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I Heart Running!

BrownEyes79

I’m finally following in my fellow 2017 novice’s footsteps and starting a running log.
Having been completely bitten by the running bug, particularly over the past year, and now that I’m running better than I imagined, I thought it was time to keep note of my progress!

So a bit of background. I’m 39 and I’ve stayed relatively fit over the years, my job was pretty active and after having kids I was in and out of the gym or doing yoga or exercise videos at home.

I ran as a teenager with Donore Harriers but only started back running properly in 2016.
I made a miserable attempt at DCM 2016 so made a promise to myself to run (without stopping) DCM 2017.

Wubble Wubble kindly allowed me to join his novice group even though I wasn’t a true novice and I was delighted with my finishing time of 4hr25mins.

Since then I’ve done 3 cycles of the Grads plan, which I love and my race times have been coming down.

I haven’t done a lot of races but these are my times over the last 3 years

2016
Frank Duffy - 1:41:10
Dublin half - 2:08:33

2017
Frank Duffy - 1:34:01
Dublin half - 2:01:30
Marathon - 4:25:40 (PB)
Jingle Bells 5k - 25:39

2018
Bohermeen half - 1:53:39
Dunboyne 5mile - 39:50 (PB)
South Dub 10k - 50:53 (PB)
Kilcock 10mile - 1:22:03 (PB)
Dublin Half - 1:48:47 (PB)
WorldDisney Half - 1:51:28
Park run PB - 23:47 (PB)

My dream goals for 2019 are
Sub 23 5k
Sub 50 10k
Sub 1:45 half marathon
Sub 4hr marathon

My plan for the next few months is to do a 3/4 weeks of the grads base plan and then start the grads HM plan for Bohermeen in March. I then want to concentrate on 5-10ks (they really scare me) before starting into training for the Dublin marathon

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Comments

Kellygirl

Delighted to see you logging C. Well done on all the PBs this year. You’ve had such a great year and inspired me to find a way to follow the grads plan and try and make the improvements you’ve made.

BrownEyes79

Kellygirl wrote: »

Delighted to see you logging C. Well done on all the PBs this year. You’ve had such a great year and inspired me to find a way to follow the grads plan and try and make the improvements you’ve made.

Aww thanks for your lovely message K, I know you’ll love the grads plan and you’ll be smashing your PBs in no time

skyblue46

Great to see you logging. I think you have had an amazing year. It can't be as easy to keep training without having the big motivation of DCM at the end of it. I'll check my diary for the sub 23 attempt! ;-)

quickbeam

Yay, you're here!!!! I look forward to reading your progress. You've had a great year and you'll smash those dream times, I'm sure of it.

Lazare

Nice one C, your goals are far from dreams.

Great to see you logging.

BrownEyes79

Thanks Quickbeam & Lazare

BrownEyes79

skyblue46 wrote: »

I'll check my diary for the sub 23 attempt! ;-)

:D I’m going to hold you to that!

ariana`

Delighted to see this log start up! Your consistency this year has been phenomenal and you've got great results to show for it. I'll be recommending to anyone who is going to follow a grads plan for the first time to follow you to see how it's done.

I certainly don't think the first 2 of your goals are far off - it's just a case of scheduling 5 & 10k races, both of those targets and more are well within you. The other two will come too

Best of luck with the log, training and targets!

Wubble Wubble

Welcome to the world of logging! I've no doubt there's lots more massive improvement to come all round. Best of luck

BrownEyes79

Thanks for the welcome ariana & wubble

BrownEyes79

Total miles 34.9miles

Monday
Planned: 60mins easy
Actual: 16mins struggle

Just back from a 2 week holiday and couldn’t wait to get out for a run in my new gear! I felt alright but once I started running my legs felt like lead and my heart was pounding after a couple of metres. I really didn’t want to stop so struggled on for 1.5miles and then knew it was stupid to continue so went home, had a zero tablet and got into bed. Woke up feeling much better!

Tuesday
Planned: 60mins easy
Actual: just over an hour, 6miles @ 10:36/mi
45mins S&C class

I was dreading this run incase I had the same experience as Monday but all was well. Heart rate was down a good bit.
It was my first night back at S&C. I love this class but I found it really tough

Wednesday
Planned: 60mins progression run, easy-MP
8.3miles, 10:49,10:14,9:45,9:17,8:58,8:24 (1m wu&cd)

This run went really well, I did find it tough but I really enjoyed it. My legs were still tired from S&C class

Thursday
Planned: 60mins easy
Actual: 70mins easy, 6:3miles @ 11/mi
45mins S&C class

Trying to slow down my easy runs, S&C still tough

Friday
Rest

Saturday
Planned: 50mins, 9mins easy & 1min hard
5.7 miles, easy avg 11/mi & hard avg 7.19/mi

I was tied for time so skipped my warmup. In hindsight I probably should have done a shorter cool down and a short warmup

Sunday
Planned: 1hr45 easy
Actual: 1hr20 hill run

It was a gorgeous morning and I had the opportunity to go for a run with a group in the hills so decided to do it instead of my 90mins easy.
I really enjoyed this and want to do more hill/trail runs over the winter.

