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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

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Huzzah!

skyblue46 wrote: »

For what it's worth and if it's any help to you both in deciding on a target pace I ran it last year at 6:50 per mile. At the time my threshold pace was 7:05-15 and my CV pace was 6:46-6:56.

Super helpful, thanks. I noticed that CV pace was more in line with the predicted 5-mile pace alright. Now, whether I can actually convert my 5k time to the predicted result remains to be seen.

skyblue46

eyrie wrote: »

I was wondering about that too, and thinking the same myself. I think threshold pace is sort of around 10k pace isn't it? So slightly quicker for a 5 mile seems right.

For what it's worth and if it's any help to you both in deciding on a target pace I ran it last year at 6:50 per mile. At the time my threshold pace was 7:05-15 and my CV pace was 6:46-6:56.

Huzzah!

eyrie wrote: »

Those club sessions look complicated! Looks like you handled it very nicely though, great pacing. You're reminding me that I need to drag myself back to pilates too, sigh. They cancelled my usual class and I haven't been back, but I should probably stop making excuses

I was wondering about that too, and thinking the same myself. I think threshold pace is sort of around 10k pace isn't it? So slightly quicker for a 5 mile seems right.

I think it's maybe the pace you could hold for an hour, so not too far off my 10k pace, no.

eyrie

Those club sessions look complicated! Looks like you handled it very nicely though, great pacing. You're reminding me that I need to drag myself back to pilates too, sigh. They cancelled my usual class and I haven't been back, but I should probably stop making excuses

Huzzah! wrote: »

Not to get too far ahead of myself when I’ve no idea what to aim for in Raheny. I’m thinking a touch quicker than threshold?

I was wondering about that too, and thinking the same myself. I think threshold pace is sort of around 10k pace isn't it? So slightly quicker for a 5 mile seems right.

Huzzah!

Monday, 14 January
Plan: Very easy hour. Actual: 1:17 very easy Avg pace: 7:29/km Avg HR: 144 Max HR 158 (ignoring the purported 197 at the beginning)
Very enjoyable runmute, if a touch too quick.

Tuesday, 15 January
Club session: 3x300 w/200r + 3xlaps with Fartlek + 2x400 w/200r + 1x800
Avg HR: 170 Max HR 184
|Lap|Time|
|300|91s|
|300|86s|
|300|83s|
|Fartlek|5:35|
|400|1:51|
|400|1:51|
|800|3:57|

Pilates in the am and the fifth run on the trot, so my legs were nicely fatigued before I’d even started. It was easy enough to pop along to the club in the first week but I was more nervous this week knowing there’d be a tough workout ahead and there was. I met aquinn and Strawberry Swan, which was really nice. I kind of tucked myself a few people back from Strawberry Swan, which worked out well. Took the foot off the pedal too much for the first lap of the 800. These sessions, I believe, are all aimed at a monthly 3k time trial. I guess the ultimate aim is to graduate into the next group, although that seems impossible to me at the moment, so I’ll just use it as a monthly benchmark. Had some indigestion during the session, so I need to eat something different before. My legs were nicely bunched after. I found the Fartlek the toughest.

Thursday, 16 January
Plan: 1 hour very easy Total: 1 hour@7:17/km
Avg HR: 148 Max HR 170

The FFL coach suggested if I was going to get the most out of the club, I should try and attend Thursday sessions, so I made an effort to pop along, knowing in my heart of hearts it would be too quick for me. Sure enough, the first km clicked in at 7/km and the next was edging in at around 6.15/km. I was able to chat and would’ve stuck with them but I really wanted to do the planned session the following evening, so I bailed. Tbh, it wouldn’t suit me to go frequently and it was after 9 when I got home, but I can always keep it in the back pocket for weeks when I’m not on plan or motivation is low.

Friday, 17 January
Plan: 3x8@Threshold (5:41-5:50) Total: 30 minutes@7:38
Avg HR: 133 Max HR 147
And then I didn’t even do the session. I was knackered, in no mood and knew we were going to Wexford. None of which are particularly great reasons for sacking it off but sack it off I did.

