I expected to be! The weather forecast has put the frighteners on me too

Hopefully won’t be as warm as predicted. Are you carrying electrolyte tablets? I halved zero tablets for Dublin and put them into those clear plastic zip loc bags that spare buttons come in when you buy clothes. I put them into the bottles of water every so often on the way round then. Add them to your water the day before too - or for two days even.

Huzzah!

Good luck on Sunday, RRG. I'll be thinking of you. You've done some great training. Enjoy!

ariana`

Best of luck ReeReeG! I hope the weather cooperates and it all goes to plan for you, you've the training done so go out confident in that!

ReeReeG

Ah thanks all! Amidst all the nerves and fear, I am actually looking forward to it! Did the training so I'm gonna give this my best shot!

skyblue46

Have a great race on Sunday. Keep it controlled early and finish strong. Most of all take it all in.

healy1835

Best of luck tomorrow. Looks like the weather won't quite be as warm as predicted. Get the water into you before you feel thirsty.....run well.

Kellygirl

Hope you are excited and carb loading to beat the band and hydrating! I hope you have a brilliant day and looking forward to your report. We might pass each other on the route somewhere :-)

ReeReeG

Kellygirl wrote: »

Hope you are excited and carb loading to beat the band and hydrating! I hope you have a brilliant day and looking forward to your report. We might pass each other on the route somewhere :-)

Thanks Kellygirl! Have had the unwelcome distraction and stress of my phone dying and refusing to turn on today

I am basically attached to my phone to my shame, so its hitting me hard!!
Feeling calmer about the run now though...!