I was a bit all over the place this week and it was my first week doing the grads base plan. I skipped forward to week 3 of the plan, I dont know if this was the right thing to do! But I’ll be starting the 10k-HM plan in a few weeks so needed to cut it short!

BrownEyes79

Mon: rest
Tues: 55mins easy 4.9miles @ 11.07
45mins S&C
Weds: 70mins moderate 7.2miles @ 9.31/mi
Thurs: 70mins easy, 6.3miles@ 11.05/mi
45mins S&C
Fri: rest
Sat: 1hr45mins easy, 10.4miles @ 10.17/mi
Sun: 7miles, 50mins easy @ 10.57/mi, 5mins thres @ 7.59/mi

Total: 36miles

This week went by so quickly and my legs were so tired.
On Monday my ankles were sore from the hill run on Sunday, not injury sore but like I’d used them differently. My left knee was nigglely too so did some foam rolling which seemed to sort them out.
I enjoyed the moderate paced run on Wednesday, the time zipped by so quickly. I included a couple of nice hills into it too. There are some good hills in the park I run in which I usually avoid so I’m purposely trying to include them in my easier runs!
The weekend session and lsr were grand, I had to swop the two days around, it was nice to get a bit of speed into my legs with the 5mins at threshold pace.

I really need to start a food diary, I’m eating all around me! I’m pretty good at breakfast, lunch and dinner but I go off the rails when I start snacking. I even drove over the Krispy Kremes on Friday.... I can’t even think about it now......

ariana`

BrownEyes79 wrote: »

Mon: rest
Tues: 55mins easy 4.9miles @ 11.07
45mins S&C
Weds: 70mins moderate 7.2miles @ 9.31/mi
Thurs: 70mins easy, 6.3miles@ 11.05/mi
45mins S&C
Fri: rest
Sat: 1hr45mins easy, 10.4miles @ 10.17/mi
Sun: 7miles, 50mins easy @ 10.57/mi, 5mins thres @ 7.59/mi

Total: 36miles

This week went by so quickly and my legs were so tired.
On Monday my ankles were sore from the hill run on Sunday, not injury sore but like I’d used them differently. My left knee was nigglely too so did some foam rolling which seemed to sort them out.
I enjoyed the moderate paced run on Wednesday, the time zipped by so quickly. I included a couple of nice hills into it too. There are some good hills in the park I run in which I usually avoid so I’m purposely trying to include them in my easier runs!
The weekend session and lsr were grand, I had to swop the two days around, it was nice to get a bit of speed into my legs with the 5mins at threshold pace.

I really need to start a food diary, I’m eating all around me! I’m pretty good at breakfast, lunch and dinner but I go off the rails when I start snacking. I even drove over the Krispy Kremes on Friday.... I can’t even think about it now......

I could be way off the mark here but i'm going to say to be careful that every day doesn't become a hard day. It sounds like easy days might be hard days in disguise - including hills in easier runs and doing s&c on easy run days as well.

BrownEyes79

ariana` wrote: »

I could be way off the mark here but i'm going to say to be careful that every day doesn't become a hard day. It sounds like easy days might be hard days in disguise - including hills in easier runs and doing s&c on easy run days as well.

Yeah I know what you mean ariana, I have been thinking the same, it’s just hard to fit everything in! I use to do my sessions on a Tuesday and Friday and I’ll probably go back to those days when I start the HM plan and S&C on Tues & Thurs (which would be a rest day anyway) so it was a bit more spread out!
Do you think the hills are a bad idea in my easy runs? I thought they’d be beneficial but you’re probably right

skyblue46

BrownEyes79 wrote: »

Yeah I know what you mean ariana, I have been thinking the same, it’s just hard to fit everything in! I use to do my sessions on a Tuesday and Friday and I’ll probably go back to those days when I start the HM plan and S&C on Tues & Thurs (which would be a rest day anyway) so it was a bit more spread out!
Do you think the hills are a bad idea in my easy runs? I thought they’d be beneficial but you’re probably right