Saturday, 18 January
Plan: 1.45 easy but did 3X8 instead.
Splits: 5:46; 5:46; and 5:37 (Avg pace; should I use avg moving pace for these?)
Avg HR: 158 Max HR: 189

I did this session at the race course and it worked out perfectly; the lap is in and around a mile, I think, and nicely undulating. I got some encouragement from ladies out walking their dogs as I huffed my way around. I grew this session into something more difficult in my mind and was properly dreading it, to the point where I asked myself if I was still enjoying running and if I thought this mental anguish was worth it. Dramalama. Of course, the session got the endorphins flowing and I loved running again by the end.

Sunday, 19 January
Plan: 1.45 easy Total: 1.45@7:20

HRM in the wash. Loved the first 2/3rds of this but my legs were cooked for the last ⅓. Exact same pace as last week but I had to make a conscious effort to keep it slow. Glad I did given how I felt at the end.

Weekly totals: 55.4km and 6:35 hours - still a bit short of target and it’ll be even shorter this week as I taper for Raheny. Planning on doing 45 easy on Monday and Wednesday, club session on Tuesday and off on Friday. Debating whether to do 45 easy on Thursday or not. I’ve also signed up for Enniscorthy 10k just before they changed the route. Still looks rahten hilly but no excuses; I’ll just have to plan for the hills and pace accordingly. Not to get too far ahead of myself when I’ve no idea what to aim for in Raheny. I’m thinking a touch quicker than threshold?

Huzzah!

spaceylou wrote: »

I have a similar sensation sometimes in my feet and find that as well as trying to loosen my calves a bit, it helps to alternate massaging feet with a tennis ball and a bottle of frozen water (coca-cola 500ml a good shape). There are a few stretches that I do in pilates class as well but not sure how to explain them properly, but maybe google/youtube could help?

I actually have a frozen bottle of water for this purpose but haven't used it - thanks for reminding me.

I was meant to welcome you back earlier. I'm not sure what shiny thing distracted me, so welcome back

It looks like you're following the Grads plan, in which case, you should join us over on the Grads thread: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057932425

aquinn wrote: »

Well done again on the Cru session. I joined that group when I was starting back in the club and it was great. Some of them are shy leading and starting at the front, well done for having the confidence anyway to start out front.

Hopefully meet you tomorrow.

Yes, fingers crossed.

aquinn

Well done again on the Cru session. I joined that group when I was starting back in the club and it was great. Some of them are shy leading and starting at the front, well done for having the confidence anyway to start out front.

Hopefully meet you tomorrow.

spaceylou

Huzzah! wrote: »

I keep forgetting to mention an ongoing issue I’m having with my feet. They’ve been very niggly. It’s hard to describe. They almost feel bruised or like they’re about to cramp or something. I don’t think it’s plantar fasciitis as it’s not really in my heel or sore when I wake up. I’ve a feeling it’s tight calfs that’s causing the issue. ANYWAY, I had to change my runners about 20 minutes into this as both my feet were sore enough to make me consider canning the run. The change of runners did the trick and I didn’t have any issues apart from a touch of soreness when I finished.

I have a similar sensation sometimes in my feet and find that as well as trying to loosen my calves a bit, it helps to alternate massaging feet with a tennis ball and a bottle of frozen water (coca-cola 500ml a good shape). There are a few stretches that I do in pilates class as well but not sure how to explain them properly, but maybe google/youtube could help?

Murph_D

Good week, fair play for taking the club session plunge. The Cru FFL coach is excellent. First session is always the hardest!

Huzzah!

Tuesday, 8 January
Plan: 8x1 min hills (2-3 min rec)
Actual: Pyramid session: 300, 400, 600, 800, 600, 400, 300 Avg pace: 5:12/km Avg HR: 167 Max HR 181

I finally went to a Crusaders training session to see what it’s all about. Cru train really close to work but nowhere near home. I think, on balance, it’s the best option for me because I’d struggle to make a club training session on time that’s closer to home and it has a huge Fit for Life group, so I can train at the appropriate level for me. There were 15 other new starters/fellow new years resolutioners. All abilities warm up together doing drills and then strides and then we split off into our various groups. My group did the session outlined above. I headed out near the front of the group accidentally for the first couple of reps before learning some self preservation and placing myself more appropriately. Lots to learn in terms of how to pace these sessions, etc. I thought I’d used my watch well, lapping after each faster segment but it’s all over the place in reality. It was a tough session and at times, I was transported to my primary school self on school sports days trying my hardest to get around a running track in one piece - usually miles behind everyone else

At least I was able to hold my own on Tuesday. My legs were like jelly as I skipped out of the warm down and onto my bus home. A lot to learn, as I said, but I can see the benefits of group training.

