Berlin Q or Bust: Road to sub 2:45

Dublin Half Marathon Report

Had company for this one as my two mates who I went with to Rotterdam were running. My buddy who broke 3hours there was pacing the other to a 1:32 as it turned out, a 10min PB

Parked near the cricket ground and jogged up to the start line with a few strides thrown in. Feeling pretty pumped but a positive type of nervous energy. Forgot just how big a race this actually was numbers wise and had to come back out of the starting pen to get a decent spot towards the front.

Km 1-5 (3:47, 3:48, 3:50, 3:48, 3:55): 19:08

After my ill judged start to the Frank Duffy I was determined not to make the same mistake here. I knew it was a slightly risky strategy as the first few k are a nice downhill and a good chance to bank a bit of time, but I stuck to my guns. I had one or two runners in my early group ear marked as guys who would be under the 1:20 mark and as we headed down Ordnance survey road I was in a decent group of about 15. 3:47 kms was the magic number today and the first 2k passed without fuss.
Then my lace opens, pull into the side, panicking a little bit as I knew that the possibility of breaking 80mins was marginal enough, back out and rejoiced proceedings with the group maybe 10secs ahead now. Coming up towards the S bends I was running beside David Carrie and I figured he might be a good man to pace off going up the short climbs, and he may well have been but then my lace opens again
I'm annoyed now, pull in take a couple of deep breaths and then a couple of extra seconds to make sure I tie the damn things properly this time. I definitely took off too fast this time and made it back to DC just coming up to the first water station when the lace opens AGAIN!!
This is not funny anymore, but if anything it calmed me a bit. Took a bottle of water, pulled in just after, took a good swig of water, triple knotted the lace and joined in again on a decent downhill. I've probably lost at least 45secs but I'm moving well and the pace feels comfortable at this early stage.

Km 6-10 (3:54, 3:48, 3:48, 3:48, 3:50) : 19:08

That last lace disaster probably took in some of km 6 looking at the splits. The 80 min group is now long gone and in the distance. But moving in past the Zoo and onto the North Rd I'm tipping along nicely, working with a chap in a pink t shirt who I will end up sharing the load with for the rest of the race. Bit of drag up the North road but I'm feeling good, passing a good few here. Tight turn at castleknock gate was not appreciated

Km 11-15 ( 3:49, 3:42, 3:58, 3:43, 3:51) :19:03

As luck would have it my course recce a couple of weeks back, took me up Whites Rd, so I knew it was drag. Put the hammer down in the km leading up to it to limit any losses. Myself and pink shirt are motoring now and keeping each other honest. Took a gel at last bottle station when we got back into the park. I'm feeling strong and looking forward to taking advantage of the fast stretch down Chesterfield and Acres road.

Km 16-20 (3:44, 3:43, 3:39, 3:39, 3:50) : 18:35

Through 10miles about 60:50, 17secs down on my FD time but feeling unbelievably good. I'm certain that I'll go under 1:21 but if I go now, and it had to be now, and wind it up then 80mins could still be on. I know that the upper glen is always a tough stretch but my mind is made up. Pink shirt is still here and it's one of those moments Where it didn't need to said, I pushed and he tagged on straight away. Going down acres was great, just in a rhythm and enjoying the race and the fact that I'm finishing strong. A few of the guys I tagged at the start are coming back quickly now and I know it's gonna be touch and go. Clap my hands together and shout 'come on' coming up the upper glen

Km 21 (3:36, 3:31 for the bit)

Down the final stretch, 3:36 fastest km of the race, coming up to line I actually thought I had about 5 secs in the bag and eased off a smidgen but I stopped watch past the line @1:19:59 So I was 'fairly sure' I had it but was a little worried until I saw official time on the phone

Considering the time lost in the first 5k I couldn't be happier with that result. Feeling great today, had a few beers last night. Got up at 6am and did about 15k Easy, left the watch at home and just ambled about reliving the race in my head legs never felt better after a race. Back out on walk with Erin Healy in the buggy now and writing this report from a McDonald's whilst taking a well earned break from my staple porridge breakfast

Safiri wrote: »

Cracking run chief! Doesn't seem that long ago that you hadn't broken 80 for 10 miles:)

I know!! out of small acorns....

jake1970 wrote: »

Well done J, congrats!!
That result is consistent with your brillant training of late, fair play to you.

Cheers L, how's the comeback trail coming along?

Dublin Marathon 2018 Week 13 of 16

Mon: AM: 10.5k Recovery: 53:55 @5:08/km
PM: 10.1k Easy: 50:25 @4:47/km

In and out of work, had a bit more time than usual on my hands so added a couple of km each way.

Tue: Rest!! Without realising it, I'd manage to run 43 days in a row. 43 days of pretty heavy training i might add. This rest day was not by design, but a lot of small circumstances meant a run just didn't happen. I presume the body appreciated it that's the mad thing about this block though, I haven't been tired at all really, recovery has been really straightforward and I also haven't been sick at all (touches biggest piece of wood he can find).

Wed: Session 20x400m off 60/secs.

Instructions were to put in a hard effort and keep the legs ticking over. Went up to the race course and used a lumpy, exposed 400m gravel straight which today had a nasty cross wind that just didn't seem to help at all mate was there and did 12 reps with me. Was balls to the wall here and by the last rep had emptied the tank. Great session.

W/u & c/d and recovery 6k with the pooch afterwards brought total distance up to 18.5k for the day.

Fri: 15k Easy: 1:17:03 @5:03/km

Sat: AM: 14k Buggy: 1:11:03 @5:04/km
PM: 5k w/pooch c30mins

Sun: LR: 28k Easy: 2:15:18 @4:50/km

Ran with a few guys from local club, enjoyable run and great chat about DCM going on. Cut it a couple of km short as there is a bug in the Healy household at the moment and I had begun to feel a bit dodge that morning beforehand. Was in low power mode for last couple of km. Got home, started to track Barry in Cologne, went upstairs to change, lied down in bed and promptly awoke about 3hrs later with Barry just having gone through the 40k marker Still feeling a bit ropey but it's on its way out of the system. Will take today off and get back out tomorrow, no need to take any risks and shoehorn runs in unnecessarily. Was gonna run a 10k race on Wednesday but gonna knock that on the head. Might try and get one in this weekend instead.....

124k for the week, with one day off.