Depending on the steepness of the hills and how often you do them I wouldn't see a problem. If it's a steep hill every mile it's probably too much but if they are drags which just slightly toughen an otherwise flat run I wouldn't see it causing complications.

ariana`

BrownEyes79 wrote: »

Yeah I know what you mean ariana, I have been thinking the same, it’s just hard to fit everything in! I use to do my sessions on a Tuesday and Friday and I’ll probably go back to those days when I start the HM plan and S&C on Tues & Thurs (which would be a rest day anyway) so it was a bit more spread out!
Do you think the hills are a bad idea in my easy runs? I thought they’d be beneficial but you’re probably right

Then Mon & Wed will be genuinely easy and Sunday will be rest/recovery also? That definitely sounds more balanced with respect to hard/easy over the week.

At the end of the day you are one of the most consistent runners i know of and you haven't had an injury in the past year (that i can remember) so you must be doing something right! I was just trying to throw a critical eye over last week's report and what jumped out at me was hills, S&C, sessions and it sounded like a lot.

BrownEyes79

ariana` wrote: »

Then Mon & Wed will be genuinely easy and Sunday will be rest/recovery also? That definitely sounds more balanced with respect to hard/easy over the week.

At the end of the day you are one of the most consistent runners i know of and you haven't had an injury in the past year (that i can remember) so you must be doing something right! I was just trying to throw a critical eye over last week's report and what jumped out at me was hills, S&C, sessions and it sounded like a lot.

Yeah that will be the plan after Clonakilty.
I appreciate and welcome all advice and critical eyes ariana

I may be consistent at training but I’ve still loads to learn about running!

BrownEyes79

skyblue46 wrote: »

Depending on the steepness of the hills and how often you do them I wouldn't see a problem. If it's a steep hill every mile it's probably too much but if they are drags which just slightly toughen an otherwise flat run I wouldn't see it causing complications.

Thanks S

BrownEyes79

26th November- 2nd December

Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 70mins easy @ 11.19/mi, 45mins S&C class
Wednesday: 70mins easy @ 11.06/mi
Thursday: 70mins progression, easy - mp, 45mins S&C class

Total miles: 21.6miles

The weather was so bad this week, even my easy runs were hard to do in the wind and rain. I changed Wednesday progression run to Thursday because I would never have been able to do it in the wind and Thursday turned out to be a much better morning for it.
I missed my Saturdays session and Sundays lsr because I was away for the weekend, I was hoping to go out on Sunday evening but it didn’t happen!

BrownEyes79

3rd-9th December

Monday: rest
Tuesday: 65mins easy, 5.7miles @11:14/mi
45mins S&C class
Wednesday: 65mins moderate @ 9:35/mi w/wu&cd, 8.7miles
Thursday: 70mins easy, 6.4miles @ 11:16/mi
45mins S&C class
Friday: rest
Saturday: Clonakilty half @ 9:38
Sunday: 3miles recovery

Total miles: 37.2miles

The highlight of my week was the Clonakilty half marathon, not just for the meet up with Kellygirl, Ariana, Baby (& hubby) and Leesider but for the race itself. We had all decided ages ago we weren’t going to race this one but do it as a fun run and it was so nice to do a no pressure race!
Myself and KG ran together and made it around in 2hr07mins. I enjoyed every second of it despite the wind and a whopper of a 2mile hill!. The scenery was amazing and it was lovely having Kellygirl’s company all the way around. We had an encounter with a Shetland pony along the course and at mile 5 I was so close to breaking my ankle! My foot went into a marshy grassy pothole at the side of the road, I don’t know how I managed to pull it out before I tripped, the poor girl behind got a huge fright!
We had a lovely weekend and it was great meeting up with the girls again, we’ll definitely be having an annual weekend away!

ReeReeG

I hadn't seen you started a log until now! Delighted you have started logging, adds an extra dimension to my Strava stalking haha

FWIW I think the sub 50 10k will happen surprisingly easy for you

BrownEyes79

ReeReeG wrote: »

FWIW I think the sub 50 10k will happen surprisingly easy for you

Aw thanks ReeRee, for some reason I have a mental block with 10k so hopefully you’re right!

skyblue46

BrownEyes79 wrote: »

Aw thanks ReeRee, for some reason I have a mental block with 10k so hopefully you’re right!

It'll be the next time you race one!