Wednesday, 9 January
Plan: 1 hour very easy Total: 90 minutes@7:25/km
Avg HR: 143 Max HR 160

I’d forgotten I wouldn’t be able to run on Thursday and I’d have run on Monday if I’d remembered, so I added 30 minutes to the run. Works out well as I need to change my day off next week, so the enforced day off on Thursday will allow me to run tomorrow, although I'm not sure what day to have as my day off...

Friday, 11 January
Plan: 1 hour very easy or off Total: 1 hour@7:35/km
Avg HR: 139 Max HR 157

I thought I’d run the full runmute but my legs were very tired, so I popped my sensible hat on and capped this run at an hour.

Saturday, 12 January
Plan: 15 min tempo, 4 min rec, 10 min Threshold
Splits: 15 minutes@ 6:02/km 10 minutes threshold: 5:36
Avg HR: 150 Max HR: 175

I did this session as part of Shanganagh parkrun. My legs were not feeling session ready during the warm up but as is usual, once I started the tempo, I felt okay. The tempo pace was comfortable. I found it hard to ratchet it up a gear to threshold pace but it was nicely testing once I hit the required pace. It was spot on for most of the segment but someone tried to undercut me near the end, so I picked up the pace again to finish ahead of her. I’m can be an awful a-hole at times

Sunday, 13 January
Plan: 1.45 easy Total: 1.45@7:20 Avg HR: 151 Max HR: 187 (my hat)

I keep forgetting to mention an ongoing issue I’m having with my feet. They’ve been very niggly. It’s hard to describe. They almost feel bruised or like they’re about to cramp or something. I don’t think it’s plantar fasciitis as it’s not really in my heel or sore when I wake up. I’ve a feeling it’s tight calfs that’s causing the issue. ANYWAY, I had to change my runners about 20 minutes into this as both my feet were sore enough to make me consider canning the run. The change of runners did the trick and I didn’t have any issues apart from a touch of soreness when I finished. This was a real mid-plan run - tough as it was being done on legs that are flanged. It always feels beneficial to get these types of long run in. I managed to run it in the proper pace range too, so Huzzah!

Weekly totals: 51km and 6:00 hours - quite a bit short of target but not too bad given I only ran on five days. I’ll do a longer warm up before club training on Tuesday. More Some rolling required to see if that helps my wee footsies.

eyrie

Huzzah! wrote: »

My very own breaking-2 project

Huzzah! wrote: »

I enjoyed it, thanks! There were 15 other new starters, so I wasn't a fish out of water, except maybe a little bit during the warmup. I'll try a couple of more nights before committing fully, but it seems like it could work out well. I just have to keep an eye on the time, so that I don't miss my one-an-hour bus home.

15!! Wow. I'd say there were that many people altogether at the one I went to.

ReeReeG

Kellygirl wrote:

Meant to tell you I got the Run Fast book as a Christmas present - havenâ€™t opened it yet. Have you put it to use?

The worst thing about this book is the bloody American measurements

aquinn

Huzzah! wrote: »

I enjoyed it, thanks! There were 15 other new starters, so I wasn't a fish out of water, except maybe a little bit during the warmup. I'll try a couple of more nights before committing fully, but it seems like it could work out well. I just have to keep an eye on the time, so that I don't miss my one-an-hour bus home.

Wow, that's a big group. Glad you enjoyed it and hopefully get to meet you next week.

I don't understand half of that warm-up so don't worry about it. Some of it I refuse to do. We do tend to miss it as we run down so normally make the strides.

Huzzah!

aquinn wrote: »

Well, what news? How was it?

I enjoyed it, thanks! There were 15 other new starters, so I wasn't a fish out of water, except maybe a little bit during the warmup. I'll try a couple of more nights before committing fully, but it seems like it could work out well. I just have to keep an eye on the time, so that I don't miss my one-an-hour bus home.

aquinn

Well, what news? How was it?

Huzzah!

eyrie wrote: »

Delighted to see this as a goal. Come 2020, something tells me it'll be no bother to you, and more besides

My very own breaking-2 project

eyrie

Huzzah! wrote: »

Hopefully, I’ll build enough of a base to really target a sub-2 half in 2020.

Delighted to see this as a goal. Come 2020, something tells me it'll be no bother to you, and more besides

Huzzah!

Kellygirl wrote: »

Brilliant. Love seeing your sessions come up on strava now. Good luck with Crusaders.

ariana` wrote: »

Great week, best of luck with the goals and the new club.

aquinn wrote: »

We can't make Crusaders tomorrow night but all the very best.

Thanks - I'm actually not feeling my usual shyness, so I should be grand to head down on my own. I'm just going to try it and see for the two-week trial period as it might not work out with getting home after.

aquinn wrote: »

How are you now after the Bog of Frogs? I found it very tough, felt bruised after it along my ribcage. Good for you for doing it after a session.

It was so much tougher than Bray-Greystones and I'm surprisingly sore along my shoulders. I guess I wasn't as relaxed as you need to be for flinging yourself down those hills

aquinn

How are you now after the Bog of Frogs? I found it very tough, felt bruised after it along my ribcage. Good for you for doing it after a session.

We can't make Crusaders tomorrow night but all the very best.

ariana`

Great week, best of luck with the goals and the new club.

Kellygirl

Brilliant. Love seeing your sessions come up on strava now. Good luck with Crusaders.

Baby75

Great week Huzzah and love the goal sub 2-hour marathon is one of mine although like you I will be aiming for next year:D

Huzzah!

There we are now:week 5 already.

I was going to do a 2019 goals post, which elaborated on my post in the 2019 Goals thread but I think it’s unnecessary. I’d like to run some PBs and keep running consistently. I’m aiming for a seven-hour weekly running average to encourage consistency. Hopefully, I’ll build enough of a base to really target a sub-2 half in 2020.

Tuesday, 1 January
Plan: 1 hour very easy
Total: 1:09 hour easy Avg pace: Bushy parkrun@7:01/km Tymon parkrun@6:46 Avg HR: 149 Max HR 169

I took the opportunity of doing a double parkrun combining Bushy and Tymon. I took it handy tootling around at an easy enough pace. Tymon was a bit quicker because the pace increased without my realising after the hill on both laps. A fitter me would’ve run between the two but ho hum. A lot of fun and both nice enough parkruns that I’d like to revisit.

Wednesday, 2 January
Plan: 6 x 2 minute AP (5:07-5:13) (3 min rec) Total: 10km incorporating session
Interval splits: 5:10; 5:04; 5:07; 5:02; 5:06; and 5:08
Avg HR: 154 Max HR 176

I was expecting this to be tougher but it turned out to be grand until the warm down, when I really felt the session in my legs - a tiredness that carried over to the next couple of runs.

Thursday, 3 January
Plan: 1 hour very easy
Total: 1 hour very easy (8:02km@7:40/km)
Avg HR: 138 Max HR 181 Stupid cadence lock.

A very heavy legged and tired run. Kept this as easy as possible to help recovery. I also kept it to the hour - it was still a couple of seconds too fast for very easy but I’m getting there. The effort/HR was spot on, though.

Friday, 4 January
Plan: 1 hour very easy or off
Total: 45 minutes
Avg pace: 7:43/km
Avg HR: 136 Max HR 171

I was determined to keep this very easy and I managed it very well, still feeling the remnants of Wednesday’s session in my legs. Couldn’t manage the full hour due to a protesting tummy.

Saturday, 5 January
Plan: 4x6 min @ Threshold (5:35 - 5:43) w/ 2 min rec Total: 8.5km, incl session
Splits: 5:43; 5:47; 5:37; and 5:37
Avg HR: 152 Max HR: 173

One of the appealing aspects of the plan was the ability to combine the Saturday sessions with a parkrun. I hadn’t managed this yet because I need to eat before a session and I’ve been too lazy to get up in time. ReeReeG suggested meeting up at Marlay and it was the added incentive I needed when my alarm went off at 7am. I love running in cold weather but it took my breathing a while to adjust to the frosty weather. I was glad of parkrun because I wasn’t in a session mood when warming up. The first interval was tricky enough with 670 people participating, it was hard to hit the required pace in the first kilometre. I started the lap late, too, to allow the worst of the congestion pass, which resulted in me running out of space at the end. The second kilometre is annoying me that it’s out because it was the easiest one as it was mostly downhill and I just eased off on the gas too much. The final two were comfortably hard. I should’ve just run past the funnel to finish the last one but I didn’t think of it until I was in the funnel to get my number. A nice cuppa and chats with V after.