BrownEyes79

10th-16th December

Mon: 70mins easy, 6.5mi @ 11.04
Tues: 8x1min hills avg 9min/mi, 2min walk recovery
45mins S&C class
Weds: 70mins easy, 6.2mi @ 11:18
Thurs 60mins easy, 5.3mi @ 11.20
45mins S&C class
Sat: 3miles mod @ 9.43, 3miles tempo @ 8.26, 3miles easy @ 10.30

Total: 31.8miles

I don’t know how I feel about this week. I was dreading my hill session on Tuesday, I lost count of my reps and actually surprised myself when my watch beeped for my cooldown. I felt like I did it at 5k effort but was disappointed when I saw my split times, they were all over the place and averaged out at 9min/mi, maybe I was subconsciously holding back thinking I had more to do. I walked my recoveries which I don’t usually do.
I slightly changed the plan a bit towards the end of the week. I did one extra easy run on Friday and my tempo session on Saturday. I thought maybe I could do my lsr on Sunday but I couldn’t fit it in so my mileage is a bit lower than it should be

Kellygirl

BrownEyes79 wrote: »

10th-16th December

Mon: 70mins easy, 6.5mi @ 11.04
Tues: 8x1min hills avg 9min/mi, 2min walk recovery
45mins S&C class
Weds: 70mins easy, 6.2mi @ 11:18
Thurs 60mins easy, 5.3mi @ 11.20
45mins S&C class
Sat: 3miles mod @ 9.43, 3miles tempo @ 8.26, 3miles easy @ 10.30

Total: 31.8miles

I don’t know how I feel about this week. I was dreading my hill session on Tuesday, I lost count of my reps and actually surprised myself when my watch beeped for my cooldown. I felt like I did it at 5k effort but was disappointed when I saw my split times, they were all over the place and averaged out at 9min/mi, maybe I was subconsciously holding back thinking I had more to do. I walked my recoveries which I don’t usually do.
I slightly changed the plan a bit towards the end of the week. I did one extra easy run on Friday and my tempo session on Saturday. I thought maybe I could do my lsr on Sunday but I couldn’t fit it in so my mileage is a bit lower than it should be

Not bad mileage at all without your long run. Mine has been much lower since I started this plan but most weeks I’ve missed a very easy run.

Did you do the hill session on your usual hill?

BrownEyes79

Kellygirl wrote: »

Not bad mileage at all without your long run. Mine has been much lower since I started this plan but most weeks I’ve missed a very easy run.

Did you do the hill session on your usual hill?

I’ve been adding on some extra with & cd miles to build it up a bit!

Yes the usual hill!
I was in awe of your splits today!

Kellygirl

BrownEyes79 wrote: »

I’ve been adding on some extra with & cd miles to build it up a bit!

Yes the usual hill!
I was in awe of your splits today!

My hill might not be steep enough - I certainly couldn’t do those splits if any steeper.

ariana`

BrownEyes79 wrote: »

I’ve been adding on some extra with & cd miles to build it up a bit!

Yes the usual hill!
I was in awe of your splits today!

Solid enough week especially for the time of year.

I am in awe of you both. I did 15 miles last week.

Kellygirl

BrownEyes79 wrote: »

I’ve been adding on some extra with & cd miles to build it up a bit!

Yes the usual hill!
I was in awe of your splits today!

Kellygirl wrote: »

My hill might not be steep enough - I certainly couldn’t do those splits if any steeper.

I meant to say that I looked at both our runs on Strava and your hill was steeper!

BrownEyes79

17th-23rd December

Monday 70mins easy, 6.2m@11.23
Tuesday 6x3mins @CV, managed 3 reps and then had to abandon the session:(
45mins S&C class
Wednesday 50mins easy, 4.4m@11.03
45mins S&C class
Thursday 70mins easy, 6.3m@11.18
Friday 5x5mins @ threshold, 5.9m
Saturday rest
Sunday 6m hill run

Total 33.2m

24th-31st December

Monday 70mins easy, 6.7m@10.59
Tuesday rest
Wednesday 70mins easy, 6.2m@10.02
Thursday rest
Friday 30mins tempo@8.26, wu&cd, 5.9m
Saturday rest
Sunday 5.9m hill run
Monday half marathon trail run

Unexpected PB today. I didn’t really have a plan for this run, I just wanted to enjoy it and so purposely didn’t look at my watch throughout. I met some lovely people and had some nice chats along the way and then at 11/12 miles a guy I was running with said if we stay at this pace we’ll get in at 1:48..... I couldn’t believe it, my Dublin half Pb was 1:48:49... so I immediately stopped chatting and suddenly felt the pressure to get a pb.
I finished the race in at 1:47:29. Delighted with myself and it was a lovely way to finish a great year of running!

Total 24.8m + HM

Total miles for the year 1436m