Sunday, 6 January
Plan: 70 easy Total: 90 easy (14.76km)
The last opportunity to get a trail run in for a while, so I decided to try the Bog of Frogs and oooffff, it was tough! I enjoyed it well enough but ran out of steam for the last climb. I’ll give it another go when I don’t have a session in my legs from the previous day and also at a much earlier time - it’s very narrow and there were a lot of hikers who weren’t that easy to pass. I stopped my watch at the 70-minute mark per plan but then wasn’t bothered walking back to the car, so I ran the end of the route.

Weekly totals: 54.5km and 6:34 hours. Happy enough with that week. The plan for next week is to tootle down to Crusaders to see if joining is feasible.

The Black Oil

eyrie wrote: »

If I listen to anything while running I only ever use one earphone and keep the other ear free. You can still hear everything on the road. Might be worth a try!

Yeah, I've done that in the past. Have a clip that I could use on the cable so the bit that's not in use can be on my shirt and not flailing around. I've gotten so used to running without anything audio related it would be weird to back to it, and a little dodgy on long runs out the back roads which have some blind spots (I run against traffic). I've a volume and pause button on the cable (but no skip unless you press the screen which is fidgety when running - I hate ads). Don't really want to go to bluetooth as it'll be yet another thing to charge and current ones are more than acceptable. /ramble.

Baby75

skyblue46 wrote: »

Have ye any suggestions for small mp3 type players. I'm not keen on carrying a phone with me.

iPod touch maybe or mp3 players & some new watches allow you to download music to them and connect via Bluetooth earphones

skyblue46

Have ye any suggestions for small mp3 type players. I'm not keen on carrying a phone with me.

Baby75

eyrie wrote: »

If I listen to anything while running I only ever use one earphone and keep the other ear free. You can still hear everything on the road. Might be worth a try!

Some earphones allow you to still hear what's going on around you as well, a pair I have now do so, I am still able to hear cars and people but I am always checking behind me for bikes or faster runners when moving across a path or road.

I'm listening to east coast trail runners podcast, very tongue in cheek but very funny I love it as they interview people from elites to the middle of the pack to DFL and all have great stories to tell

eyrie

The Black Oil wrote: »

I've thought about going back to podcasts for Sundays. Haven't done it in three years now and am little wary of the safety aspect due to some of the roads around here. We'll see.

If I listen to anything while running I only ever use one earphone and keep the other ear free. You can still hear everything on the road. Might be worth a try!

eyrie

Congratulations on a super year. Your marathon in particular was amazing - perfectly approached and executed, and a testament to all the training.

Huzzah! wrote: »

Boardsies, thanks to all for the help, support and camaraderie throughout the year - it’s been a great journey. You guys help me feel normal when I’m obsessing about which plan to choose, not being able to run when I’m injured and squeezing in a run when the weather is apocalyptic.

Just imagine if there was no Boards! I dread to think what would happen if I didn't have an outlet for all the obsessing :eek: Everyone in my personal life would be sick to death of me, that's for sure :pac:

Happy 2019! Looking forward to cheering you on in October

Huzzah!

ariana` wrote: »

I've always admired your steady approach Huzzah. You show amazing dedication to whatever training plan you follow and it's paid off, well done on a super year. I'm sorry the end of the year was a disappointment, i can empathise (as you know), but well done on pulling it back once you were able. Happy new year

Thanks - funnily enough, adding the sixth day really helped me with my consistency. I was a fright for doing four out of five runs before that!

Baby75 wrote: »

A great update Huzzah I think you have done great over the last year and your PB in shorter distances will come.
I am enjoying your log as we have similar paces so it will be interesting watching you this year

I love Raven wood on the little trails you have reminded me I must get down for a run there soon

Happy New year and Happy running

I enjoy your log for the same reasons. Really have my fingers crossed for your for your plans this year. The Raven really is a beautiful spot.

Baby75 wrote: »

I almost forgot, now we can plan that trail run I think an easy one to start us off

The easier the better!